MEET DR SUSAN
Dr. Susan Minich, DACM, LAc, CNM, MSN, Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, has dedicated more than 45 years to caring for women and their families. Her unique background as both a Certified Nurse-Midwife and Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine allows her to seamlessly integrate Western medicine with Traditional Chinese Medicine, providing compassionate, evidence-informed care.
Dr. Susan has delivered more than 8,000 babies and cared for thousands of women throughout her distinguished career as a Certified Nurse-Midwife. This extraordinary clinical experience gives her a unique understanding of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and women's health—expertise she now combines with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine to provide truly integrative, personalized care.
Dr. Susan began her career as a Certified Nurse-Midwife after earning her Master of Science in Nursing and Midwifery from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981. She spent many years in a full-time hospital-based nurse-midwifery practice providing comprehensive women's healthcare, including gynecology, pregnancy care, labor and birth, and postpartum care.
In 1988, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center recruited Dr. Susan to establish and implement its Nurse-Midwife Program. She also became a clinical educator for the OB/GYN and Family Medicine Residency Programs, teaching the normal physiology of pregnancy, childbirth, and women's health. During her distinguished career, she mentored future physicians, nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, nurses, and other healthcare professionals while advancing the care of women and families.
Inspired by a medical exchange trip to China with the American Academy of Medical Acupuncturists through the People to People Ambassador Program, Dr. Susan discovered the remarkable effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine. After visiting leading Traditional Chinese Medicine hospitals throughout China, she returned to Los Angeles to pursue formal training in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.
She earned her Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from Samra University of Oriental Medicine in 2004, graduating with the Academic and Clinical Performance Achievement Award, the school's highest honor. She continued advanced postgraduate training with internationally recognized Chinese medicine physicians in both the United States and China, including advanced clinical training at the Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center, one of the world's leading acupuncture teaching institutions.
In 2020, Dr. Susan completed her Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) at Pacific College of Health and Science.
Today, Dr. Susan combines decades of experience in Western medicine with the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine to provide truly integrative healthcare. She believes that optimal health begins with prevention and maintenance of our health, supported through nutrition, movement, healthy lifestyle choices, and restoring balance within the body, mind, and spirit.
Her private practice in Burbank, California, serves patients throughout Los Angeles, specializing in:
Fertility and reproductive wellness
IVF and IUI support
Pregnancy care and postpartum recovery
Women's health
Menopause and perimenopause
Endometriosis and fibroids
Painful or irregular menstrual cycles
Chinese herbal medicine
Acupuncture for women's and men's reproductive health
Dr. Susan works collaboratively with reproductive endocrinologists, fertility specialists, OB/GYN physicians, midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, and other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive, coordinated care for every patient.
Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Susan is an accomplished educator, lecturer, and author. She has served on the clinical faculty of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate Nurse-Midwifery Program, the California State University Graduate Nurse-Midwifery Program, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, and the USC Keck School of Medicine, where she teaches medical students about obstetrics, gynecology, and integrative medicine. She also mentors nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, nursing students, and resident physicians, sharing her unique approach to integrating Eastern and Western medicine.
Dr. Susan's passion for humanitarian medicine has taken her around the world. She has provided volunteer medical care and education for women and children in Bali, India, and Myanmar (Burma); taught acupuncture to local practitioners; visited the National Traditional Medicine Hospital in Bhutan; participated in medical conferences in Cuba; and attended the Global Health Summit Women's Leadership Forum in New Delhi, India.
When she is not caring for patients, Dr. Susan enjoys traveling the world with her husband, Alan, learning about different cultures, appreciating art, food, and spending time with her two beloved Standard Poodles, Winston and Charlie.
Dr. Susan welcomes the opportunity to help you achieve better health through the integration of Western medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine. Whether you are seeking support for fertility, pregnancy, women's health, or overall wellness, she is committed to providing compassionate, personalized care that honors your individual health journey.