In Western medicine, treatment can sometimes center on managing symptoms rather than uncovering the root cause of a condition. Yet even when symptoms aren’t apparent, underlying issues can surface in subtle ways—rippling outward and affecting many aspects of a person’s life, such as family, career, social obligations, and more.
For Dr. Kelly O. Elmore, investigating and addressing the root causes of the barriers a person faces can help individuals lead and live more fully in their five pillars—spiritually, physically, financially, mentally, and emotionally.
A board-certified OB-GYN, retired U.S. Navy captain, and global wellness strategist, Dr. Elmore champions women’s health and leadership and inspires her clients to live purpose-driven lives through her consulting firm, KOE Medical Consulting and the comprehensive wellness program, VivaLife SPF ME.
Through her work, Dr. Elmore emphasizes the importance of self-care and helps women prioritize themselves in order to lead more effectively in the workplace, at home, and in life. Recently, she served as keynote speaker at San Diego Magazine’s Celebrating Women Summit.
“I want to get to the root causes of the health issues women experience,” she says. “What we’ve found is that those root causes often come back to women taking care of themselves, prioritizing themselves, and deciding how to prioritize everything around them. When women focus on themselves, they can prevent or detect disease earlier and lead at their highest level. Our team helps them decipher what those priorities are, whether that’s communicating their concerns, setting healthy boundaries, or refusing to settle for less because it fits with what everybody wants them to do.”
KOE Medical Consulting hosts leadership development sessions that help women across healthcare align more deeply with their purpose and be authentic in their workspaces. Dr. Elmore aims to give women—greatly underrepresented in high-level leadership positions—tools to rewrite the rules of leadership, understand their strengths, and balance their professional and personal lives.
“We’re typically the managers and what we call the ‘boots on the ground’ people that make everything happen. But as far as strategists, many times that may not be women or there may be very few,” says Dr. Elmore. “People need to understand that it’s okay for us to be authentic in our spaces and that people in the future may need to understand and acclimate to our space and what we’re bringing to the table rather than us always acclimating to the male perceived leader.”
KOE Medical Consulting partners with hospitals, corporations, and government agencies to strengthen women’s health equity, enhance leadership sustainability, and elevate organizational wellness at a strategic level. While the Viva Life SPF ME program (or movement, rather), is dedicated to helping women (and their allies) around the world live their healthiest, wealthiest lives.
There are three monthly membership tiers, which include experiences like guided group meditation and digital affirmations, and Dr. Elmore’s Vivalife SPF ME Vision Board experience and limited edition journal.
Dr. Elmore combines her medical, military, and business experience to empower organizations, individuals and small groups with the tools and support needed to put them on the path toward holistic health. For more information about Dr. Elmore, KOE Medical Consulting, or Vivalife SPF ME, visit www.DrKellyOMD.com.
A perfectly designed home rarely happens by accident. Those kitchens that feel effortless and rooms that seem to tell a story the second you walk in? They’re usually the work of someone who knows exactly what they’re doing.
It’s knowing which ideas will actually work, which materials will hold up over time, and how to turn a collection of choices into a space that feels intentional. That’s where a professional interior designer comes in.
For the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) California San Diego Chapter, the goal is to help people see interior design as more than just the finished look. Behind every well-designed space is a process built on technical expertise. Designers are educated in everything from professional software and construction details to building codes, space planning, materials, and functionality.
Courtesy of ASID
“People don’t always realize how much goes on behind the scenes,” Kirsten Recce , current president of the ASID California San Diego Chapter, says. “Our designers are not just doing furniture placement and color selection and picking out new fluffy pillows. That’s not what they’re trained for.”
ASID members bring formal education, continued learning, and industry knowledge to their projects, helping create spaces that are not only beautiful, but designed to work. A paint color that changes completely depending on the lighting. A material that looks beautiful in a showroom but doesn’t make sense for everyday life. A layout that photographs well but doesn’t function for the people living there. These are the details where professional guidance can make all the difference.
Still, one of the biggest misconceptions about hiring an interior designer is that it’s reserved for massive renovations, luxury homes, or people who already know exactly what they want. The process can feel intimidating. Where do you begin? Is a designer worth the investment? What if you only need help with one room?
ASID’s answer: start with one hour.
ASID’s Spruce Up events break down one of the biggest barriers between homeowners and professional design: knowing where to begin. Held twice a year, the community program gives homeowners the chance to work directly with an ASID designer through a one-hour, $125 consultation in their own home. Whether you’re looking for advice on furniture placement, window treatments, kitchen and bath updates, remodeling ideas, vacation rentals, color selections or something else entirely, the upcoming September 2026 event offers an approachable way to get expert guidance before committing to a full project. Signups are open through Sept. 7, with consultations taking place Sept. 21 through Oct. 31. Proceeds benefit ASID San Diego’s educational and community programs. Register here!
Courtesy of ASID
“It’s a great opportunity for people who are in that exploratory phase,” Recce says. “Maybe they’re not sure they want to hire an interior designer yet, or they think it sounds daunting or expensive. This gives them a chance to discover what working with a designer is actually like.”
Design is personal. A good designer isn’t just creating a beautiful room; they’re helping create a space that fits the way someone lives.
“We’re a resource to all of San Diego County,” Recce says. “It doesn’t cost anything to pick up the phone and call and ask. We’ll answer.”
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
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Your feet and ankles probably aren’t something you give much thought to—until something goes wrong. Orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic are on the leading edge of foot and ankle reconstruction, treating patients with sports injuries, deformities, traumatic injuries and other conditions. That includes repairing torn Achilles tendons with a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the incision site to less than a centimeter, and performing advanced ankle replacement on some patients with ankle arthritis. Read more about Scripps’ innovations in foot and ankle care here.
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Mai Vue was just 34 weeks pregnant when she delivered her baby. Her pregnancy had been complicated, and she’d had a recent second trimester pregnancy loss, which led to her receiving specialized care from Sean Daneshmand, MD, a Scripps Clinic perinatologist who oversees high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Daneshmand and his team took care of Mai during her pregnancy, through the birth of her healthy baby girl and beyond. Mai was part of a program Scripps launched to provide support to new moms in the weeks and months after delivery. The postpartum program, known as Scripps Health’s Fourth Trimester Continuum of Care, provides care for women with high-risk pregnancies to optimize their health after childbirth and reduce the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Click here to learn more.
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It’s estimated that one in five people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. When you factor in living in a sun-soaked city like San Diego and the outdoorsy lifestyle that comes with it, that figure can jump to as high as one in three, which makes early detection and intervention all the more important. Dermatologists at Bighorn Mohs and Dermatology Center are using innovative imaging methods and advanced surgical techniques to diagnose and treat skin cancer. For certain cancers in sensitive spots, like the face, dermatologists perform Mohs surgery, removing skin tissue layer by layer until reaching healthy, cancer-free tissue. They also use a process called immunohistochemistry to view tissue samples taken during Mohs surgery in far greater detail than previous methods. Read more about how Scripps is advancing skin cancer care here.
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When endurance athlete Isaac Sanchez learned he had cancer, he felt blindsided. He was healthy, surfed often and was training for an Ironman triathlon. But he had to put that on hold to undergo treatment. His physicians at Scripps Cancer Center developed a plan to treat the cancer in his tonsil and lymph nodes that included six-and-a-half weeks of near-daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy. He also worked with a Scripps Cancer Center dietitian to enhance his nutrition to promote strength and healing. Today, Isaac’s back to doing what he loves. Read more of his story here.
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