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Clasina Leslie Smith, MD, Family Medicine, Chicago, IL

Clasina LeslieSmithMDMS, MA, LAc, FAAMA, Dipl Ac. NCCAOM(She/Her)

Family Medicine Chicago, IL

Preventive Medicine, Complementary and Integrative Medicine

Founder & Medical Director, Chicago Healing Center. Former Director Integrative Medicine and Director Culinary Medicine: Southern Illinois Univ School of Medicine.

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Summary

  • I was trained as a general surgeon but became fascinated by CAM and acupuncture after suffering a repetitive stress injury in my arms. I have a private practice (Chicago Healing Center), focusing on integrative, culinary, and functional medicine. I am also a licensed acupuncturist and do all forms of traditional East Asian medicine (acupuncture, herbal medicine, gua sha, cupping, tui na, dietetics, moxibustion, etc.)
    Patients that seek me out tend to be the kind of people for whom there seems to be no good solution to their complaints or concerns through conventional medicine. In other words, send me your problem children--the ones that are clearly suffering but for whom no diagnosis or satisfactory solutions exist.
    Common issues that I treat are: fibromyalgia, IBS/IBD, fatigue, pain, infertility, perimenopausal sx, dysmenorrhea, HTN, psychiatric concerns (PTSD, depression, anxiety), allergies/respiratory/sinus/asthma, obesity/weight loss, and addiction.
    I have expertise in medical education (curriculum design, performance assessment, content delivery) and have over 25 years of experience in adult and medical education. I am interested in and involved with several national and international organizations in medical education and integrative care: I speak nationally and internationally on those topics.

Education & Training

  • Midwest College of Oriental Medicine
    Midwest College of Oriental MedicineLAc, Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine, 2016 - 2017
  • Harvard Medical School
    Harvard Medical SchoolCertification, Structural Acupuncture for Physicians, 2011 - 2012
  • YoSan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
    YoSan University of Traditional Chinese MedicineLAc, Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine, 2009 - 2012
  • Southern Illinois University
    Southern Illinois UniversityResidency, Surgery, 2004 - 2009
  • Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
    Southern Illinois University School of MedicineFellowship, Surgical Education, 2006 - 2007
  • U of IL, Springfield
    U of IL, SpringfieldMA, Medical Education & Leadership, 2006 - 2007
  • University of Illinois College of Medicine
    University of Illinois College of MedicineClass of 2004
  • U of IL Coll of Med
    U of IL Coll of MedMS, Physiology and Biophysics, 1997 - 2001

Certifications & Licensure

  • IL State Medical License
    IL State Medical License 2009 - 2026
  • CA State Medical License
    CA State Medical License 2011 - 2019
  • American Board of Medical AcupunctureMedical Acupuncture

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • Trailblazer Award SIU SOM, 2019
  • Advocate Award SIU SOM, 2019
  • Student Leadership Award UIC Alumni Association, 2004
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Publications & Presentations

Journal Articles

  • The Impact of Inpatient Acupuncture on a Mixed Hospital Floor: A Pragmatic 3-Month Cost-Effectiveness Retrospective Evaluation  
    Clasina Leslie Smith and Maria Mulcahy, Medical Acupuncture, 2/13/2024
  • Acupuncture for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy  
    C. Leslie Smith, LAc, MD, North American Journal of Oriental Medicine, 3/2020
  • Inpatient Acupuncture: A Three-Month Trial  
    CL Smith and M Mulcahy, North American Journal of Oriental Medicine, 11/2016

Books/Book Chapters

Abstracts/Posters

  • How can students help clinicians approach barriers in individualized nutrition counseling? Student generated solutions to clinical nutrition counseling.
    Hasan, A, Dufner, A, Agnew, T, Portugal, A, and Smith, CL, 10th Annual Symposium for Teaching and Learning, Springfield, IL, 4/26/2019
  • Taking All Comers: The Impact of Hospital Acupuncture on a Mixed Medical, Surgical, Oncology Floor
    CL Smith, M Mulcahy, C Hitt, Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, ICMART 2018, Munich, Germany, 8/2018
  • 23. Incorporating Japanese Acupuncture Techniques Into Your Practice
    Clasina Leslie Smith and Mitch Harris, Glob Adv Health Med., International Congress of Clinicians in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Chicago IL, 10/30/2013
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Lectures

  • An Integrated Approach to the Japanese Acupuncture Style: Using Haptic Feedback to Obtain an Optimal Qi Respons 
    American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, Ohio Chapter, Cincinnati, OH - 10/24/2014
  • The Traditional Asian Medicine and Mindful Living Workshop 
    Mental Health America of Illinois, Chicago, IL - 8/24/2014
  • Integrating Japanese Style Acupuncture Into Your Medical Acupuncture Practice 
    International Congress of Clinicians in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Chicago, IL - 10/30/2013
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Authored Content

  • Can’t I Please Get Some Sleep? Natural Ways to Support Healthy Sleep9/12/2018

Press Mentions

  • SIU Explores New Approaches to Pain Management
    SIU Explores New Approaches to Pain ManagementAugust 21st, 2018
  • Chicago’s Natural Healer
    Chicago’s Natural HealerJune 13th, 2018
  • Chicago's Natural Healer
    Chicago's Natural HealerJune 13th, 2018
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Committees

  • Member, Education Committee, AAMA 2015 - 2017
  • Member, Continuing Medical Education Committee, AAMA 2014 - 2015
  • Resident Representative, Executive Board, Association of Program Directors in Surgery 2006 - 2007
  • Resident Representative, Council on Education and Health Workforce, Illinois State Medical Society 2006 - 2007
  • Resident Representative, Resident & Fellow Section Governing Council, Illinois State Medical Society, Resident & Fellow Section 2006 - 2007
  • Co-Chair, Patient Safety Curriculum Development Committee, Southern Illinois University and Affiliated Hospitals 2006 - 2007
  • Member, Information Technology Committee, Memorial Medical Center 2005 - 2009
  • Member, Promoting Safe Clinical Practices Committee, St John's Hospital 2005 - 2006
  • Class Rep. & Education Rep, General Surgery Governance Committee, Southern Illinois University and Affiliated Hospitals 2004 - 2009
  • Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, President, respectively, Chicago Medical Student Council, University of Illinois at Chicago, COM 2000 - 2004
  • Member (one of two students total), Chancellor's Search Committee, University of Illinois, Chicago 2000 - 2001
  • Member of Executive Board, Faculty-Student Senate, University of Illinois, Chicago 1999 - 2001
  • Member, Judicial Board, University of Illinois, Chicago 1999 - 2001

Professional Memberships

  • Member
  • Member
  • American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
    Fellow
  • IL Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
    Member
  • Member 2006-2010
  • Illinois State Medical Society
    Member 2004 - 2010
  • Academy for Scholarship in Education
    Member 2006 - 2009
  • Association for Surgical Education
    Member 2006 - 2010