Meet the Team
Dr. Steven E. Bennett, M.S.O.M., D.O.M., Dipl. O.M., Associate Professor SWAC, Clinic Director
Steven Bennett is a licensed doctor and professor of Oriental Medicine in the state of New Mexico. He received his Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine in 2004. Since 2005 he has provided pain relief and constitutional treatments in Albuquerque NM, where he maintains an Oriental medical practice.
Dr. Bennett is a leader in the field of Electro-acupuncture (EA). He originally studied EA with Dr. Darren Starwynn in 2006. Over the years Dr. Bennett has developed treatment protocols and utilizes the latest technology to deliver predictable, effective treatments to his patients. Steven specializes in Chinese pulse diagnosis and in developing customized herbal formulas for his patients. He has studied extensively with Dr. Jimmy Wei-Yen Chang learning the Pulsynergy technique.
Steven began his medical career in 1986 as a medic in the Army, where he was awarded the Expert Field Medical Badge. After the Army he studied Biology and developed a deep interest in Ethnobotany, which led him to appreciate Chinese herbology. Steven completed an apprenticeship in 1998 in Shiatsu massage therapy before going on to study Oriental medicine.
Dr. Bennett currently donates his time to the Veteran Stress Relief Clinic with the Sacred Spring Reiki Collective, a pilot program to observe the effects of combining Reiki and acupuncture to treat veterans and their family who suffer from PTSD. He has worked with a number organizations such as Healthcare for the Homeless, where he was the attending Acupuncturist at Casa los Arboles, a residential recovery program for homeless men and the Sandoval County Stars Program, a multiple DWI offender treatment and recovery program.
Dr. Bennett shares his expertise with prospective doctors of Oriental medicine at Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe as a professor, where he teaches classes and leads clinics in both Electro-acupuncture and Chinese herbal prescriptions. Dr. Bennett has a continued passion in botanical medicine and enjoys hiking in the mountains and deserts of the Southwest to locate and identify medicinal plants and wild edible mushrooms.
Dr. Noelle M. Baroody, P.A.-C, M.S.O.M., D.O.M., Dipl. O.M., Consulting Physician
Dr. Baroody received her Master’s degree in Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She’s a New Mexico State Board Licensed Doctor of Oriental Medicine and also a Certified Diplomate in Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture from the NCCAOM - National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Dr. Baroody began her medical journey as a child, observing her grandfather, a Cardiologist and Family Medicine Doctor, treating his patients with care, respect, and compassion. Growing up, she knew that she wanted to do the same, but felt that Western Medicine in general was becoming too focused on symptoms and prescriptions, and not enough on the person as a whole. When Dr. Baroody later discovered Chinese Medicine her eyes were opened to the incredible ability of the medicine to make positive life-changing improvements to physical and emotional health.
"My treatment approach is built on compassion and integrity and focused on using Chinese Medicine to facilitate physical, mental, and emotional balance in order to attain optimal health and wellness in my patients. It is truly an honor to work with you on your journey to better health!"
Dr. Jessica Dicker, M.S.O.M., D.O.M., Dipl. O.M. Ph.D., Physician
During Dr. Dicker’s formative years, traditional Chinese medicinal home remedies were all too familiar for a young girl to ever realize their true value, as such, she proceeded down a different career path, to become a scientist which required her to spend more than 10 years of study and research in science and engineering. Later, while raising her family, she realized that modern medical technological advancements were often inadequate and failed to address many common chronic conditions, such as eczema, leaky gut, and emotional struggles. This prompted her to recall childhood experiences with oriental medicine - the ancient wisdom of whole-person healing and being well.
Dr. Dicker believes that an integrative approach to health care will be the wave of the future. Although biomedicine is essential for many areas, Chinese medicine offers a macroscopic and systematic intervention that prompts the body and the mind’s natural healing ability, especially when coupled with coached lifestyle modifications. Dr. Dicker is trained in the Tan/Tung balance method for pain management, and neuro acupuncture for various neurological conditions. She is also enrolled in the International Certification of Oncology Acupuncture Program.
Dr. Dicker holds a Ph.D. in material science and engineering, M.S. in Physics, and an M.S. in Oriental Medicine. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) from AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine, Austin, Texas. She brings with her a wide range of experience. Her knowledge of the ancient wisdom of macroscopic symptom-driven logic of Chinese medicine makes her an ideal addition to the Modern Wellness staff. Dr. Dicker is ready to meet each of you on your journey to optimal health including physical renewal, emotional refreshment, and life enrichment.
Sujan Bryan, LMT, CPT, Neuromuscular Therapist
Sujan Bryan has practiced massage and movement therapy for more than 10 years. Before that, she earned her B.A. in anthropology and was an archaeologist, then copy editor in southwest Colorado. It was working as a copy editor in the archaeology world when she discovered her love for working one-on-one with people to solve specific issues, and her heavy dislike for sitting at a desk massaging a keyboard all day. So, despite being told not to quit her day job to pursue massage therapy, she did anyway and has never looked back.
Sujan has since developed a full-time practice focused on working closely with individuals to achieve physical goals through integration of neuromuscular therapy, specific movement techniques, and assisted stretching. She is a nationally certified personal trainer with a specialist certification in corrective movement, combining her knowledge of body mechanics with massage to create relief from pain and bodily restrictions. She looks forward to meeting Modern Wellness clients and working with the experts there to bring about integrated solutions toward the goals of each person.
Sujan is new to Albuquerque and is looking forward to exploring New Mexico's secrets both wild and urban. She enjoys hiking with her dog Oakley, and finding sweet swimming spots with him, as well as mountain biking, yoga, and learning how to make best-loved dishes from every culture.
Kathleen Ibarra, Clinic Manager
Kathleen runs Modern Wellness with diligence, enthusiasm, and dedication. She always ensures that patients’ needs are met from the moment they walk in until the moment they float out of the clinic. Kathleen has helped develop the center and has been essential to its success. She finds fulfillment in working with other members of the team to secure continuity of care for patients. She knows how important it is to help patients get the best care possible in the best setting for the individual. Kathleen’s favorite part of her job is working with her team of physicians, therapist, and clinic staff, as well as interacting with patients and their families on a regular basis.
Before joining Modern Wellness, Kathleen taught pre-kindergarten through high school at public and private schools in California for twelve years. Looking to help others in a different field, she is currently working towards her Master’s in Clinical Psychology with a specialty in Expressive Arts Therapy. She is an advocate for holistic healing and the interconnectedness of mind-body-spirit wellbeing.