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Drew Taylor MS, LAc, ATC

      I am currently a practicing Acupuncturist in the Charlotte area. After growing up in Charlotte and partially attending Western Carolina, I graduated from Appalachain State with a B.S. in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training and a minor in Asian Studies. Of course everyone asked me, "What the heck are you gonna do with a minor in Asian Studies and a degree in Sports Medicine?" So, I did the only logical thing that came to mind, signed my life away to a four year (year round) Master's degree program for Oriental Medicine. California has always been known to have the most selective licensing procedures as well as the best learning institutions for Oriental Medicine, so I ventured to Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, in ever-sunny San Diego.

While in San Diego, I was lucky enough to continue working in Sports Medicine as an Athletic Trainer within Professional Ice Hockey and Professional Soccer. But after graduation I chose to turn down a position as head Athletic Trainer with the San Diego Spirit (WUSA Professional Women's Soccer) to travel and spend the last of my student loan money! So I found myself in Hong Kong for a little while, and then in Thailand and Vietnam as well.

Soon after that, I decided that it was time to pull everything together and start up my own clinic back in my hometown of Charlotte. And that is exactly where I am today.

Sports Medicine Experience
Organization Position Description
San Diego Gulls Pro Hockey Team Assistant Athletic Trainer Mentored under Head Trainer Bill Taylor (no relation) and eventually took full responsibilities of the team in his occasional absence. This included all rehab, taping, traveling, etc.
San Diego Flash Pro Soccer Team Head Athletic Trainer Responsible for the prevention, assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, and care of any and all injuries to the team. Just as with the Gulls, I worked with a network of physicians to ensure that every athlete had the best possible care.
Hong Kong Nat'l Rugby Team U14 Head Athletic Trainer Traveled to Singapore and Australia from Hong Kong to administer trainer responsibilities to Hong Kong's Under 14 National Rugby team. I received much more experience than I wanted working with heat illness and food poisoning.
Iolani School, Honolulu Assistant Athletic Trainer Assisted two head trainers in the care of over 850 athletes in all sports from Football to Water Polo.
Army and Navy Academy, Carlsbad,CA Head Athletic Trainer In charge of everything involving injuries in any and all sports at this Military style high school.

* This is only a partial listing.

     My Sports Medicine experience has taken me half way around the world and given me the opportunity to work with professional athletes such as Alexi Lalas and Ken Shamrock as well as players and former players from the NHL, WCHL, ECHL, MLS, and the prestigious Hong Kong Football Club, to name a few.



Chinese Medicine Experience

      For the first two years of my formal Oriental Medicine training, I worked (when I had time) as an assistant with some of my college's top professors in their private practices. The third year I worked as a clinical assistant in the student facility where I saw several hundred patients over the year.

      During the final year of my four year (year round) Master's degree in Oriental Medicine, I was required to treat well over 300 patients all while being mentored under practitioners with no less than 15 years experience. Some of this time was spent in externship situations including one semester working with end stage disease at the San Diego Hospice's In-patient care facility (we're talking very end stage, about two week survival on average.) Another semester was spent working at UCSD's Rimac Training Room, where under the tutelage of Super-Acupuncturist and all around good guy, Matt Callison L.Ac, we treated injured athletes in conjunction with the college's Athletic Training staff.

     Then I decided to travel to Asia to find a mentor in order to further my studies even more. After spending some time in Hong Kong, I learned very quickly that my education was much more complete than many who are practicing in China! I did spend time learning valuble skills from a local "bone-setter" who specializes in using Chinese Medicine to treat traumatic injury. After seeing the incredible results he gets with some of his herbal plasters, I have decided to use some of his herbal formulas in my own practice. I felt very fortunate to be able to learn from him as he turns most "round eyes" in search of his secrets away. If it were not for the fact that he is my Kung-Fu teacher's teacher, he would have never agreed to be my mentor. You can learn a little about him at my Kung-Fu page.



What I do

There is an ever increasing need in today's healthcare system to provide alternative systems of treatment to sports and orthopedic injuries. All too often surgery and long term pharmaceutical use is a first resort as opposed to a last resort. Using Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, trigger point massage, and advanced rehabilitative exercises, I treat a multitude of orthopedic injuries. This includes everything from carpal tunnel syndrome and low back pain to traumatic injuries of the joints and muscles.

However, my training is not limited to musculoskeletal injuries alone. I also practice traditional Chinese internal medicine in disorders such as insomnia, hypertension, OB/GYN concerns, HIV management, etc. If you would like to know if I can help your particular condition, please feel free to E-Mail me or call my office at (704) 968-9503.