Meet our Practitioners.
Acupuncture at Summerhill is provided by practitioners with additional training in medical acupuncture and experience incorporating it into musculoskeletal and rehabilitation care.
Chiropractor and Acupuncture
Dr. Nicole Ballantyne
Nicole is a chiropractor and the owner of Summerhill Health Centre. Her approach to care is rehabilitation-focused, combining hands-on treatment, acupuncture, soft tissue therapy and targeted exercise to help patients recover from injury, manage pain and return to the activities they enjoy.
Nicole studied Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo before graduating Magna Cum Laude from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 2019. She also completed additional training in Medical Acupuncture through McMaster University.
With a background rooted in high-performance sport, Nicole has extensive experience working with athletes and active individuals, from youth and recreational athletes to competitive hockey players. She has worked as a team doctor for GTHL AAA hockey and currently coaches with the Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association. Her experience in sport has shaped her belief that effective rehabilitation should focus not only on reducing pain, but on restoring strength, movement and confidence.
At Summerhill, Nicole works collaboratively with patients to understand the factors contributing to their symptoms and develop individualized plans that support both recovery and long-term function.
As the next generation of leadership at Summerhill Health Centre, Nicole is committed to building on the clinic’s long-standing reputation for personalized care while continuing to evolve its multidisciplinary, rehabilitation-focused approach.
Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Awet Sium
Dr. Awet is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who has been practicing in Toronto for 14 years.
Dr. Awet is dedicated to empowering people to take charge of their health through integrative, evidence-based, and compassionate care. With a special focus on women’s health, Dr. Awet supports patients through every stage of life — from hormonal balance (PCOS, endometriosis) and menstrual wellness to fertility, pregnancy, and menopause.
Blending traditional naturopathic principles with modern medical science (including blood tests), Dr. Awet takes a whole-person approach that addresses the root causes of imbalance rather than just the symptoms. Her areas of expertise include hormonal health, digestive wellness, stress management, and optimizing energy and mood.
Dr. Awet is passionate about helping people reconnect with their bodies’ natural rhythms, using acupuncture, nutrition, botanical medicine, lifestyle strategies, and personalized treatment plans to restore vitality.
Dr. Awet is deeply committed to creating a safe, inclusive space where people feel heard, supported, and understood on their healing journey.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine, sterile needles into specific areas of the body. In a rehabilitation setting, it can be used to help manage pain, reduce muscle tension and support movement and recovery.
At Summerhill, we use medical acupuncture as a targeted treatment approach within a broader rehabilitation plan. Your practitioner will determine whether acupuncture is appropriate based on your symptoms, assessment and goals.
How we use acupuncture at Summerhill?
We view acupuncture as one tool within a larger treatment toolbox — not a replacement for understanding and addressing the factors contributing to your symptoms.
When appropriate, acupuncture may be combined with:
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Chiropractic adjustments and joint mobilization
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Soft tissue and myofascial techniques
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Exercise rehabilitation
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Movement education
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Stretching and mobility work
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Other rehabilitation strategies
This allows your treatment to be adapted as you progress, rather than relying on a single technique.
Common reasons patients see us for acupuncture:
Medical acupuncture may be incorporated into care for a range of musculoskeletal concerns, including:
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Neck and back pain
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Shoulder and upper-extremity pain
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Hip and leg pain
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Muscle tension and tightness
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Sports and athletic injuries
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Repetitive strain
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Joint and muscle pain
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Chronic or persistent musculoskeletal pain
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Recovery following injury or surgery
Whether acupuncture is appropriate for you depends on your individual presentation.
Your practitioner will discuss the potential role of acupuncture as part of your overall treatment plan.
What to expect at your appointment?
Your appointment begins with a conversation about your symptoms, health history and goals. Your practitioner will assess the areas contributing to your concerns and explain their findings with you.
If acupuncture is appropriate, very fine needles are carefully inserted into selected areas of the body. You may feel a brief sensation as the needles are inserted, followed by a feeling of heaviness, warmth or relaxation in some areas.
Depending on your needs, acupuncture may be combined with other treatment during the same appointment, such as hands-on therapy or exercise rehabilitation.
Your practitioner will also provide guidance on what you can do between appointments to support your recovery.
Acupuncture as part of a bigger approach.
At Summerhill, we believe effective rehabilitation often involves more than one treatment technique.
Our multidisciplinary team brings together chiropractic care, massage therapy, Shiatsu therapy, naturopathic medicine and psychotherapy under one roof. When appropriate, our practitioners can collaborate and help connect you with another member of the team.
Acupuncture is one part of that broader approach — used thoughtfully and in combination with other evidence-informed strategies when it can support your goals.