A group of Chestnut Hill area health care professionals have joined forces to form the new Chestnut Hill Health and Wellness Network, which the group describes as “an innovative collaboration among multidisciplinary providers dedicated to enhancing the health and wellness of our community.”

The group includes practitioners in the fields of medicine, behavioral health, fitness, and mental health. They all maintain their own offices in the immediate area, but collaborate “to create a streamlined path for local residents seeking health and wellness services.”

An inaugural event open to the public was held on the evening of Sept. 24 at Empirical Point Acupuncture, 40 W. Evergreen Ave., to meet the network members.

“I agreed to be part of the network,” said Dr. Kelly McClure, a cognitive behavioral therapist. “It’s important for my clients facing anxiety, depression, ADHD, or health challenges to have support for both their psychological and physical health, and that means having a trusted team of providers. By being part of this network, I can build relationships with other professionals and feel confident that when I refer someone, I’m connecting them with the best care available in our community.”

Dan Vidal, a licensed massage therapist who runs Paragon Pain Solutions in Chestnut Hill, said, “I think one of the biggest benefits for patients will be a trusted local network that the practitioners they work with can use to refer them to if need be. For practitioners, this is a great way to learn about other complementary practices in the area and strengthen the most valuable source of new clientele there is — word of mouth.”

The new network was the brainchild of McClure and Jeff Sklar, a Chestnut Hill chiropractor. They recruited Jennifer Campbell, an exercise physiologist and owner of Spark and Vitality in Elkins Park, a personal training facility that offers a specialty in exercise for cancer patients. Jeanne Andrews, acupuncturist and owner of Chestnut Hill’s Empirical Point, a Chinese medicine hub, soon followed. The quartet has since recruited a primary care physician, a psychiatrist, and a medical doctor who is an expert in mental health, among others. All can refer patients to other local practitioners in the network.

“From my perspective as an acupuncturist, I feel that the integrative and collaborative health care being offered to patients here and outside of the Chestnut Hill area with very different yet complementary modalities achieves our collective goal for patients to gain durable, whole-person health on a body, mind, and spirit level. We are lucky to have such a wonderful group of providers in our area,” Andrews said.

Dr. Jessie Fields, an internist and founder of Lafayette Hills’ LSR Wellness and Authentic Life Therapy, added, “Because every person is unique and health care needs are complex, we bring together primary care doctors … and other health professionals to work collaboratively. By combining our strengths, we honor the whole person and offer more connected, personalized care.”

Sklar, who lives and works in Chestnut Hill, sold diamond rings for Robbins Jewelers in Center City before switching professional gears. “Most chiropractors say they were patients first and were happy with the results,” Sklar said. “That is what happened with me. I had a dream that somebody stole diamonds. It jerked me out of bed, and I twisted my neck. Therapy did not help. A primary care doctor and medicine did not help.

“Someone suggested that I see chiropractor Sam Magliente in Blue Bell. A couple of visits fixed the problem. Then I hurt my shoulder playing golf. One visit fixed it,” Sklar said. “Then I had another sales job that was not satisfying. I thought, ‘What should I do to be happy?’ Sam suggested that I go to chiropractic school. My dad, who is now 91 and who ran a state psychiatric unit years ago, also guided me in that direction.”

Sklar’s first private practice was in Old City as part of a wellness center with yoga, Pilates, a podiatrist, acupuncturist, and massage therapist. He next spent more than a decade at Cancer Centers of America in Northeast Philadelphia. The center closed in June 2021, and Sklar opened his Chestnut Hill practice in September 2021.

Another member of the Chestnut Hill Health and Wellness Group, Dr. Gina Charles, an osteopath and medical director and founder of Serenity Aesthetics & Wellness Medical Spa, told the Local, “I value opportunities like this to connect with fellow health and wellness professionals, share knowledge and collaborate in building a healthier, stronger Chestnut Hill community. We are all aligned with the mission of fostering connection, growth, and collective impact.”

For more information, visit sklarchiro.com. Len Lear can be reached at Lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com.