Acupuncture by Dr. Susan Hathaway

Acupuncture by Dr. Susan Hathaway, registered with the State of Florida under the corporate name Dong Yo Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine, Inc., practices Traditional Chinese Medicine on Babcock Street in the Port Malabar area of northeast Palm Bay. Dr. Hathaway’s academic background is unusually deep for a small independent practice: she holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of Maryland, a Master’s degree and a Doctorate in Medical Science from the University of New Mexico, and a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, which she completed in 2007. She went on to complete a post doctoral fellowship studying hypertension and pursued additional international training in China, Korea, and Japan, giving her a breadth of clinical exposure that is uncommon among acupuncturists practicing in Brevard County.

The practice’s approach is grounded in what Dr. Hathaway describes as “a natural approach to health,” built around Traditional Chinese Medicine principles refined over thousands of years rather than a single modern technique. Core services include acupuncture treatment for a range of conditions, Chinese herbal medicine prescribed alongside or instead of needling depending on the case, ion cleanse detox sessions, and specific lung treatment protocols. The practice’s stated mission centers on restoring balance in the body and identifying root causes of a patient’s symptoms rather than treating surface level complaints in isolation, which is consistent with the broader philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The office is open Tuesday through Friday by appointment, and stays closed on Mondays and weekends, a schedule that reflects the practice’s small, single practitioner model rather than a larger clinic with multiple providers on staff. New patients are typically offered a consultation before treatment begins, giving Dr. Hathaway a chance to review a patient’s health history and determine which combination of acupuncture, herbs, or other services makes sense for their specific concerns.

For Palm Bay residents interested in acupuncture or Traditional Chinese Medicine, options within the city itself are limited, and a practice led by a doctorate level practitioner with the specific credentials Dr. Hathaway holds is not something found at every strip mall acupuncture storefront. The Babcock Street location puts the practice within easy reach of most of northeast Palm Bay and neighboring Port Malabar, and the office’s small, appointment only format means patients typically see the same practitioner at every visit rather than being rotated among different staff members.

Anyone considering acupuncture for the first time, whether for pain management, stress, or a specific health condition, can reach the practice directly by phone to ask questions or schedule a consultation. Because the business operates as a single practitioner clinic rather than a large multi provider facility, appointment availability can be limited, and calling ahead is strongly recommended rather than expecting same day scheduling.