Christina Jones is a certified massage and lymphedema therapist with specialized training in manual lymph drainage using the Vodder Technique. She is also a craniosacral therapy practitioner and holistic health practitioner. Jones provides highly customized therapeutic massage to support a wide range of needs, including oncology massage and the management of edema and lymphedema for cancer patients both in active treatment and in remission.
With advanced experience in craniosacral therapy, she facilitates deep stress reduction, improved circulation, and enhanced regulation of the central nervous system. This gentle, light-touch modality also supports mobility of the cranial structures, making it effective for individuals experiencing headaches or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.
Jones' solid background in modern dance further enhances her understanding of structural alignment and functional movement, enabling her to support patients with musculoskeletal awareness and balance.
She is honored to walk alongside each patient in their wellness journey and is grateful for the opportunity to provide compassionate, individualized care.
Jessica Calix is a licensed massage therapist credentialed by the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). She provides both corrective care as well as therapeutic touch, gently supporting patients' overall well-being.
Her massage therapy practice is anatomy-focused and she values whole-person care, ensuring clients feel emotionally supported in their healing journey. She blends modalities such as Swedish massage and deep tissue sculpting to reduce chronic muscle pain and improve mobility. She explores the body's natural rhythm with sensory repatterning, encouraging the release of movement patterns that may cause dysfunction.
She offers gentle support for patients of all ages as they heal and process grief, trauma, chronic illness, or any of life's stressors feeling supported and witnessed. She is an advocate for expanding integrative health access and inclusivity in underserved communities.
When not in the clinic, Jessica can be found chaperoning trips to the park with her son and his friends, riding bikes, training martial arts, volunteering in community and serving on the board of a human rights non-profit organization.
Amelia Eastman, DO, is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation. She is a physician who meets with patients at different types of UC San Diego Health clinics to help with physical impairments and rehabilitation. She uses a hands-on approach to diagnose injury and illness and encourage the body's natural tendency for good health. Dr. Eastman does not prescribe pain medication. Her treatments focus on multimodal solutions including physical or occupational therapy, injection options, equipment or bracing, or technology to enhance recovery.
Dr. Eastman has trained in both integrative medicine and conventional medicine, allowing her to integrate all aspects of health in the best method for each patient. She is a member of the UC San Diego Center for Integrative Medicine.
She specializes in the nonsurgical treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, including neck pain, back pain, and sports injuries. Her work in physical medicine and rehabilitation also includes meeting with patients before and after joint replacements or other surgery to decrease pain, increase movement and regain function.
In her work at the pain clinic (appointments by referral only), she specializes in using osteopathic manual medicine to ease muscle pain through techniques including counterstrain and muscle energy.
She often incorporates exercise into her prescriptions for health. She is a member of the Exercise and Physical Activity Resource Center (EPARC) at the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology.
Her research interests include sports concussion, back pain, and a variety of non-opioid pain management options. She is involved in numerous research trials in the areas of pain, functional decline and exercise.
Dr. Eastman completed a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine and a residency in preventive medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. She earned her medical degree from Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, Calif.
Before attending medical school, Dr. Eastman worked as a river guide and has traveled and lived in South America and New Zealand. In addition, she has lived and worked in health care in Africa, Australia and Cuba.
Jared Huffman, DO, is a neuromusculoskeletal medicine physician specializing in osteopathic manual medicine. He practices osteopathic manipulative treatment, helping facilitate a person's natural healing capabilities through light touch and gentle manipulation of tissues, joints, and organs. Some common conditions that Dr. Huffman treats include acute and chronic pain, migraines, post-concussion symptoms, newborn feeding difficulties, plagiocephaly (a flat spot on a baby's head) and musculoskeletal conditions associated with pregnancy.
As an assistant professor of family medicine, he is involved in training medical students, residents and fellows at UC San Diego School of Medicine.
Dr. Huffman completed his osteopathic neuromusculoskeletal medicine residency at the founding location of osteopathy, A.T. Still Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Mo. He earned his medical degree from Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis. He was able to study under a variety of great osteopathic physicians which reflects in his own unique practice today. Before medical school, Dr. Huffman studied the inter-relationship between the environment and public health at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla. There, he obtained a Master of Arts in global sustainability and later worked as an intern for the Pan American Health Organization in Washington, District of Columbia.
