Alice Peck, Author + Editor

"Dr. Pooja Amy Shah is a marvel! A remarkable doctor, a lively intellect, and a thoughtful listener. I came to her for chronic hip, knee, and arm pain and she treated it with a synthesis of functional medicine, Japanese acupuncture, nutrition, herbs, exercise, and meditation balanced with a thorough knowledge of Western (allopathic) medicine and common sense. I feel better, sleep better, have more energy, and am empowered to heal myself through all I’ve learned from her.  After years of seeking treatment from too many doctors I’ve found one I can rely on, who sees me, and who has guided me onto a path of genuine wellbeing."

Gabrielle Levy, Commercial Agency Producer 

“Dr. Shah was the hero I needed but never knew I’d find. After years of struggling with seemingly unrelated/disparate symptoms that were severely impacting my life and my happiness, she stepped in as the most incredible medical journey guide. She constantly takes the time to remind me that I have her and I am not alone in this. 

Her dedication to mind-body connection, in addition to her expert inclusion of both eastern, and traditional western medicine is remarkable. 

She believes in longer appointments than I was used to but quickly understood, was part of the key to her magic. She didn’t just get to know my symptoms. She gets to know ME. 

She knows what triggers my overwhelm and what protocols are more suitable for my lifestyle right now. She constantly balances both of those components, resulting in treatment and maintenance plans that are attainable and empowering.

Dr. Shah is without a doubt the most calming, empathetic and dedicated physician I have ever been treated by and so long as she’ll continue to have me… she has a patient for life.” 

Amanda Adili, LCSW-SEP, Psychotherapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner/trauma therapisT

“Dr. Shah is an incredibly thoughtful, kind, thorough and wise healer who uses her natural instincts, presence and superb expertise to work collaboratively for mind-body-soul health.

Dr Shah's gentle and consistently attuned approach is exactly what the world needs for continued healing. She has helped me heal a myriad of symptoms and gain more overall balance. Dr. Shah is talented with acupuncture which provides a lovely adjunct to her Eastern/Western/integrative/functional approach.

I especially appreciate the less-is-more approach, and her humility and honesty as part of the medical profession; if she doesn't know something, she acknowledges it and is open to researching. I trust her implicitly.”

Robin Baudreau, Senior Creative Producer

“Meeting Dr. Shah was exactly what I needed, exactly when I needed it. After spending years explaining to countless doctors that I just didn't feel right and continually being dismissed, finding Dr. Shah was quite literally the answer to my problems.

She is what every doctor should strive to be: empathetic, engaged, curious and well-learned regarding various healing modalities, and willing to think outside of the box. In the year that I have seen her I have felt like my best self - mentally, physically, and emotionally. Each appointment with her is like a combined therapy session and physical doctor's appointment.

She is genuinely a wonderful person and a mindful doctor who knows that body, mind, and soul are connected and treats her patient like the whole person that they are.”

Nick C, Painter

“I had a long-standing set of “idiopathic” symptoms that don’t fit within the standard medical diagnosis/treatment paradigm. A raft of specialists over the years had come up empty. My wife was having great results with Dr. Shah and suggested I reach out and schedule an initial consultation. I did just that, and it’s the best decision I’ve made in years.

Dr. Shah is a compassionate, perceptive healer with a talent for bringing her expansive knowledge to bear on complex problems. She sees the whole picture. It has been an enormous relief to find an integrative mind-body doctor who effectively identifies and treats causes rather than symptoms. I feel better after three sessions than I have in my entire adult life. Dr. Shah makes me feel seen, heard and respected. I trust and recommend her without reservation.”

Prefers to Remain Anonymous

“After three years of feeling constant gastrointestinal discomfort and constant bloating, Dr. Shah truly helped change my life. I had accepted that chronic pain and bloating was simply going to be part of my life, but Dr. Shah showed me that this should not be the case for anyone, especially a 20-something with an entire life ahead.

