Some wonder why we have adopted a fee for service structure rather than opting to be paid in the usual way by patients’ insurance companies. The reason is that our twenty first century integrative approach is fundamentally at odds with the insurance based medical model which perpetuates a quick fix culture, discouraging meaningful relationships between families and their doctors. By remaining out of network, GetzWell’s doctors and patients collaborate to make important decisions about their health without interference from insurers. As a result, the quality of care at GetzWell is unsurpassed.
Insurers are relegated to a still important but secondary role whereby they cover some primary care costs plus emergencies, severe illness and catastrophic matters. Moreover, although GetzWell operates on a fee for service basis, most of our patients with PPO insurance receive some, often significant, reimbursement from their insurers for the services we provide (subject to the specific terms of each policy).
Julia Getzelman, MD, FAAP
Julia Getzelman, M.D. founded GetzWell Pediatrics in 2008 based on the belief that an integrative approach to pediatric care which combines the best of conventional and complementary medicine is the wisest approach to health optimization and the treatment of illness in kids.
Dr. Getzelman graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Stanford University with distinction and Phi Beta Kappa. She later earned her medical degree from Yale University and completed her residency at Children’s Hospital Oakland. Thereafter, she was an attending physician in the neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric clinic at Highland, Oakland’s county hospital and also worked at After Hour Pediatrics in San Mateo. In the 5 years before founding GetzWell, she practiced at Saint Luke’s Health Care Center in the Mission where she provided whole kid care to over 1200 patients. She is board certified in pediatrics and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Getzelman embraces the many components that contribute to health and illness: nutrition, physical activity, emotional/psychological stresses, and the environment, among others. She has a special interest in how nutrition and intestinal health contribute to overall wellness. To that end, she has completed the core curriculum of the Institute of Functional Medicine, located in Gig Harbor, Washington. Dr. Getzelman has additional training in homeopathy and applied nutritional biochemistry/food as medicine.
Dr. Getzelman grew up in California and was the oldest of five children. She loves the outdoors and is fascinated by nature. She comes from a musical family, has sung in a variety of venues over the years, and decided recently to rediscover the piano after a long hiatus. She has a passion for romance languages and is fluent in Spanish and Italian. Dr. Getzelman lives in the Mission District with her husband and step-son.
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Colleen Panina, MD, FAAP
After graduating from Stanford University, Colleen Panina, M.D. taught high school geometry at Sacred Heart Cathedral in San Francisco. Dr. Panina earned her medical degree at St. Louis University and graduated cum laude. She went on to complete her internship and residency at Children’s Hospital Oakland, where she was named Outstanding Intern. While at Children’s Hospital Oakland she also completed a two year fellowship in infectious disease. Most recently, she has been a member of the pediatric hospitalist service at California Pacific Medical Center. She is board certified and is a member of the American
Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Panina is a native San Franciscan. She is married and is the mother of three children. In her spare time she likes to coach high school women’s basketball.
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Emily Novak Waight, RN, MSN, CPNP
Emily Novak Waight, Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP), was awarded both an RN and a Master’s of Science Degree in Advanced Practice Pediatric Nursing from Yale University with a concentration in primary care. While at Yale she became a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Delta Mu chapter.
Emily first realized her interest in pediatric medicine while pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology at Connecticut College when she spent a semester abroad in Thailand volunteering with Burmese refugees in a pediatric unit of a Thai Public Hospital. After receiving Master’s in nursing, she practiced for four years at Park Avenue Pediatrics in New York City’s Upper East Side and at New York Foundling, where she worked with youth and teens within NYC’s foster care system.
Additionally, Emily is a certified lactation educator who feels passionate about helping new families navigate the physical and emotional process of breastfeeding. As a mother of a thriving toddler, she brings with her clinical acumen a practical knowledge of the many joys and challenges of a breastfeeding baby.
Emily enjoys practicing yoga, running, reading and cooking. Most of all she takes pleasure in spending time with her husband and young daughter.
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Nicole Mitchell
Nicole Mitchell has spent many years working with children of all ages and joined GetzWell in a dual role as certified infant massage specialist and front office administrator. Teaching infant massage to parents is a rewarding opportunity that allows Nicole to help parents bond with their babies and promote health and well being.
Nicole is also and IYK certified yoga instructor for children ages 3-13 years and a postpartum doula in training. She holds two bachelor’s degrees in English and Art History from Dominican University in Marin.
Nicole practices yoga and loves to travel and read. She lives on the Peninsula with her husband and they’re expecting their first baby in March 2013.
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