Lynnwood, WA Health and Fitness

Serge and Ilona Barlam, graduates of the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, run Advanced Foot and Ankle Clinics, a full-service center with sophisticated diagnostics, diabetic care, and laser-therapy services. Their treatments emphasize preventive care, with routine care available for those without troubling injuries and physical therapy or surgery available for those who need major changes. Laser therapy relies on GenesisPro by Cutera, Q-Clear, or CoolTouch lasers to diminish the appearance of onychomycosis, a fungus that makes the toenails yellow, thicken, and unable to show off engagement toe rings.

The team at Progressive Dental Group regularly trains on the industry's latest technological developments to make their services as effective and pleasant as possible. Seattle-area natives and University of Washington School of Dentistry alums Drs. John Skibiel, Ranjiv Hayre, and Adam Berry call upon more than 35 years of combined experience as they provide cosmetic and family dental services, including single-visit CEREC crowns, dental implants, porcelain veneers, and teeth whitening. Dr. Berry was named a top area dentist by Seattle Met magazine in 2011.

Striving for patient comfort and entertainment, the crew outfits each treatment room with flat-screen TVs and WiFi access. The office's welcoming reception area invites clients to relax in plush armchairs arranged around the stone counter. A cozy fireplace warms hands in cold weather and eagerly consumes candy bars before they have the chance to induce cavities.

For more than 20 years, Dr. Roger A. Flake has devoted himself to addressing patients’ deepest concerns, from their health to their confidence, through general and cosmetic dentistry. His sense of humor and ability to treat each patient as an individual allows him to gain patients' trust and learn about their specific needs.

Having graduated from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in 1985, Dr. Flake has stayed abreast of dental developments with continuing education and participation in such dental organizations as the Seattle Study Club, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the National Council on Tooth Fairies. Membership in these organizations has helped Dr. Flake expand his expertise to advanced cosmetic and restorative treatments, including LaserSmile teeth whitening, Invisalign, and custom-made veneers.

Dr. Mikhail Burakovskiy's expertise in podiatry has earned him not one, not two, but three certifications from the American Board of Multiple Specialties—in primary care, in podiatric surgery, and in the prevention and treatment of diabetic foot wounds and diabetic footwear. It is this expertise⎯along with his skills with laser systems, injections, and surgical tools to alleviate foot problems such as bunions, ankle pain, and toenail fungus⎯that has helped him become the footcare specialist of fellow doctors.

Dr. Burakovskiy has also been featured on King 5 News as a podiatrist who doesn't chide women for wearing high heels, instead offering foot-pillow injections that create extra padding in the ball of the foot to reduce pain more efficiently than wrapping feet in bubble wrap.

As a teenager, Katya Difani wrestled with chronic health issues that left her physical and spiritual wellness out of whack. From her misfortune blossomed something beautiful: an appreciation for the healing effects of nature's bounty. After obtaining a degree in herbal science, Katya opened Herban Wellness, a shop stocked with holistic and natural remedies for common health complaints. From bulk herbs born at local farms, each vetted in person by Katya herself, to house-blended teas that soothe allergies, Herban Wellness’s selection holds its own against prescription meds.

The store also hosts practical classes that teach customers how to implement holistic cures in their own homes. During one session, Katya compiles the ingredients for all-natural lotions, salves, and lip balms that students can make in their own blenders after acing the instructional course.

Whether he's snapping freelance game-day shots of the Seattle Seahawks for Maurer Action Photography or teaching kids to ski at Powderpigs, Lawrence Maurer spends a lot of time on his feet. The rest of the time, however, he spends with other people's feet. Along with his colleague, Peter M. Vincent, award-winning Lawrence draws on years of schooling and residencies when practicing podiatry at Washington Foot & Ankle Sports Medicine. With the help of their qualified staffers, Drs. Maurer and Vincent work with patients to pinpoint causes of foot or ankle discomfort before determining the quickest, most effective, and least sticky means of treatment. They also specialize in diagnoses and treatments of a number of foot and ankle ailments ranging from Achilles tendons to hammertoes.