Staff Practitioners
Our acupuncturists are licensed by the California Acupuncture Board. All of our practitioners share access to treatment notes, allowing us to work as a cohesive team to provide our community with the best possible care.
We encourage you to work with more than one practitioner and to book your treatments to best suit your schedule.
Pamela O'Malley Chang, LAc (she/her)
Acupuncturist
Co-founder, Board Chair
Language(s): English
I grew up in Massachusetts, daughter of a Chinese immigrant biologist father and a Chinese-American librarian mother. After 20 years of practicing architecture/civil engineering, and a bout with early-stage ovarian cancer, I received a Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences in Oakland, California and am licensed to practice acupuncture in California.
Having a deep-seated desire for a world with ample resources for people to create their own solutions to everyday problems, I am delighted to have worked at Sarana Community Acupuncture since 2008. I am a member of the People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture (POCA) co-op.
For many years I volunteered at the Charlotte Maxwell Clinic—a clinic that offers free alternative-therapy care for low-income women with cancer. Outside of work, I am a mostly-mediocre violinist, swimmer, and tai-chi practitioner. I have an aquaponic garden in my Berkeley backyard. I am also a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School and a former Peace Corps Volunteer (Micronesia).
Katie Scarlett, LAc (she/her)
Acupuncturist, Cupping Practitioner (Fridays)
Co-Manager, Board Vice-Chair & Secretary
Language(s): English, basic Japanese
While earning my M.A. in Eastern Classics at St. John's College of Santa Fe, New Mexico, I received my first ever acupuncture treatment at a community clinic. It was a profound experience for my physical and mental health. I decided to become an acupuncturist so I could channel my philosophical interests into an embodied practice.
I specifically loved the community acupuncture model of affordability and accessibility. I believe it creates a much needed space for healing in our often inequitable and profit-driven world.
In 2014 I began my Shiatsu and Chinese Medicine studies at ACTCM in San Francisco, and graduated from AIMC in Berkeley in 2019. I interned at Ashby Lifelong Clinic, Charlotte Maxwell Clinic, UC Berkeley Athletics, and SF Homeless Prenatal. I’ve been a part of Sarana community since 2016, volunteering at the front desk and receiving weekly acupuncture treatments. I still love and depend on my weekly acu-nap here!
I am currently enrolled in a medical qigong certification course and enjoy weaving in elements of qigong and shiatsu into my acupuncture treatments. I also enjoy meditation, consulting the Yi Jing, playing video games, reading, karaoke, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.
Ollie Zaverey, LAc (they/them)
Acupuncturist
Co-Manager, Board Treasurer
Language(s): English, Español (Spanish)
I grew up in Southern California and have been in the Bay Area for over ten years. I have a background in public health policy and non-profit work, with a focus on improving access to healthcare and housing. My acupuncture journey began at ACTCM in San Francisco and I completed my studies at AIMC in Berkeley. At AIMC I participated in multiple clinical externships, including Charlotte Maxwell Clinic and UC Berkeley Athletics
As a fat, nonbinary, queer, neurodivergent, trauma survivor, one of the main factors in my decision to study acupuncture was my own experiences with insurance-based medical care. There are a lot of wonderful things about Western medicine—and I believe the best approach to healthcare is an integrative one—acupuncture excels at primary care and chronic care, both places where western medicine hasn’t been able to meet my needs. I learned about the Community Acupuncture Model in acupuncture school and it resonated with me. It's an awesome way to improve access to healthcare!
Julia Katz, LAc (she/her)
Acupuncturist
Language(s): English, Russian
I grew up in Siberia, in a home with a cardiologist and gardener mother, computer engineer and philosopher father, and a school teacher and gardener grandmother.
After graduating from UC Berkeley with a BS in Integrative Biology, I was looking to find solutions for personal health struggles and began my studies at the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley. There I completed 1,000 hour program in Acupressure Therapy and Tui Na.
Inspired by Brian O’Dea, L.Ac. and the practical results of hands-on healing, I continued my studies in East Asian Medicine at the Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College in Berkeley and the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences in Oakland. I became a licensed acupuncturist in 2013.
Over the past 20 years I’ve enjoyed sharing these healing tools with my community. I have practiced and taught classes at the Suitcase Clinic for low-income women and children, Charlotte Maxwell Clinic for low-income women with cancer, and McKinnon Body Therapy Center. I’ve treated people in a variety of settings and circumstances, and ages ranging from 3 months to 91 years old. I’ve always enjoyed getting community acupuncture, because I find it particularly helpful to be in a group healing field, as well as being able to get frequent treatments. I’m very excited to provide community acupuncture and to join the delightful group of practitioners at Sarana Community Acupuncture.
