By Barb Armijo
Dr. Arti Prasad’s lifelong dream as a physician was to be a part of a health care center that focused on healing-oriented medicine and that incorporated a mind, body and spirit approach to optimal health. Since the University of New Mexico Center for Life opened in 2007, it looks as though Prasad is living that dream.

The Center for Life uses an array of ancient and modern techniques in a state-of-the-art Integrative and Intercultural center, emphasizing prevention and wellness along with disease management. It is a non-profit health center that is part of the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center.

CFL will showcase some of its providers at this year’s 50+ Celebration, March 13, at the Embassy Suites in Albuquerque. And who better than the founder and executive director of CFL to talk to people about this very special healing center. Prasad will be available from 9 AM to noon for all questions related to the Center for Life.

“I’ve always just believed that people can be their own health experts,” Prasad said. “We might be able to answer a few questions, but our mission really is to guide them toward self care.”
While the center does not shy from medicines as a form of treatment, Prasad said the goal is to help people reduce their dependence on pharmaceuticals. “That doesn’t always mean people stop taking what has been prescribed to them,” she said.

Working on lifestyle issues is one of the main goals CFL providers set for their patients, who learn stress reduction techniques, nutrition and other wellness goals that contribute to good health. Prasad said people start feeling like their bodies are falling apart sometimes as soon as their late 30s.

“What we help people deal with are chronic aches and pains,” she said. “These are the signs of growing older, but they don’t have to interfere with a person’s quality of life. We are living longer and we want all of our patients in their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond to be as healthy and happy as possible at every stage.”

Whole-body wellness can be achieved at any age, Prasad said; however, it takes each individual to come up with the plan to reach optimal health. She said many of CFL’s patients in their 50s and older are having chronic pain, are facing a diagnosis of cancer or are simply starting to feel the effects of age.

“It’s easy to say you’re falling apart when you feel pain,” she said. “But our mission is to be the health center that can help you through that by providing top quality care for physical, mental and even spiritual wellness.”

The spiritual aspect to wellness is one that Prasad said is “an open-ended” conversation that providers have with patients. Each person’s belief system is different, and this is a non-religious discussion, she said.

Other presenters include:
• Mary Smith-Fassler, a registered nurse and doctor of Oriental Medicine, will be available from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM to answer questions about acupuncture and Chinese herbs.
• Barbara Welcer, RN, will provide healing touch therapy mini sessions and information about energy medicine from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
• Ingrid Yogita Wengatz, Ph.D, LMT, will be available from 8:30 AM to 3 PM for Ayurvedic consultations and chair massage.
• David Lang, MTPT, LMT, a myofascial therapist, will be available from 2:30 to 3:30 PM to discuss his specialty.