WHAT SETS DR. MARTINA APART
With over two decades of training and clinical experience across multiple disciplines, Dr. Martina offers a level of integrative care that is rare, comprehensive, and deeply informed.
She brings together:
1. Advanced Training in Eastern Medicine
Doctorate in Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine (DACM)
Master’s in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MSOM)
Diplomate in Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist in CA and CO
2. Post-Doctoral Functional Medicine Expertise
Functional Medicine University
School of Applied Functional Medicine
Residency with an MD board-certified in Internal Medicine & Integrative Medicine
Advanced education in detoxification, chronic illness, gut dysfunction, hormone & metabolic health, and integrative oncology support
3. Emergency, Trauma & Western Medical Perspective
Several years as an EMT in the ER/Trauma Center at USC-County Hospital
Deep understanding of both acute care and chronic disease physiology
4. Orthopedics, Movement Science & Rehabilitation
Six years running a therapeutic personal training business
Hands-on experience with orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation
Training in therapeutic yoga and myofascial release
Expertise in functional movement and sports performance
5. High-Level Athletic Background
Former professional snowboarder, cyclist, and competitive triathlete
Team doctor for the Chilean National Track Cycling Team
Unique insight into athletic performance, recovery, and injury prevention
6. Global Integrative Medicine Experience
12 years delivering care internationally as a resident acupuncturist on luxury cruise lines
Introduced tens of thousands of patients to acupuncture and integrative medicine
Successfully ran high-volume practices with patients from around the world
7. Deep Personal Experience With Healing
Her own journey overcoming a life-threatening liver condition informs her compassion, clinical intuition, and belief in the body’s innate healing capacity.
PROFESSIONAL BIO
Photo Credit: Briana Jane Photography
A Root-Cause, Integrative Approach to Healing
Dr. Martina Sturm is an integrative medicine practitioner who blends the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with advanced Western functional medicine to help patients heal at the deepest level. She is one of only a select number of practitioners in the United States to hold a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (DACM) from Pacific College of Health and Science, an ACAOM-accredited institution.
Her mission is simple:
Identify root-cause imbalances, restore physiology, and help patients reclaim long-lasting health and vitality.
WHAT DR. MARTINA SPECIALIZES IN
Dr. Martina has extensive expertise supporting patients with:
Chronic illness & complex, multi-system conditions
Mold toxicity, environmental illness & detoxification
Gut health, microbiome repair & digestive disorders
Metabolic health, hormones & mitochondrial dysfunction
Integrative oncology support
Sports injuries, orthopedic pain & athletic performance
Neurological symptoms, migraines & dysautonomia
Stress-related imbalance & nervous system dysregulation
HER INTEGRATIVE PHILOSOPHY
Dr. Martina’s approach blends:
Time-tested Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnostics
Advanced functional lab testing and systems biology
Whole-person evaluation of lifestyle, stress, environment & physiology
Personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s root causes
Treatments may include therapeutic nutrition, nutraceuticals, herbal medicine, acupuncture, movement prescriptions, lifestyle optimization, and other minimally invasive, evidence-informed therapies.
Her goal is always the same:
Address the underlying cause, not just the symptoms.
EDUCATION
Photo Credit: Briana Jane Photography
Doctorate in Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine (DACM)
Pacific College of Health and Science
Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM)
Post-Doctoral Functional Medicine Training
Functional Medicine University
School of Applied Functional Medicine
Clinical residency with an Integrative/Internal Medicine MD
Licensure & Certifications
CA & CO Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist
Former CA state - designated Primary Care Provider
Diplomate in Oriental Medicine – NCCAOM
CCAOM Clean Needle Technique Certified
Academic Foundations
Master’s in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Emperor’s College
Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology from UCLA
Emphasis: Exercise Science & Nutrition
Former EMT – USC-County Hospital ER/Trauma Unit
Other Certifications
Certified Personal Trainer @ International Sports and Science Association (ISSA)
Sports Fitness Specialist @ National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
Certified in Injection Therapy
Yoga Teacher (YTT-200 hour)
Yoga Tune-up®
Emergency Medical Technician
Mold Literate Practitioner (Dr. Jill Crista)
Detoxification Certified Practitioner (Quicksilver Scientific)
Menopause Hormone Literacy + Quicksilver Hormone Replenishing System (Quicksilver Scientific)
INTERNATIONAL CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Before founding Denver Sports & Holistic Medicine, Dr. Martina spent 12 years practicing around the world as a resident acupuncturist on major cruise lines. She developed a thriving, high-volume clinic environment and introduced countless first-time patients to integrative medicine—often achieving life-changing results in as little as one or two weeks.
