Kim Christensen, DAOM, DiplOM, LAc

Dr. Kim Christensen is an Licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist, and instructor at the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing. As a clinician, educator, and entrepreneur, Kim is dedicated to providing affirming, whole-person health care and highlighting discussions about integrative medicine, health equity, and ethical entrepreneurship in the clinic, classroom, and community. 

Kim is co-owner of Constellation Acupuncture & Healing Arts (www.constellationacu.com) in Minneapolis, MN, where she has her clinical practice. As a clinician, Kim prioritizes a personalized approach rooted in transparency, empowerment, and education. Her areas of specialty include pain, complex and chronic medical conditions, reproductive and sexual health, fertility (including integrative IUI and IVF support), and mental health and trauma. Kim is passionate about providing comprehensive care for LGBTQ+ individuals, including holistic support for queer family planning and gender affirming hormone therapy and surgeries. As part of her independent doctoral research, Kim focused on Chinese medicine approaches to support transgender and gender diverse individuals using gender affirming hormone therapy. 

Kim is passionate about forming collaborative relationships with practitioners across disciplines to support integrative management of acute and chronic health concerns and provide educaton about acupuncture and Chinese medicine. She has partnered with the University of Minnesota School of Nursing and Mayo Clinic to develop acupressure and auriculotherapy training materials for nursing staff. 

Top three areas of expertise:

• Clinical applications of acupuncture and acupressure
• Integrative therapies
• LGBTQ+ health equity and clinical competency

Research Interests: 

• Acupuncture and Chinese medicine 
• LGBTQ+ health equity 
• Integrative management of complex and chronic health conditions 
• Mental health & trauma 
• Somatic experiencing

Awards: 

• 2013-2015: Diversity Scholar, Northwestern Health Sciences University

Publications: 

• Christensen KA. Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis: A Case Report. Journal of Chinese Medicine. Jun 2022;129:57-62. https://www.journalofchinesemedicine.com/acupuncture-chinese-herbal- medicine-in-the-treatment-of-atopic-dermatitis-a-case-report.html 
• Christensen, K., Anderson, M., Hanscom, K., & Voss, M. E., (2020). Integrative Nursing: Acupressure Acupoint Locations & Common Indications. (K. Hanscom, Illus.) Regents of the University of Minnesota. 
• Johnson Rolfes J, Christensen K, Gershan L. Acceptance of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Launching Point. Glob Adv Health Med. 2020;9:2164956120924644 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7218323/ 
• Christensen KA, Gosse BJ, Hildebrand C, et al. Acupuncture-associated vasovagal response: revised terminology and hospital experience. Medical Acupuncture 2017;29:366–76. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5733642/

Presentations: 

Christensen, K., Padhye, L., Gershan, L. (2017, May). Introduction of Integrative Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapies in a NICU Environment. Poster session presented at Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting, San Francisco, CA.

Clinical/Patient Care Experience: 

• Constellation Acupuncture & Heaing Arts, Minneapolis, MN, 2016-present 
• Integrative Health Fellow, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Integrative Health and Wellbeing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, July 2016-January 2017

Teaching Experience: 

• Instructor, Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing, 2024-present Course: CSPH 5313 Acupressure
•  Adjunct Associate Faculty, College of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Northwestern Health Sciences University, 2020-2022
• Clinical Supervisor, College of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Northwestern Health Sciences University, 2017 & 2019