Using her multifaceted approach involving both Eastern and Western healing practices, Dr. Shah set up a plan to put me on a path to wellness. To her, no problem I presented was too large or unanswerable because of both her talent and her genuine desire to help me achieve true, holistic wellness. Unlike many other doctors, Dr. Shah’s goal is to guide you to wellness and give you the tools you need to maintain it on your own, in a way that suits your life. 

She has changed my life for the better both physically and mentally and for that I will be forever grateful.”

Alex G, Art Consultant + Advisor

“I feel so fortunate to have found my way to Dr. Pooja Amy Shah. I initially sought her out for treatment of chronic back pain that Western medical methodologies had failed to adequately address and along the way I have forged a meaningful, holistic, and enormously supportive healing relationship with Dr. Shah.

She is one of the most deeply kind and caring medical professionals with whom I've ever worked. Though acupuncture itself is at times unpleasant, she takes great care to ensure that her patients are comfortable, informed, and at ease, and for these reasons alone I am very grateful. I enthusiastically recommend Dr. Shah and her practice, not least of all for her help in managing my chronic pain, but also for the overall experience of working with her, which is positive, balanced, and compassionate.” 

Prefers to Remain Anonymous

“In addition to being an amazing listener, healer, and generally wonderful human, Dr. Shah’s holistic approach to my overall health and well being has impacted me more than words can say. It’s not an overstatement to say that her specific combination of Eastern and Western medicine has changed my life.

It’s such a rare gift to meet a doctor that offers you such quality time and to make you feel so heard.

Dr. Shah has offered me healing wisdom along with advice from her heart. Be it through functional medicine, acupuncture, herbal supplements, or insightful words of encouragement, my journey with Dr. Shah has been one of incredible healing, intuition, and inspiration.

I am so incredibly grateful to have met her and to have had the opportunity to work with her these past few years - and I hope to know her for years to come.”

Austin Nathaniel, Director of Operations, Capacity Interactive Consulting

“I started seeing Dr. Shah after years of struggling to lose the weight I’d gained as a result of being on SSRIs for far too long. I’d had some very negative, judgmental experiences with doctors previously when it came to weight loss and was very hesitant to engage again when my therapist recommended I try an integrative medicine approach with Dr. Shah. I’m so glad I was able to push through that discomfort. Within the first fifteen minutes of meeting with her, I could tell that this was going to be an entirely different experience.

Dr. Shah’s incredible empathy immediately gave me a level of comfort I’d never felt when dealing with these issues before. I felt seen and cared for as a whole person instead of someone who’d been broken and needed to be fixed. That feeling of safety Dr. Shah created has been the key to opening myself to new pathways forward.

She has worked through the full spectrum of Western and Eastern medical considerations and included me in crafting a plan I could be comfortable implementing. She has helped me look at elements of my health like sleep and mindfulness that I’d never connected to weight loss before. The resulting changes I’m making with her help have been revelatory and the benefits I’m feeling extend so much further than the weight loss I’d initially come to her to solve.

Our plan has constantly evolved as we continue to work together to make sure it fits my life and continues to produce results. I feel challenged in the best way possible to reimagine old habits and patterns while also exploring new practices I was a bit hesitant to try like mindfulness and acupuncture. I’ve made so many discoveries about myself, my body, and my mind through this process.

I have a ways to go, but Dr. Shah is the first person I’ve met who's helped me understand that the journey is what’s going to be most important to my long term wellness, not the destination. It’s a radically different and wonderful way to look at my health. I’m so grateful for this experience and Dr. Shah’s excellent guidance.”

Jennifer R, Mediator + MOM

“I hit this point in adulthood, around the time of my first pregnancy, that I wanted to take care of my health in lasting ways. I really wanted to look at the whole system, to support long term vitality. I moved away from traditional doctors, but then found that I was still not resolving some pressing health issues. I even made the decision to go to a leading hospital’s functional medicine program, and it left me with way more questions rather than answers.

