At Doctors Wellness, our staff is comprised of physical fitness experts—trainers and nutritionists who have years of educational and professional experience. The majority of our trainers are graduates of the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health, which was recently recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as the top ranked exercise program in the nation.
Paul Lomas
Wellness Director
Our Wellness Director, Paul Lomas, has always had a strong belief that
in order to change our country’s health it has to be done one person at
a time. What started as a concept early on in his career has now become
an extremely passionate goal. He has assembled and become part of a
multidisciplinary team of experts to accomplish this goal. This team
will develop medical programs that combine the science of exercise and
nutrition with traditional healthcare. UCI Medical, putting aside the
notion that this is not a large profit margin endeavor, is the first to
utilize therapeutic lifestyle changes through the use of evidence based
research in order to solve the healthcare crisis in this country.
Paul holds a BS in Exercise Physiology from USC, is certified as a
Physical Therapy Assistant by Midlands Technical College and is also a
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He’s helped
people for 22 years in both clinical and non-clinical settings
including cardiac rehabilitation work at USC, therapeutic exercise at
HealthSouth and as Program Director for a personal training center in
Columbia. He has extensive experience in the areas of fitness
assessment, health risk analysis and exercise prescriptions for a
variety of health conditions including obesity, cardiovascular disease,
stroke, cancer, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, metabolic
syndrome, back pain, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and
geriatrics. Paul loves his job and his wife, Rosanna. They have three
children.
MaryEllen Elger
Wellness Manager
Good nutrition isn’t about what you weigh, but how you fuel your body
to improve your health. MaryEllen Elger has helped hundreds of people
like you get on track and stay on track with a custom-designed
nutrition plan based on personal goals.This nationally acclaimed
nutrition consultant participated in national nutrition competitions
and finished in the top three for three consecutive years. She was a
certified Apex Nutrition Consultant for a number of years before taking
a position as an operations director at a local wellness facility,
where she also facilitated the nutrition services and programs,
including cooking classes and seminars.
One of Mary Ellen’s responsibilities as center manager is maintaining
quality customer service. “The total well being of the client must
include an unparalleled customer service experience. You have to go the
extra mile with every individual, every time. This approach builds
positive, loyal relationships with each client. Healthcare and wellness
are about taking care of each other, and treating people as you would
like to be treated. The one thing that makes our wellness center so
unique is the level of passion our staff has for what we believe in. It
goes beyond living the lifestyle. Everyone on the team has genuine
compassion for our family of clients and one another,” Mary Ellen says.
“We truly want to help people succeed and are committed to making a
difference in the quality of life for each individual who comes through
our doors, whether they have a serious medical condition or just want
to learn to live a healthier lifestyle. We have assembled a first class
staff that understands this concept and knows how to implement it. I
believe the Lord puts everyone in a certain place at a certain time and
it is our responsibility to take advantage of that opportunity to make
a difference, big or small, in someone’s life. More often than not, the
smallest things can make the biggest difference.” MaryEllen has three
children.
Daniel Schrall
Director of Training
With six years experience training special populations, Daniel believes
that exercise, particularly strength training, when prescribed
correctly can empower each of us to live a better life. Exercise can
often bring a healing and renewing effect not just on the body, but on
the spirit and mind as well. “Unfortunately, exercise has been
misrepresented in this country. We have been lead to believe that the
point of exercise is tanned skin, ripped abs, and a hard body. Many
have fallen victim to this misrepresentation, including me. “I once
lived the lifestyle where your self-worth was measured by how you
looked. There is nothing wrong with wanting to look better, but what is
truly important is being healthy and having total wellness, including
being happy with who you are.” Daniel believes that the point of
exercise is to improve your life, to make the dependent more
independent, to be healthier, to give energy and strength for the
things in life that truly matter, such as family and a Christian
lifestyle. Daniel holds a BS from the University of South Carolina and
is a Certified Strength Coach and Personal Trainer through the NSCA. He
is also a seminary student pursuing a Masters in Divinity from Columbia
International University.
Lane Bailey
Corporate Wellness/Training
Companies with healthier employees are more productive, usually have
happier workplace environments and even have lower health care costs.
Lane Bailey has the knowledge and skills to help employers establish
and maintain wellness programs. These programs can be specific, such as
smoking cessation, or they can be more extensive wellness programs.
