Alex started his journey into healthcare over 45 years ago as an adolescent carer for his mother. This made him appreciate the issues associated with a chronic healthcare condition and also the responsibilities of a carer.

In the early 80's he met his martial arts teacher (under whom he still trains with today) who introduced Alex to Namikoshi Shiatsu (the official Shiatsu of Japan) and who subsequently invited him to return to Japan with him to train with his teachers.   Over 6 months of intensive training in Japan sparked Alex's interest in helping people in pain and with musculoskeletal conditions.  Shortly after his return to the UK he joined the Metropolitan Police Force where met his wife, Judi, whilst they were both serving in Peckham, SE London.

In the early 90s he joined the London Ambulance Service (LAS) undertaking front line duties in Central & SE London whilst also teaching First Aid in his spare time.  He subsequently went part time in the Ambulance service in 2003 to enable him to continue his interest in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, moving to Malvern in 2004.

After graduating with a First Class BSc (Hons) degree in Acupuncture at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (validated through Kingston University) he went on to complete a year-long postgraduate diploma in Tuina Chinese Message and medical Qi Gong, whilst also undertaking voluntary work as an acupuncturist at The NHS Gateway Clinic in London.. He started practicing in Cheltenham and Worcester whilst continuing as a bank-staff paramedic with the LAS and maintaining a practice in London.

It was at this time in 2008 he met his friend, Jason Robertson, (who introduced him to his teacher and mentor in Beijing, Prof Wang Ju Yi.) and Yefim Gamgoneishvili, both of whom were recognised in 2013 by the Beijing Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine as apprentices of Prof Wang and official instructors of  Applied Channel Theory.

After numerous month-long trips to study under Prof Wang, and also to continue his studies into Tuina at the Beijing Massage Hospital, he appreciated the complexities of manual therapy - at the teaching hospital in Beijing, Tuina is a 6-year doctorate level programme which integrates Chinese Medicine and Western orthopaedic testing and procedures.  When he approached his wife to ask if he could go to China for 6 years, she turned around and replied "Yes, of course you can - but don't bother coming back!!"

He then looked for somewhere in the UK that could offer the rigor and technical knowledge he wanted with the philosophical outlook he had developed.  So in his early 50's (proving you are never too old to learn) he went back to university to successfully complete a 5-year degree in Osteopathy at the College of Osteopathy Educational Trust,, obtaining a First Class B.Ost, which also included a Diploma in Massage.

Whilst studying Osteopathy, he was still practicing in Worcester and undertook the Bodymaster Diploma TM in massage and manual therapy.  Committed to lifestyle medicine in 2021/22 he completed the Plant Based Nutrition Course through Cornell University and his Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP) through the Institute for Functional Medicine.  In addition to his martial arts training he has been practicing Yoga for a number of years and completed his Yoga Teacher Training course in 2024. From personal experience he is passionate about the power of lifestyle medicine and the change it has made to his life and that of many of his patients.

He is also currently on the faculty at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine teaching Conventional Medical Sciences to their undergraduate students and he is also on the faculty at the City College of Acupuncture where he teaches Tuina massage. 

In 2020 he left his clinic in Worcester to join the multi-disciplinary Beacon Clinic in Malvern.  With a clinic closer to home, when he is not practicing, he is now able to spend more time exploring and enjoying the Worcestershire countryside..