Why Dr. Holly

Hospital-Trained Acupuncture in St. Petersburg, FL

Why Dr. Holly

Dr. Holly Durning didn’t start in a wellness studio. She started on the floor of NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases and the VA Medical Center's Neurology Department, working with patients whose cases didn’t fit neatly into a textbook. That’s still how she practices in St. Petersburg today: built for people who’ve already tried the standard playbook and are still looking for relief.

Patients notice it. One long-time patient wrote: “We travel 45 minutes to see Dr. Durning. She is worth the trip! You won’t be disappointed.” Another, after her first visit, said: “Incredible bedside manner. Not condescending and not aloof, instead she explains things thoroughly and confidently and has an awesome sense of humor. I love how prescriptive she is. She even followed up with me the next day to check in on how I was feeling post treatment. She is by far the best acupuncturist I've ever seen.”

Where That Training Came From

Before opening her own practice, Dr. Durning trained inside some of the country’s most respected medical institutions. She completed clinical internships at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases and the VA Medical Center's Neurology Department, work that grounded her acupuncture training in the day-to-day reality of orthopedic and neurological medicine, not just theory.

She also completed advanced training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, earning certification in integrative oncology acupuncture. That training prepared her to work alongside oncology teams, supporting patients through the physical and emotional demands of cancer treatment, always as a complement to oncology care, never a substitute for it.

The credentials, if you want to check them:

Board-Certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Florida
Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist, New York
Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist, Pennsylvania
B.A., Medical Anthropology, University of South Florida
M.S., Traditional Oriental Medicine, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, NYC
Certification, Integrative Oncology Acupuncture, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

A Career Built Where the Patients Needed Her

Dr. Durning began her career in private practice in New York City and the Hamptons, where she partnered with Southampton Hospital’s community wellness initiative to bring acupuncture to a broader patient population. During those same years, she volunteered with Acupuncturists Without Borders, treating trauma and PTSD in disaster-affected communities.

In 2014, she relocated to Florida and served as lead acupuncturist at Perfect Union of Body & Mind in Boca Raton. Over her years there, she treated more than 19,000 patients, including individuals at Caron Renaissance, a nationally recognized addiction recovery center, work that gave her direct, hands-on experience supporting mental health, pain relief, and trauma recovery through acupuncture.

That experience is the foundation of her practice in St. Petersburg today, where she brings the same hospital-trained precision to the community she calls home.

Areas of Specialty

Pain Management. Supporting patients managing acute and chronic pain, drawing on clinical training from NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases and the VA Medical Center's Neurology Department.
Integrative Oncology. Certified in integrative oncology acupuncture at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, providing supportive care for patients navigating cancer treatment, always in coordination with their oncology team.
Fertility Support. Acupuncture support for patients navigating fertility challenges at every stage, alongside a patient’s existing reproductive care.
Hormonal Health. Support for perimenopause, menopause, and hormone-related symptoms, alongside a patient’s existing medical care.
Autoimmune Conditions. Supportive, whole-person care designed to work alongside a patient’s existing medical treatment plan.
Digestive Disorders. Acupuncture and herbal support aimed at helping patients manage digestive symptoms.
Cosmetic Acupuncture. Mei Zen Certified- a natural, needle-based approach to skin health, rooted in the same traditional techniques Dr. Durning uses across her practice.

Her Approach to Care

Dr. Holly Durning’s philosophy is simple. Healing works best when it treats the whole person, mind, body, and spirit, not just a symptom. Every treatment plan is personalized, drawing on more than a decade of clinical experience across orthopedic medicine, neurology, oncology support, and mental health and trauma recovery.

Patients choose Dr. Durning because of what’s behind each needle placement: hospital-level training, thousands of hours with complicated cases, and a track record patients describe in their own words above.

Ready to Meet the Team Behind Your Care?

The training and credentials matter, but they only tell you what she’s capable of. The only way to know if her approach is right for you is to sit down with her.

Book Your Appointment | Not ready to book? Ask Dr. Holly a question first.