Nikki joined the practice in April 2021. She was born and raised in Honolulu, graduating from Moanalua High School and Hawaii Medical College. Nikki’s famous efficiency and empathy was no doubt honed as a pre-school teaching assistant as well as being a Certified Nursing Assistant at Arcadia, where she helped elderly residents with bathing and feeding. Prior to joining the practice, she was a medical assistant for an internal medicine doctor. In addition to the standard duties, she also conducted EKGs and did injections.
Nikki has done just about every administrative job in the practice, so she is particularly qualified to compare her experience here with regular medicine. “It was your typical doctor’s office, 15 minute appointments, fast, fast, fast. No time to get to know the patients. Now, I get to work with doctors who spend an hour per visit. Patients who were frustrated at not being heard and at their wit’s end, come to us and feel validated. Our doctors have the time to look deeply into their history and time to run specialized testing that others don’t. I get to form relationships with the patients, because I talk with them more frequently. It’s more personal and more effective.” As to hobbies, Nikki enjoys cooking for her family and power lifting and reading books on Kindle.
Megan was born in Denver, Colorado, but grew up on Oahu since little kid days. She attended Christian Academy in Moanalua and then Kapiolani Community College, majoring in liberal arts. She worked in retail for 4 years and then decided to change her career path, taking a position in a neurology clinic where she did insurance claims for all the doctors as well as billing, and checking in patients.
Megan then worked in a pain management clinic, where she learned more hands-on medical assistant tasks, doing IVs and such. She’s been with the practice the longest, since March 2020, starting out specializing in ordering and shipping supplements for patients and handling insurance. Over time, she has become adept on the front desk and other administrative tasks.
"Working here has given me a different perspective on medicine,” Megan said. “It’s been a breath of fresh air being able to work here the last 5 years knowing that holistic medicine is a great way to be able to heal ourselves. The people I work with remind me that if you love what you do, you won’t work a day in your life. It’s been amazing to see how much the practice has grown”
Megan then worked in a pain management clinic, where she learned more hands-on medical assistant tasks, doing IVs and such. She’s been with the practice the longest, since March 2020, starting out specializing in ordering and shipping supplements for patients and handling insurance. Over time, she has become adept on the front desk and other administrative tasks.
"Working here has given me a different perspective on medicine,” Megan said. “It’s been a breath of fresh air being able to work here the last 5 years knowing that holistic medicine is a great way to be able to heal ourselves. The people I work with remind me that if you love what you do, you won’t work a day in your life. It’s been amazing to see how much the practice has grown”
Marcel recently joined the practice, and we're so glad he did. Marcel was born into a Navy family while they were stationed in San Diego. Being a military family, they moved around quite a bit. He especially remembers Seattle. When he was 8, the family moved to Oahu.
Marcel attended Radford High School through his junior year, and then moved to the mainland where he completed his studies. He decided to attend Cabrio Community College in Santa Cruz, California to study computer science. After compiling all the credits for a credential, he realized that sitting in a room programming computers wasn't something he felt any sort of calling for. Uncertain of what he ultimately wanted to do, he took a position working as an assistant manager for Jersey Mike’s.
"I decided to return to Oahu," Marcel said, "and worked at a Jersey Mike's. But after a while I realized that I also didn't want to make sandwiches for the rest of my life. Fortunately, my girlfriend was a medical assistant, and I saw what the medical field gave to her."
Marcel decided to go into the medical field himself, and chose to attend Hawaii Medical College. Now a part of our office staff, he feels confident that he made the right choice. "It inspired my girlfriend and gave her a purpose. It was about directly helping people with one of the most important aspects of their life, and I found the same inspiration and sense of purpose."
Marcel is excited to now be fulfilling that purpose with naturopathic medicine. "In my own life, I don’t want to be put on pharmaceutical drugs, which are a crutch. I don't want to go through life on medication. So this is great for me personally and professionally," Marcel said. "Helping patients become empowered with their health is definitely inspiring."
