Meet the Team

Dr. Steven E. Bennett, M.S.O.M., D.O.M., Dipl. O.M., Associate Professor SWAC, Medical Director

Steven Bennett is a licensed doctor and professor of Oriental Medicine in the state of New Mexico. He received his Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine in 2004. Since 2005 he has provided pain relief and constitutional treatments in Albuquerque NM, where he maintains an Oriental medical practice.

Dr. Bennett is a leader in the field of Electro-acupuncture (EA). He originally studied EA with Dr. Darren Starwynn in 2006. Over the years Dr. Bennett has developed treatment protocols and utilizes the latest technology to deliver predictable, effective treatments to his patients. Steven specializes in Chinese pulse diagnosis and in developing customized herbal formulas for his patients. He has studied extensively with Dr. Jimmy Wei-Yen Chang learning the Pulsynergy technique.

Steven began his medical career in 1986 as a medic in the Army, where he was awarded the Expert Field Medical Badge. After the Army he studied Biology and developed a deep interest in Ethnobotany, which led him to appreciate Chinese herbology. Steven completed an apprenticeship in 1998 in Shiatsu massage therapy before going on to study Oriental medicine.

Dr. Bennett currently donates his time to the Veteran Stress Relief Clinic with the Sacred Spring Reiki Collective, a pilot program to observe the effects of combining Reiki and acupuncture to treat veterans and their family who suffer from PTSD. He has worked with a number organizations such as Healthcare for the Homeless, where he was the attending Acupuncturist at Casa los Arboles, a residential recovery program for homeless men and the Sandoval County Stars Program, a multiple DWI offender treatment and recovery program.

Dr. Bennett shares his expertise with prospective doctors of Oriental medicine at Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe as a professor, where he teaches classes and leads clinics in both Electro-acupuncture and Chinese herbal prescriptions. Dr. Bennett has a continued passion in botanical medicine and enjoys hiking in the mountains and deserts of the Southwest to locate and identify medicinal plants and wild edible mushrooms.

Dr. Noelle M. Baroody, PA-C, MSPAS, DOM, MSOM, Dipl. OM, Consulting Physician

Dr. Noelle Baroody is both a NM licensed Doctor of Oriental Medicine and a licensed Physician Assistant. She received a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at the University of New Mexico, and is certified through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), She works as a Physician Assistant in General Surgery in Grants, NM.

She also received her Master’s degree in Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She’s a NM licensed Doctor of Oriental Medicine and also a Certified Diplomate in Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture from the NCCAOM - National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Dr. Baroody began her medical journey as a child, observing her grandfather, a Cardiologist and Family Medicine Doctor, treating his patients with care, respect, and compassion. Growing up, she knew that she wanted to do the same and discovered Chinese Medicine and it’s incredible to make positive life-changing improvements to physical and emotional health. She was then trained in Functional Medicine and inspired to become a Certified Physician Assistant to further bridge the gap between East Asian medicine and Western Medicine.

"My treatment approach is built on compassion and integrity and focused on using a well rounded approach, drawing on Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine principles to facilitate physical, mental, and emotional balance in order to attain optimal health and wellness in my patients.”

Dr. Courtney Ieronimo, M.A.c.C.H.M., D.O.M. Dipl. O.M., Chief Treating Physician

Dr. Ieronimo is a dedicated practitioner at Modern Wellness, specializing in the art and science of Oriental Medicine. With a Doctor of Oriental Medicine license from New Mexico and a Master’s in Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization from the Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe, she brings a fresh, integrative approach to healthcare

Her journey into Oriental Medicine began over seven years ago, including two years of professional experience and five years as a student intern. During this time, she honed her skills in pain management, trigger point release, women's health (with a focus on menstrual disorders), scar therapy, balance, overall well-being, and digestive disorders.

Courtney believes in treating patients as whole individuals, not just a set of symptoms. She integrates the ancient wisdom and techniques of Oriental Medicine with contemporary scientific knowledge to provide a holistic approach to health and wellness. Her practice is not just about diagnoses; it’s about understanding each person's unique needs and tailoring their care accordingly.

What sets Dr. Ieronimo’s practice apart is her thorough, detail-oriented nature coupled with the ability to think and execute from a global perspective. She fluidly blends Eastern and Western medical philosophies and use relatable analogies to demystify complex Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) concepts. Her treatments are a blend of protocol and intuition, ensuring a personalized and effective approach to each patient's needs.

When she’s not at Modern Wellness, you can find her embracing the great outdoors through hiking and long bike rides, indulging in her passion for rock hounding, or unwinding with yoga. Her cat and she share a love for World War 1 documentaries, a testament to her diverse interests. Courtney also expresses her creativity through painting and black and white film photography, a nod to her undergraduate degree in fine art photography and photojournalism.

Celeste Gardner, Clinic Manager

With more than 10 years of experience in medical billing and administrative roles, Celeste’s leadership skills, communication skills, and front desk experience, has provided her with the perfect skillset to run Modern Wellness and provide excellence in customer service and patient advocacy. She is skilled at delivering precise and comprehensive documentation, while navigating a highly regulated environment to ensure adherence to all regulatory, state, and institutional requirements.

Celeste finds fulfillment in working with other members of the team to secure continuity of care for patients. She knows how important it is to help patients get the best care possible in the best setting for the individual. Celeste’s favorite part of her job is working with her team of physicians and clinic staff, and most of all interacting with patients and their families on a regular basis.

Before joining Modern Wellness, Celeste received her Associates degree in Business Graphics and Communications at Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, NM. With Celeste’s father being a chiropractor and growing up around the healing arts, she is an advocate for holistic healing and the interconnectedness of mind-body-spirit wellbeing. When she isn’t working, Celeste enjoys gardening, traveling, snowboarding, sailing, camping, hiking and painting.