About Barb

Barbara I. Schmidt is a licensed acupuncturist in Illinois.  Graduating in December 2000 Magna Cum Laude from Midwest College in Chicago, she began practicing in the July 2001 in the Hyde Park neighborhood on the City’s southside.  She has taught for Pacific College of Oriental Medicine since January 2002, and served as Assistant Academic Dean for the Chicago campus from 2003-2006.

Prior to becoming an acupuncturist, Barb worked as a consulting engineer, primarily on projects requiring hazardous waste delineation and characterization via computer visualization of contamination plumes.  She holds a bachelors and a masters degree in engineering from Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Says Barb of the path that has led her to acupuncture:  “In the mid 1990’s I realized that my career as a consulting engineer was not in line with my heart’s desire.  I knew I must find something to do with helping people rather than helping large corporations.  I simply realized that engineering did not “light my fire”.  I went to massage school and ended up with DeQuervain’s Disease (extensor tendonitis of the thumbs), thus cutting short my career as a body worker.  In an attempt to fix my body, I “discovered” acupuncture and to this day, am impressed with its power.”