Outside of work, Dr. Huffman enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including surfing, scuba diving, hiking and skiing. He is also an avid musician and collects a variety of vintage vinyl records.
Please wear comfortable athletic clothes to your appointment.
Jacqueline Arellano, DACM is a licensed acupuncturist who sees patients as part of the Center of Integrative Medicine at UC San Diego. She specializes in pain relief, stress management and reproductive care.
Fully fluent in both English and Spanish, she is able to facilitate treatment in both languages effectively.
Committed to accessible health care, she founded and manages Border Kindness Health and Wellness Center. This holistic program provides acupuncture and adjunctive therapies for refugees and unhoused families in community settings including shelters, clinics and encampments. They also provide comprehensive pro-bono services to the community in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.
In addition to patient care, she supervises acupuncture interns at Pacific College of Health Science.
Dr. Arellano completed her Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine degree at Pacific College of Health Science in San Diego. She also has a master's degree in traditional oriental medicine from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego.
Daniel Slater, MD, is a board-certified family medicine physician and offers integrative medicine through UC San Diego's Center for Integrative Medicine, which focuses on whole-person wellness by addressing physical, lifestyle, psychological, and spiritual needs. Integrative therapies recommended often include, but are not limited to, complementary modalities such as acupuncture, osteopathic manipulation, mindfulness, acupressure, specific movement therapies, and natural supplements.
Dr. Slater strives to partner with his patients, building mutual trust and communication to individually tailor their care. He believes that a physician and healthcare team ideally treat a person's entire health, both body and mind, not merely their disease or diagnosis.
Dr. Slater is associate team physician for the San Diego Padres and team physician for UC San Diego Tritons.
As professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Dr. Slater trains medical students and residents at UC San Diego School of Medicine. He is a faculty member in the Division of Global Public Health and an executive team member of the Center for Integrative Medicine.
Dr. Slater completed a fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona and a residency in family medicine at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica. He earned his medical degree from UC San Diego School of Medicine. He is board-certified in both family medicine and integrative medicine, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP).
Dr. Slater was born and raised in Southern California, and is bilingual in Spanish.
When he is not caring for his patients, his number one priority is spending time with his family. Dr. Slater also enjoys traveling, music and fitness.
Dr. Sozanski’s academic foundation is rooted in the University of Arizona, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, graduating Summa Cum Laude, followed by his Doctor of Medicine. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at the same institution and is board-certified through the American Board of Family Medicine. To further refine his expertise in holistic health, he completed a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.
His practice is deeply informed by an international perspective on healing, having completed extensive training in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture across the United States, Thailand, and China. He holds active medical licenses in California and Arizona, and is also licensed by the Medical Council of Thailand. This international background, combined with his early experience in hospice volunteerism, underscores his commitment to compassionate and versatile medical care.
Dr. Sozanski’s approach to patient care is defined by a synthesis of rigorous academic medicine and a deep commitment to holistic healing. He utilizes an evidence-based framework that bridges the gap between conventional medicine and integrative modalities.
His style is deeply personalized and considers how lifestyle, nutrition, and environment impact health. With a background in mathematics, Dr. Sozanski brings a high level of analytical precision to his clinical decisions. His international experience allows him to relate to diverse patient populations and navigate various medical traditions. He prioritizes building strong, collaborative relationships with his patients, empowering them to take an active role in their health through nutritional guidance, exercise, and preventive strategies
Patients undergoing acupuncture with Dr. Sozanski are encouraged to wear loose-fitting, warm, comfortable clothing to their visits.
Ariel Portera, DO, is a physician who provides primary care for patients of all ages with a special interest in women's health, integrative medicine and nutrition. She also performs inpatient and outpatient osteopathic manipulative treatment – a hands-on approach to treating a wide variety of illnesses and musculoskeletal injuries.
Providing general integrative medicine consults through the Center for Integrative Medicine, she utilizes lifestyle medicine to address the root cause of chronic disease. She also integrates and frequently refers to other complementary modalities including but not limited to acupuncture, massage, mindfulness and culinary medicine.
She enjoys treating the mind, body and spirit to optimize health and wellness, and partnering with patients on their health care journey.
Dr. Portera completed a residency in family medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine and she earned her medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Fla. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Academy of Integrative Health Medicine, the Institute for Functional Medicine and the American Osteopathic Association.
In her free time, Dr. Portera enjoys spending time with family and friends, travel, hiking, cooking and meditation.