By Amy Schechter
When one reflects on health, the interconnectedness of mind and body along with social factors must come into play in order to paint a full picture of an individual. This is the philosophy of Holistic Medical Care Clinic of Apollo Beach, and it makes the addition of Sunny Sia, MBA, MSN, PMHNP-BC, a logical and needed compliment to the unified care already offered.
After earning his MBA, Sia decided to pursue a career in psychiatry because of his passion for helping others. Now a licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner, Sia received his Master’s of Science in Nursing from the University of South Alabama following conferment of his Associate of Science from the Miami Dade College of Nursing.
From his experience at the James A. Haley Hospital Department of Veterans Affairs, St. Joseph’s, and Gracepoint Behavior Health, Sia is well versed in psychiatric care and crisis management with both adults and children.
He wants to focus on integrated solutions that take into account therapy and counseling in conjunction with medication management. His philosophy is simple, yet profound: “I like to look at the person as a whole instead of just symptoms. This is the philosophy that my [colleagues] and I share. We like to look at the person holistically, not just using medicine, and treating them to really seek out the problems with complementary and alternative treatments.” Examples of alternative treatments include hyperbaric oxygen therapy for children diagnosed with autism and ADHD and cognitive behavioral therapy to aid in coping with depression.
With the addition of Sia, Holistic Medical Care Clinic forms a triad to treat both the mind and body: Sunny Sia, a mental health practitioner; his wife, Nataliya Sia, ARNP, a nurse practitioner and specialist in alternative medicine; and Dr. George Rucker, the medical director, a urologist and general practitioner. Now residents from Ruskin to Riverview to Brandon have more choices in dealing with emotional and physical pain or sickness.
Sia and his colleagues want “to heal by incorporating their backgrounds and experiences in enriching and helping their patients live better and more fulfilling lives.” Originally from the Philippines, Sia has been a longtime resident of Riverview, and he and his colleagues are excited to offer these new services to the community. Holistic Medical Care Clinic is located at 400 Frandorson Cir. #103 in Apollo Beach. Call 398-0470 or visit holisticmedicalcare.net.
