Dr. Guadalupe Vanderhorst Rodriguez | Healing, History & Legacy

In a world moving at relentless speed, many people feel disconnected—from their health, from their sense of purpose, and from the stories that shaped who they are. They search for answers in fragments: a symptom here, a record there, a memory half remembered. What is often missing is integration—the understanding that healing, identity, and legacy are not separate pursuits, but deeply intertwined.

Dr. Guadalupe Vanderhorst Rodriguez stands at that intersection.

Her life’s work is devoted to restoring what has been forgotten: ancestral stories, cultural truth, embodied wisdom, and the confidence that comes from knowing where you come from—and how to move forward with intention.

Dr. Guadalupe Vanderhorst Rodriguez is a Doctor of Acupuncture, author, genealogist, educator, and founder of Book Serenity. Her journey is one shaped by discipline, mentorship, service, and an unwavering commitment to both healing and historical preservation.

From an early age, she was guided by environments that cultivated excellence and confidence. As a child and young woman in New York, she learned the value of structure and leadership through formative community programs. Music became one of her first teachers. Studying the piano, violin, and viola instilled not only technical skill, but an understanding of foundation—an idea reinforced by her piano teacher, who taught her that mastering the basics opens the door to limitless expression.

That principle followed her into every area of life.

Athletics further refined her resilience. Competitive swimming taught her endurance, discipline, and the importance of moving forward even when the outcome is uncertain. Coaches and mentors emphasized perseverance—not as force, but as steady commitment. These lessons would later reappear in her academic pursuits, professional leadership, and personal research.

Equally influential were the educators who recognized her voice and encouraged her to use it. From guidance counselors who introduced her to spiritual grounding principles, to mentors who urged her to stand before audiences and speak with confidence, Dr. Rodriguez learned that presence matters—and that one’s voice carries responsibility.

Her academic journey led her to higher education, where she not only earned her degrees, but also stepped into advocacy and leadership roles. Serving as President of a Native American student organization, she championed visibility, cultural continuity, and historical truth—long before such conversations entered the mainstream.

In 1980, Dr. Rodriguez began what would become a defining chapter of her life: unraveling her own family history. What started as a personal search—names, records, migrations—quickly revealed a larger truth. Countless families shared the same unanswered questions, the same silences in the historical record, the same longing to understand where they belonged.

That realization transformed her path.

Over the decades, Dr. Rodriguez’s genealogical work evolved into a profound service to others. She became not only a researcher, but a guide—helping individuals and families reclaim their ancestral narratives with accuracy, dignity, and respect. Her research culminated in the publication of Tan Americans of Clinton County, New York in 2006, a meticulously researched genealogical work that preserved lineages often overlooked or misunderstood.

Her work demonstrated that genealogy is not merely about charts and dates—it is about identity, belonging, and healing generational disconnection.

At the same time, Dr. Rodriguez pursued a parallel calling: holistic healing. Drawn to integrative medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, she earned a Master of Science in Acupuncture and later completed her Doctor of Acupuncture degree in 2023. Her clinical philosophy reflects the same principle that guided her historical work—that the body, mind, spirit, and story must be addressed together.

Healing, in her view, is incomplete without context.

In 1990, her dedication to community took tangible form through the founding of the Clinton Community College Child Care Center—an initiative rooted in compassion and practicality, supporting students and working families by creating access to education without sacrificing family well-being.

Over time, Dr. Rodriguez founded multiple organizations that reflect her integrated vision: Kicotan Acupuncture, Book Serenity, and the Tan American Historical Association. Each serves a distinct purpose, yet all are united by a shared mission—preserving knowledge, supporting wellness, and honoring legacy.

Book Serenity, in particular, represents the culmination of her life’s work. It is not simply a bookstore or media platform. It is a curated space where carefully researched genealogy, historical narratives, wellness education, and ancestral wisdom converge. Through books, podcasts, and educational cont