Jasmine N. Duran

Getting to Know Alternative Medicine Specialist, Dr. Sonja Fung

 Locale Magazine Editors

 

 August 6, 2016

Dr. Fung of La Quinta’s Live Well Clinic Says, “I Love What I Do”

Written By: Jasmine Duran

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We all love a little rest and relaxation, so when we heard they were being prescribed by dynamic duo doctors Dr. Sonja Fung and Dr. Nicole Ortiz, we had to get our dose. The Live Well Clinic, located in La Quinta, Calif., provides a range of traditional as well as alternative, holistic medical treatments to address what they describe as a “balancing of body, mind, and spirit.” This innovative clinic has programs and services that range from cancer support and stem cell therapy to detoxes, acupuncture, massage treatments and yoga classes, offering the Coachella Valley healthy lifestyle options and therapeutic medical treatment.

Dr. Fung, a primary care Naturopathic Doctor who has been practicing in the valley for nearly a decade, specializing in integrative cancer therapies and pain management. Dr. Fung sat down with us to discuss her work and passion.

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Question: Live Well Clinic makes sure to “focus on treating individuals, not the disease.” Can you explain how this sets your practice apart from others?

Dr. Sonja Fung: One of the main reasons for co-founding Live Well Clinic is so that I, and the other doctors here, can have the time to focus on our patients and not just symptom management. After putting together all the pieces, we can accurately diagnose and treat the underlying cause, more effectively and fundamentally improving our patients’ health. I wanted to create the time and space where my patients can focus on healing.

Q: Can you tell us a bit more about your practice?

SF: The primary focus in my practice is taking care of cancer patients using my expertise in IV nutrient therapy, along with nutrition and vitamin supplementation, in collaboration with their conventional therapies. I have seen some dramatic health improvements in the past decade of using IV nutrients in many of my patients, creating custom formulations to support specific nutritional needs leading to greatly improved quality of life. As an advocate for more community education of naturopathic oncology, I am on the board of Desert Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit that supports cancer patients with their basic every-day needs, such as groceries, gas cards, and even raising funds for their cancer therapies. I enjoy the collaboration with all of the other doctors, social workers, nurses, and business owners that are also on the board, working to make getting through cancer treatment just a little easier to bear.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your profession?

SF: I am with my patients through their ups and downs, triumphs and set-backs. I get to know the person, not just the patient. Making a positive difference in such a fundamental way in people’s lives feeds my soul and energizes me to work even harder for my patients. What can I say, I love what I do.

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Q: It’s easy to reach for foods with hidden additives and sugars, or feel overwhelmed when trying to choose what foods are best for our bodies. How can your Nutritional Counseling remedy that?

SF: Nutrition is a fundamental part of sustainable health, and every person starts at a different place on their journey towards optimal health. People have different reactions and motivations regarding food, so I spend a significant portion of time addressing their needs and how to work around obstacles. I give them specific guidelines to start with and often let my patients set the pace, but I usually encourage them to get going faster or redirect when they fall off the wagon. It’s always a work in progress.

Q: Can you tell us about your “non-toxic therapies”?

SF: I primarily use dietary interventions, intravenous nutrients, botanical medicines, specific vitamins and supplements, and bio-identical hormones along with prescription medications when indicated. In doing so, the body is able to use these substances as building blocks to function as it is designed to do; heal and rebalance itself.

Q: What are your favorite local restaurants to go to?

SF: I am a huge foodie and love trying new places. Here are the places I can’t get enough of:  

Tacos- Taqueria Teotihuacan in La Quinta

Sushi- Gyoro-Gyoro Izakaya Japonaise in Palm Springs

Thai- Le Basil in Palm Desert

Mediterranean- Catalan in Rancho Mirage

Q: Where can we find you when you’re not working?

SF: I’m an introverted, low-key individual. I enjoy reading Sherlockian and sci-fi/fantasy novels, playing with my two rambunctious cats, and working in my garden in the evening and trying to keep it alive through the summer. I also love spending time with my wonderful husband; practicing Tae Kwon Do together, eating his cooking, and traveling and exploring different cultures through our taste buds.