After graduating magna cum laude from Palmer College-West in San Jose in 1984, I opened my practice in Santa Cruz and have been here ever since.
Prior to becoming a chiropractor I earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an M.A. in Early Childhood Education from California State University, Sonoma. I taught at the Santa Cruz Montessori School for 6 years. An expanding interest in complementary health care as well as a personal health challenge that resolved with chiropractic care started me on a new career path. I have never regretted my choice.
Working with a diversity of patients with wide-ranging concerns is endlessly rewarding. The human body is a wondrous marvel and source of infinite interest and awe for me. My current interests and the therapeutic approaches I offer arise from my education, the individual cases I have encountered, and the varied and extensive training I have received. I would like to give you a little background into the therapeutic approaches I have studied that influence how I work with patients today.
Chiropractic school, of course, taught me standard Western approaches to diagnosis, as well as systems of analysis and treatment unique to chiropractic.
Several approaches to manipulation attracted me while learning the art of the chiropractic “adjustment.” At that time, many of the originators of these techniques were still alive and teaching. I was fortunate to be able to study Sacro-Occipital Technique with M. B. DeJarnette, DC and Alan Saxon, DC; Directional Non-Force Technique with Richard Van Rumpt, DC, and Diversified technique with numerous instructors. Training in Polarity therapy with Jim Said, ND, DC and Neuromuscular Trigger Point Therapy as developed by Janet Travell, MD during that same time began the broadening of my focus that continues today.
Chiropractic Orthopedist
Soon after graduation from chiropractic school I completed the 300-hour post-graduate program with Richard Stonebrink, DC to become a certified Chiropractic Orthopedist. From 1986-88 I studied Craniosacral Therapy and Somato-Emotional Release with John Upledger, DO. I also certified as a Qualified Medical Evaluator with the Division of Worker’s Compensation for the State of California and continue to serve as a QME for work-related injuries, receiving referrals from attorneys and other chiropractors in our area. Other chiropractic studies include Neurovascular Dynamics with William Nelson, DC and Rowan Richards,DC as well as the 100-hour course in Applied Kinesiology with Timothy Francis, DC.
Strain/Counterstrain
I was fortunate to be able to study Strain/Counterstrain with the developer, Lawrence Jones, DO, and Randall Kusonose, PT, OCS and Active Release Technique with its developer, Michael Leahy, DC. Over the next several years I investigated other non-manual approaches to health maintenance, including homeopathy and acupuncture with Abbas Qutab, MD, DC, OMD, and Ayurveda with Drs. David Frawley and Shubash Ranade.
McKenzie Method®
From 1990-92, after being introduced to it at a meeting of the American Back Society, I became very excited with the McKenzie Method and studied, again with the developer, Robin McKenzie, PT, achieving certification in that technique. I am the only practitioner in Santa Cruz of any discipline to hold that certification in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy. His concepts, now considered the gold standard in non-surgical, evidence-based care for bulging and ruptured discs introduced me to the world of rehabilitation and I decided to pursue another 100-hour post-graduate course in that subject. This training focused on the analysis of gait and posture with correction through strengthening, stabilization, and stretching techniques. I was fortunate to be able to study personally with Vladimir Janda, MD, Craig Liebenson, DC, Eileen Volowitz, PT, Joseph Cimino, DC, Robert Mootz, DC, Jerry Hyman, DC, Leon Chaitow, ND, DO, Warren Hammer, DC, Gary Jacob, LAc, DC, Scott Chapman, DC, Sharon Giammatteo, PT, and other renowned experts. In 1998 I became an industrial injury prevention consultant with Future Industrial Technologies, presenting BackSafe workshops for employees of United Airlines in San Francisco.
Nutrition Study
In 2000 I began to expand my interest in nutrition, endocrine/hormone balancing, and the evaluation of challenges to biological homeostasis from environmental pollutants, viruses, bacteria, and diet through the use of blood, stool, saliva, hair, and reflex muscle testing. Extensive study with Dan Newell, MS, CN, Michael Dobbins, DC, Kerry Bone, BSc, Angela Hywood, ND, Janet Lang, DC, and Datis Kharrazian, DC has only solidified my interest and confidence in that area. The successful remediation of such imbalances with non-pharmaceutical interventions of diet, whole food concentrates, herbs, and homeopathy is a growing and exciting part of my current practice.
