Credentials

Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine

• 2022: Doctor of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine, Pacific College of Health and Science

• 2021 Nationally Board Certified-Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, National Certification Commission in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

• Licensed Acupuncturist, State of Hawaii

• 2020 Masters of Science -Oriental Medicine, Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Honolulu, HI

• 2019: Externship in Chinese Medicine-China

  • Certificate of Completion, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China

  • Certificate of Completion, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China

Biologist/Environmental Scientist

• 1995 Bachelor of Science, Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, FL

• 2001 Master of Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL

• 2004: Professional Ecologist Certification, Ecological Society of America

Animal Certifications:

• 2009 Advanced Certification in Equine Structural Integration Therapy, Equine Natural Movement School, Battle Ground, WA

• 2011: Certified Equine Acupressure, Tallgrass Institute, CO

• 2012: National Board Certification in Equine Acupressure, National Board of Animal Acupressure and Massage

• 2013: Certificate in Equine Nutrition, University of Edinburgh, Royal Dick School of Veterinary Medicine via Coursera

• 2014: Certificate in Animal Welfare, University of Edinburgh, Royal Dick School of Veterinary Medicine via Coursera

About the Diplomate badge: Earning a Diplomate in Oriental Medicine reflects a commitment to the highest level of national board certification and independent testing. The State of Hawaii only requires passing two national board exams (Foundational Theory & Acupuncture Board Exams) to be licensed to practice acupuncture. A Diplomate in Oriental Medicine means that the practitioner has passed all four national board exams - Foundational Theory, Acupuncture, Western Biomedicine, and Herbal Medicine. This certifies that the practitioner has a commitment to having great depth of well rounded knowledge to bring to their practice.

Dr. April E. Johnston DACM, MSc Dipl.OM, LAc.

A fundamental principle in Oriental medical practices is that every patient is an individual; there are no one-size-fits all approach. Patients are more than just a statistic of age, weight and lab results. Patients are assessed in a well-rounded way, taking into account each individual’s environment, emotions and health history. This customized approach to healing will be one of the most powerful aspects of my Oriental medical practice.

My primary goal is to reorient my patients towards the most vibrant health possible for their situation. To me, patients are more than a chart full of lab values; I evaluate patient’s health in the context of their whole body and their lifestyle, not just what hurts.

About me:

My name is Dr. April Johnston. I am a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. I am a Nationally Board Certified Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, which means I have passed four national board exams: Foundational Diagnostic Theory; Acupuncture; Biomedicine; and Chinese Herbal Medicine. I am also a former research scientist, and equine bodywork therapist/vocational teacher.

My special interests are in acute and chronic pain management, insomnia/anxiety and women’s health, especially related to peri- and post menopausal issues. I am credentialed to work with VA patients and feel strongly about supporting our troops.

I consider myself a learning enthusiast. My friends call me a nerd. My work has always been rooted in science, and this included professional careers in both environmental science and animal healthcare before I entered the world of human health care! The path to Oriental medicine all started at age 15 when I lived in Taiwan for a few months and got my first exposure as a patient. I was interested early on in field, but in the late 80’s, early 90’s, these training options weren’t presented to me. Thus, I have a completely different other life-work history that has nothing to do with becoming a Oriental medicine practitioner other than my science-thinking brain has been sharpened, honed and trained since 1995 when I started working professionally in the natural sciences.

In a nutshell- quite by serendipity, in December of 2016 I was made aware of an Oriental Medicine graduate training program in my state. Within three weeks, I was enrolled in the school for the next semester and my life entirely changed. I recently completed my Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine degree, which isn’t necessary to practice, but I feel reflects my personal commitment to patient care and standard of practice.

I am also a member of Acupuncture Without Borders and look forward to more engagement with their missions worldwide.

When I am not at clinic, you will probably find me scuba diving with my underwater camera, swimming with my Master’s swim team, or playing with my beloved horse Obi. I am blessed to be married to my wonderful husband Mark since 2006, and I am chief of staff for our three very sassy birds and one sweet doggo.

If interested, read on for the long version!

I am originally from Florida, where I received a full academic scholarship to Palm Beach Atlantic University, completing my undergraduate double major in Biology and Marine Biology with a minor in Oceanography.

After graduation with my bachelors, in 1995 I began working for a state agency, the South Florida Water Management District, eventually working my way up to Senior Environmental Research Scientist working on complex restoration planning projects for the Florida Everglades. While working full time I then received a full scholarship for graduate work at Florida Atlantic University, where I completed my Masters of Biological Science in 2001. In 2006 I left the agency and Florida and moved to Montana to marry my husband who was working for Montana State University on wildlife research projects in Yellowstone and Antartica .

In Montana I got a job first as Conservation Director, later moving up to the role of Executive Director of a wildlife-habitat nonprofit called American Wildlands. I spent four years in wildlife advocacy work, and this was a huge period of learning for me.

Environmental protection work is hard, challenging, and very political. Hard work often ends in total failure for reasons beyond your control, or even common sense. Eventually for stress-related health reasons, in 2008 I began training for a different career working with horses, which I have had in my life since I was 18 years old. In 2010 I finished my certification as an equine therapist and started my practice and left behind the world as a professional environmental scientist. I was invited to become an instructor of equine bodywork by the very school that trained me- and after four years of working for them (and having a successful private practice), I co-founded a vocational school in equine bodywork with my good friend, Dr. Kelleyerin Clabaugh, DVM. We founded an school in equine physiotherapy for vet technicians and equine bodyworkers with curriculum that is approved by two national boards. Currently, I plan a sabbatical from active teaching program after 2022 to focus on new adventures in my human practice. I also served as a treasurer and board member with the National Board of Certification in Animal Acupressure and Massage from 2013 to 2021.

Currently, my primary focus is my Oriental Medicine practice in Kailua Kona, Hawaii where I work as a general practitioner, although I have special interests in sports /orthopedic injuries, insomnia/anxiety and helping women transition through perimenopause/menopause safely and more comfortably.