Healthcare Practitioners
Acupuncturists
Taya Lindley, LAc, MTCM, Dipl. OM
Taya is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz, where she received a bachelor's degree in psychology. She received her master's degree in traditional Chinese medicine from the Five Branches Institute, also in Santa Cruz. At Five Branches, she studied with and received clinical training under the esteemed Dr. Sharon Feng, a specialist in women's health in the fields of gynecology, fertility, and obstetrics. She continued her clinical training in Beijing, China, with the highly regarded Dr. Ju-Yi Wang.
Taya is an empathetic practitioner who takes time with her patients to build a relationship of trust and to work together as partners in the healing process. She has a broad knowledge of different systems of medicine and strongly believes in the importance of finding the best treatment available for any given condition. She is a proponent of integrative health care and frequently collaborates with other practitioners both within and outside of the Center.
Taya specializes in women's health, fertility, hormone, and menstrual problems. For many years, she has been successfully treating patients for back, neck, shoulder, and knee pain; tendonitis; fibromyalgia; arthritis; headache; and migraine. She also treats conditions such as stress, anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, allergies, and asthma.
Taya enjoys Tai Chi, qigong, yoga, traveling, gardening, reading, and most of all, spending time with her husband and two young children.
Learn more about acupuncture.Al Downs, LAc
Al received his Master's degree in acupuncture and Chinese herbology at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. After graduation, he studied acupuncture and herbology, with a focus on internal medicine, in Hangzhou, China. Back in the states, Al trained extensively in Japanese acupuncture techniques at Bastyr University in Seattle, and has studied and practiced a direct but gentle approach to acupuncture and Oriental medicine in Portland since 1991.
In 1992, Al helped start the Immune Enhancement Program (IEP) with Subhuti Dharmananda. A not-for-profit clinic, IEP focuses on using Chinese medicine as a complementary treatment for chronic illnesses such as cancer, HIV, and multiple sclerosis. He currently serves as co-director of the IEP acupuncture clinic.
Al enjoys treating a diverse group of clients at the Hawthorne Wellness Center —children, elders, and all sorts of folks in between. He finds success using acupuncture for acute and chronic pain, sports injuries, allergies, stress reduction, and immune support. Al's warm, professional manner and expertise are reassuring to people seeking acupuncture treatment for the first time, and a pleasure for those who know and appreciate the benefits of this age-old treatment modality.
Pragmatic and collaborative, Al believes a team approach is most advantageous for maximum healing and recovery, and will recommend the most beneficial treatment plan for his clients. This may include massage, chiropractic, or the care of a specialist or physician practicing Western medicine.
Al lives in Southeast Portland with his wife, dog, and cat. An avid lover of everything Pacific Northwest, he and his wife enjoy bicycling, hiking, cross-country skiing, and traveling.
Learn more about acupuncture.Chiropractic Physicians
Bruce Chaser, DC
Bruce completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Buffalo, where he earned bachelor degrees in psychology and sociology. He graduated from Western States Chiropractic College in Portland in 1984 and one year later became an associate at the Ancina Chiropractic Clinic on SE Hawthorne Boulevard at 34th, which he subsequently purchased. He continued to practice there until he took ownership of the former Harry's Mother building on SE Hawthorne near 39th and remodeled it to create Hawthorne Wellness Center in the fall of 2005. The new name and expanded focus highlight his dedication to providing integrated, holistic healthcare and movement for optimal well-being.
To balance his private practice, Bruce serves on the board of directors of Complementary Healthcare Plans, a Portland-based complementary and alternative healthcare insurance company for which he also serves as an associate medical director. He is on the Metro YMCA Health and Fitness Task Force and has taught "The Y's Way to a Healthy Back" at the Metro YMCA since 1989.
Bruce draws on over 22 years of experience and continued enthusiasm when caring for his patients, who include athletes, musicians, actors, gardeners, and various weekend warriors. Patients seek his care for acute and chronic conditions that often arise from overuse/repetitive stress injuries or muscular weakness/deconditioning. He also treats people who have been injured on the job or involved in auto, bicycle, or other accidents.
