LIFEWELLNESS INSTITUTE - Key Persons
Alex received her Bachelor of Science in Statistics from UCLA and has been an important part of the San Diego Sports Medicine-Lifewellness Family since 2016. Now exclusively at Lifewellness, she helps coordinate the front office and clinical team, handles patient contracts, is a MyChart expert, heads many projects, and addresses LWI technology needs--a true super genius! Alex is famously patient and warm with a great sense of humor. An avid lover of all animals, she has happily settled into a newly purchased home where she loves to read and snuggle with her beloved cat Kramer.
Ashli grew up in Coronado Island with her father in the Navy, and her mother as a nurse. She began her education at UCSD then went on to study Business and Accounting at Grossmont College, received her training as a Medical Assistant at UEI, and then completed a degree in Nursing at Kaplan College. Ashli is helpful and upbeat, and this is reflected in her family's commitment to the community. Each year, they support 50 families in need by providing meals for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and backpacks with school supplies for the children.
Although Ashli enjoys nature, she prefers "glamping' to camping. She also loves water sports like surfing and boating, is a painter, and has two dogs.
Destiny is our newest Patient Liaison at Lifewellness. She assists with scheduling, coordination of care, and communication with patients. Her calm and reassuring way puts everyone at ease. Born and raised in San Diego, Destiny has been working as an Administrative Assistant at the Alvarado office of SDSM for the past five years. She is an avid foodie and loves exploring new restaurants and eating experiences. For a peaceful day Destiny recommends heading to the beach with a blanket and good book.
An imaging tech with outstanding experience, Diana works for both Lifewellness Institute and San Diego Sports Medicine. Married for 30 years to her adoring husband, Diana is grounded by her faith and family.
A seamstress and admirer of Rae Dunn ceramics, Diana makes frequent trips to visit her mother in Northern California and has two adult children and two grandchildren. Always quick to laugh and share a kind word, Diana is our rock. In addition to taking perfect pictures of people's insides, she also takes charge of tasks such as ordering supplies and our breakfast service.
With more than 30 years of experience as a family and sports medicine physician, Dr. Rice is a premier medical expert on wellness in the United States and internationally. Dr. Rice earned his B.S. degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and received his D.O. degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (now A.T. Still University). He completed his internship and Family Medicine residency in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. Currently, he is board certified in Family Medicine with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine; he is also a diplomate of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine.
Dr. Rice's passion is to facilitate positive life transformations through education and inspiration. A committed family man, he is a father to two beautiful daughters and a proud grandfather. He resides in Point Loma with his beloved wife, Mary, dog Hugs, and Maine coon cat, Yogi.
Certified in functional nutrition and known for her practical advice, Linda sees patients in our clinic, provides corporate learning experiences, and teaches nutrition at the award-winning spas Rancho La Puerta and Rancho Valencia. When her father was diagnosed with heart disease, Linda was moved to complete a B.S. in Nutrition at CSULB and an internship at St. Luke's Hospital in Milwaukee, WI. Besides her participation in supporting Grandma Lulu's Table and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, Linda maintains memberships with Dietitians in Functional Medicine and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A devoted yogini, Linda also loves hiking, trips to the beach, and mostly hanging out with her family and her two dogs, Enzo and Camm.
Born in Bishop, California, Miya recently graduated from PIMA College as a Medical Assistant. Miya spent much of her childhood playing roller hockey and riding horses. An expert horsewoman, she rides Western, English, trails, and her favorite packing destination is Reds Meadow in Mammoth. Organized, kind, and incredibly helpful, Miya is a down-to- earth coffee lover and sleep advocate. Her hobby is seeking out the sun which is perfect for living in San Diego!
Rory holds an MS in Exercise Science from Point Loma Nazarene University and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. In addition to his contributions at Lifewellness, Rory is the current Director of Sports Performance for San Diego Surf Soccer Club. He frequently travels with his soccer club teams and is a soccer athlete himself. As a true lover of the outdoors, Rory enjoys Overland camping in his 4Runner and surfing trips to Baja. He exercises the creative side of his brain by documenting his travels through photography. Rory was born and raised in San Diego and is married to his high school sweetheart, Amelia. At home, you'll find them hanging out with their dogs, Petey and Pancho, and their tuxedo cat, Pepe.
Sarah has long thought of San Diego as her second home and recently moved from Chicago to San Diego to be with her sister. Certified as an EMT in 2017, Sarah began working as an emergency room technician in 2020. Lifewellness welcomed Sarah to our team in late 2022 as a Medical Assistant. In the future, Sarah hopes to go to Osteopathic School to become a Doctor of Osteopathy. With her love of people and personalizing patient care, we think she will make a fantastic D.O.! Fitting right into the San Diego lifestyle, Sarah is an avid runner, hiker, and lover of yoga.
Dr. Cheffet joined the Lifewellness team in 2019 and has been practicing in San Diego County since 2006. A graduate of Western University of Health Sciences, D. O. program in 2002 , she completed a dual residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Dr. Cheffet has worked as a medical director of a local Federally Qualified Health Center as well as a hospitalist for Sharp Memorial Hospital. She started with San Diego Sports Medicine in 2013 and transitioned to Lifewellness Institute in order to pursue her goals to provide quality and detailed care to her patients. Dr. Cheffet's experience as both a practitioner and a mother of four have reinforced her passion to treat the entire person, not just their illness. To support her special interest in wellness and obesity medicine, she became board certified in Obesity Medicine in 2021. Dr. Cheffet is honored to be the wife of a Navy helicopter pilot who also believes in having an active lifestyle. When they are not on the sidelines of a soccer, little league or lacrosse game, they will often hop on a paddleboard or head to the mountains to hike with their dogs, Bear & Kona.