When I’m not practicing healing arts, I like to spend time by the ocean with my kids and family, dance, and make good tea. I am an on/off practitioner of meditation, qi gong and yoga, and I aspire to not take myself too seriously.
Sarah Saenz, CMT (she/her)
Cupping Practitioner (Sundays)
Language(s): English
I grew up in Northern Colorado and moved to the Bay Area in 2002. In 2006 I began studying at the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, where I received a 1000 hour Body Work Professional Certification. I specialize in Tui Na massage, Acupressure, Reiki, and cupping. I am a licensed Certified Massage Therapist through the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC # 57734).
In my free time I enjoy crossword puzzles, art, playing music, and spending time with my husband and daughter.
Substitute Practitioners
Le Jiang, LAc (she/her)
Acupuncturist
Language(s): English, Mandarin, American Sign Language
I grew up in Western China and immigrated to the United States in 2013. When I was in China, I had several acupuncture treatments and observed how acupuncture could transform one’s life. After moving to the U.S, I realized that there was a lot I did not know about Chinese culture, which is deeply meaningful and important to me. I decided to start by learning acupuncture, which combines Chinese philosophy, culture, and medicine. I studied at AIMC Berkeley and now I am ready to share the benefit of this amazing healing tool with my community.
When I have spare time, I like to go hiking with friends or practice Chinese Calligraphy and seal carving. It is a favorite meditative pastime to help me relax and settle into my inner world.
Holly Barnett, LAc (she/her)
Acupuncturist
Language(s): English
I first discovered Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2012 at a community clinic in San Francisco. I became fascinated with acupuncture as I witnessed empowering shifts in my body and mind during a series of treatments. I then pivoted from my path of studying Western medicine and enrolled in acupuncture school in my hometown of Santa Cruz, CA. I am passionate about providing accessible acupuncture as a practitioner and the “group qi” resonance I feel as a patient when resting and healing among others in my community. In my free time I love to read, practice yoga, and explore the natural beauty of the Bay Area.
Board Members
Ellie Ohara
Growing up in Japan, acupuncture was nothing new, but receiving the treatment in a communal space was new to me. However, I soon realized that I liked community acupuncture where I can exchange the energy of healing with my neighbors on reclining chairs. Community acupuncture also helps the treatment fees to be affordable for anybody. There was a time when I was so poor that I could not afford medical insurance and over-the-counter drugs did not help my body.
Acupuncture at Sarana was my only affordable health care that truly healed my health issues. Since then, I have been supporting Sarana as a laundry volunteer. I am now grateful for the opportunity to serve as a new board of director and to continue supporting the practitioners, fellow volunteers, and the community of Sarana.
Jeffrey Levin, LAc
After over a decade of practicing yoga, I began to experiment with healing modalities to address some chronic injuries from surfing and skateboarding that were resistant to the clever therapies I had devised. I came across acupuncture while traveling in Thailand early in 2005. The effects of my treatments were so miraculous and profound that by the time I returned to the United States, I had decided to become an acupuncturist. All these years later, I feel very lucky to be able to offer the benefits of acupuncture to my local Oakland community by working full time at Oakland Acupuncture Project‘s Grand Lake clinic.
When I’m not at work, I’m usually hanging out with my daughter Audrey and my son Calder who are both super fun. You might see us collecting flower petals or chasing turkeys in the Morcom Rose Garden. I also enjoy listening to my (ridiculously large) vinyl collection, sharing bottles from my (sadly small) wine collection, practicing yoga, sipping my fresh direct trade Ethiopian coffee, and cooking and eating delicious food. I am a simple man with sophisticated tastes.
Lee Mark Poitier
I’m originally from the Philippines but have called the Bay Area home since 1997.
When I am not in the clinic getting accupuncture, or planning details on how the board can serve the Sarana community better, I like to spend time taking walks at Berkeley, spending time at the sauna at the 24 hour fitness in El Cerrito. Doing judo at Hanabi judo in Albany, and spending time with my son.
Kelly Perce
Acupuncture has been part of my self-care for decades, first to address chronic pain issues and later to support and heal whatever else has come up in the course of life. I love the community acupuncture model and Sarana has been my home since 2018. When not taking acu-naps in the clinic I most like to be outside and in nature whether that is taking walks, biking, hiking, kayaking, or cross-country skiing and if I can do those things while traveling, even better. At home, I love to read, I'm learning to paint and in between I play with my cat.