Bruce enjoys creating a partnership with his patients, encouraging them to share in taking responsibility for attaining and maintaining optimal health. He advises patients on exercises and lifestyle changes as appropriate and releases them from care once they reach maximum improvement. His most successful treatments involve patients he rarely sees —because they take his advice to heart.
He appreciates working with the other practitioners at Hawthorne Wellness Center when interdisciplinary treatment plans are called for. Over the years, he has also developed an extensive network of health care providers outside the Wellness Center, making and receiving referrals when appropriate.
Bruce is an 18-year resident of southeast Portland's Richmond neighborhood, where he is actively involved in the community. He has served on the board of directors of the Hawthorne Boulevard Business Association since 1987. Bruce enjoys bicycling, playing guitar, hiking, and practicing yoga. His wife, Cinnamon, owns Presents of Mind, a gift store on Hawthorne at 37th and they have two daughters.
Learn more about chiropractic.Phillip Snell, DC
A cum laude graduate of Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Phillip has also received extensive post-graduate training in diagnosis, treatment, and case management of automobile-related spine trauma. In addition, he has served as part time faculty at Western States Chiropractic College.
Phillip regularly combs through the emerging scientific literature in an effort to improve his clinical practice, a process known as evidence-based practice. Utilizing innovative, science-based therapies like Graston Technique soft tissue mobilization and Active Therapeutic Movement, combined with a biomechanics mindset, Phillip enjoys doing the detective work that gets to the bottom of stubborn, painful conditions. As a long-time athlete, he has a special appreciation of the needs of athletes as they age and the conditions that keep them from being as active as they would like. In addition to chiropractic adjustments, Phillip treats the surrounding muscle and fascial tissues, and follows up with thorough rehabilitation exercises. Treatments are tailored to each patient's needs, with special attention to educating the patient in how to reduce future injuries.
Phillip enjoys wintertime snowboarding and during the warmer months can be found in his garden or hiking and running the beautiful trails in the Portland area with his wife and son. For more information, visit drpsnell.chiroweb.com or see patient feedback at portland.citysearch.com.
Learn more about chiropractic.Family Physician
Shahram (Shay) Hosseinion, MD
Shay completed his medical training at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, known for its holistic approach to family medicine. He further pursued specialty training in family medicine during his residency at Providence Milwaukie Hospital. Shay has additional training in integrative and holistic medicine and throughout his studies has had the opportunity to collaborate with students and practitioners of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, chiropractic, naturopathy, and osteopathic medicine. He is also interested in international and travel medicine, wilderness and sports medicine, and behavioral medicine and mental health.
Inspired by old time family doctors who could be seen walking through the neighborhood en route to a house call, Shay seeks to bring that closeness back to inner Southeast Portland. A resident of Southeast himself, he is committed to local healthcare solutions and believes that every neighborhood should have its own doctor who has time to spend with people and be a part of the community.
Shay's practice is unique. In most places, people only see a doctor for a few minutes, because the doctor must see so many patients to pay for the expensive overhead of an inefficient practice. Shay believes in spending more time with people and is able to do so because he checks in patients and does billing himself. This simple, small-scale practice model allows more one-on-one contact with patients and creates the time for you to develop a true relationship with your personal physician.
He is on the Mt. Hood Doctor's ski patrol and his hobbies include skiing, running, biking, making music on almost any instrument, yoga, and playing tai chi with his wife Eva who will join him in practice once she's done with her residency.
He is honored to house his practice in the Hawthorne Wellness Center alongside likeminded colleagues.
For appointments or questions, you can reach Dr. Hosseinion directly at (503) 234-2070 or click the link above his photo.
Learn more about family medicine.Massage Therapists
Sheri Blue, LMT
Sheri has been a licensed massage therapist in Oregon since 1997. She was a straight-A student at East-West College of the Healing Arts, and holds a bachelor's degree in literature from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She has studied a variety of modalities including Swedish, deep tissue, myo-fascial release and lomilomi. She has also taken courses studying the protocols for pregnant women and for people with cancer.
