Dr. Carrie Walston — Acupuncturist and Outdoor Adventurer

MUM alumna Carrie Walston has always wanted to be a healer. Last year she earned her Doctor of Acupuncture degree and now runs her own acupuncture practice in Winchester, Virginia.

Carrie grew up in a family that has long practiced the Transcendental Meditation^® technique and both of her parents, Charlie and Jean Fritsch, attended MUM. When it came time to choose a college, she followed in her parents’ footsteps and decided to attend MUM.

Wanting to become a medical doctor, Carrie completed a double major in biology and chemistry and graduated in 2005. She says that going to MUM was like coming home. “Going to public high school, I didn’t really feel fully comfortable being myself,” she said. “When I came to MUM and started practicing TM regularly, I noticed a huge change in my level of comfort being myself.” Carrie also appreciates the dedication of her professors who provided an excellent education.

During her time at MUM, she took a six-week Leadership in Adventure course with Professor Ken Daley, bicycling around New Zealand. Carrie enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to become an Outward Bound instructor, leading children and youth on outdoor adventure trips for 10 years.

Carrie decided to study acupuncture because she felt it was supportive of her personal values of transformation and growth and her desire to empower patients to take care of themselves. She earned her master’s and doctorate in acupuncture from Maryland University of Integrative Health. She is currently studying towards a certification in sports medicine acupuncture. “I like that I am helping people,” she said.” It gives me a sense of purpose.”

In her free time, Carrie likes to spend time outdoors camping, gardening, and planting trees with her husband Isaiah Walston, who is also an MUM graduate.