Dr. Stefanie Bennett finds peace in Green Valley and provides much needed pain relief for her patients
Dr. Stefanie Bennett has true empathy for those suffering from chronic pain. “I suffered from cluster migraines in my teens and 20s,” she said. “I had migraine headaches 3-5 days a week that were so intense I was often bedridden and would become physically sick.'
It wasn't until her primary care doctor sent her to an acupuncturist that she found real relief.
Today, the Green Valley resident has a master’s degree in acupuncture, Oriental medicine and herbology, and a Ph. D in acupuncture and herbology. She and her staff specialize in treating chronic pain, complicated neurological conditions and autoimmune diseases at their Fountain Valley office on Magnolia Street.
“ Acupuncture quite literally saved my life and I wanted to share that with the world,' she said.
With those painful days behind her, Dr. Bennett lives in Green Valley with her “amazingly supportive” husband, Dave, and two sons, ages 11 and 13.
When she’s not working, she enjoys the tranquility of the community’s greenbelt and visiting with friends.
“It is so peaceful and feels like we are taking walks in the mountains,” she said. “I love how so many people have lived here since Fountain Valley was strawberry fields. It’s very exciting and interesting to hear how much the city has grown and changed over the years, but still has a small-town vibe to it.”
She often runs into her patients in the community at the grocery store or at local restaurants.
“I love how we know our neighbors, and how we all watch out for each other,” she said.
The Bennetts are active in their community, sponsoring the Fountain Valley High School football team, youth basketball teams and doing volunteer work at their church.
Her favorite restaurant in town, incidentally, is Gem Dining on Warner Avenue.
“My favorite dishes are their fillet, the octopus and the bone marrow toast,” she said. “If you haven't gone to Gem, you must. They never disappoint and they give the best service and are always so friendly.”
In the meantime, she continues her education in acupuncture and chronic pain conditions with a focus on the senior population.
'I have sat where my patients sit. I've experienced their pain and suffering in a very real way,” she said. “I know the frustration of feeling hopeless on an intimate level. It's why I practice the brand of medicine I do and why I've made it my life's mission to treat the untreatable.”