Dr Gotthardt studied for 3 years in Germany and gained a Diploma in Advanced Acupuncture (Dip.Adv.Acup) in her post graduate year in China (Nanjing) in 1984. In Australia she is an accredited member of AMAC, ANTA, AESO, OHAI and ASA. She commenced her medical degree in Vienna, Austria and, after moving to Australia was accepted into the medical degree course at the University of Newcastle after topping the year of a B. Science degree. She graduated from Newcastle University with a B.med and went on to gain her FRACGP. Her interest in obstetrics led her to gain her Diploma in Obstetrics & Gynaecology in 1996. Dr Gotthardt has been working in General Practice since 1997 combining general medicine with acupuncture in an integrative approach to disease.“I am always interested to answer the question: Why this disease for this patient now”? And also offers various counselling modalities in her integrative patient approach. She has co-authored and illustrated several books on acupuncture and has been invited to lecture at international acupuncture conferences.