Dr. Shabnam Pourhassani, LAc, QME, FABORM, DACM, is a board certified acupuncturist in the state of California since 2008, with primary care privileges in the outpatient setting. She works at the top of her license.
- Dr. Pourhassani, DACM provides integrative primary care (virtually) to select patients seeking alternative primary care.
- Any condition not listed below is categorized under integrative primary care (Digestive issues, PMS, hemorrhoids, etc.)
- Integrative Primary Care may include anything the doctor deems necessary: testing, herbal medicine, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, mind-body medicine, referrals, etc
- Integrative Medicine here implies the integration of biomedicine (diagnosis, pathophysiology, etiology, etc) with none-pharmaceutical interventions if deemed appropriate by the provider.
- Referrals are sent to MD/DO, urgent care, or the emergency department only.
- An Integrative Specialist for these conditions implies many other medical providers may be involved on the case:
- Acute Post-surgical pain,
- Orthopedics,
- Spine,
- Spinal Cord Injury,
- Sports Injuries,
- Nerve damage,
- Surgical Scars,
- Post-Hospitalization Recovery,
- Enhanced Recovery after Surgery.
- She has Advanced Education and Training in
- Integrative Reproductive Medicine (infertility)
- Acupuncture for Labor and Delivery
- Adjunct care during pregnancy
- Pediatrics (newborns+)
- ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE-Addiction
- She helps select patients (deemed appropriate candidates) taper and withdraw from addictive substances, or rehab their brains from substance use disorder (addiction) as the primary care provider; this is an alternative proprietary program.
- Opioids, Suboxone, Prescription Pain medications, Valium, Xanax, Soma, Klonopin
- ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE- Surgical Alternatives
- She provides consultations for patients seeking an alternatives to surgery: for such conditions as
- Urinary incontinence
- Orthopedics
- Spine
- This is for those who have not had their first spine surgery, once you are onto your second, third, fourth spine surgery you may be a good fit for her virtual chronic pain management program.
- ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE-
- She provides emotional counseling for patients during challenging times;
- miscarriages
- divorces
- tragic events
- life transitions
- serious illness
Research Interests:
- Acute Pain
- Acute-Post-Surgical Pain and Complications
- Reducing the risk of developing chronic pain, disability, OUD due to post-surgical pain.
- Enhanced Recovery after Surgery
- Unplanned Emergency Department Visits after Surgery
- Eliminate opioid use after major surgery within 3 months. Eliminate, not reduce use for opioid naive patients.
- Acute-Post Surgical Acupuncture for
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Orthopedics
- Spine Surgery
- Reducing Morbidity, Mortality, and Length of Stay due to Post-Surgical Complications (Orthopedics and Spine)
- Qualitative on the gap of knowledge of physicians and surgeons about evidence-based none-pharmaceutical
- Economic Evaluation of Acupuncture (currently acupuncturists are not being paid, or reimbursed appropriately).
Work Injury :
- Appointed as Qualified Medical Evaluator by the state of California since 2012
- Qualified medical evaluators (QMEs) are qualified physicians who are certified by the Division of Workers’ Compensation – Medical Unit to examine injured workers to evaluate disability and write medical-legal reports.
- The reports are used to determine an injured worker’s eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits.
Board Certified Reproductive Acupuncturist:
- Specialty trained acupuncturists in the field of reproductive medicine. “By choosing to work with a certified Fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (FABORM), you can rest assured your practitioner is well qualified and experienced in reproductive medicine.”
- Advanced training and education in reproductive medicine
- Passed a rigorous advanced certification exam after years of post-graduate education.
Pain Management Specialist; specializing in keeping patients from developing chronic, or disabeling life-long pain.
- Treating complex, chronic pain conditions since 2008, I prefer to keep you from developing pain.
- Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, Failed Laminectomy
- Chronic Pain due to Scar Tissue
- She has developed a Chronic Pain Program which may, or many not include acupuncture. But, it definitely does not only include acupuncture
Hospital Privileges:
- Cedars Sinai Hospital
- California Rehabilitation Institute
Advanced Post-Graduate Education and Training:
- Infertility; Fellow of the American Board of Reproductive Oriental Medicine
- Labor and Delivery (Hospital Based Training)
- Integrative Pediatrics Training (Efrem Korngold L.Ac. and Stephen Cowan M.D.)
- JingShen Pediatric Certification, 2020-2021
- Substance Use Disorder “Addiction” (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association)
- Certificate in Clinical training in Mind-Body Medicine from Harvard Medical School
- Nutritional Pain Management Certification from the Academy of Integrative Pain Management
Active/Previous memberships:
- ASRM (American Society of Reproductive Medicine)
- Academy of Integrative Pain Management
- Integrative Medicine for the Underserved
- AIHM (Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine
- CSOMA (California State Oriental Medicine Association)
- NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association)
Education, Certification and Licensing:
- Currently Enrolled in: Masters of Health Delivery Science, Cedars Sinai Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
- Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
- Licensed Acupuncturist; California Acupuncture Board, 2008
- Master of Science Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, 2008
- Bachelor Degree in Holistic Science, South Baylo University, CA, 2006
- COVID CME- Cedars Sinai
- Serious Illness Communication
- History of Medicine, Cedars Sinai History of Medicine Program, 2021
- JingShen Integrative Pediatric Certification, 2021
- Institute of Functional Medicine, 2019
- Fellow; American Board of Reproductive Oriental Medicine
- Breathwork Training, 2017
- Qualified Medical Evaluator; State of California: Workers’ Compensation, 2013
- National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, 2014
- Certified Hypnotherapist, 2012
- Acupuncture for the Treatment of Addictive Disorders, NADA-2011
- Integrative Medicine Certification, University of California, Irvine, 2010
- Mind-Body Medicine Certification, Harvard Medical School- – June 2010
Guest Lecturer:
- Cedars Sinai Medical Center- Grand Rounds, Acupuncture and Pain, Department of Anesthesiology, October, 2023
- UCI Grand Rounds, Dept. of OB/GYN- Safety and Efficacy of Acupuncture- April, 2016
- Philippine Nurses Association Southern California Educational Conference- November 15, 2015
Volunteer Positions:
- Grant Reviewer American Society of Reproductive Medicine, 2021
- Acupuncturist; Lestonnanc Free Clinic, Orange, CA 2014-2017
- Member Board of Directors; Lestonnac Free Clinic, Orange, CA 2016
Awards:
- Clinical Award, South Baylo University-2008
- California State Senate: for providing pro bono care to the underserved and uninsured.
- City of Anaheim: for providing pro bono services to the underserved and uninsured.
Published Articles: https://acupuncturetoday.com/columnists/shabnam-pourhassani-lac-qme-dacm
- Acupuncture Employment Negotiation in the Time of Specialization, November 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 11)
- Ethical Considerations for Acupuncturists: Egg Freezing, January 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 01)
- Infertility Is Not a Disease, November 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 11)
- Caffeine, Acupuncture and Pain, June 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 06)
- Venous Thromboembolism (VTE): Can Acupuncture Help Save Lives?, April 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 04)
- Acupuncture Fees Don’t Make Sense, February 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 02)
Hobbies & Interests:
- Photography
- Weight Lifting
- Meditation
- Contemporary Literature and Poetry
- Healthcare Financing
- Quality Improvement
- Patient Safety
- Advocacy
- Having distinct boundaries around work.