ABOUT THE DOCTOR
Dr. Ward is a nationally recognized expert in brain function and how that affects mood, work, and behavior. She was born in Washington DC but quickly moved throughout the world, eventually landing and being raised in California from childhood. Academically, she earned a BS from California Polytechnic State University, SLO; an MEd from City University, Bellevue, WA; and both an MA and PsyD in Clinical Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology/Argosy, Washington DC. Additionally, she went on to complete a two-year Houston Guideline fellowship in neuropsychology with an additional focus on forensics.
In 2010, Dr. Ward began her private practice in the Virginia / Washington DC area. There, she worked on private cases and consulted at Snowden Community Psychiatric Hospital, Spotyslvania Hospital, Mary Washington Medical Center, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, and numerous assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. She also was frequently contracted with multiple county courts for forensic evaluations as well as multiple workman’s compensation agencies. With that experience, she became the Clinical and Training Director at Neuropsychology & Complementary Medicine and Central Coast Neuropsychology, where her team created a psychology/neuropsychology training program including externships, doctoral practicum, pre-doctoral clinical psychology internships, and two-year Houston Guideline approved post-doctoral fellowships in neuropsychology. Dr. Ward has been adjunct faculty at various colleges and universities teaching cognitive psychology, psychopharmacology, research, statistics, psychological assessment, biological bases of behavior, and biological psychology.
ABOUT THE DOCTOR:
Robert Afra, M.D.
Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr. Robert Afra is a San Diego-based orthopedic surgeon who is nationally renowned in sports medicine with expertise in treating shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle conditions. As the former Chief of Sports Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, Dr. Afra has published extensively in professional journals and books and presented at conferences around the world, where he is considered a pioneer in the study of shoulder, knee, elbow and ankle injuries in athletes and active adults. Dr. Afra is also a specialist in cartilage issues and pain in knee cap disorders; he was named Co-Director of the International Patellofemoral Study Group Conference in San Diego in July 2011. As a sports medicine physician, he has managed and treated complex joint injuries and successfully guided patients back to peak performance levels.
Dr. Afra takes a customized approach to treat each of his patients. He provides comprehensive care to injured athletes, from sprain rehabilitation and muscle and ligament tear repairs to care for broken bones. He regularly cares for children and active adults with injuries to the upper extremities (shoulders, elbows, and wrists) and lower extremities (hips, knees, and ankles). His joint replacement practice consists of shoulder replacement, hip replacement, and knee replacement surgery, including minimally invasive surgery techniques and traditional joint replacement surgery when necessary.
Dr. Afra completed his fellowship training in sports medicine at Boston University, where he treated a variety of elite college athletes in ice hockey, soccer, basketball, field hockey and lacrosse. Dr. Afra was a researcher at University of Hawaii’s Queen Emme Medical Center in the field of muscle and nerve physiology, and was a surgical fellow at the world-renowned Barnard O’Brien Microsurgical Institute in Melbourne, Australia. He has studied microsurgical techniques and the art of plastic surgery. Dr. Afra studied medicine at UCLA, where he also completed his surgery internship. Prior to attending medical school, Dr. Afra worked at the Salk Institute on an NIH research stipend. In 2010, Dr. Robert Afra was selected by the Arthroscopy Association of North America, a premiere sports medicine society, as one of three surgeons to lecture to university faculty in the United States and Canada.
Board Certified Neurologist
Practice Specialties
Dr. Lasker is trained to diagnose and treat neurological disorders, which result from abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord, and remainder of the nervous system. Dr. Lasker may perform a variety of tests and scans to arrive at the correct diagnosis, which is vital to creating an effective treatment plan for any given patient. Treatments can include medication management, numerous therapies, and lifestyle changes.
About the doctor
Bruce Lasker, M.D. earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Science from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. Having studied in the Honors Program as an undergraduate, Bruce Lasker stayed at Northwestern for his medical education, studying at the Feinberg School of Medicine and earning a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) in 1981. Dr. Lasker completed both his internship in the Department of Medicine and his residency in the Department of Neurology at Northwestern before moving to La Jolla, California for a fellowship in Geriatric Neurology and Dementia at the University of California, San Diego.
