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 also holds an academic appointment at the Arizona
Center for 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, 2007 and 2009. Dr. Prasad was 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 gives frequent public service lectures for "People
Living through Cancer," "Lymphoma and Leukemia Society," and other
non-profit organizations. As 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.
Mary E. Smith-Fassler RN DOM, Dr. Smith-Fassler
is the lead DOM at CFL and 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.
Onur Aydinoglu, DOM, DAOM, DiplOM, completed his graduate degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and his Doctorate on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) at Bastyr University in Seattle, WA. In his doctorate training, he specialized in supportive cancer care with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine and worked extensively in integrative settings, such as the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, WA; Skagit Valley Hospital's department of Oncology, WA; Shanghai University of TCM Teaching Hospital, China; and Chengdu University of TCM Teaching Hospital, China. His specialty areas include supportive cancer care, pain management, and treatment of chronic immune dysfunction syndromes, such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Dr. Aydinoglu is currently a faculty member of Southwest Acupuncture College (Albuquerque and Santa Fe). In his practice, Dr. Aydinoglu primarily utilizes Hari Traditional Japanese Acupuncture, which is remarkably gentle and painless, yet highly effective in achieving fast and profound results. He received his advanced certification in Hari from T. Koei Kowahara, a world-renowned master of acupuncture. Dr. Aydinoglu is also a long-time practitioner and teacher of meditation and Qigong (Asian energy cultivation and self-healing exercises).
Sally Fisher, MD, MS, has a bachelor's degree from Yale University, an M.D. degree from the University of New Mexico, and an M.S. in Community Medicine from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York. She is trained in both Preventative and Occupational/Environmental medicine at Mt. Sinai and is board certified by the American Board of Preventative Medicine. She is deeply interested in nutrition and is board certified by the American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists. She was a fellow at the Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at Columbia and has studied anthroposophical medicine.
Robert Sapien MD is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and performs
medical hypnotherapy. He also directs the Pediatric Emergency Room at UNMH.
Dr. Sapien joined the CFL team in 2007.
Judith Allen, MSN, FNP-BC , a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, earned her Master's degree in
Nursing at the University of New Mexico in 1994. She practiced Nurse-Midwifery at UNMH for three
years prior to obtaining her Nurse-Practitioner certification. Her formal education has been
augmented with the study and practice of holistic and nutritional medicine, homeopathy, and
lifestyle modification. She has integrated behavioral and alternative approaches into her practice
of women's and family health care. Her current expertise is in menopause management, functional
hypothyroidism, bladder dysfunction, and metabolic problems.
Kathleen O. Reyntjens PhD received her Ph.D. in Counseling
Psychology from Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX, and also has a Masters
in Music and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is trained in Neuro-Emotional
Technique (NET), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and
Beginning and Advanced Clinical Hypnosis. From 2001 to 2006, Dr.Reyntjens
worked as a Staff Psychologist at the VA Gulf Coast VeteransHealth Care
System, Biloxi, MS. From 2003-2006, she was ClinicalDirector of the PTSD
Outpatient Program 2003-2006. She has extensive experience in the
training and supervision of pre-doctoral psychology residents, interns,
externs, Veteran Service Officers, and Community MH professionals.
David Lang, MTPT, LMT, has been working as a therapist since 1992. After years of dance and movement training in New York City he realized that Massage and movement therapy was a natural progression in his life! David started his career at the office of Dr. Lyman Atchley and then moved into a position at Southwest Myotherapy where he learned the skills of a Myotherapist. He started his own company Myofascial Associates in 1999. He has sat on the Workers Compensation Association board of New Mexico, has been the President of the AMTA of New Mexico and was appointed by Governor Gary Johnson to sit on the NM Massage Licensing Board. David has trained and practices Visceral/Neuro Manipulation, Active Isolated stretching and is well versed in many energy techniques. He has worked on research with Sandy Whistler, MD on the efforts of "Myotherapy with Children with Special Needs." David has great appreciation to be able to work with Dr. Arti Prasad and the staff at "The Center for Life."
Rebecca Rhodes, recently graduated from the University of New Mexico with a dual Bachelors in Biology and Psychology. She has served in the health care field for nearly seven years in various roles throughout the country. Ms. Rhodes has been a medical assistant and a technician in various facilities throughout the city of Albuquerque including Lovelace, the VA, and UNMH. She has also devoted most of her adult life to public service by serving as a Medic in the Army Reserves. She spent a year working with a local project that helped in the resettlement of African Refugees to Albuquerque. Ms. Rhodes plans on continuing her interests by pursuing graduate education in either toxicology or virology. She is very excited to work for the Center for Life and hopes to learn more about integrative medicine.
Barbara Welcer, RN, BAS, HNC, CHTP/I, Barb has practiced nursing in a variety of heatlhcare settings including in-patient pediatrics, emergency medicine, community health education and holistic nursing. Her philosophy on health and healing is based on the concepts of wholeness, recognizing the interconnectedness of our body, mind, spirit, and emotion. She has received certification in Holistic Nursing from the American Holistic Nurses Association and integrates holistic concepts in her practice as a nurse. Barb is also certified through Healing Touch International as both a practitioner and instructor of Healing Touch (HT), an energy based therapy. Her prior research on HT in the hospitalized patient demonstrated statistically significant improvements in self reported levels of pain, stress, and anxiety. Barb is dedicated to promoting the merits of energy work and holistic principles through teaching, research, and practice. She specializes in Reiki, Healing Touch, and holistic nursing interventions, teaching classes on self care, stress management, imagery, and breath work.
Patti Thomas, Practice Manager, Ms. Thomas recently joined the team of CFL coming from Vanderbilt Center for Integrative Health. Before opening the Center at Vanderbilt, Ms. Thomas was the Project Manager for the Vanderbilt Center for Evidence-based Medicine. Working along side Paul Keckley, PhD, one of the countries thought leaders in healthcare economics, the center for EBM, produced numerous white papers on consumer-directed care, quality of care and quality improvement. Ms. Thomas holds Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Integrative Health is a passion for her and believes that is a catalyst for change in the world of today's healthcare crisis.
Michelle Hale, Event Planner and Administrative Support. She graduated from New Mexico State University Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science and has 10 years experience in Event Planning. She has been employed with the University of New Mexico since December 2003 and is excited about the opportunity to apply her knowledge and expertise in her position with the UNM Center for Life.
Michelle DuVal, MA, a serious meditation practitioner, has taught thousands of people the skill of health and well being. She is a student of her father Jim DuVal, an accomplished teacher and practitioner of mindfulness, who received his training directly from Dr. Jon Kabat Zinn. Michelle currently leads mindfulness meditation workshops for the Cancer Services of New Mexico bi-annual retreats, Cardiac Rehab programs at various facilities, as well as weekly group sessions for businesses and private sessions from physician referrals. Michelle's dynamic yet straightforward approach empowers people with skills that are immediate and useful in every day life. She is also a certified yoga instructor and received her training from CorePower yoga in Colorado.
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.
Greg Franchini, MD, is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry at the UNM School of Medicine. In his nearly thirty years at UNM, his positions have included Director of Student Mental Health, Director of Student Education in Psychiatry and Consultant to the UNM Athletic Department. In addition to his work in clinical and academic psychiatry, he has developed and taught courses in relaxation and self care, stress reduction and mindfulness meditation. He is currently course co-facilitator, "Perspectives in Integrative Medicine."
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).
