Dara Cantor, MAcOM, Dipl. O.M., L.Ac
Dara is passionate about healthcare that is supportive, respectful, thoughtful, and effective.
She strives to care for herself and others in a way that creates both peace and vitality. Her healthcare philosophy is one that encourages whole foods that are sourced responsibly and prepared lovingly, physical activity that inspires joy and honors the body’s limitations, plant-based medicine to encourage the body and spirit back to a place of balance, and cultivation of inner listening so that each individual can learn to trust their own intuition and innate healing capacity.
Dara’s background is in ecology and wilderness conservation, so much of her previous work involved hiking through the woods and mountains of the west to watch birds, identify plants, and commune with the natural world. She also spent a number of years working on small family-run organic farms, and managed an eclectic bar and cafe. In her mid twenties, Dara began treatment with a Chinese medicine practitioner for unresolved health concerns and felt immediately at home with the language and philosophy of this traditional medicine. It was gratifying to find a medical system grounded in the human connection to nature and the importance of living in harmony with our environment. With the help of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and some soulful guidance, Dara found her way back to a place of balance, and came to appreciate health as a dynamic state that needs continual nurturing and tending.
Dara's experience encouraged further study of traditional medicine, and she graduated from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) in 2013, earning a four-year Masters degree and becoming a Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate of Oriental Medicine later that year. She is grateful for the opportunity to continue exploring healing modalities through her work as an acupuncturist, and her interests in yoga, meditation, cooking and nutrition. She continues to enjoy many outdoors adventures, and spends her time at home playing the guitar and piano, gardening, and making anything she can from scratch.
Dara is passionate about healthcare that is supportive, respectful, thoughtful, and effective.
She strives to care for herself and others in a way that creates both peace and vitality. Her healthcare philosophy is one that encourages whole foods that are sourced responsibly and prepared lovingly, physical activity that inspires joy and honors the body’s limitations, plant-based medicine to encourage the body and spirit back to a place of balance, and cultivation of inner listening so that each individual can learn to trust their own intuition and innate healing capacity.
Dara’s background is in ecology and wilderness conservation, so much of her previous work involved hiking through the woods and mountains of the west to watch birds, identify plants, and commune with the natural world. She also spent a number of years working on small family-run organic farms, and managed an eclectic bar and cafe. In her mid twenties, Dara began treatment with a Chinese medicine practitioner for unresolved health concerns and felt immediately at home with the language and philosophy of this traditional medicine. It was gratifying to find a medical system grounded in the human connection to nature and the importance of living in harmony with our environment. With the help of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and some soulful guidance, Dara found her way back to a place of balance, and came to appreciate health as a dynamic state that needs continual nurturing and tending.
Dara's experience encouraged further study of traditional medicine, and she graduated from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) in 2013, earning a four-year Masters degree and becoming a Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate of Oriental Medicine later that year. She is grateful for the opportunity to continue exploring healing modalities through her work as an acupuncturist, and her interests in yoga, meditation, cooking and nutrition. She continues to enjoy many outdoors adventures, and spends her time at home playing the guitar and piano, gardening, and making anything she can from scratch.
Ben Marx, MAcOM, Dipl. O.M., L.Ac
Ben graduated from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) in 2008 with a Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and has maintained a clinical practice for the last nine years. He specializes in the treatment of athletic injuries and pain, and is excited to bring the unique tools of traditional Chinese medicine to the practice of sports medicine, pain management, and orthopedic rehabilitation. Ben is a strong advocate for integrative medicine, where the best of multiple modalities are combined to optimize care, and works closely with his patient’s other providers to deliver well-rounded, comprehensive health care.
In addition to his clinical practice, Ben is the Interim Director of Research at OCOM, where he teaches, writes, and oversees research activities at the college. His work has been published in numerous peer reviewed journals including the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Medical Acupuncture. His current research involves assessing outcomes for acupuncture and Chinese medicine in the treatment of pain in OCOM’s busy intern clinic. In his free time Ben enjoys rock climbing, cycling, running, and backpacking, and maintains a mindfulness meditation practice.
Ben graduated from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) in 2008 with a Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and has maintained a clinical practice for the last nine years. He specializes in the treatment of athletic injuries and pain, and is excited to bring the unique tools of traditional Chinese medicine to the practice of sports medicine, pain management, and orthopedic rehabilitation. Ben is a strong advocate for integrative medicine, where the best of multiple modalities are combined to optimize care, and works closely with his patient’s other providers to deliver well-rounded, comprehensive health care.
In addition to his clinical practice, Ben is the Interim Director of Research at OCOM, where he teaches, writes, and oversees research activities at the college. His work has been published in numerous peer reviewed journals including the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Medical Acupuncture. His current research involves assessing outcomes for acupuncture and Chinese medicine in the treatment of pain in OCOM’s busy intern clinic. In his free time Ben enjoys rock climbing, cycling, running, and backpacking, and maintains a mindfulness meditation practice.
