Jasmine started as a personal trainer at 24 Hour Fitness in Richmond, California then at Fitness 19 in San Ramon, California. While working as a Personal Trainer, she started schooling to become a Massage Therapist, only to realize that Physical Therapy was the field she really wanted to be in. After a few years in the fitness field, she became a Physical Therapist’s Aide at P.A.C.E.R. Clinic, an outpatient clinic in Walnut Creek California.

After working as an aide for about 3 years, she moved to South Carolina with her husband and attended Charleston Southern University. When her husband was re-stationed to San Diego, she applied, and was accepted to San Diego State University. This is where she is currently attending to work towards becoming a licensed Physical Therapist. At Southern California Pain and Wellness, she aids the Physical Therapist with monitoring patients exercise programs as well as teaching the weekly Nutrition course.

Jasmine is married to her long-time sweetheart, and her hobbies include cooking, exercise and painting. She also has an adorable English Bulldog named Chucho.

Luisana Elias is the program coordinator at the Southern California Pain and Wellness Center.  She earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from California Lutheran University (CLU).  Her major emphasis was in Marketing. While attending school, she completed an internship with UrbanWorks Entertainment where she helped with the marketing plans for movie titles such as Fat Albert, Hair Show and the execution of the DVD release of The Cosby Show series.  After graduating from CLU in the spring of 2005, she went to San Diego to visit her sisters on vacation and immediately fell in love with the city.

Luisana started her working career at AMN Healthcare healthcare staffing agency.   She climbed the corporate ladder from an administrative assistant to an Account Manager.  She quickly learned she enjoyed establishing key relationships with her accounts while being able to help them with their needs.  These relationships helped her sales department receive job orders, under competitive times, before any other agency was given the opportunity to fill them.   In November2009, she started working at Southern California Pain & Wellness Center for the Functional Restoration Program (FRP).  She started working with the FRP because she had a strong desire to help others and has accomplished just that.  She is an advocate for the participants and acts as a liaison between insurance companies and the participants.  In addition, she manages the day to day activities of the program. She enjoys working with the participants and has learned so much from them.

On a personal note, Luisana enjoys working with children through daycare and is also a strong believer of personal fitness.  She has participated in several half marathons through out the San Diego County and motivates those around her to achieve personal goals and relieve stress/anxiety through running.

Amanda Rausch, M.F.T.T.

Amanda Rausch is a Marriage and Family Therapist intern who manages the Art Therapy and Wellness program for the Southern California Pain and Wellness Center. She also provides therapy to couples and families. She earned both her Bachelors and Masters Degree in Psychology from the University of San Diego, and graduated at the top of her class.

Amanda has formal training in both yoga and meditation through CorePowerYoga and Yoga Alliance, which is a nationally recognized certification. She is certified in Vinyasa Power Yoga, Pilates, and Yin Yoga. She works with participants in power yoga to improve strength, balance and flexibility, and yin yoga to repair deep connective tissue, ligaments and joints. She is also trained in Restorative Yoga for Chronic Pain.

She is also actively involved in neuroscience research at the University of San Diego and is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR is a neurological therapy which incorporates biofeedback, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and eye movements. EMDR is proven to help reprocess traumatic memories and phobias, leaving clients feeling positive or neutral to past and future upsetting events in their lives. EMDR is available to all program participants who meet the requirements.

On a personal note, Amanda enjoys integrating wellness with psychology and believes the mind body connection is crucial to recovery.

Alona Yacobovsky DPT, CWS

Alona Yacobovsky graduated from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY with a bachelor and
master degree in physical therapy in September, 2002. In addition, she holds a doctorate in physical therapy from Boston University that she received in August, 2005. Tired of bitter cold winters, Alona made the move to California where she worked at Eisenhower Medical Center in Palm Springs for one year and Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego for six years. At Scripps Mercy Hospital, Alona became proficient working with all types of patients and diagnoses including orthopedic, neurological, general medical, cardiac, critical care, and traumatic. Alona also has extensive experience working with chronic pain patients as she is a certified wound specialist and has specialty training in Lymphedema management.

Outside of work, Alona sits on the executive board of the Young Adult Division of
the San Diego Jewish Federation where she plans and participates in a wide range of volunteer and community activities. In her spare time, Alona enjoys running, playing tennis, soccer, and skiing.

Kirk Wachtmann, Ph.D.

Dr. Kirk Wachtmann graduated from the University of the Pacific with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Sociology, and International Relations in 1971. He received a Ph.D. in Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego in 1975. He completed his Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego in 1977. Dr. Wachtmann’s career has primarily focused on working with individuals with chronic pain and working as a colleague with physicians dealing with chronic pain. He is a Diplomate in Pain Management, Behavioral Medicine, and Psychotherapy.

Dr. Wachtmann has been married for over thirty years and has three daughters with one grandson. He has interests in reading, golf, traveling, and electronic technology.

Jim Malone, WCCP

Jim is the Administrative Director for Southern California Pain & Wellness Center and its Functional Restoration Program.   After growing up in Ohio, Jim moved to San Diego in 1984. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from San Diego State University. A work related injury lead to a successfully completed vocational rehabilitation plan, enabling Jim to embark on a career in workers’ compensation insurance as a claims adjuster and later as a self-insured administrator for the San Diego Transit.

