Wellington Chamber Committee Puts Focus On Health And Wellness
Health&Wellness
(Front row) Sarah Palmer, Amanda Millman, Jenn Cohen, Dr. Max Cohen and Laura Hansen; (back row) Chris Seal, Jessie Henderson, Meghan Buser, Lisa Banionis, Tiara Singh and Lisa Schiller; and (not pictured) Lauren Cushing, Dr. Lori Mazza, Johnny Meier, Yesenia Moreno, Dr. Howard Shullman, Kelly Sudell and Kathryn Walton.
Story by M. Dennis Taylor • Photo by Dani Salgueiro
The Wellington Chamber of Commerce Medical & Wellness Committee aims to educate the community while promoting local health and wellness professionals. This is a mission that is very important to Lisa Banionis, a health and wellness industry professional who serves as the current chair of the committee. She uses her expertise to provide leadership as the business and marketing director at Palm Beach Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine and Florida Interventional Pain Management. “I’ve worked professionally in marketing, education, and the health and wellness industry,” Banionis said. “As a certified health coach and with my master’s degree in education, I am able to follow my passion for health and wellness and provide health coaching to patients.” She has made education a key focus of her work with the chamber. “Chairing the committee gives me the opportunity to educate the community through the various outreach programs and events that we do every year, along with helping these businesses showcase their services,” Banionis explained. “I am passionate about functional medicine, knowing the ‘why’ you feel sick versus ‘what’ you have and just giving
a prescription. Educating people how to take care of themselves the right way has been my mission for many years.” In addition to chairing the Medical & Wellness Committee, Banionis is on the board of Women of Wellington, an arm of the Wellington Chamber. “I have become involved in giving back through the many charities that Women of Wellington support,” she said. “One such charity is Place of Hope, an organization caring for abused and neglected children, where I counsel girls on nutrition and health.” The Medical & Wellness Committee includes a diverse group of individuals who share the common goal of informing and educating the community. “Our committee provides valuable resources regarding health, wellness, spiritual and safety issues as it pertains to quality of life matters in Wellington,” Banionis said. “We differ from most
other health and wellness committees in that we strive to bridge the gap between eastern and western modalities and incorporate wellness into people’s daily lives. Committee members range from physicians and orthodontists to acupuncturists and holistic healers.” Banionis said that people today are seeking innovative approaches to healthcare. “We have seen it in our own practice with our patients, hence the reason we added platelet rich plasma, stem cell therapy and, most importantly, functional medicine,” she said. People can find such innovative approaches locally. “The medical and wellness industry in Wellington is aware of these trends and are incorporating them into their practices — from adding high-tech equipment and services such as three-dimensional imaging, minimally invasive robotic surgery, laser surgery, neonatal intensive care units, platelet rich plasma and stem cell therapy to preventative measures such as physical therapy, chiropractic services, acupuncture, health club memberships, yoga, Pilates, barre, boxing, CrossFit and boot camps, just to name a few,” she said. wellington wellington the the magazine magazine || july july 2018 2018
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