Manchester Acupuncture Studio is a group practice opened in June 2007 as a way to offer an alternative to high costs of acupuncture in our communities. We bring 50+ years of combined clinical experience to you. Along with our fellow members at the People's Organization of Community Acupuncture (POCA), we work to educate, employ, encourage, train and mentor people who wish to make acupuncture available to anybody in the U.S. who is interested, regardless of means or insurance coverage. Join us!
(Dan Merlo photography @ Elizabeth's wedding!)
Andy Wegman, LAc. (he/him/his) and executive director has been practicing acupuncture for over 25 years. He is a graduate of both Stonehill College and The New England School of Acupuncture, both located in Massachusetts.
He is indebted to the many patients, co-workers, friends and family members who have and continue to offer support, opportunities and lessons to him on a regular basis.
He and his wife Karen live in New Boston where they are bossed around by a dog named Daisy.
Elizabeth Ropp, LAc (she/her/hers) graduated from the Atlantic University of Chinese Medicine in 2006. She joined MAS in 2010 and is happy to be part of the team. She received an award for Advocacy and Vision from the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) in 2019. That same year she was nominated as "Provider of the Year" with the NH Provider's Association. Elizabeth lives in Manchester with her husband Eric and their photogenic cats, Pee Wee Herman and Senator Bernie Sanders.
Lauren Smith, LAc. (she/her, they/them) is a graduate of Lesley University and New England School of Acupuncture. They have been practicing acupuncture since 2017, and has been practicing Community Acupuncture since 2018.
A new resident of NH, they enjoy spending time kayaking, camping and hiking and relishes the newfound closeness to the mountains and the lakes region. Also in their spare time, Lauren enjoys learning new skills, such as brewing beer and cider, leather working and experimenting in the kitchen.
Beth Griffey MD, LAc came to acupuncture later in life. Having been raised in a medical family, she followed her parents and siblings into Western medicine. She retired from general surgery after twelve years, and was amazed to find her way into eastern medicine in 2018 after receiving an acupuncture treatment. She walked out of that acupuncture clinic and immediately applied to New England School of Acupuncture at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Upon graduating she received a Master’s degree in Acupuncture. She now looks forward to giving back to her community by offering affordable acupuncture treatments via MAS to as many people as she can.
Marco Martino, LAc. grew up in New Hampshire and began his acupuncture education after a car accident left him with chronic pain that was unresolved until meeting an old acupuncturist and pulse master from China. Since 2015, Marco has taken annual trips to Miami to see her for treatment and mentorship. After a few years of persistent questions into the theory of oriental medicine, she suggested he go to school for it.
In 2017, with an undergraduate study focused on health science, he moved to New York City and began a graduate program studying orthopedic acupuncture at Tristate College of Acupuncture. Eventually, he transferred to Pacific College of Health and Science to focus on acupuncture and internal medicine. After graduating in 2021 he returned home to NH to share the medicine with his home community.
Rachel Bolton LAc. began her study of medicine during her undergraduate years at Curry College where she was first introduced to Acupuncture in 2017 during a class lecture. Less than a year later she embarked on the journey of a lifetime traveling cross country to continue her education at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM). In 2024, she returned to New England with her fiancé and two cats in tow.
She is excited for the opportunity to work at MAS and become part of such a wonderful organization, aligned wholeheartedly with the mission of affordability and accessibility to acupuncture. Influenced by years of working as a florist and garden center clerk during her school years Rachel believes the body is a garden that does best when regularly tended and nurtured.
MAS Front Desk Staff
Nancy Berry is a retired psychotherapist who occasionally during working days, fantasized about being a receptionist. This dream is now a reality.
Her retirement has been made vastly better thanks to all the people met here at Manchester Acupuncture Studio over the years.
Ken Marchand never got his acceptance letter from Hogwarts. So he left the Shire, with ring, to become a Jedi and retake the Iron Throne and the Seven Kingdoms.
Mary Murray (she/her/hers) is a Spiritual seeker, life-long learner, lover of truth and justice and an advocate for the oppressed. A Massachusetts native now living in Goffstown, NH.
In her spare time she plays guitar and sings, reads and spends time in nature. She loves working at MAS and being a part of community healthcare for the people.
Esther McDonald is a native of NH and a retired nurse. She's very happy to be a part of the MAS staff.
Esther is interested in crafts, sewing, gardening and reading as well as spending time with her two grandchildren. Her 2 dogs and 3 cats happily take up her time as well.
Michelle Reney is a native of New Hampshire; born and raised in Manchester. She resides in Pembroke with her husband of 25+ years, Lyle. When not working, she and Lyle love to travel and experience new places and hope to complete visiting all 50 states in the coming years. When home, she enjoys bird watching, flower gardening, reading and jigsaw puzzles not to mention a daily dose of wordle. When she can find them, she also welcomes the challenge of a cryptoquip puzzle.
Michelle is excited to be a part of the MAS team.
The Board of Directors
Lisa Crider
Hede Griem
Amy Young
Francine Hirsch
Jim Connors
Andrew Wegman