Jim then founded Workers’ Compensation Consulting. He continues this work with his earliest clients, Sam Maywood, M.D. and Coast Surgery Center, among others.   Jim is a current member of San Diego’s RNCN (Rehabilitation Nurse Coordinator’s Network), and past member of the San Diego Insurance Adjuster’s Association, San Diego Risk Insurance Management Society (RIMS), and The Work Comp Forum.

Jim has been happily married to Francis for 22 years and they have 5 children.

Leela Metz, PA.C.

Leela was born in Pennsylvania and grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs. She obtained her Physician Assistant certification after graduating with a Master’s degree from Philadelphia University. Leela is an alumni sister of Delta Phi Epsilon. “Whenever there was a medical question or someone felt sick, I would always get a phone call. My sisters trusted me with very personal issues and we would always get through it together.” She still keeps in touch with the chapter at Philadelphia University.

Tired of the snow and cold weather, she moved to sunny San Diego where she has worked with several prominent pain physicians in the San Diego area before joining Southern California Pain and Wellness Center.

Leela has a keen ability to connect with people. “By listening to the person that’s behind the pain, in combination with various techniques my background has taught me, my patients are able to move through recovery faster with a more positive outlook.” “There is nothing more rewarding then having patients tell me I helped them get their lives back.”

Stephanie Kowalski, PA-C

Stephanie is our newest physician assistant to join the practice. She graduated and received a Master’s degree of Science in Physician Assistant studies from D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY in December of 2009. After graduation, she moved to sunny Southern California and started her career out here on the west coast. She is highly educated and trained in pain medicine. Stephanie has a clear understanding and demonstration of intrathecal pump management and spinal cord stimulation. She also exhibits great clinical skills in these specialty areas. Her passion is to restore patient’s back to a healthy, happy, high quality of life with the best pain control possible. She highly values patient education and takes the extra time to make sure her patients have clear understanding of their care. Stephanie is an active member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and the California Academy of Physician Assistants (CAPA). Stephanie enjoys traveling, especially to tropical regions. She is also a huge animal lover. She currently lives in Carlsbad with her husband and three little dogs; Zoe, Chloe and Jasper.

Sam Maywood, M.D.

Dr. Sam Maywood is a Board Certified Anesthesiologist, who has been in private practice for approximately 17 years. Dr. Maywood attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan as an undergraduate. He then performed his residency in Anesthesiology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He was Board Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and is a Qualified Medical Examiner. Dr. Maywood has been in private practice in the San Diego area since 1991. He has been practicing pain management full time since 1994. Dr. Maywood is a nationally recognized instructor in various injection procedures and has taught courses internationally in the various aspects of pain management. Dr. Maywood has served as a senior instructor in teaching implanations of both spinal cord stimulators and spinal narcotic infusion pumps for numerous courses in the United States. He has considerable experience as well in interventional pain management. Dr. Maywood has been married to his wife, Dawn, for 17 years and has three children.

Southern California Pain and Wellness Center defines excellence in pain management by offering an appropriate, comprehensive, multi-specialist team approach to address the most challenging and complex chronic pain disorders in the Southern California area.

Our multi-disciplinary method includes medication management, physical therapy, psychological therapy, vocational training, art therapy, and various wellness activities that are geared toward restoring maximal function and improving our clients’ quality of life.  We offer a range of pain management programs including our Functional Restoration Program, Early Intervention Program, and Healthy Living Pathways

Southern California Pain and Wellness Center Programs:

Functional Restoration Program

Here at SCPWC we take a holistic approach to pain management and functional restoration. We use a multi-disciplinary program to reach every aspect of our patient’s lives in order to help them achieve the highest function possible, both physically and psychologically. The components of the program include:

• Physical Therapy- Patients will work with a Physical Therapist to improve strength, flexibility, exercise endurance and functional capacity. In addition, they will be provided with education on proper body mechanics and pacing skills.

• Psychology- Patients will work with our Psychologist using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and various stress management techniques to help reduce pain related issues such as anxiety and depression. In addition, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is available to patients who are suffering from traumatic memories surrounding their injuries.

• Wellness- Patients will learn how to manage their pain using non-pharmacological activities such as meditation, yoga and art therapy.

• Nutrition- Weekly Nutrition classes will be held to teach the importance of proper nutrition and its affects on chronic pain. Weekly weigh-ins will be provided to those who wish to manage weight gain/loss.

• Vocational Rehabilitation- Patients will meet with a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist to assist in transitioning back to work with individualized Return to Work programs

The way our program is set up allows patients to develop a social network by building connections with other individuals dealing with similar issues. Once they have completed our program, we encourage them to keep in touch with us and many continue on with the aftercare program we provide, Healthy Living Pathways.

Early Intervention Program:

Our early intervention program is set up for those individuals who are less than one year from the date of injury.  We strive to identify these individuals who are at risk for getting caught in the workers’ compensation system and treat them appropriately early on, thereby increasing their chances of successfully returning to work.

Clients will participate in physical therapy, psychological therapy and wellness activities, twice a week for 3 hours. This program lasts for 5 weeks with the ultimate goal of transitioning back to work.

Healthy Living Pathways

This is our 6 month follow up program for graduates of the Functional Restoration Program.  Graduates come in once a week for 2 months in order to transition into practicing good exercise habits on their own. After the 2 months they come in once every other week for the following 4 months to continue that transition with the help of our staff.