About Us

Bajda Welty, MS, EAMP, LMP

Licensed Acupuncturist & Certified Chinese Herbalist

Bajda Welty MS, EAMP, LMP is a licensed acupuncturist/East Asian Medical Practitioner, Certified in Chinese Herbal Medicine and is a Licensed Massage Practitioner. She studied at University of Washington from 1995-1997 then Bastyr University from 1997-2001, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Health Sciences, Masters of Science degree in Acupuncture and Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine. In 2012 she completed an intensive program through Bellevue School of Massage and is a Licensed Massage Practitioner.

Biography

I’m a Washington native, growing up on Orcas Island, attending high school on Bainbridge Island, spending college years and beyond in Seattle and now living on Bainbridge Island again with my family.

The small, rural community where I grew up exposed me to natural medicine from a very young age. Alternative/folk/herbal/bodywork/energy medicine was the primary modality used in our family and community. A close family friend, long time acupuncturist and teacher, studied acupuncture when I was a child. Chinese medicine was commonplace to me. Early in my college years, after completing two years of a pre-medicine track, he was instrumental in my decision to study acupuncture and pursing it as a profession.  Healthcare and the study of the body have always been my main interest and I realized I wanted to become involved in a holistic approach to healthcare.

I founded Fire Dragon Acupuncture in 2002 in Seattle and opened an office on Bainbridge in 2004. I grew my practice with my family and after my third child was born, I began to realize the city was not our long term home. My husband is a Bainbridge native and we eventually decided to return. I’m so happy to be able to live on the island and have my practice full time here as well.

I love going to work each day! I feel so lucky to get to work with my patients each day to help create health and wellness in their lives and bodies through Chinese Medicine.

Natalie Willits, M.S., LAc. FABORM

Licensed Acupuncturist & East Asian Medicine Practitioner

Natalie Willits, M.S., LAc. FABORM, is a licensed Acupuncturist and East Asian Medicine practitioner specializing in family health, fertility enhancement, assisted reproductive technology (including IUI, IVF, and donor cycles), and prenatal care.

Natalie received her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in 2011, and graduated from Bastyr University in 2016 with a Masters of Science in Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine. She then completed extensive post-graduate training in the field of holistic Reproductive Health, becoming a fellow of the prestigious Acupuncture and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine (ABORM.)

Biography

I grew up on Bainbridge Island, and am thrilled to be returning home with my husband and daughter in tow! After practicing in both Seattle and Nashville, TN for the last decade, it feels wonderful to be moving back to my roots.

I was introduced to Chinese Medicine as a teenager when I was often sick and missing school. Wanting to find solutions, my parents turned to their acupuncturist, Bajda Welty, whose treatments, herbal medicine, and nutritional guidance brought me back to a healthy state. This experience had a huge impact on me, and not only showed me the power of Chinese Medicine, but gave me confidence in the body’s ability to heal itself.

Since then, I’ve had the privilege of treating patients myself, and the effectiveness of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine never ceases to amaze me. I have experience treating a wide variety of conditions, and I am passionate about providing a space where my patients feel listened to and safe enough to pursue their health goals. I believe that the feeling of being cared for and seen paves the way for actual healing to happen.

I also have extensive training in fertility enhancement, prenatal care, and women’s health, and have studied with internationally known experts such as Jane Lyttleton, Debra Betts, and Claudia Citkovitz.

I am excited to become reacquainted with the Bainbridge Island and Kitsap community, and can’t wait to continue the high level care you’ve come to expect at Fire Dragon Acupuncture.