Finally, I was recommended Dr. Shah, and for the first time I could feel rest assured that we could take active steps to look at my health. Dr. Shah’s precision to look at the whole system has allowed me to find lasting change. Being informed through blood work panels and in-depth conversations, I have been able to tackle issues from energy to TMJ to allergies. I know that I am creating a strong foundation of health, and that we will continue adjust which interventions I might need in future stages.

I’ve also realized that Dr. Shah’s approach is very compatible for telemedicine. This makes me rest assured, that I can continue to benefit from her deep care and expertise even though we’re in the middle of a pandemic.”

Prefers to Remain Anonymous

“Dr. Shah is a beacon of brilliant light! I sought out Dr. Shah at the suggestion of my therapist when I expressed my desire to discontinue my anti-depressants under the care of a holistic doctor. I could not have chosen a more competent provider to take on this challenge. After completing a comprehensive intake, bloodwork and testing all aspects of body functions, Dr. Shah prescribed me the appropriate vitamins, nutritional supplements, and mindfulness practices to help me successfully taper off my medications.

Dr. Shah was patient, attuned to my concerns, extremely responsive and empathetic. Her interventions and homework assignments were very well tailored to my needs . Dr. Shah is truly a gem of a human being, a beautiful soul and I can’t thank her enough for all that she’s done to help me.”

Susie Noddle, Professional Real Estate Agent

“For so many years I struggled to feel “well”. It wasn’t that I was ill, I just always felt a bit off and struggled with a non-specific autoimmune issue. While researching alternative and integrative medicines, I came upon Dr. Shah and was drawn to her and her practice.

While I was busy running around searching for the magic bullet to feel “well”, Dr. Shah was practicing wellness of both body and mind. At our first appointment, I began to understand and feel a difference. With all of the appointments and doctors I was seeing, not one of them stopped and took the time to understand all of me. What a joy it was to have a doctor ask questions of me for a change!

Dr. Shah proceeded to put together a “toolbox” for me. Together we worked on meditation, diet, removing medicines and adding supplements, acupuncture, mind body lessons and more.

Honestly, without her help and her guidance, I am not sure how I would be today, during this crazy time in our world. Dr. Shah is truly a gifted healer and the combination of Western and Eastern traditions helps make her so. Her true touch, however, lies in her beautiful spirit and energy both of which resonate from the moment you meet her.”

Jessie Pellegrino, Assistant Prop Master

“I initially went to see Dr. Shah because I was experiencing some hormonal imbalances and was immediately put at ease by her presence, attention, curiosity, and empathy. So much so that we were able to explore the underlying causes of stress and anxiety that were throwing my hormones out of whack. She came up with a comprehensive wellness plan that included acupuncture, vitamins, supplements, and diet suggestions.

I knew when she recommended loving-kindness meditation and a book on self-compassion that I had finally found the right doctor for me! It is so refreshing to see a doctor who looks at the whole picture of health - the mind, body and the spirit when offering treatment and guidance.

It is life changing stuff.

I feel so grateful to have found Dr. Shah. She is a rare healer, empath, and all around incredible human being. I can't recommend her enough!”

Prefers to remain anonymous

"My story is a very simple testimonial about Dr. Shah.
I was in a severe medical crisis that the very top of the medical profession in my state could not determine the cause and therefore no one could help me. I was referred to Dr. Shah by a friend and Dr. Shah diagnosed me within a few visits.

I was experiencing a very rare reaction and she put me on the road to recovery that has been long and hard. Dr. Shah navigated a path forward for me with great insight and sensitivity. She distinguished herself in so many ways on my journey back to health."

Marin Day, Dancer, Arts Advocate, Yoga Teacher + Child Educator

“It is very telling that my visits with Dr. Shah always begin with being offered a cup of tea and a simple question, “How are you?” This echoes the welcoming energy I feel in Dr. Shah’s presence and the incredible care and attention she has for her patients’ full being and needs.

