Wellness Team

MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Britta Zimmer, ND

Dr. Britta Zimmer is a licensed Naturopathic Physician, receiving her BA from the University of Virginia and ND from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Zimmer completed a comprehensive Naturopathic Family Practice Residency in Portland Oregon which included extensive work at Outside In, a community clinic providing health care for at risk youth. Before moving to Hawaii, Dr. Zimmer, was part of a group practice in Portland Oregon specializing in general family practice medicine, women’s health and adolescent health care.

While living in Portland, Dr. Zimmer was adjunct faculty at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine. She is a licensed primary care physician in the state of Hawaii. Naturopathic Physicians (N.D.s) are trained to serve as primary care practitioners who are experts in the prevention, diagnosis, management and treatment of both acute and chronic health conditions. Her goal is for the students at PQ to be empowered and inspired to take control of their own health by learning about nutrition, the healing arts, and how their body works. Dr. Zimmer enjoys teaching, yoga, and spending time with her husband and two daughters.

CONSULTING PHYSICIAN
Carol Wilder, MD

Dr. Carol Wilder earned her BA from The University of Wisconsin. She went on to receive her MD from The Medical College of Wisconsin, and then performed her residency at St. Anthony’s Family Practice Residency in Denver, Colorado. Moving to Hawaii in 2003, Dr. Wilder served as Medical Director at the Ka’u Hospital and rural Health Clinic for three years, where she became familiarized with Pacific Quest.

After Dr. Wilder returned from obtaining a Sports Medicine Fellowship from the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah, she moved back to Hilo. Currently, she practices at The Hilo Urgent Care Center and maintains a private practice in Sports Medicine. Dr. Wilder is available to Pacific Quest on an “on-call” basis. She is pleased to assist us in treating and evaluating the medical needs of our students.

REGISTERED NURSE
Al Grant, RN

Al received his RN from The University of New Mexico. Before joining Pacific Quest, he worked in the Ka’u hospital as an ER nurse. Before moving to Hawaii, Al served as the Clinical Coordinator and Head of Children’s Emergency Transport Team for MedFlight Air Ambulance in Albuquerque, and served on the New Mexico Newborn Transport Team. A local resident of Kau, Al is readily available for our students’ needs, and provides consistently safe, high-quality care.

 

PSYCHIATRIST
Shelly Elizabeth Ham, MD

Dr. Shelley Elizabeth Ham earned her BA from Rutgers University (Cook College). She went on to receive her MD from St. Louis University School of Medicine, and then worked as a Psychiatric Care Counselor for St. Joseph’s Medical Center. Dr. Ham moved to Hawaii in 1996 and served as Community Psychiatrist, then Clinical Director for East Hawaii Community Mental Health Center. She also worked as a Psychiatrist for Helping Hands Hawaii, Children’s Comprehensive Services and CareHawaii.

Since 2000, Dr. Ham also served as Examiner for Office of the Public Defender and is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and as worked for the university since 1996, as Chief Resident / Clinical Instructor and Assistant Professor. Dr. Ham is also currently Clinical Director and staff psychiatrist for The Phoenix Center, Inc. She has been the recipient of the Pfizer Resident of the Year Award, the Ginsberg Fellowship at The Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry and the Outstanding Clinical Professor, University of Hawai’i, John A. Burns School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Ham is available to Pacific Quest on an “on-call” basis. She is a good match for our progressive approach and will assist us in evaluating the psychiatric needs and treatment of our students.

WELLNESS ASSISTANT
Diane Y. Allen

Diane grew up on a self-­‐sustaining homestead in the Pacific Northwest where she developed a lifelong passion for organic gardening, a love of living creatures and a deep appreciation for the therapeutic powers of immersing oneself nature. She worked 11 years in the counseling department of Blaine School District as a Family Services Associate in the Primary Intervention Program, which focused on youth experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties stemming from a variety of factors. She studied nursing in Bellingham, WA. In year 2000 she moved to the Big Island and worked at Kona Community Hospital for 7 years as a psychiatric aid and ward clerk on the acute care, locked psych unit. For 2 more years she was the office manager of the Naalehu Mental Health Clinic, for the State of Hawaii. In her spare time Diane can usually be found rearranging rocks and tending her gardens or hiking and exploring the natural wonders of the Big Island.