Meet the Practitioners
Rebecca Ladizhensky, LAc
Rebecca Ladizhensky is the owner and founder of The Mend PDX and has been practicing Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine since 2013.
She is a board certified acupuncturist and herbalist, and is a trained functional medicine practitioner through the Institute for Functional Medicine. Rebecca received her Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches University. During her studies she completed training from Zhejiang Medical University in Hangzhou, China where she specialized in neurology and gynecology. She has also had extensive training and experience in sports medicine and pain management, gastrointestinal disorders, mental illness and reproductive health.
Rebecca’s greatest passion is showing patients how they can heal themselves in a meaningful, lasting way. She believes that by treating the body and the mind, people can feel better than they thought possible. There’s nothing that brings her more joy than seeing her patients not only feel well again, but also feel the empowerment and freedom that comes with good health.
Whether you’re struggling with back pain, anxiety, or digestive issues, a holistic approach to healing can be transformative and enlightening. This can be achieved through acupuncture, but also herbs and supplements, lifestyle and dietary coaching and so much more.
Over the years Rebecca has learned to practice what she preaches. She loves learning and constantly educating herself on all things health and wellness but she also makes sure to spend time with her loved ones, hike with her dogs, and get herself to the beach as often as possible.
Melissa Wheeler, LAc
Melissa Wheeler is a Licensed Acupuncturist, board certified through the NCCAOM.
As a former gymnast turned springboard diver, she competed at the college level and has had her share of injuries. She discovered acupuncture in 2013, and was immediately blown away by how much it helped her with anxiety and chronic pain. She was inspired to pursue her own training in Portland, OR and completed a Master’s program in Acupuncture.
Melissa has a deep passion for holding space for others. She aims to help as many people as she can to feel empowered in their own health. During her acupuncture training she worked in a high volume community-style clinic where she saw a wide variety of conditions including musculoskeletal pain, chronic headaches, fertility support, neuropathy, and mental-emotional health. Melissa believes that the body is capable of healing itself if given the proper support, and that connection and community can be a big part of that healing.
She is excited to be working at The Mend and expanding her practice, and is constantly learning new tools to help her patients.
When not practicing acupuncture, she loves any excuse to get outside with her dog and partner, running, swimming, and dabbling in creative projects.
Lili Hodgins, LAc
Liliann (Lili) Hodgins is a licensed and board certified acupuncturist and herbalist through NCCAOM.
Supported by her background in neuroscience research at UCLA, she received her Master's of Traditional Oriental Medicine at Emperor's College. After completing her degree, Lili moved to Oregon where she has been helping family, friends and patients ever since.
She believes that creating a safe space for people is integral to treatment, and that everyone heals at their own pace – and with the right support you can achieve significant milestones in both wellness and happiness.
From her perspective, acupuncture is not only a science but an art - and this leads to treatments that are a customized, individual experience tailored to your needs.Treating people is her happy place and she finds joy and peace in helping others find those things too.
While all acupuncturists are trained to treat the whole human, Lili specializes in orthopedics/pain management, trauma informed mental-emotional care and general wellness (including supplemental cosmetic care).
In her free time there's nothing Lili enjoys more than hiking through the woods or snuggling up with a good book and her cats, except exploring other worlds in video games with her partner.
Emily Costello, LAc
Emily Costello is a nationally certified and licensed acupuncturist in the state of Oregon. She graduated from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine with a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Emily’s goals and intentions for patients are to help them feel their best, get access to the care that they need, and increase their quality of life. Emily’s specialties include pain management, treatment of sport injuries, chronic illness management, and symptom management related to stress, anxiety, PTSD, or depression.
Emily was first introduced to Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine through a friend who had been going to an acupuncturist for pain. After studying as a pre-medical student in college, she decided she wanted to take a different approach to her career in medicine. Emily sought out acupuncture treatment and had such a wonderful, eye-opening experience that she decided to learn more.
Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture are beautiful representations of East Asian culture. Rooted in a deep relationship with nature, observation, study, and thousands of years of effort by Asian folks to bring forth a medicine that not only aids in treating symptoms related to disease but helps to delay or prevent the onset of disease, and/or the worsening of disease. Emily is honored and humbled to be able to offer this experience and the teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine to others.
In treatment with her you can expect a multifaceted and adaptable approach. From her personal experience patients have the most success when there are a constellation of health providers working together to provide a patient with the best care possible. Emily’s offerings include acupuncture, herbal medicine, lifestyle and dietary recommendations, bodywork, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, and more as she continues to learn and grow as a practitioner.
Tracy So, LMT
Tracy So is a licensed and board-certified massage therapist through the OBMT. As a graduate from the National Holistic Institute in San Francisco, CA, Tracy has been committed to enhancing wellness through the power of therapeutic touch since 2007. Her mission is to restore balance, alleviate tension and help others achieve optimal health and vitality.
Tracy focuses on personalized care, tailoring each session to individual client’s needs & working collaboratively to ensure comfort and understanding. Whether it’s easing muscular discomfort, reducing stress or aiding in recovery from an injury, she blends various techniques which can include deep tissue, aromatherapy, cupping and gua sha, to create a holistic and rejuvenating experience. She is also trained in prenatal massage and utilizes a specialized pillow which allows women to safely and comfortably lay face down at all stages of their pregnancy.
Tracy is dedicated to ongoing education and staying updated on the latest advancements in massage therapy. This allows her to continuously refine and enhance her practice, offering the best possible care to those she helps.