I came to Dr. Shah with chronic digestive discomfort and acne. She helped me understand how so much of what I was experiencing was related. She also illuminated the huge role of stress and anxiety in these struggles. While she supported me in unraveling layers of pain through talking, acupuncture and supplements she constantly encouraged me to generate more compassion and kindness towards myself.

Simultaneously, she looked at my various blood tests and utilized her training as an MD to be sure there wasn’t something that needed to be addressed with more traditional Western methods.

As a patient it is really special to work with someone who can bring various medicinal practices in to conversation with each other. Not only did Dr. Shah treat me, but she also empowered me with tools that I will value and hold dear for the rest of my life.

She has been incredibly influential in my healing and has shifted my relationship to myself and my body in monumental ways. For this I am so grateful!”

Sah D' Simone, Transformational Coach + Meditation Teacher

"Dr. Shah is what I consider a high vision healer. I came in to see Dr. Shah because I was having spells of light-headedness and I was feeling exhausted, not balanced, energized and clear as I normally do when I return from teaching retreats in Mexico. During our session, she did a full history, comprehensive physical exam, medical acupuncture, and myofascial release in my neck.

She also made some recommendations about my diet, labs, and a vitamin I should start taking. I followed her advice, and it has helped immensely. By the end of our session together I already felt better, and over the following months, I felt completely restored and back to my healthy, vibrant self. She is a gifted healer and I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

Laila K Lott, Jewelry Designer + Artist

“Dr. Shah is one of the most amazing doctors / healers I’ve had the pleasure of seeing. I’d struggled with crippling digestive issues and anxiety for over a decade and been to every kind of doctor or naturopath in the city without ever making much headway. 

When I finally met Dr. Shah, now almost three years ago, it was such an immense relief. It’s so rare to meet a doctor who cares so genuinely about their patients and actually listens. She focused on connecting mental and bodily issues and from there worked on identifying patterns that have given me such a different idea of how to approach my everyday health. 

Using simple natural soothing supplements and acupuncture (which I had never liked before), and providing me with a calming new awareness of how my body reacts to stress, she has completely changed my day to day life. I’m so grateful to have found her and know she will be the person I trust with my health for a very long time.”

Holly White, Certified Nurse Midwife

"When I injured my neck so badly that I had to leave in the middle of a shift delivering babies at the hospital where I work as a midwife, I went directly to Urgent Care, leaving with steroids, an x-ray, and an unsurprising diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy. After weeks without relief from the pain, excruciating days at work, and poor sleep, an old friend of mine who is a Nurse Practitioner recommended going to Dr Shah.

My two visits with her changed everything. She was incredibly respectful, positive, thorough and a fantastic listener. I was put at ease by the fact that she is a MD and well versed in standard medicine, but it was her acuity with acupuncture that saved me. After one session my pain was gone, leaving only a small amount of numbness and achiness which was relieved by our second session.

My 20 years in health care has shown me how rare it is to find a provider who is such an exceptional communicator as well as being remarkably skilled. I would recommend Dr. Shah highly to anyone.”

Tina Sindwani, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai

"Dr. Shah provides the type of care and treatments you truly need but that you didn’t know you needed... 

She is an empathetic, thoughtful, knowledgable, and highly skilled practitioner who makes patients feel heard and cared for. Her integrative and functional medicine background combined with her Western medical expertise allow her to provide multiple therapeutic approaches specifically tailored to each patient.

Highly recommend.”

Ani Simon-Kennedy, Writer + Director

“Seeing Dr. Pooja Amy Shah has really shifted my personal stance on health and wellbeing. She's a tremendous listener, and I felt like I was finally able to discuss any health issue, big or small, with no judgment.

Her combination of Eastern and Western medicine, coupled with acupuncture has been transformative for me.

She's a natural empath, and takes a truly holistic approach to healing. Every time I've met with her, I've felt feeling calmer, lighter and more in touch with myself.”

