“Don’t give up, no matter what anybody tells you, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

This is the advice that our irreplaceable Officer Manager, Tiffany Cruz, offers to friends, patients and people alike. 

A native New Yorker Tiffany recalls spending the majority of her free time with family, especially her grandparents. Her grandparents luckily resided only four blocks away from her house. 

Her fondest childhood memories revolve around the special moments of her drinking coffee, telling stories, and eating crackers with them. Even though the coffee was made simple with added milk and sugar, she has yet to have another brew that tastes better. 

Growing up Tiffany wasn’t set on any particular career. But there was one thing she was certain of, she wanted to help others.  Although she wasn’t sure in what form that would be, it was a passion she held onto as she navigated the work field and her higher education. 

Tiffany began working as an assistant manager at a retail company. Through this position,  Tiffany learned that in addition to helping others, she also really enjoyed business administration. Upon this revelation, Tiffany went to Borough of Manhattan Community College to focus on Business Management.

As a new college graduate, Tiffany began to work front desk at a holistic chiropractor office; merging Tiffany’s passion for helping others as well as the business that comes hand in hand with healthcare administration. In addition, this is where she first began to see the opportunities that integrative medicine offers.

Time at this office piqued Tiffany’s interest in the medical field, however, she felt there was no longer room for her to grow at her current place of work, so she started to look for a space that would provide that.

This is where Tiffany and Rahav Wellness crossed paths.

Tiffany recalls of her interview with the practice, “I remember walking in and Dr. Rahav welcoming me with a big smile. She was pouring tea and asked if I wanted some. It wasn’t like the other interviews I had been going to.”

And as fate would have it Tiffany’s interview extended to a full-time position.

Immediately Tiffany felt that she found more than another job but a home. A place where she could grow within her position, learn about integrative medicine and be supported by a caring team. 

Tiffany moved up to Office Manager where she was able to apply her business skills and passion for helping others.

As her time with the practice continued her knowledge and interest in functional medicine continued to grow as well.

Throughout her childhood, Tiffany and her family went to conventional doctor offices and relied on prescription medicines. Rahav Wellness was offering a way of healing that was completely new to her as well as beneficial.

Tiffany had been suffering from severe plantar fasciitis. She sought out professional treatment where she was told she’d have to deal with it for the rest of her life. That rubbing her foot along a frozen water bottle was the only solution. The answers she was given was merely symptom management.

However, after working at Rahav Wellness she started taking Inflammatone, a natural supplement and has never had to deal with the pain again. 

It made her realize that you never have to settle when it comes to your health. A wish she has for anyone who is seeking to solve their own health care concerns.

The opportunities and the passion Tiffany has been searching for since she knew what kind of work she wanted to focus on, she found at Rahav Wellness. 

When Tiffany isn’t making the lives of patients and coworkers better, she kickboxes, takes care of her precious dogs, and reads fantasy stories.

written by Rachael Kuecher

Getting an IV bag at our practice not only provides you with the many benefits associated with IV therapy but also with the benefit of meeting our IV technician Nelson Magallanes, a gentle and joyous soul. 

Thirty years ago Nelson came to New York for a year-long sabbatical in the United States. He had two goals: to learn English and to advance his studies in medicine. He would then take this newfound knowledge back to his home in Venezuela. However, the Universe had another plan.

In the interest of advancing his English, and passion for medicine Nelson registered for Anatomy for Artists, a human body sketch class. This course allowed him the opportunity to familiarize himself with the human anatomy in the English language; in addition, it provided him with the tools and confidence necessary for him to advance his career in healthcare in the United States.

In the beginning, he was unable to understand the instructor’s comments to him, but he said, “If he smiled I smiled if he frowned I frowned. I wasn’t sure what he was saying but he smiled quite a bit.”  After this course ended Nelson went to the Manhattan Institute to continue his studies. 

Nelson’s first job as an IV technician in the States was serving patients who had been affected by the Aids Epidemic. This period of work was emotionally difficult for  Nelson as his time with patients was often fleeting and cut too short. He said, “I would work with patients and the next week they wouldn’t make it in for their appointment. It was like that all the time. It was depressing.”

However, as the years passed, the clinic that Nelson worked at started offering IV’s to patients who were experiencing symptoms such as chronic fatigue, colds, detox, etc. During this period of time Nelson was grateful to be able to witness the improvements in patients’ health over the course of their IV treatments, “To be able to relieve someone’s pain and suffering and even be able to cure it, that’s what makes my work rewarding.”

His ability to empathize and show compassion is what makes him truly unique. However, Nelson believes it’s a characteristic that anyone in his field should practice. Maybe this mentality comes from the lack of quality care his family and him have received in the past. Nelson recalls, “When my wife was pregnant and we would go to the hospital, they wouldn’t even make eye contact with us or acknowledge us. So then I started bringing Dunkin coffee and donuts in and then they would light up when we walked in. But I don’t want patients to have to do that for me. I’m here to serve them and make them comfortable, without expecting anything in return.”

Nelson’s constant generosity and incredible work ethic is inspired by his life motto, “No matter what you do, give it everything.”

When Nelson isn’t putting all his positive energy towards his patients you can find him playing music (by ear), making art, and spending time with his family.

written by Rachael Kuecher

“Be kind, be curious, always” is a lifestyle quote that Judit Aguirre has integrated into her personal life as well as her career in holistic medicine.

Judy has been working as a colon hydrotherapist for over twenty-five years. She received her certification from Wood Hygienic Institute in Florida. 

A misconception Judy has run across during her time as a colon hydrotherapist is patients often assume colonics are solely meant for digestive or gut issues. However, that is not the case. Colon Hydrotherapy can improve your overall health.

Judy’s holistic medicine journey began after many years of suffering from multiple health issues with no successful treatments. She turned away from allopathic medicine and put her heart into learning and practicing integrative medicine modalities with a focus on detox, and how the body has the power to heal itself. 

Dedicated to learning all she could, Judy received her certification as a Natural Health Professional in 2008 from Trinity School of Natural Health. She’s certified in reflexology and detox ear acupuncture. Additionally, Judy received training to be a raw food educator and Reiki practitioner.  

Looking to incorporate nature into healing, Judy trained in shamanic and crystal healing as well.

When she isn’t devoting all her time to healing humans in a deep, multi-modal way Judy enjoys traveling, listening to music, soaking in nature, and reading.

written by Rachael Kuecher