Marcel attended Radford High School through his junior year, and then moved to the mainland where he completed his studies. He decided to attend Cabrio Community College in Santa Cruz, California to study computer science. After compiling all the credits for a credential, he realized that sitting in a room programming computers wasn't something he felt any sort of calling for. Uncertain of what he ultimately wanted to do, he took a position working as an assistant manager for Jersey Mike’s.
"I decided to return to Oahu," Marcel said, "and worked at a Jersey Mike's. But after a while I realized that I also didn't want to make sandwiches for the rest of my life. Fortunately, my girlfriend was a medical assistant, and I saw what the medical field gave to her."
Marcel decided to go into the medical field himself, and chose to attend Hawaii Medical College. Now a part of our office staff, he feels confident that he made the right choice. "It inspired my girlfriend and gave her a purpose. It was about directly helping people with one of the most important aspects of their life, and I found the same inspiration and sense of purpose."
Marcel is excited to now be fulfilling that purpose with naturopathic medicine. "In my own life, I don’t want to be put on pharmaceutical drugs, which are a crutch. I don't want to go through life on medication. So this is great for me personally and professionally," Marcel said. "Helping patients become empowered with their health is definitely inspiring."
Hsienna (pronounced Sheena) is the most recent addition to our outstanding staff. She was born in the Philippines and moved to Maui with her parents as a child. Hsienna attended elementary and middle school there and graduated from Baldwin High School, where she discovered a love of science, particularly being in a laboratory. Hsienna took AP chemistry in her senior year and graduated with honors. Then it was off to UH Manoa where she majored in chemistry, and earned her BA in May 2024.
During the Covid pandemic, Hsienna worked during her sophomore year at a nursing home. She said, “It was challenging work emotionally, but it taught me so much about taking care of people and got me interested in the medical field.”
In March 2021, she started working at Mahina, a women’s clothing store with 16 outlets around the island. It didn’t take long for her to be promoted to a manager position, which she was in until starting with our practice.
“I enjoy clothes and fashion, and engaging with customers,” Hsienna said. “Even before working there, I was into the brand. I loved the apparel and the environment. The owners are terrific, and my boss was amazing. It still feels like family, because I’m still invited to their get togethers.”
Hsienna said her experience at Mahina taught her about leadership, sisterhood, camaraderie, and service. Because it was inspirational to work there, she knew what to look for when it came to working elsewhere. “The doctors here very inspiring and very good people,” she said, and added that she’s always learning something new.
Hsienna noted the hour long doctor visits, so different from typical doctor’s office. “You really get to know the patients and grow with them. I know I’m going to be looking forward to the next time I see them and learn how they’re progressing.”
Hsienna has several personal interests, including astrology, and going to the gym. A while ago, she started doing classical style pilates with a friend. It evolved into advanced classes that focus on technique and making sure the form is correct. She also enjoys going to the beach, and circling back to her love of apparel, sewing and collecting designer swimsuits.
During the Covid pandemic, Hsienna worked during her sophomore year at a nursing home. She said, “It was challenging work emotionally, but it taught me so much about taking care of people and got me interested in the medical field.”
In March 2021, she started working at Mahina, a women’s clothing store with 16 outlets around the island. It didn’t take long for her to be promoted to a manager position, which she was in until starting with our practice.
“I enjoy clothes and fashion, and engaging with customers,” Hsienna said. “Even before working there, I was into the brand. I loved the apparel and the environment. The owners are terrific, and my boss was amazing. It still feels like family, because I’m still invited to their get togethers.”
Hsienna said her experience at Mahina taught her about leadership, sisterhood, camaraderie, and service. Because it was inspirational to work there, she knew what to look for when it came to working elsewhere. “The doctors here very inspiring and very good people,” she said, and added that she’s always learning something new.
Hsienna noted the hour long doctor visits, so different from typical doctor’s office. “You really get to know the patients and grow with them. I know I’m going to be looking forward to the next time I see them and learn how they’re progressing.”
Hsienna has several personal interests, including astrology, and going to the gym. A while ago, she started doing classical style pilates with a friend. It evolved into advanced classes that focus on technique and making sure the form is correct. She also enjoys going to the beach, and circling back to her love of apparel, sewing and collecting designer swimsuits.