Rachel Hammerman, Mindful Communication + Career Coach

"I know that I wouldn't be in the place I'm at with my health without Dr. Shah's care. Dr. Shah treated me as a human being, not a disorder. I came in for a serious and chronic issue requiring multiple medical specialists. After thoroughly analyzing my health from a Western and Eastern medical perspective, she created a space and path for me to heal better.

She made me feel understood, well-cared for and at ease during my medical acupuncture treatments. Her treatment plan gave me the clear and kind energetic boost I needed to stabilize my health and awaken my well-being in mind, heart and body. With Dr. Shah, you are in good hands — the hands of a modern, mindful healer.”

Oanh-Nhi Nguyen, NoVo Foundation Initiative Associate

“I have been on a healing journey these past five years --- practicing to be more in tune with my mind, body, and spirit. I was looking for a doctor who also viewed their work as a healer and I feel so grateful to have met Dr. Shah when I did. It is such a blessing to have a doctor who sees you as a whole person (and also one who knows how to do acupuncture!! ;)).

Dr. Shah has not only helped me to determine the root causes of my illnesses and pain but she has shared so much knowledge to help me be more present in my body and to deepen my Buddhist roots and meditation practice. It has been transformative for me to have met her when I did.

As a result of the amazing resource and presence she has, my mind, body and spirit have shifted in a beautiful way. She has indirectly impacted my relationships with my family and friends as well as helped me gain clarity of my passion. Dr Shah's work is transformative, spiritual, and powerful.

Thank you for all that you do, Dr. Shah!”

Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks Editor, Business Insider

"Dr. Shah is without a doubt the most compassionate and knowledgeable doctor I’ve ever been treated by. I came to her for medical acupuncture to deal with my chronic back and shoulder pain, and after only a few treatments, I experienced what it was like to be pain-free for the first time. It literally brought me to tears, as I had spent so many years resigned to the fact that I’d never be able to feel “normal” again.

Dr. Shah has so much empathy for her patients, and puts so much effort into creating a comfortable, safe environment for healing. In a world where the medical industry seems to put profit over human life, Dr. Shah puts her values of dignity, respect, and compassion first — which is beyond evident in the way she practices medicine.”

Ksenia Avdulova, Founder of Breakfast Criminals and podcast Woke + Wired

"Dr. Pooja Amy Shah is such a gift! I'd never experienced SO many healing gifts in one room, all at my service, at once! We started with an overall health and nutrition talk (based on ancient wisdom and intuition instead of rigidity), followed by Japanese acupuncture and myofascial release to address stress-related tension in my neck.

It was life-changing!

I slept like a baby that first night (and every time we met from then on), and am so grateful that I was left with auricular acupuncture microneedles in my ears for a few days to prolong the magic of the session. Every time I press them, I'm back to feeling grounded and centered."


Anna Morgenstern, Dating Coach + Online Matchmaker

"I went to Dr. Shah for a holistic view on my overall health. I wanted to understand why I was feeling the way I was rather than just covering up systems. The acupuncture, herbs and supplements have really helped and we came up with a new morning routine for me that has increased my overall productiveness each day. It felt great to see a doctor who actually listened and asked questions and really got to know me and my health concerns."

Shelley Orenstein, Business Consultant + Mentor

"Dr. Shah is a smart, intuitive healer for people who are looking for alternatives yet want to know their doctor is well-educated. She considers the whole body because she knows that is how we should be observed so the best care can be provided.” 

Monica Mehta, PharmD, MPH, Clinical Pharmacist, Infectious Diseases

"Dr. Shah has a unique gift and I wish everyone could benefit from her thoughtfully integrated approach. She is part of the solution of what ails the healthcare system in the U.S.  From my perspective, Western medicine is excellent at certain things: surgery, treating infections with anti-infective agents, oncology, and organ transplantation. However, with many chronic conditions such as: aches and pains, chronic musculoskeletal pain, and physical manifestations of stress (often abdominal for me!), Western medicine rarely has the answer. 

