Dr. Justin Penoyer MS, LAc, DACM is a graduate of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, earning his Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2009 and Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine in 2016.

Justin is originally from a small farming town along the Mississippi River in northwestern Illinois, where he earned a trade degree in horticulture before entering Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa. There, he graduated with a double major in history and philosophy, was a Dean’s List honorary, and was a Socrates Award recipient for outstanding achievement in the field of philosophy. Shortly after graduation, Justin experienced a traumatic injury that led to his discovery of acupuncture, which would play a significant role in his recovery from nerve damage. He ultimately came away with a deep respect for both needle therapy and the natural philosophy embedded within traditional Chinese medicine.

In addition to practicing medicine, Justin directs operations at Three Hawk Ridge, an American ginseng farmette and regenerative agroforestry study in Illinois. He co-founded AcroAma Blends with renowned Chef Stephen Dowe, as well as the Chinese herbal and granular compounding service Su Wu Herbs. Justin is equally comfortable conducting clinical grand rounds, consulting on classical treatment strategies, or equipping his forestry gear to study the effects of climate change on microclimatic conditions in the Driftless area of the American Midwest.

In his free time, Justin has long enjoyed playing guitar, and enjoys reading on the subjects of medical science and ethics, early Chinese history and philosophy, systems thinking, and environmental conservation. He is the proud father of three and lives with his children and their Australian shepherd, Charlemagne, in Northwest Illinois.