Arti Prasad MD,
Professor of Internal Medicine, is Center for Life's Founder and
Executive Director. She is also the founding Section Chief of
Integrative Medicine at UNM's Health Science Center. This section was
created to develop a comprehensive primary health care system based on
an integrative approach that combines allopathic medical care with
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) using the best current
evidence. Dr. Prasad is also the Vice Chair for Advancement in the
Department of Internal Medicine, and holds an academic appointment in
the Program in Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona. In
recognition of her efforts on behalf of the Section of Integrative
Medicine, UNM SOM (School of Medicine) has been elected to be a member
of the national Consortium of the Academic Health Centers for
Integrative Medicine (CAHCIM). Dr. Prasad has received high recognition
from her peers during her medical career, including the Dean's Award of
Distinction for Outstanding Faculty Performance. She has been listed
among the top 100 doctors of Albuquerque, by the Albuquerque magazine
both in years 2006 and 2007. Dr. Prasad was recently selected to be the
"winner alternate" for the inaugural "2007 Paul Bartlett Re Peace Prize"
at UNM. She plays an active role in community outreach. She provided
medical assistance to the victims of the Union Carbide Gas Leakage
Tragedy in Bhopal, India during 1984, and continues to provide community
service in NM. She is on the medical advisory board of the "Cancer
Services of NM" and volunteers her time twice a year for the Family
Cancer Retreat. She consults for an organization named "CAPPED" in
Alamogordo NM and gives frequent public service lectures for "People
Living through Cancer," "Lymphoma and Leukemia Society," and other
non-profit organizations. She did voluntary consulting work for the new
Integrative Medicine Center at the Vanderbilt Medical School that opened
last fall. An active educator, Dr. Prasad is also the Chair of
Integrative Medicine Task Force that develops and recommends curriculum
for integrative medicine education at the medical school. She organizes
and Chairs a Biennial Symposium of Integrative Medical Professionals in
the Land of Enchantment (SIMPLE). For full biography, please click
HERE.
Brian M. Shelley MD, CFL
Medical Director, is a board-certified
family physician and Assistant Professor in the Section of Integrative Medicine. His clinical interests are mind-body therapies for
mood disorders and chronic pain, and myofascial trigger point release. Dr. Shelley teaches and directs the Mindfulness-Based Stress
Reduction programs at UNM, and precepts medical students and residents in integrative medicine. His research interests
include the use
of integrative medicine among New Mexico's primary care population, and the effects of mindfulness practice on health and obesity.
Dr. Shelley also has an academic appointment with the Program in Integrative
Medicine, University of Arizona. Dr. Shelley was listed among the Top
100 Doctors of Albuquerque, by the Albuquerque Magazine for 2007.
Mary E. Smith-Fassler RN DOM, CFL Clinic Director. Dr. Smith-Fassler
has extensive experience in the Western medical field as an RN specializing in trauma/neurologic intensive care and administrative nursing.
She is nationally board-certified in acupuncture and Chinese herbology, and New Mexico state board-licensed to practice as a Doctor of
Oriental Medicine. Dr. Smith-Fassler is also certified in myofascial trigger point therapy with special interests in treating myofascial
pain and dysfunction. Her career has been devoted to integrative medicine as well as education in the
Eastern traditions. She enjoys teaching the basic concepts of Traditional
Chinese Medicine and trigger point therapy to allopathic medical students
and residents in the clinical setting. She serves on the Integrative Medicine panel twice a year for the Family Cancer Retreats sponsored by Cancer Services
of New Mexico. Dr. Smith-Fassler's specialties include the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, pain syndromes, cancer,
and women's health.
Melissa
Kennedy MD is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and is a
graduate of the Associate Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the
University of Arizona, founded by Andrew Weil MD. Her interest in
Integrative Medicine evolved during the 9 years she worked in various
Emergency Departments-from a small rural hospital to a large urban trauma
center-as she observed that many of her patients had potentially preventable
health problems and weren't being well-served by the illness-oriented
healthcare system. She has also completed extensive training in personal
coaching and has worked as a health and wellness coach, supporting
individuals as they make lifestyle changes to improve and maintain their
health. Her areas of special interest include family wellness, women's
health, and patient education. Dr. Kennedy joined the CFL team in 2007.
J. Manning Hudson DOM. Dr. Hudson has practiced Chinese medicine in
New Mexico for many years. Dr. Hudson served as president of the New Mexico Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Association from 2003 to 2005,
and is currently vice-president.
Dr. Hudson joined the CFL team in 2007.
