Meet the JTS acupuncture interns for the 2025-2026 school year. Coming from a variety of backgrounds and places, they are eager to learn and to help you feel your best.
Scott Friel
Scott…
Delaney Gatton
Delaney worked in Emergency Medicine for 8 years before finding her way to studying Chinese medicine. Delaney works with health care providers including nurses, herbalists and acupuncturists to create first aid pop up clinics at music festivals, earth skills gatherings and more recently, for disaster response. She strives to create accessible and collaborative healthcare systems. Delaney is passionate about helping patients with pain management, stress management and working through changes during the aging process.
When not at school, she spends her time growing vegetables and herbs, hiking with her dogs and working on her tiny home in Barnardsville, NC.
Michelle Hetherington
Michelle’s path to Chinese Medicine began after seeking relief from an overuse injury that did not fit neatly into any Western treatment modalities. Following her first acupuncture session, she was struck by its profound impact and, over time, experienced significant healing. Inspired by her own journey, she pursued training in acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to help others access the body’s innate ability to restore balance and heal.
With a lifelong background in athletics, Michelle has a particular interest in treating mental health, orthopedic conditions and chronic pain. The intersection of mental health affecting physical health is a particular interest. She is deeply committed to supporting patients’ emotional and physical well-being through individualized, holistic care.
Outside of school, Michelle enjoys playing tennis, gardening, cooking, rediscovering the piano, and traveling with her husband and their two children. She holds a degree in International Business from the University of Georgia and is a certified Reiki Master.
At the core of Michelle’s practice is a dedication to helping patients find hope, resilience, and healing at every stage of life.
Danielle Hill
Born into a family of clockmakers, Danielle was raised within Waldorf education and later graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.A. in Geology and Music (Cello). She came to bodywork after years of continued study of the natural world through organic agriculture, native plant conservation, and the world of specialty teas. The need to sustain her own physical vitality cultivated a fascination with massage therapy. Danielle is currently a licensed massage therapist and runs her own practice in Asheville, NC.
Supporting her father through in-home hospice until his passing highlighted for Danielle how integrative approaches to healthcare remain extremely limited and difficult to navigate. This experience served as deep motivation to study the human body more intricately and to further her education. Her natural talent for observing systems, artful creativity, and deep tactile sensitivity led her to pursue the study of East Asian Medicine.
In addition to completing her degree in Acupuncture through Jung Tao School, Danielle is currently completing both a certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine and a Doctorate of Acupuncture. She continues to study both herbal medicine and Chinese medical bodywork under Andrew and JulieAnn Nugent-Head through the Association for Traditional Studies.
When not in the clinic, Danielle enjoys rock climbing, gardening, and playing Old-time fiddle and guitar.
Paul LaCosta
Paul…
Genna Peyre-Ferry
As an acupuncture intern here at Jung Tao, I am grateful to learn from each patient’s healing journey. Their stories of transformation are my greatest teacher, reminding me that learning is rooted in trust and compassion.
With over 14 years of Critical Care Nursing, I have gained great insight into the many challenges and paths of healing. It will be my goal to blend modern medical insight with ancient medical teaching to support balance and wellness.
When I am not here at school, I am most likely enjoying time with my family, studying, or catching up on my latest Netflix series.
My goal after school is to open my own practice in Salisbury, NC and continue my studies of East Asian medicine.
Haley Pillars
Haley has a love for Chinese medicine that began when she started receiving acupuncture at the age of ten and experienced firsthand its healing benefits. She is excited to share her passion for this powerful medicine with the patients at Jung Tao. Haley holds a master’s degree from UNC Charlotte in biology and taught at the college level for ten years before she began her journey as a student of Chinese medicine. She currently lives in South Carolina with her loving husband and three precious cats.
Amanda Reid
Being in practice in western medicine for 23 years and Massage Therapy for 7 years, Amanda brings the knowledge of primary care health and bodywork which brings the knowledge of palpation and looking for issues in the muscles and channels.
For as long as she can remember, being in nature has been a favorite pastime.
“I remember looking at my hands as a small child, probably my earliest memory, and wondering ‘Where did the magic go?’” From this point on, searching for answers and research has been what my life has been about.”
Passions include Hunting, Muay Tai, reading, breathwork, herbal studies- which will be the next iron in the fire with Chinese Herbal degree, and finding what can make the body balanced for each individual.
Laura Stinson
While originally from Nashville, TN, Laura has called Asheville home for the past decade. As a former EMT and RN, she brings her Western medicine training and linear logic to the world of Chinese medicine, where she practices the flexible and adaptable logic and truly holistic view of the body that is unique to the Eastern approach to health. Her goals after graduation are to pursue mentorship under master practitioners and to help advance and demonstrate the efficacy of Chinese medicine as a valid and effective form of healthcare.
Eleanor Turrell
Eleanor…
Teri Varillas
Teri Varillas discovered the healing power of acupuncture through her own health journey. After many years in a demanding corporate environment, she experienced chronic pain, fatigue, and a stress-related illness that conventional medicine could not resolve. Through consistent acupuncture and massage therapy treatments, she regained her vitality and developed a deep appreciation for the body’s ability to restore balance when supported holistically.
Motivated by this experience, Teri began her professional training in 2018 at the Carolina Massage Institute and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Acupuncture at the Jung Tao School of Chinese Medicine. She also maintains a private massage therapy practice in Durham, North Carolina, where she focuses on stress reduction, pain management, and supporting the body’s natural healing processes. Her clinical interests are orthopedics, insomnia, allergies, auto-immune conditions and perimenopause.
Outside of her studies and clinical work, Teri enjoys spending time with her family and two grandchildren in Chapel Hill, NC. Teri is an avid gardener, loves cooking, and exploring the outdoors. She also maintains a personal practice of yoga and mindfulness to cultivate harmony and presence in daily life.
Brandi Wells
I currently hold a Bachelor of Science in Accounting; however, my decision to pursue acupuncture began nearly 25 years ago and was inspired by a personal experience with Lyme disease, during which acupuncture was the only treatment that provided consistent relief from severe joint pain, neurological symptoms, and mobility issues. The combination of my profound experience with Chinese medicine and a significant nudge from my mother while she was battling lung cancer motivated me to fulfill my dreams and dedicate my career to the study and practice of acupuncture, with the goal of helping others find meaningful improvements in their health and quality of life. As an acupuncture intern, I am committed to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care while continuing to expand my clinical knowledge and skills.
Outside of the clinic, you will find me spending time with my family at the baseball field, supporting my son at his games, trying to catch a few football or basketball games of my grandsons, or at local venues supporting my spouse with his musical passion.
Looking ahead, I am dedicated to building a career as a licensed acupuncturist, where I can continue to serve patients with professionalism, empathy, and a deep commitment to holistic healing.
