Dr Julie Vecera
Dr Julie Vecera is one of Australia’s leading practitioners in women’s health and fertility and has presented widely on the topic of fertility acupuncture and women’s health through webinars and seminars over the past decade. Julie is a Dr of Chinese Medicine and is a certified Nutritionist practicing out of her own The Fertility Pod Acupuncture and Nutrition clinics located around Melbourne and Sydney. She also founded the Fertility Lifestyle Program which is a result of years helping couples across the world with infertility issues.
Through her close affiliation with Monash IVF Julie has been able to collaborate with some of Australia’s leading fertility specialists. Her collaborative approach to treatment has been embraced by many world renowned specialists and she has become a leader in bringing the notion of collaborative, conventional and complementary fertility treatment to the fore for practitioners and patients alike.
Passionate about educating couples, Julie has done much research on both the affects of food and lifestyle to boost fertility and the hormonal and autoimmune issues affecting women’s fertility health. Now one of Australia’s most in-demand practitioners for women’s health issues, Julie generously offers an enormous amount of time supporting couples through the stress of infertility with the successful Fertility Lifestyle Program which has grown internationally with support from worldwide renowned fertility specialists.
BA Health Science/Chinese Medicine
Post graduate in Nutrition
Southern School of Natural Therapies
Deakin University
Dr Meg Dooley
Meg is a registered Acupuncturist, Doctor of Chinese Medicine and Massage therapist. Her involvement in the Natural Health and Healing industry span over fifteen years and she is registered for Chinese Medicine on the Australian Health Practitioner Registry (AHPRA) and a member of the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA)
Meg graduated from RMIT University with a double degree in Applied Science/Chinese Medicine/Human Biology in 2006, her knowledge encompasses both Chinese Medicine, Nutritional Medicine and the Western Medical sciences.
Over five years Meg studied Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Pathology, Western Medical diagnosis and Pharmacology whilst also learning the art of Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment.
In 2006 she travelled to China to complete her clinical internship at Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Here she spent 5 months in the departments of Acupuncture, Gastroenterology, Gyneacology, Dermatology, learning from experienced Chinese Doctors in these fields and developed a special interest in Chinese Medical Gyneacology, Assisted Reproductive Medicine, Obstetric Acupuncture and Acupuncture for Emotional and Mental health.
Since completing her degree Meg has done further study in Classical Five Element Acupuncture, which is particularly effective for emotional disorders and is also currently a candidate in the Masters of Human Nutrition program at Deakin University.
Meg has now been practicing Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for over 8 years, she has predominantly directed her focus toward helping patients overcome Anxiety disorders, Natural Fertility enhancement and achieving better outcomes for IVF patients.
When consulting IVF patients her special interests lie in preparation for IVF cycles with Diet/Nutrition, stress management and improving the overall Gut Health of patients to enhance cellular uptake of nutrients and improve immune function and factors contributing to egg/sperm development. Meg is also interested in guiding patient through Liver detoxification in between IVF cycles to encourage natural hormonal balance and vitality.
BAppSci (Human Biology/Chinese Medicine)
Meg is the author of the eBook The YIN/Yang of Stress: 5 ways Chinese Medicine can help you achieve emotional balance, physical vitality and lasting peace of mind, and is currently developing an online course to help patients manage stress through Wholefoods, Movement & Breath, Nourishing the Spirit and Embracing Rest.
Dr Vivian Chow
Trained at RMIT University in Melbourne, Vivian was awarded the double degree in Applied Science/Chinese Medicine/Human Biology in 2007, as the Top Student with First Class Honors, excelling in Western Biomedical Sciences, Western Medical diagnosis and on top of traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment. Vivian has a special interest in Chinese Medical Gynaecology, Assisted Reproductive Medicine, Obstetric Acupuncture and Acupuncture for Emotional and Mental health.
Vivian aims to promote healthy fertility and pregnancy via a holistic approach, with personalized care plans and nutritional regimes, complemented Chinese traditional remedies as necessary including fertility acupuncture, herbal medicine, etc.