Maureen Small MD
is
a Board Certified family physician with more
than twenty years clinical experience in a variety of cross cultural and
community settings. She is currently clinical assistant professor for the UNM Department of Emergency Medicine. She has a strong interest in
preventive health strategies and wellness promotion including lifestyle
modification with diet, exercise, meditation and other stress reduction
techniques. She is currently a Nia Technique Instructor and
teaches 4-5 classes weekly. The Nia Technique is an integrated Body/Mind
/Spirit fitness program which involves promoting self healing through
movement to music. Other interests are organic gardening, cooking, and
hiking. Fluent in French and Medical Spanish. Dr. Small joined the
staff of Center for Life in 2007.
Diane Beach MS, PT, MOMT,
LMT has combined experience in Physical Therapy and Massage Therapy.
She is passionate about the innate healing intelligence of the body and
using an integrative approach to treatment. Diane has worked as a physical
therapist at the UNM Student Health Center for 23 years. She combines many
different manual therapy approaches in the practice of Physical Therapy.
Diane works with many different systems of the body including the
musculoskeletal, visceral, lymph, cranio-sacral, myofascial, and nervous
systems. She is excited to be part of a team of integrative medical and
healthcare providers, and to provide quality physical therapy with an
emphasis on manual therapy.
Robert Sapien MD is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and performs
medical hypno-therapy. He also directs the Pediatric Emergency Room at UNMH.
Dr. Sapien joined the CFL team in 2007.
Maryann Golden RN DOM, Head
Nurse. Maryann has training in Chinese medicine and holistic nursing.
She is also very interested in patient education.
Candida Pullen is a
Medical Assistant (II), and has worked with CFL faculty for many years.
She is also our Master Scheduler.
Sonja Codding is a
Patient Care Coordinator, and has worked with CFL faculty for many years.
She has years of experience in helping patients access Integrative Medicine
at UNM.
Vanessa Pimentel is a
Universal Interviewer. Vanessa joined CFL in 2008. She has years of
experience in patient care as a Medical Assistant at the UNM Sleep Center.
Virginia Brown,
Unit Administrator. Ms. Brown has been an employee of the Department of
Internal Medicine since March 1991, as Supervisor, Administrative Support
for the Office of the Chair in the Department of Internal Medicine. In
November 2004, Ms. Brown moved to the Division of General Internal Medicine
as the Unit Administrator where she oversaw all academic, fiscal and
administrative operations for the division. She has provided leadership to a
diverse team engaged in programmatic and administrative activities in
support of the division's mission of patient care and education. In 2007,
Ms. Brown joined the UNM Center for Life as Unit Administrator, and is very
pleased to be part of a team providing customer-oriented preventive services
and medical care in a healing environment by integrating the highest
standards of conventional and complementary medicine, and by nurturing
intrinsic healing in the whole person, body, mind, and spirit.
Brandon Smith,
Administrative Assistant (II). Mr. Smith began his UNM career with the
Division of
Rheumatology and was hired as an Administrative
Assistant II for Section of Integrative Medicine upon graduating from UNM.
Debbie Begay,
work-study student, is a senior at the University of New Mexico. She
is Bilingual in Navajo and English. Debbie has worked with CFL faculty for many years.
Andrea Bliss MA PA-C is a physician assistant at the University of New Mexico where she is an adult primary care provider in the Department of Internal Medicine. She also has been trained to evaluate and treat myofascial pain using non-pharmacologic methods, which spawned her interest in developing skills as an integrative practitioner. Prior to becoming a physician assistant, Ms. Bliss obtained a Master's Degree in Counseling and used her skills as an experiential therapist for individuals and groups. Her specialty was in developing personal self-esteem and team building by using Ropes Courses, wilderness experiences, outdoor education, and rock-climbing. She continues to use her therapeutic skills as a counselor in her primary care clinic. Ms. Bliss is a volunteer faculty member in the Department of Family and Community Medicine where she precepts physician assistant students and teaches the clinical skills course in the School of Medicine.
Nancy Oestreicher CDE MS has long-standing experience working with people attempting to make vital health and lifestyles choices. She served in the UNM Wellness Center for many years. She has professional training in teaching mindfulness programs, and has specific expertise in the MEAL curriculum.
Stan Handmaker MD, Professor of Pediatrics, is Course facilitator, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Phase III elective); Course co-facilitator, Perspectives in Integrative Medicine (Phase I, II, III selective); Course co-facilitator, Stress reduction in medical students.
Bruce W. Smith PhD, Director, Program in Health Psychology, Department of Psychology. Dr. Smith collaborates with Dr. Shelley on mindfulness research.
Jeffrey P. Schnapp DC. Dr. Schnapp is Clinical Assisitant Professor in Internal Medicine, and serves as a clinical preceptor for senior medical students (Phase III).
