Marina, CA Drs and Health Practioners

Glenn and Melissa Sadowsky have a secret: they used to eat Ho Hos and Twinkies. In fact, Melissa used to promote these and other chemically processed foods as part of her marketing-research work. But, when Melissa started to feel guilt about endorsing unwholesome habits and Glenn realized that his snacks were to blame for his asthmatic flare-ups, it didn't take long for either of them to commit to a healthier life. Today, the husband-and-wife duo practices organic, sustainable living and aids clients with natural medicine at Optimal Health Acupuncture and Bodywork. Glenn specializes in nutrition and healing acupuncture treatments, and Melissa taps her 20 years of experience practicing massage therapy to not only help clients feel relaxed but also to revive the body’s natural flow for boosted well-being and smoother dance moves. Additionally, the two share herbal-supplement benefits with their clients to encourage healing without traditional medicine.

At Spa Dentistry, rejuvenating paraffin dips can take place at the same time as fluoride rinses. This is because Drs. Susan T. Lee and Gauri Bhagwat value their patients’ comfort almost as much as their oral health, so they incorporate spa treatments into their checkups and examinations whenever possible. The wafting scents of fresh fruit and aromatherapy candles help to put visitors at ease, along with in-room TVs, warmed mittens, and pillows for the legs, neck, and back.

While clients relax, doctors and technicians keep smiles neat and bright by performing a number of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic procedures. They rely on such modern medical technology as computerized patient charts and low-radiation digital x-ray systems, which manage to generate clearer images than the Pictionary world champion. Crowns and bridges can conceal discoloration behind natural-looking porcelain, and fillings and root canals help to prevent the spread of decay.:

At the age of 10, Duncan McCollum fell 30 feet from a towering tree while trying to catch sight of a Cal-Stanford football game. With the fall came the consensus of a sprained back and a childhood filled with prescription medications and muscle relaxers to deal with his near-constant pain. He reinjured his back at the age of 20, and his friends, who were convinced that chiropractic care could help, dragged him to a chiropractor against his will. After taking x-rays and examining him, the chiropractor made a startling discovery—Duncan's initial fall from a decade ago had broken his back, and since then it had healed incorrectly.

"I was really nervous when he was about to adjust me for the first time," Duncan says. "After I jumped up from the intense shooting pain, for the first time in over a decade, I felt relief. I could get up and move!"

With continual treatments, Duncan slowly got his life back, and with it came great inspiration. He set out to become a Doctor of Chiropractic in order to help those who felt condemned to living with back pain, as he once did. Now, inside McCollum Wellness Center's cottage-like setting, he warmly welcomes patients and listens to their own life stories before eradicating aches and pains with gentle chiropractic treatments.

Dr. Ognjen Petras wants you to have nice nails. The board-certified internist founded his specialty medical practice, Petras Medical Clinic, to focus on onychomycosis—fungal nail infections—which he says affects 20% of Bay Area residents. After removing nail material that is thickened, infected, or has a bad attitude, Dr. Petras battles fungal infections with the PinPointe laser system, which reaches into the nail bed to stop the infection at the source. He has performed more than 1,000 laser treatments since 2009 and has followed numerous patients for a year or more to ensure the effectiveness of the laser system.

At Healing Waves Wellness Center, Doctors of Chiropractic Ian and Pamela Chambers unleash their expertise in a three-step program designed to usher in long-term wellness. The duo starts by addressing their patients' immediate concerns, helping alleviate aches with gentle adjustments that are customized to suit each unique spine or navigate around dorsal fins. Moving into the final two stages of care, the doctors work to upset deep-rooted causes of pain, such as poor posture, before attuning patients to the needs of their own bodies to promote a healthier lifestyle.

Dr. Aneeta Taneja oversees the upkeep of teeth using experience gained during two decades of professional dental experience. During treatments ranging from simple cleanings to complex implants, Dr. Taneja remains tuned in to patient satisfaction, ensuring that big, happy smiles shine brightly as they leave the office. She is devoted entirely to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of existing smiles, using minimally invasive procedures to whiten teeth, fill cavities, or remove molar radios implanted by the KGB.