Every massage therapist brings unique skills and individuality to practice. Sheri's favorite work is therapeutic massage, with pressure that ranges from firm to deep. The result, sometimes immediately and sometimes after a few days, is often a release of muscular tension, resulting in less pain and stress, both in specific areas and overall. Because the body is not separate from the mind and heart, changes in the body during massage can bring up thoughts or emotions. It is Sheri's intention to create a safe space for the body, mind, and heart.
Outside the world of massage, Sheri keeps herself busy with her son, her boyfriend, and her home. She loves to read, write, knit, bicycle, travel, and watch movies.
Learn more about massage therapy.Lynn Short, LMT
Lynn Short trained extensively at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy in Boulder, Colorado, and is licensed through the Oregon State Board of Massage therapists. Her scope of practice includes sport, orthopedic, Swedish/deep tissue and hot stones for relaxation. She also uses gua sha, a technique from Chinese medicine. It involves stroking the skin and deep tissue layers with a round-edged instrument and results in the appearance of small red patches called "sha" that generally fade in two to three days. Raising Sha removes blood stagnation considered pathogenic, which promotes normal circulation and metabolic processes that help muscles to heal. The client usually experiences immediate relief from pain and muscle stiffness.
Lynn's experience healing her own injuries has helped to mold her practice style and gives her insight and compassion for her clients seeking relief from aches and pain. Additionally, the physical demands inherent in providing bodywork have taught her the importance of regular exercise and stretching to maintain the health and vitality of the body. Therefore, she strongly encourages her clients to stay active in ways that support their bodies and speed recovery from any injuries. She believes robust exercise is best balanced with a form that focuses on relaxation and increasing flexibility. Lynn generally recommends slow yoga practices and Tai Chi because they help to balance not only the physical body but the mind and emotions as well.
Lynn spent most of her life in Colorado, but she's also lived in New Zealand; Santa Fe, New Mexico; California; Oklahoma; and now Oregon. Her primary form of exercise is cycling. She loves being on a bike because she feels that there is a freedom out on the open road she cannot get any other way. Lynn and her husband, Justin, ride together often and in the summer months go on extended bike tours when they can. They also teach meditation and classes in gnostic anthropology.
Learn more about massage therapy.Carly Samish, LMT
Carly has been a massage therapist in Portland since 2003. She graduated from East-West College of the Healing Arts with specialization in therapeutic and deep tissue massage, and is currently a member of the American Massage Council and certified with the National Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
Carly has additional training in medical qigong therapy, acupressure, tui na and gua sha. Tui na is a type of Chinese therapeutic massage that uses assertive techniques to release stagnation in the muscles and along the body's energy meridians, thereby enhancing the flow of qi, or life-force. Gua sha uses a special tool to gently scrape the skin, which breaks up congestion in the muscles and tendons. This helps to relieve pain and muscle stiffness from injuries and chronic tension.
All sessions are customized to meet the unique needs of the client in a safe and professional environment. Massage work can be focused for injury rehabilitation or more general for relaxation.
Carly relies on tai chi and yoga to maintain her health and well-being, as well as getting bodywork herself on a regular basis, going for walks, bicycling, and listening to music. She enjoys being part of a supportive community of holistic health practitioners.
Learn more about massage therapy.Naturopathic Physician
Kelly Owens, ND
Kelly received her medical training at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, where she graduated in 2004. While there, she completed a certificate of natural obstetrics, which grants her the privilege of attending out-of-hospital births in states that license naturopaths to do so.
Kelly maintains a family practice, with a strong emphasis on preventative medicine. She specializes in the treatment of women and children, and treats a variety of chronic and acute conditions with natural, non-toxic therapies. She particularly enjoys working together with patients to address lifestyle factors that compromise health. Areas of interest include balancing hormones, managing stress, and utilizing herbal and nutritional therapies to optimize healthy function of the body's systems.
In addition to her practice at the Hawthorne Wellness Center, Kelly maintains a practice at Battle Ground Healing Arts, in Battle Ground, Washington. She is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and a founding member of the Natural Approaches to Parenting Group (NAP) in Clark County, Washington. She writes regularly for Vancouver Family Magazine and other area publications.
When not seeing patients, she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, camping, and cross-country skiing.
Learn more about naturopathy.