In short, it began with two friends sharing a common vision. Steve Drugan and Sue Bowlus believe strongly in acupuncture’s place in mainstream healthcare, and they want to elevate the profession of acupuncture to help make that happen.
Steve and Sue were instant friends that also practiced acupuncture. They both have backgrounds working in hospitals and with western medicine. Their belief in acupuncture and approach has been congruent in determining ways to make acupuncture more mainstream. Steve and Sue both graduated from the American Institute of Alternative Medicine and have been practicing for over 10 years.
Together they opened Urban Acupuncture Center in Columbus, Ohio in 2010. It is a hybrid clinic of community acupuncture and private treatments. They have 9 acupuncturists on staff, and the clinic sees over 1000 patients a month. They have 2 locations in Columbus, and look to expand in the future.
Steve also maintains his own private practice, Acupuncture of Columbus. He also worked as an acupuncturist for 5 years with Nationwide Children’s Hospital on their pain management team. Sue has been a registered nurse since 1999 and has worked in most departments of over 10 different hospitals. These backgrounds have given them the ability to see how they can better integrate acupuncture as a primary therapy option for patients.
Steve and Sue give regular talks to the Ohio State University Cancer Survivorship programs. Urban Acupuncture Center has also been a vendor for both OSU and for the VA Hospital.
Other places they’ve had the opportunity to educate groups on acupuncture include:
- OSU’s Pharmacy School
- Parkinson’s Symposium
- Commencement Address for their alma mater, American Institute of Alternative Medicine
- Ohio Physical Therapist Conference
- Ohio Health’s Stroke Survivor Group