INTERVIEWS OF PACIFIC PEARL LA JOLLA’S TEAM OF EXPERTS – Mimi Guarneri, MD, FACC, ABOIM, Medical Director of Guarneri Integrative Health, Inc., interviews some of the experts on her team at Pacific Pearl La Jolla. Team members practice both independently and collaboratively with other healthcare providers at the center. One of the collaborative approaches is our Comprehensive Wellness Assessment providing patients with a two-doctor team usually comprised of a Medical Doctor (MD) and a Naturopathic Doctor (ND): Read more here.
Please see MEET THE TEAM for complete list of providers and every provider’s full bio, education and specialties. Not all providers are represented on this page. This page is updated when new interviews are posted.
Walter Cohen, D.O.
Dr. Walter Cohen, Osteopathic Physician at Guarneri Integrative Health, Inc. Pacific Pearl La Jolla, is interviewed by Medical Director Dr. Mimi Guarneri. Dr. Cohen shares his background and training. He explains osteopathy and the benefits for pain reduction, health and healing. He joined the practice in 2017. Read more about Osteopathy at Personalized Consultations / Osteopathic Consultation. Read more about Dr. Cohen here.
Nancy Lonsdorf, M.D.
Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf, a Medical Doctor, is named “one of the nation’s most prominent Ayurvedic doctors” by the Chicago Tribune, and is a recognized international speaker, author and integrative physician specializing in Ayurveda, women’s health and the reversal of cognitive decline (Brain Health). She joined the team at Pacific Pearl La Jolla in 2018. Read more about Dr. Lonsdorf here.
Daniel Vicario, M.D., A.B.I.H.M.
Dr. Daniel Vicario specializes in Medical Oncology and Integrative Oncology. He joined the team at Guarneri Integrative Health, Inc. at Pacific Pearl La Jolla in September of 2017. Dr. Vicario is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology and Integrative Medicine. Read more at Personalized Consultations / Integrative Oncology Consultation Read more about Dr. Vicario here.
Erica Oberg, N.D., M.P.H.
Dr. Oberg received her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine in 2003 from Bastyr University, followed by accredited residency. She proceeded to fellowship training at the University of Washington’s Health Promotion Research Center, completing an Masters in Public Health in Health Services with emphasis on the evaluation of complementary and alternative medicine professionals within the healthcare system and the science of health promotion and positive behavioral change. Dr. Oberg sees patients separately and also collaboratively in Comprehensive Wellness Assessments. She joined the practice in January of 2014 when the center launched. Read more about Dr. Oberg here.
JEFFREY A. MERSKY, D.C., APC-M, CSP, QME
Dr. Jeffrey A. Mersky is a graduate of Life Chiropractic College in the Atlanta, Georgia area, and has been practicing Chiropractic and Neurological techniques since 1985. He is certified as an advanced S.O.T. (Sacro Occipital Technique) practitioner with special emphasis on Cranial, Airway, Cervical and TMJ disorders. Dr. Mersky has been instructing SOT to other Chiropractic and Dental professionals for many years as a way of sharing his advanced experience and clinical expertise. He has completed a 300-hour Diplomate Certification Post Graduate Program in Internal Disorders for the Chiropractic Physician, and is a Board Eligible Chiropractic Internist. He is one of 400 Chiropractors in the United States with the designation of APC-M (Advanced Practice of Chiropractic Medicine). Additionally, Dr. Mersky has completed hundreds of hours of course work in nutrition, and is a graduate of the Functional Medicine University. Read more about Jeffrey Mersky here.
Rauni Prittinen King, R.N., M.I.H., B.S.N., C.H.T.P/I., H.N.B.-B.C.
