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There are moments in healthcare when something simply feels right. It’s not about a resume or a title. It’s about a presence that quietly changes the atmosphere of a room. Patients recognize this feeling before a single word is spoken. Today, we are honored to welcome Ms. Skylar Veltri, MSN, FNP-C to IWC Primary Care. A Warm Welcome to Skylar Veltri NP Skylar Veltri is not just another healthcare provider. She embodies a unique blend of compassion and professionalism. Her jou

A wellness perspective from IWC Primary Care. Small daily shifts that support a healthier, happier you. At IWC Primary Care, we've always believed that health isn't only built in the exam room. It's built in the quiet, unscheduled hours of an ordinary Tuesday. We've been told to chase the big moments : the milestones, the transformations, the before-and-after. But what if the real richness of a healthy life is already here, waiting to be noticed in the steam rising from your

6 Signs Stress Is Showing Up in Women’s Bodies | IWC Primary Care The Quiet Storm In Spring Valley and beyond, many women are used to carrying a lot without slowing down. If signs are building over time, do not brush them off. Contact us Today. Sometimes stress starts showing up in the body long before a woman gives herself permission to call it what it is. Stress is not always loud. Sometimes it builds quietly in the body over time, showing up as poor sleep, headaches, stom

Next week marks National Poison Prevention Week, March 15 through March 21 , Spring Into Action, Schedule a Visit Today! making this the perfect time for Spring Valley families to prepare for the shift that spring break often brings. At IWC Primary Care, we know spring break can disrupt family routines, especially when children spend more time at home. More time at home often means less structure, changing routines, and moments of unsupervised curiosity, all of which can inc

Suzanne Afflalo, MD Are we aware of the jewel we have in Spring Valley, right under our noses? In recognition of Women’s History Month, we are proud to honor Dr. Suzanne Afflalo , Medical Director, Senior Provider, and co-founder of IWC Primary Care . She is a physician leader whose career reflects the values we want to see more of in healthcare: compassion, prevention, and consistent access. Dr. Afflalo represents the kind of leadership that quietly changes a region. She r

American Heart Month is Almost Over, Time for A Pop Quiz! February Love and Heart Health Month is drawing to an end, but loving yourself and protecting your heart does not end when the calendar flips. This is your sign to March into March with intention, because the healthiest version of you isn’t built in one month. It’s built in small choices that compound. Let’s do a quick check-in: What change will you carry into March? Need Help? We are here to partner with you.

Are You on The "Fast" Track? Over the past few weeks, for American Heart Month , we’ve discussed heart-healthy habits and preparing the body for spring . This time of year, another question often comes up: fasting. Many people are skipping meals, limiting eating windows, or being more intentional about when they eat. Some do this for focus, discipline, spirituality, or a reset. Others are simply following what their body seems to be asking for. Whatever the reason, it helps

Spring in Spring Valley is an invitation. A quick walk at Spring Valley County Park , time with the kids at Estrella County Park , or finally taking on Dictionary Hill for those wide open views. We love everything San Diego has to offer: beach days, Balboa Park, weekend hikes, and the next community 5K. But before the season picks up, there is one simple question worth asking. What is getting in the way of you enjoying it? Dictionary Hill Summit, Spring Valley If the answ

February brings love to the forefront: love for family, love for community, love for the people who make life worth living. This month is also American Heart Month, a reminder that the heart you use to love others needs care, too. Not just when something feels wrong, but through steady maintenance that protects your energy and your future. Let's get Love Day Ready, together. At IWC Primary Care, we take a whole-person approach. We combine functional medicine, integrative car

A Note From Your Spring Valley Primary Care Team Mood shifts, unexplained weight changes, and brain fog are often dismissed as stress, aging, or life simply being busy. Yet for many people, these symptoms may be linked to a small but powerful gland that often goes unnoticed: the thyroid. As January, Thyroid Awareness Month , comes to a close, it’s an ideal time to reflect on how thyroid health influences daily energy, emotional balance, metabolism, and overall well-being. At

