Meet The Team
The wellness team of Sanctum Med + Wellness is there to provide each client’s wellness plan with the option of monthly one-on-one sessions, to ensure the best results and outcome. It has a team of experts well-versed in areas including functional and integrative medicine, Chinese medicine, sports medicine and Ayurveda will uniquely communicate with each other to offer a holistic approach that takes every individual’s needs and goals to heart.
Dr. Jessica Shepherd
Dr. Jessica Shepherd is a board certified OB/GYN, fellowship trained Minimally Invasive Surgeon and women’s health media expert.
Dr. Shepherd is seen regularly as an expert on Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN, Dr. Oz, CBS News, and more.
Her passion for women’s health has allowed her to be an advocate for conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, sexual health, menopausal health and health care disparities.
In addition to writing for various magazines including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, Women’s Day, Self, Family Circle, Parents, Essence, and Verywell, she also gives lectures nationally and internationally on health issues.
As a health care expert, she strives to educate people on their bodies and how to address their physical, sexual, emotional health in addition to the incorporation of wellness.
Her vibrant personality has been highlighted in keynote addresses at events nationally and allowed her to work with celebrities including Sheryl Crow, Ciera, Brooke Burke, Erin Andrews, Dr. Jackie Walters, Kandy Burress and Laila Ali.
MEET THE TEAM
Dr. Edison Tai
Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine Specialist
Dr. Edison Tai, Ed.D., L.Ac., is the licensed acupuncturist at Sanctum Med + Wellness. Dr. Tai has a Doctoral degree in Sports Management with focuses on Exercise Science, a licensed Acupuncturist, and a board-certified practitioner utilizing acupuncture and Oriental medicine in the field of pelvic floor dysfunction, sport injuries and reproductive health.
He has more than 10 years of experience practicing and researching in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). He is specializing in not only different sports injuries but also reproductive medicine and infertility issues related to women’s health.
In addition, he focuses on the treatment of a variety of conditions, including
- Body stress: pain management, headaches (migraine), and chronic fatigue syndrome
- Mental stress: depression, anxiety, insomnia
- Improve immune system disease: allergies, chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension.
- Cancer management, for the patients who are undergoing chemotherapy and radiation.
Courtney Hunter
RN, Nurse Injector
Once a nurse, always a nurse. Patient care on any level has always been my passion. I received my Bachelors of Science in Nursing from University of Texas at Tyler and worked as a trauma nurse for 7 years before transitioning into pharmaceutical and medical device sales. The aesthetic industry has always been appealing especially from a fitness perspective, who doesn’t want to look and feel great. The aesthetic/cosmetic industry business is booming and what better time to get back to my roots as a nurse (Certified Cosmetic Nurse Injector) and deliver exceptional care with exceptional results. I am looking forward to this new journey. There are a variety of services I can provide: fillers, biostimulatory fillers, cannula, PDO threads, HA fillers, botox, juveua, sculptra, IV therapy, Kybella, Skin Pen, and many more.
Pelvic Physical Therapist
Sanctum Med + Wellness Pelvic Physical Therapist is a Doctor of Physical Therapy licensed in the state of Texas.
She sees patients with pelvic floor dysfunction and/or pain and is skilled to;
- Provide prenatal and postpartum physical therapy services.
- Evaluate and treat women with complex pelvic floor dysfunction and chronic pain due to history of endometriosis, fibroids, pelvic cancers, autoimmune disease, obstetric trauma, emotional trauma, sexual abuse.
- Evaluate and treat women with bladder and bowel dysfunction; provide biofeedback therapy for clients with dyssynergic defecation, or fecal incontinence.
- Treat patients with sexual dysfunction or pain due to menopausal issues
Pelvic physical therapy is a treatment approach that uses the principles of physical therapy to provide a structured, effective and safe reconditioning of pelvic floor muscles. The goal of the treatment is to improve the strength and function of pelvic floor muscles and alleviate pain, weakness and dysfunction in the muscles.
During the treatments, a skilled physical therapist accesses the muscles through the rectum or vagina and makes manipulations on them to improve their strength and functioning. The therapy sessions may include either stretching the muscles if they are short and contracted or applying resistance to improve strength if they are weak and dysfunctional.
Priya Patel
Wellness Director
Priya Patel, is dedicated to uniting eastern philosophy and western science as the Director of Wellness at Sanctum. Her mission is focused on curating robust programming that integrates the different wheels of wellness. She brings to us a vast knowledge of wisdom traditions and training in yoga philosophy, mindfulness, meditation. In addition she is trained in a somatic practice recognized as a clinical evidence based treatment for Complex Trauma and PTSD.
Her personal history of complex trauma led Priya to seek alternatives to healing and has experienced the power of embodiment practices herself. That journey took across the globe to different parts of southeast Asia, the Dali Lama, and Kripalu Center. After helping herself she realized it was her gift and purpose to help others. Over the past 10 years this has included co-founding a school for children with special needs, navigating non-profit fundraising, developing courses and programs for mind-body health, and teaching weekly workshops on how to Heal through PTSD.
Priya holds certifications in Eastern Philosophy, Sound Bowl Healing, Yoga, Meditation, and Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga. She remains passionate about helping people become active participants in their own life through the pursuit of total wellness, mind, body, soul.
Vanessa Salinas
Patient Liaison
Jennifer Velardi
Wellness Experience Specialist
Angelica Melendez
Practice Manager
