Gayla Marie Stiles, MS, LAc
Gayla Marie Stiles, MS, LAc, serves as an acupuncturist at University Hospitals Connor Whole Health and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s. She holds an acupuncture license in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, and is nationally board certified as a Diplomat of Acupuncture by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
Gayla has been devoted to working therapeutically with diverse populations throughout her life. In 1999, she completed her BFA in dance performance and pedagogy from Ohio University. As a professional modern dancer, she performed internationally and established outreach programs that used the transformative, healing and educational aspects of movement in schools, assisted living homes and hospital settings. She received her master’s degree from Tristate College of Acupuncture, and has continued her study of Japanese acupuncture with Kiiko Matsumoto, and Chinese Medicine and trauma with Lonnie Jarret. Gayla also has certifications in shonihari Japanese pediatric acupuncture with Takayuki Koei Kuwahara; aromatherapy with Jeffery Yuen; and Mantak Chia’s taoist yoga and chi nei tsang with Karin Sorvik. She has additional certifications in yoga, Thai yoga massage and craniosacral therapy with Michael Shea and the Upledger Institute.
As an acupuncturist, Gayla worked at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, in the pediatric Division of Stem Cell Transplant, Hematology & Oncology and in the adult Division of Breast, Gastro-Intestinal, and Neuro-Oncology in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She had the honor of supporting patients and their families throughout the many stages of treatment including transplant, clinical trials, hospice and survivorship. During her tenure, she co-authored “Acupuncture for Pediatric Sickle Cell Pain Management: A Promising Non-Opioid Therapy,'' which was published in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, presented at the 2020 Pediatric Academic Societies Conference and awarded the 2020 First Place Research Award by the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. Gayla also worked at SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology’s Integrative Health Clinic where she offered compassionately driven care to support health and treat symptoms related to gender-affirming procedures, STI/STDs, pain, mood, gynecological and gastrointestinal disorders.
Gayla is a founding member of The Garrison Institutes’ Contemplative Based Resilience (CBR) program. This program weaves the principles of Asian Medicine, neuroscience/psychosocial education about stress, and compassion practices to fortify inner resilience for survivors of violence and substance abuse, as well as to promote a culture of health and wellness for health and human service workers.
Education and Credentials
- Master of Science in Acupuncture, Tristate College of Acupuncture
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ohio University
- Diplomat of Acupuncture, NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine)
- License in Acupuncture, Ohio State Medical Board
- License in Acupuncture, Pennsylvania State Medical Board
- License in Acupuncture, New York State Office of Professions
- Member, Ohio Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
- Member, Society of Integrative Oncology