Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Maria Scunziano-Singh.
Dr. Maria, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story? The best way to answer this question for me is to say that I see my life as having unfolded as an assignment- a mission- to learn and deliver the truth about attaining and sustaining health and wellbeing. The outcome, thus far, has been a continuum of education for my own life and those who I serve daily.
Here is a very abbreviated piece of my story…
It was my childhood years back in Brooklyn, New York, that had set the stage for me to learn how to care for ailing human lives. My mom, Natalie, was stricken with a neurological disease- Multiple Sclerosis- that rendered her disabled (within 5 years after I was born) and me as her primary caretaker. Trying to be a kid, live normally, go to school, and not lose my head was a challenge that I cannot begin to explain here. Little did I consciously know that this was my foundation for moving in the direction of medical care. I had essentially experienced on-the-job training as a caretaker using my own instincts that eventually extended into nursing duties (I eventually needed nurses to help me with mom!) as I had learned how to place and change bladder foley catheters, handle wounds and provide direct care to mom, who was essentially my first ‘patient’.
But why mom? Why me? I often felt depressed and saw this whole situation as being unfair, wrong and downright cruel. Those feelings have all changed, however, to quite a different outlook after all that has transpired over the years.
In my teen years, as I continued to assist mom, I was yet to experience another catastrophe with another loved one- my grandfather, Isadore (mom’s father), who would collapse in my midst in the home where we lived. I immediately called the local volunteer ambulance company for help, and, because of their prompt action, grandpa was saved, albeit he would leave us permanently just 1 week later having succumb to lung cancer. Consequently, I took time out to become a volunteer dispatcher and EMT for my community- a service that I was ready to deliver and found good people, including my best friend, Maria A.
In Fall of that year (1979), I had already entered college and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science (’82) with a specialization in Respiratory Therapy. I became a Registered therapist, worked in a hospital, and for a homecare company as well. I would take additional courses to prep for medical school, apply to med school, sit for a medical college admissions exam (MCAT), and was then accepted to New York Medical College (’89). All the while, mom was being helped through home attendant services that I had to help coordinate for the sake of both of our lives. Mom and I had continued to reside with her mom (Grandma Josie had just been widowed after Grandpa Isadore’s passing and was with her disabled daughter at home). This was a key chapter in my life that would really ignite the fire that is still burning today.
I received my MD in May 1993. My mom would see me at my graduation but, sadly, within 1 month she was gone. Natalie left her body after having spent most of her years in a wheelchair. I never recall her walking on her own. The tragedy of it all is that we would not know why she had this dreadful disease, and the medical profession did nothing to restore her health. Despite having a “top man in the field of neurology for MS”, mom basically progressed and was never guided to alternative/holistic care-not at all.
As it turned out, my residency years were a mix of conventional training with a significant helping of natural approaches to healthcare that I felt compelled to learn. It was not easy trying to work on these studies together, but I persevered! I was on a mission to find out how better to approach sickness besides drugs, surgery and watching many people just die – like mom. Unfortunately for mom, I learned that there were other pathways that mom could have taken to have at least tried, and I wanted to help others who should not have to feel that healing is impossible!
As the story continues, and life would have its blessings, I was to meet my life partner in residency- the other doctor joining me in my life mission-and together we would relocate from NY to Florida and strive to make something special happen. We happen to have raised 4 fabulous children on this journey.
So, on this mission, I sought real answers to health and wellness. I found naturopathic, macrobiotic, lifestyle medicine, functional medicine, and other non-conventional ways to help people restore their health and not just control or mask symptoms. The latter, as I found in my research, is essentially the mindset of mainstream conventional medicine practices. While I began the practice of medicine – as I moved from New York to Florida with my husband- I was determined to do more than manage disease.
So, indeed, I took the time to study these alternative/natural approaches. Over the past 3 decades, as I continued to take care of patients in both conventional and wellness center settings, I managed to earn a Naturopathic diploma (NMD), a chelation certification, study the art & science of Macrobiotics, set up a Community Garden in our county, train in Pure Bioenergy/Reiki, become board certified in Lifestyle Medicine and, very recently, graduate from a fellowship in Integrative Medicine. I will soon sit for an Integrative Board exam in 2026. It was in 2017, with support from my husband and other dear people in my life, that I decided to build a center in this town based on 4 key pillars of health: Awakening, Educating, Nurturing and Healing. The WellCome Om Integrative Healing & Education Center is where I see a better world in the name of health.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth road? I will say that I never lost sight of my goals and, while it was challenging in many ways, the road was meant to be travelled upon with cracks, sharp curves, slippery turns, steep hills, stones, puddles and all. I don’t regret anything. I realize that there was a plan for me, and the spirit of Natalie has been with me all the way to this very day
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Professional Life I was apparently meant to help restore folks back to health with a toolbox that is virtually boundless. I have been working with patients from age 12 and up, guiding and teaching them how to better care for their health-mind, body and spirit, placing hands on them to help heal their wounded minds, hearts, bodies, etc., prescribing medicines-both natural and pharmaceutical (as needed or indicated), arranging for intravenous nutrition and chelation of heavy metals, healing massages, life coaching, medical hypnosis, sound and spiritual healing. I deliver monthly lectures on health topics and assist with support groups and other activities for health restoration. I help administrate in both conventional and wellness offices, support my staff and seek to create more opportunities for our community to grow in health, grow their food, procure organic foods, teach nutrition and cooking and unify however possible.
What do I do and what sets me apart from others? I am one who seeks and delivers truth to the people I meet and help care for. I do not put on airs, facades and tell falsehoods. This is a labor of love for people and the biosphere around me. I want people to heal in a more natural setting, and I give them my time- I usually give them extra time! I invite the people who seek service into a comfortable space without Wi-Fi or computers in the room. It is me and the person without any interference! I also have a garden surrounding the office space that grows with all the insects, birds and wildlife around that people love and are grateful to see. I have made provisions for a garden team to care for the campus, teach the community how to grow food and flowers, and arrange events for fostering and interacting with like-minded people and businesses. We also have a building at our center that we call our AURATORIOM, where meetings, celebrations, lectures, healings and entertainment all happen every week and at the weekend. It is our venue that is available for rental purposes.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Surprising about me? I am a very private person and usually seek to stay out of the spotlight, although I end up putting myself in these positions because people want to hear what I have to say or even emulate what I do. I have a deep love of dance and free expression of the body. I am troubled when I see poor health choices are made. I do not tolerate being deceived. The drum is very much a part of my soul (I believe that by now my people are not surprised as they see me in action daily and have figured me out).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wellcomeomcenter.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellcomeomcenter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WellComeOMCenter/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Nqbt5umtHPzV61vT72EtQ
Image Credits
Ezekiel Photography