Vivian has over eight years experience in professional consultation and treats a wide range of health conditions in Chinese Medicine and joined the team at The Fertility Pod in 2011.
Qualifications & Awards
Registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
An accredited member of the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA).
Vivian is available at The Fertility Pod on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday in Carlton, Friday in Hawthorn.
Dr Sharmaine Nicholson
Chinese Medicine Practitioner
BA Health Science/Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture & Herbs)
APRHA CMR0001740003 ATMS23578
Sharmaine is one of Melbourne’s leading fertility acupuncturists and is a traditional Chinese medicine herbalist successfully helping couples conceive for the past 15 years.
She has worked with fertility patients (both male and female) to assist with – pregnancy support, pre-birth preparation and women’s health.
Sharmaine joined The Fertility Pod at its inception and brings her wealth of clinical experience and success of helping couples get pregnant and stay pregnant, naturally and/or by supporting IVF and other assisted reproduction protocols. Her Chinese medical experience and her current midwifery studies brings to her treatments a broad understanding of both eastern and western philosophies.
She can provide the treatment and support you need to help you navigate your fertility treatment more successfully prevent miscarriage support pregnancy and guide you through each trimester prepare for labour with pre-birth preparation.
Sharmaine concentrates on balancing the reproductive system and hormones, and reducing stress for both men and women. Her treatments are focused on each patients specific clinical presentation. Every patient is different and every patient is given the differentiated care and attention they need.
She utilizes acupuncture, herbal medicine, supplements, nutritional guidance and lifestyle counseling. Sharmaine works in conjunction with the patient’s doctor and health care provider to achieve the fastest, most beneficial results, and endeavours to create a healthy balance of natural and allopathic practices in their lives.
Sharmaine has found that male and female co-treatment brings about the best results for conception, reduced miscarriage, a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. She believes that healthy mums and dads to be have the best chance of making healthy babies.
Patients feel confident with Sharmaine’s natural, relaxed manner and her knowledge. She is well versed in the IVF journey and assisted reproductive protocols/medications working closely with doctors and various IVF clinics in Melbourne.
Sharmaine is also committed to helping people live happier, healthier lives with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine treating common ailments like colds and flus, immunity issues such as hayfever, headaches, and digestive disorders to name but a few.
Qualifications & Awards
Bachelor of Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine)
Awarded scholarship for a clinical internship at the renowned Kyung Hee University Hospital in Seoul. During this time she received specialist clinical training in the gynecology/reproductive health, pulmonary, endocrine, pediatric, hepatic and opthamalogy departments.
Dr Olivia Ma
Olivia Ma graduated from RMIT after completing her internship at the Jiangsu hospital in Nanjing, China. She has also worked as a practitioner assisting with fertility acupuncture in the Emergency Department of the Northern Hospital in Epping. Olivia is the fourth generation in her family practicing Chinese Medicine.
Olivia likes to incorporate traditional Chinese medicine with modern research to optimize treatment efficiency. She is also versed in Japanese acupuncture. She favors the gentle needling technique of Japanese acupuncture, and finds it especially beneficial for those who are sensitive or needle shy.
Olivia is passionate about assisting couples along their fertility journey, from pre-conception to post-natal care. She also loves treating dermatological cases and seeing the tangible skin response to acupuncture and herbs.
Olivia is available in Carlton on Tuesday and Sunday.
Dr Mira An
Dr. Mira An is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine – registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and is an accredited member of the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA).
Mira trained in Seoul, Korea as a clinical dietitian at Severance Hospital and realized food can play a core role in life changing health and fighting diseases. Mira spent a year in Beijing studying Chinese literature at Qing Hwa University and was fascinated about the classic theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine completing a double degree of Chinese Medicine & Human Biology at RMIT.
Mira utilizes Classical Five Element Acupuncture and Eight-Constitution Medicine with a deep insight in to somatic, social and physiologic aspects of human beings as a whole. She has a great interest in fertility, immunologic diseases, allergies, complementary dermatology as well as metabolic/endocrine imbalance.