MY PERSONAL STORY
Overcoming Wilson’s Disease with Integrative medicine
In this personal healing story, I share how I overcame Wilson’s disease—a rare genetic liver condition—using an integrative approach that combined conventional treatment with acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, and functional medicine principles.
Photo Credit: Briana Jane Photography
How My Own Health Crisis Became My Calling
From my early teens, I was fascinated by the human body and deeply believed in its innate ability to heal when properly supported. I lived that philosophy — I was an athlete, a health advocate for myself and others, and felt strong, capable, and invincible.
That changed suddenly in my mid-twenties.
While working with a client, I was rushed to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain. After extensive testing, the medical team told me my labs “were all over the map.” They couldn’t identify a clear cause and recommended exploratory surgery, removing my appendix as a precaution.
When I woke up, they confirmed acute appendicitis — but that wasn’t the shocking part.
The surgeon’s next question was:
“What’s wrong with your liver?”
I stared back in confusion.
“What do you mean? What’s wrong with my liver?”
He explained that my liver was purple, enlarged, and showed signs of cirrhosis — devastating news for someone who had spent her life as an athlete committed to healthy living.
The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Over the next several months, I underwent countless evaluations with UCLA’s top liver specialists. Eventually, I received the diagnosis: Wilson’s disease, a rare genetic disorder of copper metabolism that progressively damages the liver and other organs.
Looking back, the signs had been there for years — severe IBS, amenorrhea, endometriosis, spontaneous vomiting, pitting edema, migraines — but I had accepted them as “normal” and pushed through, as so many young athletes do.
Statistically, most patients with Wilson’s disease require a liver transplant by their teens. The only conventional option was long-term chelation therapy to remove excess copper, which I began immediately.
Choosing an Integrative Path
At the time, I was in my second year of Traditional Chinese Medicine school. Everything I was learning about the body’s healing intelligence suddenly became very real and very personal.
With my doctor’s full support — he would often say, “Back to business as usual” — I incorporated acupuncture, herbal medicine, diet therapy, and lifestyle changes to accelerate healing. Neither of us allowed me to be defined or limited by my diagnosis.
Within a year, the transformation was undeniable.
My symptoms diminished dramatically.
My energy returned.
For the first time, I felt truly well.
I realized I had never understood how unwell I had been — until I felt better.
A Return to Athletic Performance
During this period of healing, I returned to triathlon training and racing. My performance improved so dramatically that I earned a spot on a professional cycling team — and later became the team's designated sprinter, the athlete responsible for winning races.
Year after year, as my chelation therapy continued, my doctor remained astonished by my progress. When I asked him why, he said:
“Not all patients respond to therapy — and almost none recover like this.”
He credited my disciplined lifestyle choices, low-copper diet, avoidance of alcohol and medications, and consistent use of acupuncture and herbal medicine for enabling my body to heal beyond expectation.
To this day, my labs remain normal.
My imaging shows no hepatosplenomegaly.
There is no active sign of disease progression.
The Moment Everything Became Clear
Even though I always believed the human body could heal, it wasn’t until facing my own health crisis that I fully experienced it.
This journey taught me:
Illness can be a powerful teacher
The body is capable of extraordinary recovery
Integrative medicine isn’t just theoretical — it is profoundly effective
Healing requires addressing root causes, not suppressing symptoms
My experience didn’t just shape my career — it defined my life’s mission:
To help others restore their health, reclaim their vitality, and thrive beyond what they’ve been told is possible.
A WARM INVITATION
Whether you're navigating chronic illness, recovering from injury, or seeking answers after years of not feeling like yourself…
Your body can heal. It simply needs the right support.
Request a free 15-minute consultation with Dr. Martina Sturm
and take the first step toward root-cause healing and whole-body wellness.