Rauni Prittinen King is co-founder and executive director of Guarneri Integrative Health, Inc. at Pacific Pearl La Jolla. She also is the founder and president of Holistic and Integrative Medicine Resources Inc. and president and co-founder, with Dr. Mimi Guarneri, of their non-profit charitable organization, Miraglo Foundation. She has more than 20 years of experience in critical care nursing. Certified in Holistic Nursing and Hypnosis, she also is a Certified Healing Touch® Practitioner and Instructor –coordinating Healing Touch® workshops since 1993 in the U.S. and abroad. Read more about medical hypnosis and Healing Touch® at Treatments – Wellness Spa. Read more about Rauni Prittinen King RN here.
Ann Michelle Casco, L.Ac.
Ann Michelle Casco has more than 15 years of experience using Acupuncture and Traditional Oriental Medicine in the treatment of internal medicine disorders, neuromuscular disorders, general orthopedic conditions and pain management. She treats her clients as part of a multidisciplinary team using a holistic approach to complement traditional Western Medicine. She joined the practice when it launched in January of 2014. Read more about Acupuncture in Wellness & Spa Treatments / Acupuncture. Read more about Ann Michelle Casco, LAc here.
Tiffany Rivera, H.H.P., N.C.T.M.B., C.L.M.T.
Tiffany Rivera is a Holistic Health Practitioner, Certified through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodyworks and a California Licensed Massage Therapist. She practices with more than 17 years of entrepreneurial experience in medical and therapeutic massage, total body skin care and spa wellness. She has instructed at her alma mater, Mueller College of Holistic Studies, the courses of business management and therapeutic spa applications. She joined the team when the center launched in January of 2014. Her clinical practice at Pacific Pearl La Jolla includes collaboration with other healthcare providers at the center as well as seeing clients independently for treatment. Read more about Massage in Wellness & Spa Treatments / Massage. Read more about Tiffany Rivera HHP, NCTMB, CLMT here.
Claire D’Andrea, R.N., C.H.T.P., N.C.-B.C., C.C.R.C.
Claire D’Andrea joined Pacific Pearl La Jolla in 2018 as our Integrative Nurse Coach and a Healing Touch® provider. She has more than 40 years of nursing experience encompassing Integrative and Holistic Medicine, Intensive Care, Research, Maternal Child Health and Home Health. She earned certifications as an Integrative Nurse Coach from The International Nurse Coach Association, Certified Healing Touch Practitioner from Healing Beyond Borders, and Clinical Research Coordinator from The Association of Clinical Research Professionals. She is HeartMath trained though the HeartMath Institute. Claire is a member of The International Nurse Coach Association, The Holistic Nurses Association, Healing Beyond Borders, The Association of Clinical Research Professionals and the Preventative Cardiology Nurses Association. See more about nurse coaching at Personalized Consultations / Integrative Nurse Coaching. Read more about Claire D’Andrea, RN here.
Ozzie Gontang, Ph.D.
Dr. Gontang is a Psychotherapist who joined the practice in 2018. His specialties include: individual psychotherapy, executive and management coaching, crisis intervention, conflict resolution, communications, stress reduction, health & fitness (mental and physical), performance enhancement, mindfulness, among others. Read more about Dr. Gontang here.
Mark Kalina, M.D.
Dr. Mark Kalina, Internal Medicine physician, works closely with both Dr. Mimi Guarneri, Integrative Cardiologist, and the Naturopathic Doctors at Pacific Pearl La Jolla. He has trained extensively in Integrative and Holistic Medicine. He joined in 2015, and his practice includes in-office and home visits, MD/ND Comprehensive Wellness Assessments, and Cold Laser Therapy treatments, among others. Read more about Dr. Kalina here.
Valerie O’Sullivan, C.M.T.C., N.C.B.T.M.B., M.A.
Valerie O’Sullivan is a Certified Massage Therapist and Esthetician. She has been in practice for more than 30 years. Her massage specialties include manual neck therapy, frozen shoulder release, pregnancy massage, “hospice” massage, geriatric massage, Craniosacral massage and reflexology. Her training and experience is both in the U.S. and abroad. She joined the team in 2016. Read more about Valerie O’Sullivan here.