On the other hand, Eastern medicine and herbal/dietary supplementation may be effective for some diseases. However, it is not clear how they interact with other medications, if they are effective without certain lifestyle modifications, or long-term safety. I always say, anything with an effect can have a side effect. 

All this to say, Dr. Shah is formally trained in Western (allopathic) medicine and specially trained in integrative and Eastern medicine practices. And therefore, she knows how to combine these approaches thoughtfully, taking the best of both. And also she is a good listener and an empathetic and patient human being. 

I don’t know how she did it, but the first time I saw her, she identified some abdominal tenderness and TMJ pain that were relieved by medical acupuncture, myofascial release, heat, and pressure points. The next day, I woke up feeling so unencumbered. I would do treatments like this over taking pain medications any day!"

Christopher Rosales, Professional Photographer

“Dr. Shah listens and that’s what sold me. I was experiencing back pain for the first time in my adult life, and it was interfering with my work. Through conversation, we examined issues I had previously considered irrelevant. Her intelligent and considerate use of medical acupuncture gave me immediate relief. Today I live differently because of Dr. Shah’s understanding of the body-mind connection.

“There are very few individuals like Dr. Shah in the world. I highly recommend her to anyone in need of medical care.”

Nell Tivnan, Production Designer

"I initially went to Dr. Shah to treat some stress/gastric issues, but I loved how comprehensive her care was. She was such an attentive listener, I ended up listing every tiny problem I could think of. Dr. Shah took each of my concerns seriously, regardless of how unimportant they seemed to me.

She did medical acupuncture to treat my main issues, but also helped me with a monster knot in my back, neck tension and minor sinus pain. Every other doctor I’ve ever seen has made me believe that these were the normal aches and pains of life and not worth discussing. How refreshing for someone to care!”

Virginia Inés Vergara, Artist and Photographer

"I was a first timer to medical acupuncture and even after my first appointment with Dr. Shah, I can not recommend her highly enough.

I did not come in for any specific pain, but I generally carry heavy equipment and experience anxiety and tension on a day-to-day basis, like most New Yorkers. I did not know that medical acupuncture could alleviate that so well.

I have had a long fear of needles so was very hesitant to try acupuncture at first. Dr. Shah was very respectful of my fear, she explained everything she was doing and why without wasting any time, and her demeanor and the atmosphere she creates made me feel very comfortable. I thought medical acupuncture would hurt, but instead I felt a feeling of intense calm, and that’s a lot coming from me.

I left feeling an amazing sense of peace and calm unlike anything I have experienced in the past, say in meditation or yoga. It was a different sort of peace and stability, balance a sense of emotional and physical connectedness. I behaved differently after as well feeling more anchored to my body, I stood straighter (I have a problem with slouching) and dealt with difficult situations better. 

It was very important for me to try this, as now I feel I have a new tool at my disposal I can tap into in times of anxiety, stress, or medical need. I immediately started recommending her to friends and family members as I think it is important more people know about the array of medical and healing options offered by Dr. Shah.”

Maureen P., Designer

"I was treated by Dr. Shah with medical acupuncture and accupressure treatments over the course of several sessions. I received treatment for mental health issues as well as physical symptoms of wrist and shoulder pain from years of computer editing and making jewelry.

Even after just one session with Dr. Shah, I felt an extreme sense of calm, as well as some relief from my mental health symptoms. In combination with therapy over the course of several treatments, I noticed a significant improvement in my mental state. Along with this relief, I experienced major relief from the symptoms of physical pain in my wrist and shoulder.

Medical acupuncture treatment with Dr. Shah was the only treatment I received for this pain, and I no longer experience any symptoms after treatment, even to this day, years later. Amazingly, the chronic eczema that I've had for years cleared up too and has never returned. I appreciated Dr. Shah’s ability to treat me holistically, taking into account both my mental and physical health. I would highly recommend her as a healer to all.”