Q&A with Dr. Amber Reding-Gazzini of Hillsboro Wellness

Meet Dr. Amber Reding-Gazzini, who runs Hillsboro Wellness with business partner and husband Patrick Gazzini. Together they’ve built a high-volume, patient-centered practice in the greater Portland area. Her story offers practical lessons and a hopeful vision for the acupuncture profession.

Enjoy this clinic spotlight in Acupuncture Update, where shared experience and practical insight help strengthen both our practices, and our profession.

— Kim

What’s the story behind your practice?
Our story really began with a moment of mentorship. Patrick Gazzini was working at Advanced Healing after graduation when he learned the owner was ready to step away — and offered to help him take the next step. It felt like a natural evolution rooted in trust and shared purpose. From the beginning, we’ve believed in building up the next generation of healers, just as Patrick was supported early on. When we expanded to Hillsboro, it was a homecoming of sorts — I grew up locally and understood what this community needed most. At our core, we believe that when good practitioners are empowered, whole communities thrive.

What kind of practice do you run?
We run a high-volume, insurance-based practice that integrates acupuncture and massage to make holistic care accessible to more people. Our goal has always been to meet patients where they are — providing quality, consistent care in a welcoming environment. At our Beaverton location, we’re excited to be expanding into herbal medicine with our new medicinary, Materia Medica — a project born from the passion and vision of one of our talented practitioners

Did your practice start out that way? If not, what changed and why?
When we took over as owners, the clinic was already operating within an insurance-based model — and we chose to keep it that way. In Oregon, most people have acupuncture coverage, and we believe they should be able to use those hard-earned benefits. Over time, we’ve made small but meaningful changes to give our practitioners more flexibility to treat patients according to their best clinical judgment. That balance — accessibility for patients and autonomy for providers — has been key to our success.

What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d had starting out?
Like most things in life, it’s easier when you ask for help and find a good mentor. Seek out relationships that make you feel supported — you don’t have to recreate the wheel. We’re all here for the same reasons: to share this beautiful medicine, to help heal our communities, and to make a sustainable living doing it. There aren’t enough providers to meet the need, so let’s lift each other up. Find your community, keep learning, and grow together.

What piece of advice would you give to new practitioners?
If possible, start by joining an existing practice. It’s one of the best ways to learn the business side of things while focusing on your craft. Working within an established model gives you a framework, mentors, and a sense of community — all of which are invaluable early on. From there, you can decide if and when it feels right to branch out on your own.

Are there any stand-out challenges that have come up in your practice? How did you deal with them? 
One of the biggest challenges we face in Oregon is predatory insurance practices — a major barrier to success for many acupuncturists. We believe the best way to address this is through collective advocacy and education. Our clinic pays for each practitioner’s membership with the Oregon Association of Acupuncturists (OAA) as part of our commitment to strengthening the profession’s voice at the state level.

We also encourage action on multiple fronts: connect with your district representatives and senators to push for reform, and empower your patients to advocate for themselves. When issues arise, patients can file complaints either through their workplace’s HR department (if coverage is employer-provided) or directly with the Oregon Insurance Division. Every voice matters — real change will come when we stand together and refuse to accept unfair practices.

What are your no-show and late-show policies? How do you enforce them (and have you had to enforce them much)?
We charge the full time-of-service rate for missed massage appointments and about 50% for acupuncture if less than 24 hours’ notice is given. That said, we understand that life happens — if someone is sick or has an emergency and communicates with us, we’re flexible. Each patient gets a “whoops” grace pass because we know things come up.

Our front desk team handles these situations consistently and with empathy, but we do enforce our policies — especially with repeat offenders or those who don’t communicate. We keep credit cards on file and have patients sign ABNs acknowledging these policies upfront. Clear boundaries are essential; they allow us to pay our staff fairly and keep our doors open to serve the community.

What marketing activities do you engage in regularly? What helps you get them done? (or do you hire them out?)
We keep our marketing simple and intentional. We have a part-time employee who manages our social media, website updates, and educational materials. For us, this work is less about promoting the clinic and more about sharing accurate, accessible information that elevates the profession as a whole.

Because we operate an insurance-based practice, being in-network is our most effective form of marketing. It ensures patients can find us easily and use their benefits — which naturally keeps our schedules full. 

Any procedures you’ve implemented to improve clinic efficiency?
Running an insurance-based clinic means consistency is essential. We’ve streamlined our systems so every treatment follows a clear structure — from standardized treatment plans to initial exams and scheduled reevaluations. This creates reliable expectations for both patients and practitioners.

We’ve also implemented uniform policies around no-show fees, billing, and time-of-service discounts. Clear procedures reduce confusion, keep the clinic running smoothly, and allow our team to focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality care.

How big of a role is patient education in your practice? What methods or tools do you use the most?
Patient education is absolutely essential in our practice — though, unfortunately, much of it isn’t about health. More often, we’re helping patients understand how to navigate their insurance benefits. The burden frequently falls on providers to explain coverage, clarify limitations, and guide patients through a system that can be confusing and inconsistent.

We use every touchpoint — from front desk conversations to treatment-room check-ins — to make sure patients understand their benefits and know how to advocate for themselves. Clear communication not only builds trust, it ensures patients can fully access the care they’re entitled to.

What do you see for yourself or your practice in the upcoming year?
In the year ahead, we’re focused on deepening our advocacy against predatory insurance practices and continuing to push for a more equitable system where acupuncture is accessible for everyone. We’re also putting energy into growing our medicinary, with plans to expand into bulk herbs so we can offer even more comprehensive care. It’s a year of building—building access, building resources, and building the future we want for this medicine.

What’s your dream scenario for the acupuncture profession?
My dream is simple: that we can focus on treating patients and earn a livable wage without placing additional financial strain on the people we serve. Patients already invest so much in their health insurance, and they deserve to access the care that truly supports them. In an ideal world, acupuncture would be fully recognized, fully covered, and fully accessible—so we can do what we do best: help people heal.

Connect with Amber & Hillsboro Wellness
If something here resonated or you’d just like to say thanks for sharing, you can connect here:
Instagram • Facebook • hillsborowellness.com • [email protected]

CEUS

Note: Courses listed are CAB-approved; many also carry other state or NCCAOM approvals. Listings subject to change. Please verify details, CE hours, and eligibility directly with provider. Links point to provider sites; you may need to navigate to the specific registration page.

Nov 30: Depression & Neck Pain Acupuncture Treatments
4 CEUs • Healthcare Medicine Institute (HealthCMi)

Dec 2: Crucial Clinical Conversations: Acupuncture, Dry Needling, and Myofascial Pain
2.5 CEUs • CSOMA

Dec 5: Advanced Diagnostic Studies
8 CEUs • Academy of Chinese Culture & Health Sciences

Dec 6: Be Like Water: Integration & True Receiving
8 CEUs • The Way of Yin, LLC

Dec 6: Neurofunctional Acupuncture: Upper Extremity Treatment Strategies
14 CEUs • Integrative Acupuncture & Bodywork

Dec 6: QiGong Techniques to Improve Client Healing
4 CEUs • Pacific College of Health and Science

Dec 6: The Art of Demystifying Bloodwork
8 CEUs • Northeast Colleges of Health Sciences

Dec 6: The Nutrition Exam: Easy, Functional Tests That Work
8 CEUs • Northeast Colleges of Health Sciences

Dec 6: What's Blood Got to do With it?
8 CEUs • Northeast Colleges of Health Sciences

Thanks for reading,

Kim Neumann, Publisher