Experts

Dr. Al Sears, MD currently owns and operates a successful integrative medicine and anti-aging clinic in Florida with over 20,000 patients. His cutting edge therapies and reputation for solving some of the most difficult-to-diagnose cases attract patients  around the world.

As a graduate from the University of South Florida College of Medicine, Dr. Sears scored in the 99th percentile on his MCAT and graduated with honors in Internal Medicine, Neurology, Psychiatry and Physical Medicine.

After entering private practice, Dr. Sears was one of the first to be board certified in anti-aging medicine. Today he is a diplomate of the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. As a pioneer in this new field of medicine, he is an avid researcher, published author and enthusiastic lecturer.

Dr. Sears is board certified as a clinical nutrition specialist and a member of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American College for the Advancement in Medicine (ACAM), the American Medical Association (AMA), the Southern Medical Association (SMA), the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) and the Herb Research Foundation, (HRF). Dr. Sears is also an ACE certified fitness trainer.

In 2002, he was appointed to the international panel of experts at Health Sciences Institute, (HSI) a worldwide consulting service for integrative healthcare.

Dr. Sears is the founder and director of The Wellness Research Foundation, a non-profit organization involved in on-going original research to evaluate natural alternatives to pharmaceutical therapies.

Since the release of his book, The Doctor’s Heart Cure, he has been interviewed on over two dozen nationally syndicated radio programs with an audience nationwide.

Dr. Sears recently published PACE: Rediscover Your Native Fitness and High Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps. Both became bestsellers during their first month of release.

Since 2001, he’s published over 500 articles and 6 books in the fields of alternative medicine, anti-aging and nutritional supplementation – with a readership of millions spread over 23 countries.

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Tara Smith, ARNP, NP-C, earned her Master’s degree from the University of Florida and became board certified as a family nurse practitioner in 2005.

With a concentration on aesthetics, teaching and family practice, Tara worked with plastic surgeons in a medical spa, taught nursing students and is skilled in all aspects of skin care, including laser resurfacing, skin tightening and therapy for patients with moderate to severe skin damage.

In spite of the recognition that followed and the widespread appreciation from her patients Tara continued her research and education into alternative medicine, especially anti-aging.

Coming from a medical family Tara came face to face with the failings of the medical establishment from an early age. Frustrated by the repetition and narrow scope of her daily practice she started looking for new challenges and new frontiers.

“It was fulfilling to bring relief and satisfaction to my patients, but I knew my calling went deeper than the aesthetics of looking young. I want my patients to feel young on the inside too. My ultimate goal is the realization of total health through diet, prevention and nutritional supplementation… Lasting health starts and ends at the cellular level. You can’t get there with drugs and conventional wisdom.”

While at the University of Florida, Tara wrote her Master’s thesis on hormone therapy for sexual dysfunction in menopause and the use of phytoestrogens for menopause symptoms.

“I’ve always been drawn to women’s health issues, even as a child. I knew intuitively women have different physiological needs and symptoms and don’t always respond to conventional treatments. That lack of perspective puts women at risk, especially in terms of heart attack, cancer and the issues that come with menopause.”

As a nurse practitioner Tara has advanced training in diagnosing and treating illness. That skill along with her training in anti-aging made her a perfect fit at the Center for Health and Wellness in Royal Palm Beach, Florida.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Al Sears, Tara’s practice flourishes. From her start in December of 2008, Tara has established a thriving practice providing an all-encompassing individualized care for her patients.

Aside from seeing patients, Tara is conducting research trials into novel ways of naturally boosting human growth hormone (HGH) and starting work on her first book, on anti-aging for women.

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Yarixa Ferrao, A.K.A, Coach Yari (Ya-di) is a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM). Recently voted “America’s Next Fitness Phenom” in 2008, Coach Yari is an expert in functional training, fat loss, weight loss, sports performance, and cellulite.

Coach Yari is the founder of Get Fit in 6, a 6-week life transformation program for both men and women in Delray Beach, Fla. She has also written an e-book on one of women’s most common problems – Cellulite. (Available on her website www.getfitin6.com)

Career Highlights:

• Voted “America’s Next Fitness Phenom” over 100 other trainers in U.S and Canada through Projectbreakout.com in 2008
• Selected  8,000 people in the first ever apprentice hunt, conducted by fitness leaders Juan Carlos Santana and Phil Kaplan, to serve as a Performance Coach at the World Renowned Institute of Human Performance 2005
• Featured fitness instructor on Dr. Al Sears’ world-renowned P.A.C.E exercise video and new edition P.A.C.E. book  http://www.alsearsmd.com
• Serves as a fitness expert at www.Earlytorise.com since 2007
• Helped client Valerie Miller win a $5,000 fat loss contest for “Most Fat Loss” against hundreds of other participants in 2008
• Served as a personal trainer at the prestigious Sports Club L.A. at the Four Seasons in Downtown Miami 2003-2005
• On the Cover of Personal Fitness Professional Magazine 2006
• Scouted and selected to train a Royal Prince in Sardinia, Italy 2004
• Spanish Television (Univision) fitness expert in the morning news “Al Amanecer” 2003-2005
• Published her first fitness DVD, integrating all aspects of health and fitness: Body, Mind, and Spirit. Special Guests include: Dr. Al Sears on the topic of Anti-Aging and Dr. Brian Sheen on Meditation and Self Hypnosis.  November 2009.

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Anesta Dawkins is Owner and Founder of Salon Hottie in West Palm Beach, Florida, and is an accomplished hairstylist, platform artist, and instructor. With over 20 years’ experience in the industry and a satisfied network of clients, Anesta is dedicated to keeping you current with the latest and most innovative products in the beauty industry.