Instructors



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Northern California Center for Well-Being's Instructors

The center for Well-Being's faculty is made up of dedicated educators from a wide range of health care disciplines. The instructors bring their personal and professional experience to their teaching, as well as a commitment to helping people take the best possible care of themselves. Meet the staff at the Northern California Center for Well-Being--
	*Dana Alvarez*,is certified by the American Lung Association and has been working in the addiction field for over ten years. As a former smoker of 32 years, Dana knows how challenging it is to quit. She brings experience, compassion and a sense of humor to the cessation process.“There are two things many smokers do not know. First, more than one attempt to quit is quite normal. And second, there is an abundance of hope and help available. Join us…this really can be the last time you quit.”
	*Nora Bulloch, RD, MA, MPH*, has been a registered dietitian and health educator for 16 years, she holds a masters degree in nutrition education and a masters degree in public health nutrition. She has developed and facilitated many health education and weight control groups. She enthusiastically works to personalize her approach for each person.
	Soledad Drago currently serves as the Bi-lingual Nutrition Educator and she teaches the train-the-trainer Raising Healthy, Active Kids program for Promotores de Salud and Community Health Outreach Workers. Sole brings over 8 years of experience in the field of medical nutrition therapy and health education. She completed her Bachelor of Science in dietetics in 2000 and is a registered dietitian in her home country of Argentina.
	Gail Dubinsky, MD , is in private practice in Sebastopol , specializing in soft tissue neuro-orthopedic injuries since 1988. She has studied yoga intensively for the past 20 years, and taught yoga in Sonoma County since 1990, with expertise in modifying traditional postures for individual needs. She is the creator of the video series “R.S.I.? Rx: Yoga!”
	Paula Frieders, MA holds a masters degree in Kinesiology with a focus on the aging population. She enjoys the challenge of helping people change their lifestyle to overcome barriers to exercise.
	Susana Garcia, Bilingual Health Educator, has taught Tomando Pasos, Diabetes y Su Salud and other chronic disease management programs for the Center since 2001. She brings over 20 years of experience as a health educator specializing in diabetes and childhood obesity prevention and completed her training in Healthy Living in her home Country of Mexico. Susana uses the empowerment model when facilitation groups to support positive behavior change.
	*Joan Gates, RD, MS, MPH* is a registered dietitian with over ten years experience helping people manage their cholesterol. Joan teaches at U.C. Berkeley and has additional expertise in sports nutrition.
	Joyce Giammattei, Dr.PH, RD, CDE, ACSM, CHES , is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, and a certified health education specialist. She holds a doctorate in public health and has experience teaching in many settings.
	Shirley C. Gillotti RN, MS , is a Stress Reduction Specialist trained by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. She currently teaches the Mind Body Connection class at the Center for Well Being and other community settings .Shirley has a private practice in Sebastopol dedicated to holistic health, including classical homeopathy consultations, retreats, meditation groups, and massage.
	Marianne Hutton, RD, CDE, is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator. In addition to teaching at the Center for Well-Being, Marianne is a renal dietitian, edits a professional publication of the American Dietetics Association, and is a wellness coach. She brings her sense of humor and passion for teaching to her classes.
	Linda Katz-Krieger
	Dustin Maul is an exercise specialist at our HeartWorks location. He has his bachelor of science degree in Kinesiology from Sonoma State University with a certification in Gerontology.
	Michelle McGarry
	W. Warren Mills, MD, FACP, is board certified in Internal Medicine and board qualified in Psychiatry. He is a certified instructor of Primordial Sound Meditation, taught by Dr. Deepak Chopra and the Relaxation Response as taught by Dr. Herbert Benson of the Harvard Medical School . Before moving to Santa Rosa, Dr. Mills was Professor of Medicine at Stanford School of Medicine and was actively involved in the Cardiovascular Institute. Dr. Mills has been personally involved in Transcendental Meditation and other forms of meditation practice for over 30 years.
	Kathie Myers, RN, has been a registered nurse for almost 30 years. She has worked in the areas of rehabilitation in spinal cord injury, care of the geriatric population and health education. She has worked in both the U.S. and Mexico for many years in all of these areas of specialty. She currently teaches Diabetes y Su Salud for the Center for Well-Being.
	Kathy Reiche is certified in Viniyoga. She has completed workshops with Shiva Rae, Angela Farmer, Victor Van Kooten, Heidi Sue Roth, Thia Ashanoah and other accomplished yoga practitioners. In addition to yoga, Kathy blends Feldenkrais movements and breath work to integrate and promote relaxed awareness.
	James Rosen, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus from the University of Vermont where he was a clinical psychology professor and researcher for 28 years. He is recognized internationally as an expert in eating disorders, body image, obesity and weight control.
	Sarah Sanabria, NP , is a nurse practitioner with a master's degree in geriatrics from U.C. San Francisco and further specialization in diabetes in diabetes management. Her current nurse practitioner practice focuses on helping individuals gain and maintain good control of diabetes. Sarah believes teaching self-management to people with diabetes is key to delaying and preventing complications associated with diabetes.
	Heather Todd has her bachelors of science degree in Kinesiology from Sonoma State University with a focus in geriatrics. She is an exercise specialist at our HeartWorks location.
	*Jennifer Watkins, RDCS* is an exercise physiologist with over 15 years experience helping motivate people with cardiac conditions or risk factors to improve their health and fitness.
	*Mary Ellen Wells, PT* is a physical therapist and movement educator with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in the treatment of chronic pain. Her interest in the body/mind connection as well as her personal experience with fybromyalgia inspire her classes and private practice.