Board Mission
Welcome to the Maryland Board of Acupuncture.
The mission of the Board is to protect the Maryland public through the credentialing (certification and/or licensure) and regulation of:
- acupuncture and East Asian medicine practitioners,
- auricular detoxification specialists, and
- acupuncturists specializing in animal acupuncture.
The Board reviews the credentials of all applicants and strives to ensure that only qualified individuals are permitted to practice acupuncture, East Asian medicine, auricular detoxification, and animal acupuncture in Maryland. The public can connect with the Board to:
- make inquiries about the status of licensees, and
- to file a complaint against practitioners that they feel may be in possible violation of the law.
For current and prospective practitioners, the Board provides efficient initial and renewal licensure and/or certification services to be eligible to practice in Maryland.
The Board responds to a variety of inquiries (e.g., practice laws and regulations, process requirements and timelines, continuing education, fees, etc.) from both professionals and the public; however, the Board is not authorized to provide practice advice or interpretation of the aforementioned. As such, it is recommended that practitioners consult with the professional organizations, their practice counsel and/or the insurer (if applicable) for clarity as needed. The public can consult with their insurance companies and/or other consumer protection resources as needed.
Meet the Members
Current Board Members
- Professional Member Brandie Armijo, DACM, Dipl. Ac (NCCAOM)®, L.Ac., LPN, BSN, Clinical Acupuncturist, Chair
- Professional Member Sherrie Black, RN, L.Ac., M.Ac., JD, Vice Chair
- Professional Member Christina Tian, DACM, CMD, Dipl.O.M. (NCCAOM)®, L.Ac.
- Professional Member Sharon Jennings-Rojas, DOM, M.Ac., L.Ac., RT (NADA)
- Professional Member Christina Van Norman, DOM, MSOM, M.Ac., L.Ac.
- Consumer Member Barbara Huston
- Consumer Member Iola V. Purnell
Board Staff
Contact the Board
You can connect with the Board of Acupuncture by email, fax, phone, or mail. The contact information is detailed below.
Email Address mdh.acupuncture@maryland.gov
Fax Number (410) 431-3072
Phone (410) 764-4766
TTY/MD Relay: (800) 735-2258 or 711
Office Location & Mailing Address
Metro Executive Plaza
4201 Patterson Avenue
Third Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21215
Past Members
The Board of Acupuncture's (circa 1975) service to the citizens of Maryland would not be possible without its Board Members. As such, we offer our gratitude to the following professionals and consumers:
- Kate Carter 2011-17
- Jane Exler 2011-2018
- Thomas Ingegno 2013-21
- Teal Beatty 2015 - 18
- Barbara R. Heller 2015-18
- Sheryl Hongsermeier 2015-22
- Peter Marinakis 2015 - 2023
- Danelle Vallone 2016
- Bonnie J. Miranda 2018-22
- David Bruce 2019 - 20
*This list of past members is being compiled and will be updated to reflect all the past members over time.