Lane has a BS in Exercise Physiology from USC and is a doctorate of
physical therapy candidate. He has extensive experience in corporate,
clinical and individual wellness programs. Lane is a Certified Strength
and Conditioning Specialist. He also works with individuals, including
those needing rehabilitation after surgery, illness or accidents, and
helps athletes recover from injuries or improve their performance. He’s
encouraging and supportive, and works from a firm belief that wellness
is more than a healthy diet and regular exercise. “We work very hard
with people to help them overcome obstacles or simply become
healthier,” says Lane. “What makes it all really exciting for me is
seeing changes in the total person, starting with a recognition that he
or she really can do more and be more than they’ve been doing, and then
changing into a happier, more confident and enthusiastic person who’s
excited about being alive. It’s a real gift to get to work with people
to make these kinds of extraordinary changes.”
Kim Binnicker
Exercise Physiologist
A good fitness program should include stretching, aerobic exercise and
strength training as well as an intelligent nutritional program. Diet
and exercise are key components to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Strength training, at no matter what age, is beneficial whether you are
young and trying to reshape your body or mature and wanting to stay
strong, vigorous, and in good health. Kim Binnicker, our Exercise
Physiologist, knows that. Kim explains, “In my younger days, I took my
health and fitness for granted. Now, as a wife and mother and as I get
older, health and fitness, or total wellness, is of utmost importance
to me. I am passionate about educating and encouraging my family as
well as my community to improve their overall wellness. I love working
with children, the older wiser adults, and everyone in between.”
After teaching in a preschool and being a stay at home mom, Kim decided
to follow her passion and go back to school as a part time student.
With the support of her husband and children, she graduated with a BS
in Exercise Science with emphasis in Health Fitness. She enjoyed being
back in school and learning and studying took on a whole new meaning.
“It is exciting to learn and absorb information that you truly are
passionate about.” Kim worked at Providence hospital as an Exercise
Specialist Intern in the Cardiac Rehab department before joining The
Doctors Wellness Center. “I would not be where I am today without the
love and support of my husband, Jeff and our teenage daughters,
Elizabeth and Rachel, who unselfishly encouraged me to reach my goals.
Now I want to encourage you all to reach your goals toward total
wellness.”
Teri Marriott
Corporate Wellness/Nutrition Services
Teri Marriott loved teaching in elementary school for ten years, but
grew alarmed at the health trends she saw developing. “There were
140-lb. fourth graders in my class,” she says. “Neither the parents or
the children had any idea how unhealthy that was nor what they could do
– or should do – to change it.” That’s when she decided to do something
about it herself.She already had a BA in Elementary and Early Childhood
Education from Clemson, but for her new career, she went back to school
and received her Masters of Public Health Education, Promotion and
Behavior from USC. She is currently seeking a PhD in Health Care
Administration. She works in both corporate and individual wellness
programs now.
“A big part of what I do is to educate people so that they can make
better food choices,” Teri says. “It’s not about denying yourself, it’s
about loving yourself enough to feed yourself healthy foods. People
think it’s going to be difficult to change, but they feel so much
better, not just in their bodies, but in their minds and their
emotional health. Nutritional changes can have a profound impact on
every aspect of your life. And it’s within everyone’s reach when they
are equipped with a personalized nutrition plan and a team of
enthusiastic supporters behind them. I can’t think of a better way to
spend my days than helping people live longer, better lives.”
Tommy Gibbons, M.D.
Medical Director
Dr. Gibbons, a doctor who is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine, has
seen too many people in life-threatening conditions caused by
neglecting or abusing their health. “For most people, preserving their
health is a choice they can make that will add years to their lives and
make those years quality ones. I would much rather work with people to
improve their health through lifestyle changes than use my medical
skills and pharmaceuticals to treat diseases that could have been
prevented,” he says.
Dr. Gibbons works with the Doctors Wellness Center team to develop
programs that are medically sound. He also examines and advises clients
on how to achieve their optimal health. Dr. Gibbons holds an M.D.
degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and
is very active in the medical community. His qualifications include:
- Diplomate, American Board of Emergency Medicine: November, 1985
Recertification: December, 1995
Recertification: December, 2005 - Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, November, 1987
- Past President of South Carolina College of Emergency Physicians
(Board of Directors, 1999 to 2005) - Member of American Medical Association, American College of Emergency
- Physicians, South Carolina Medical Association, South Carolina College of
- Emergency Physicians, President, Lexington Medical association 2006-2007
- Board Certified Emergency Medicine