Why Avoidance Happens More Than We Admit Our calendars can get full very quickly Many of us start the year with strong intentions across all areas of life. We plan to get more organized, move our bodies more, rest better, read the books stacked on our nightstands, and finally tend to the things we have been putting off. Then life happens. Schedules fill up, energy dips, unexpected challenges arise, and those good intentions slowly slide to the side. Not because we do not care

We’re happy to share some great news with our IWC Primary Care community—Nurse Practitioner Monica Cistrone returns to the clinic on January 7th. NP Monica is known for her thoughtful, patient-centered approach and her ability to make each visit feel unrushed and heard. Her calm presence, clinical expertise, and genuine care have been deeply missed by patients and staff alike, and we’re excited to welcome her back to the care team. Beginning January 7th, appointments with NP

In a time when screens compete for attention and schedules feel more crowded than ever, it can be easy to overlook the simple, powerful value of movement. Dance for San Diego's Lemon Grove community is more than an after-school activity—it is a language, a confidence builder, and for many children, a place where they finally feel seen. Right here in our community, Dance Speaks Performing Arts Academy is quietly doing meaningful work—helping children and teens grow through mo

Featuring Dr. Lindsay L. Trottier, DACM, L.Ac . At IWC Primary Care , care is built on a foundation of functional medicine, integrative medicine, and lifestyle medicine . That means addressing root causes, not just symptoms, and supporting patients with evidence-based, whole-person care. As part of that commitment, it is important to recognize trusted neighborhood providers who offer safe, complementary services that may enhance patient wellness. One such provider is Level Ac

Why Gut Health Matters More Than You Think Gut health isn’t just about digestion—it plays a central role in overall immunity, metabolism, energy, and inflammation control. Research shows that a large portion of immune activity is connected to the gut, where immune cells continuously interact with the microbiome and nutrient environment. For many men, symptoms like bloating, heartburn, irregular bowel habits, fatigue, and frequent colds become “normal.” In reality, these are o

Celebrating National Healthy Skin Month with IWC Primary Care Your Skin, Your First Line of Defense As temperatures cool and humidity drops, many of us notice our skin feeling tighter or drier. In San Diego, the air may not freeze, but our sunny, low-humidity climate and coastal breezes can strip the skin of moisture just as quickly as cold weather can elsewhere. November is National Healthy Skin Month, a reminder that healthy skin is more than appearance; it is protection.

"Silence can be taught long before we understand what it costs.” October has been a month of awareness at IWC Primary Care, a time to highlight the connection between knowledge, empowerment, and whole-person health . We began this month by exploring health literacy and the importance of understanding your body and your care. Today, as the month draws to a close, we reflect on another kind of awareness, one rooted in compassion, remembrance, and the courage to speak about los

If you’re caring for an aging parent, you know the conversation well: “Mom, did you take your blood pressure today?”“Don’t treat me like a child—I said I’m fine.” These role-reversal moments can wear on both sides. Studies show that one in three adult caregivers report conflict with the parent they care for—most often over independence versus safety. The result is familiar: frustration for caregivers, tension for parents, and sometimes missed medications or delayed health che

Menopause isn’t the end of your rhythm — it’s the remix. It ’s a transition that asks for grace, curiosity, and a deeper connection with yourself. As estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone begin to fluctuate, your body starts composing a new rhythm — one that can lead to greater strength, clarity, and emotional awareness than ever before. At IWC Primary Care , we believe menopause is not a loss of power but a refinement of it. This chapter invites you to tune in to your bo

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while pink ribbons remind us to get screened, proper prevention starts long before detection. At IWC Primary Care, we believe breast health is part of whole health; our bodies, our environment, and our daily habits all play a role. From what we eat to how we move to the spaces we live in, everything matters. The Environment We Live In Our environment influences our health more than most people realize. The products we use, the air