Who Is Dr. Kim at Tao of Medicine?

Updated

Dr. Kim is the practitioner named at TAO OF MEDICINE, an acupuncture and functional medicine clinic in Santa Monica, California. The clinic's page identifies him through patient testimonials and an "About Dr. Kim" section, but it does not list his license type, degree, school, or years of training. So the honest answer is: he is the clinician patients describe as skilled in acupuncture and soft-tissue work, and the site presents him as the face of the practice — but you should confirm his credentials directly before deciding.

What the clinic page says about him

The page is thin on biography and heavy on patient experience. What it does support:

  • He is the practitioner associated with the clinic, which has been operating in Santa Monica since 2005.
  • Testimonials credit him with acupuncture and soft-tissue work, including treatment for tennis elbow and hip pain that traveled up the spine.
  • Patients describe personalized attention and say he accommodates last-minute appointments.
  • One reviewer notes feeling relaxed after a session following a period of anger — an experience claim, not a clinical outcome.

The page does not state his license number, degree, board certifications, or where he trained. Treat any specific credential you see elsewhere as unverified until you check it against a licensing board.

How patients describe his practice

The testimonials on the page are consistent on a few points, which is useful if you are weighing whether to book:

Theme What reviewers say What it tells you
Skill with musculoskeletal pain Tennis elbow, hip-to-spine pain improved after sessions Patients report relief; not a guarantee for your case
Energy and recovery Fatigue after Covid improved after the first visit Anecdotal; individual results vary
Availability Gets patients in last minute Useful if you need quick scheduling
Bedside manner Described as nice, calming, knowledgeable Suggests a low-pressure visit style

These are patient impressions, not clinical evidence. They are most useful for judging the visit experience — scheduling flexibility and communication style — rather than predicting your own outcome.

What he treats, per the clinic

The clinic lists acupuncture, functional medicine, herbal medicine, moxa, nutrition, cupping, electroacupuncture and radio frequency therapy, and Sasang constitutional medicine. The page frames the approach around client education, disease prevention, and quality of life, with a stated focus on stress, environmental toxins, and electromagnetic exposure as modern health burdens. That framing is the clinic's philosophy; it is not a claim that these treatments replace conventional care for a diagnosed condition.

How to check his credentials before booking

Because the page does not publish them, verify directly:

  1. Ask the clinic for his full name, license type, and license number when you call or use the contact form for a consultation.
  2. Look up the license in your state's acupuncture or medical board database — in California, the relevant board's public license search.
  3. Ask about your specific condition during the consultation and whether he has treated it, rather than relying on general testimonials.
  4. Confirm scope — whether he is practicing as an acupuncturist, a functional medicine provider, or both, since that affects what he can advise on.

The clinic invites prospective patients to contact them for a consultation to see whether acupuncture or another service is right for them. That call is the right place to ask the credential questions the website leaves open.

Bottom line

Dr. Kim is the practitioner behind Tao of Medicine, described by patients as effective with pain and soft-tissue issues and easy to schedule with. The page does not document his training or licensure, so use the testimonials to gauge visit style and confirm credentials through the clinic and the state licensing board before you commit to a course of treatment.