Our Team
Founder/CEO
Dr. Mark Kalina
Mark Kalina, MD, is a board-certified internist with more than 35 years of experience in primary care, cardiovascular prevention, hospice medicine, wellness, and group-based care.
He earned his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency at UC San Diego.
Throughout his career, Dr. Kalina has cared for thousands of patients and led a range of prevention and wellness programs, including the Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease at Scripps and Scripps Shared Medical Appointments.
He formed Better Together Groups to offer candid physician guidance in a supportive setting where people can learn from one another, feel understood, and make meaningful changes in their health.
Healthy Heart Guest Speaker
Pratiksha Gandhi MD
Pratiksha Gandhi, MD is the Founder and CEO of CoCardio Inc. and a preventive healthcare leader with nearly three decades of experience in cardiovascular wellness. She has worked with more than 100,000 individuals in India and internationally and is the author of five books.
Her work has been featured in U.S. News, Times of India, California Herald, LA Wire, and NY Weekly. She has also received recognition from the California State Assembly, the President’s Volunteer Service Award, and international healthcare organizations for her contributions to preventive heart health.
As a guest speaker for Mark Kalina, MD’s Healthy Heart Groups, she shares her expertise in prevention, lifestyle medicine, and proactive cardiovascular care.
Guest Speaker - Making Friends With Your Body
Paula Nascimento Merritt
Paula Nascimento Merritt uses a holistic movement philosophy that combines artistic expression, somatic awareness, and physical rehabilitation. Her practice focuses on helping individuals achieve pain-free, efficient movement by strengthening the body’s natural lines of energy.
Core Philosophy
- Art Meets Healing: Melding classical dance artistry with scientific body rehabilitation principles.
- Mind-Body Bond: Treating physical motion as an extension of emotional and mental expression.
- Holistic Wellness: Moving away from isolated muscle training toward integrated, full-body longevity.
Educational Foundations
- Early Training: Formative years spent studying classical ballet and experiencing rich Brazilian movement traditions.
- Somatic Degree: Graduated in 1999 from the prestigious Angel Vianna School in Rio de Janeiro.
- Specialized Certifications: Decades of clinical study culminating in dual GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® teaching credentials.
- Global Experience: Over 20 years of diverse clinical practice spanning Brazil, Chicago, Mexico, and California.
Guest Speaker - Soft Landings
Paul W. Corey, MD
Paul W. Corey, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist with extensive experience in ketamine administration and caring for patients in altered states of consciousness.
He holds a certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Research from the California Institute of Integral Studies and has contributed to research protocols and FDA-approved clinical trials involving psychedelic-assisted therapy.
At Kadima Neuropsychiatric Institute, Dr. Corey works with individuals navigating depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.
His approach combines clinical expertise with compassion, creating a supportive environment where patients feel heard, understood, and cared for throughout their healing journey.
Dr. Corey is especially known for his ability to build genuine connections with patients and bring a calm, thoughtful presence to their care.
Guest Speaker - Craft Of Awakening
Robbie Goldstein
Robbie Goldstein is the author of The Craft of Awakening and The Craft of Life.
At twenty-two, he had a spontaneous experience of pure consciousness that changed the
course of his life.
Guided by an enduring curiosity, he has spent more than four decades seeking to understand what occurred that day and what it revealed about consciousness, perception, and human suffering.
The principles, diagnostic tools, and practices presented in his books and in this 20-week course grew out of that lifelong inquiry. Developed and refined through decades of personal practice, teaching, and counseling, they now form the foundation of his workshops, lectures, group training, and work with individuals.
Alongside this work, Robbie spent thirty-five years as a business leader, serving as president of one corporation and chief operating officer of another.
A systems thinker, he directed product development, manufacturing, and operations in the United States, Mexico, Europe, South America, and China.
His teams received numerous national and international awards for design and innovation.
Robbie lives in San Diego, California, with his wife of nearly fifty years.
Together, they have one daughter. Each week, he heads into the Pacific Ocean to swim among sea lions and sharks, finding inspiration and renewal in the quiet, beauty, and power of the natural world.
Practice Manager
Niva Gandhi
Niva Gandhi serves as Practice Manager for Mark Kalina, MD, and CoCardio Inc. in Encinitas, California.
She brings experience in healthcare operations, patient communication, program development, and community engagement.
Known for her creativity, warmth, and attention to detail, Niva helps bring physician-led programs to life while creating a thoughtful and welcoming experience for every participant.
She lives in Carlsbad, California, and enjoys art, movement, spirituality, and life along the coast.
- 240 9th Street Unit 6 Del Mar San Diego CA 92014