After gaining his board certification as a neurologist in 1987, Dr. Lasker opened his own private practice, Pacific Neurology, in San Diego. While still practicing at Pacific Neurology, Dr. Lasker also serves in a number of additional roles. He is currently an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Neurosciences at the University of California, San Diego; a Neurological Disability Consultant for the Department of Social Services in San Diego and Los Angeles Counties; as well as a Qualified Medical Evaluator for the California Industrial Medical Council.
Dr. Bruce Lasker is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and is licensed to practice medicine in California, Colorado, and Nevada. Through his various professional positions, Dr. Lasker is currently affiliated with several hospitals including Sharp Memorial Hospital and Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego.
Previously, Dr. Lasker served as the Director of the Alzheimer’s Unit and the Stroke Director at Mission Bay Hospital. He also spent time as the Neurology Advisory Consultant for the San Diego Alzheimer’s Association
MARIO A. MANCINI, O.M.D., L.Ac, QME
Doctor of Oriental Medicine/
Licensed Acupuncturist
ABOUT THE DOCTOR
Driven by his passion for mind/body peak performance, Dr. Mancini strives to achieve excellence for his patients. As a doctor of Oriental medicine, he assists his patients with a variety of health issues including acute and chronic pain, healthy weight loss, and the impact of all forms of stress and strain on the body.
He received his Doctorate in Oriental Medicine (O.M.D.) from South Baylor University. As a graduate of the first professional California approved Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Dr. Mancini practices with the highest standards of Oriental medicine making a complete integration into the present health care system. Using evidence-based treatment guidelines in standard scientific and medical terminology, he is able to communicate and integrate with the medical community. As a primary care doctor, Dr. Mancini is trained to determine when referrals are necessary.
PRACTICE SPECIALTIES
ABOUT THE DOCTOR:
Choll W. Kim, M.D., Ph.D
Board Certified Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon
Dr. Choll Kim graduated cum laude from Harvard Medical School and completed his fellowship training in complex spine surgery at the Mayo Clinic. In addition, he is double board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons and the American Board of Spine Surgery.
Dr. Kim is an internationally recognized expert in the field of computer-assisted minimally invasive spine surgery. He has trained and continues to train specialists throughout the country on the safe and effective application of state-of-the-art techniques using image guidance and navigation technologies.
Dr. Kim utilizes a broad range of minimally invasive treatments to effectively treat all aspects of complex spinal disorders, including herniated disks, spinal stenosis, adult scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, traumatic injuries, tumors, and infections throughout the entire spine from the neck to the low back. He is one of only a handful of surgeons in the world to master laser endoscopic spine surgery (LESS), a state-of-the-art minimally invasive procedure that effectively treats herniated disks, radiculopathy and sciatica. The LESS procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, in a same day setting and with a small stab incision that is covered with a band aid.
A leader in his field, Dr. Kim is the founder and past-president of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS), the founder of Minimally Invasive Spine Centers of Excellence (MIS-COE), the chair of the MIS Committee for the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS), the director of the Advanced Spine & Joint Institute at Alvarado Hospital and an associate clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego.
Furthermore, Dr. Kim is a Qualified Medical Evaluator and a past voting member of the FDA Orthopedic Devices Panel, which reviews all new spinal technologies. He has designed minimally invasive instrumentation used by surgeons around the world. Dr. Kim is an active member of the North American Spine Society (NASS) and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), and a fellow of the Scoliosis Research Society. Dr. Kim has over 200 publications and presentations.
PRACTICE SPECIALTIES
Headaches, chronic pain, TMJ disorder, sports injuries, chiropractic services, massage therapy and acupuncture.
ABOUT THE DOCTOR
Dr. Garrett graduated from Life Chiropractic College West in 1986 and has been practicing in Downtown San Diego for over 28 years. Garrett Downtown Chiropractic offers rehabilitative care for injury patients in the San Diego, Hillcrest and neighboring areas. Patients looking for a doctor who can treat these types of injuries, without drugs or surgery, should contact our chiropractic office to make an appointment. Dr. Brian Garrett employs the most recent, cutting-edge techniques in auto injury rehab to help patients get back on their feet after they have suffered an injury. Available for phone consultations and complimentary consultation at the office.
Board Certified Diplomate:
Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician:
American Chiropractic Association Council on Sports Injuries and Physical Fitness
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