curriculum vitae

healer | physician | owner | medical director | consultant

Fields of collaboration:

• Aesthetics - injection procedures: neurotoxin/HA & PLLA filler/PRP/Kybella/etc; CoolSculpting; full range ablative, non-ablative and CO2 lasers, RF and RF microneedling; Ultherapy; PDO threads, sclerotherapy  (Morpheus8, Fraxel, Lumecca, AviClear etc)

• Family Medicine/ Internal Medicine – including weight loss, wellness

• Primary Care Physical Medicine including evaluation, injection procedures and acupuncture. EMG trained (not practiced). Familiar with regenerative medicine

• Medical Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (expert), Ayurveda

• Board Certified Family Medicine and Medical Acupuncture, Member ASLMS

Additionally, I have practiced acupuncture for 25 years, Chinese Herbal Medicine for 15, and was appointed to the North Carolina Acupuncture Licensing Board from 2015-2017 by then-governor McCrory. Integrating Eastern and Western medicines formed the basis of my integrative (direct patient care) practice

I have owned and operated my solo integrative medcial practice since 2001, as well as a limited pain management practice employing physician and mid–level providers since 2005. From 2017-2019, I owned and operated a small, minimally–invasive aesthetics practice, also employing providers. Currently also the Medical Director of a well established aesthetics practice in lower Manhattan, in the past, I have served as the Associate Medical Director of a Pain Management/Sports Medicine practice, have worked and taught in residency programs, provided Pediatric, Adult Medicine, and Obstetrical clinical services, and worked with underserved communities. I have lectured on Acupuncture and Ayurveda to UNC Medical School’s elective alternative medicine curriculum, and have served as an allopathic and Asian medical consultant on a Sirus Satellite Radio program

Licensed - NY, FL, NJ, CT, PA, NC, VA, OH, CO

EXPERIENCE

PRINCIPAL/OWNER, VALENCE MEDICAL CONSULTING – JANUARY 2026 - PRESENT

Consultancy providing individualized compliance architecture and medical systems implementation to independent, small-to-mid sized medical practices – NON MEDICAL

PHYSICIAN/OWNER, LYNNEA VILLANOVA MD; NEW YORK, NY & RALEIGH, NC — MARCH 2001 – PRESENT

Solo consultation practice combining elements of Allopathy, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Acupuncture and Ayurveda

PHYSICIAN/OWNER, BALANCE MEDICAL, PLLC; NEW YORK, NY — MARCH 2005 – PRESENT

Physician/owner, practice specializing in injection therapies.  2-3 FTEs employed

MEDICAL DIRECTOR, SKIN SOLUTIONS COLLECTIVE DBA; NEW YORK, NY — DECEMBER 2020 – PRESENT

Full service minimally-invasive esthetic medical practice providing cosmetic procedures and preventative medical education

OWNER/MEDICAL DIRECTOR, AMAVI MEDSPA; BAY SHORE, NY — MAY 2017 – MARCH 2019

SMALL aesthetic medical practice providing cosmetic procedures and Asian preventative medical education

PHYSICIAN ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER OF THE NORTH CAROLINA ACUPUNCTURE LICENSING BOARD –2015-2017

Appointed by the governor of North Carolina, provided policy and regulatory guidance to to the licensed acupuncturist board members responsible for overseeing licensure standards and discipline of all of North Carolina’s non-physician acupuncturists

ASSOCIATE MEDICAL DIRECTOR, MANHATTAN TOTAL HEALTH AND GENERAL MEDICINE, PC; NEW YORK, NY — JULY 2002 – MARCH 2005

Sports/Physical/Rehabilitation Medicine. Evaluation of injured patients, supervision of Physical Therapy Department, Medical Acupuncture, and joint/soft tissue injections. Dr. Thomas Giordano

PHYSICIAN/OWNER, NEW YORK MEDICINE & ACUPUNCTURE; NEW YORK, NY — APRIL 2001 – NOV 2003

Solo Family Practice combined elements of Allopathy and Acupuncture

CLINICIAN, DR. JEFFERY SCHWARTZ; NEW YORK, NY — JAN 2002- JULY 2002

Part-time Sports/Physical/Rehabilitation Medicine. Evaluation and management of on-going therapy for injured patients

PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN, MIDTOWN MEDICAL CARE; NEW YORK, NY — MAY 2001 – FEB 2002

Multi-specialty group practice in Midtown Manhattan. Clinical Primary Care and Medical Acupuncture. Dr. Stephen Goldstein

PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN, NEW YORK CITY HEALTH AND HOSPITALS CORPORATION; NEW YORK, NY — JAN 1999 - MAY 2001

Ambulatory care provision for adults, children, and pregnant patients. Served on Forms Creation Committee. Dr. Margaret Ewing and Dr. Earl Scott

ASSOCIATE MEDICAL DIRECTOR, PROMESA, INC; BRONX, NY — JULY 1998 - DEC 1998

75% Direct ambulatory patient care, 25% administrative. Designed and implemented quality assurance protocols and systems approaches to ambulatory offices in an underserved area of the Bronx. Dr. Alvero Balta

MATERNITY CARE COORDINATOR, DEPT. OF FAMILY MEDICINE, NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL; NEW YORK, NY — JAN 1998 - JUNE 1998

Full-time junior faculty appointment to Columbia University. 50% Direct resident teaching of obstetric skills in Delivery room, 50% ambulatory care, didactic teaching, inpatient internal medicine, & administration. Dr. Kathleen Klink

CLINICAL FACULTY, ST. JOSEPH’S FAMILY PRACTICE RESIDENCY; YONKERS, NY — JULY 1996 – DEC 1997

AMBULATORY Care, 30% Teaching. Inpatient Attending: resident supervision in Adult Medicine and Pediatrics. CQI committee manager. Committees included Continuing Quality Assessment Team, No show committee, Front Desk Triage Training Implementation, Residency Vision Forums. Dr. Jennifer Ringstad

FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY; HARTFORD, CT — 1993 – 1996

University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Dept. of Family Medicine, Hartford, CT. Dr. Robert Cushman

CLINICIAN, WALK-IN MEDICAL CENTER OF PLAINFIELD, CT — FALL 1995 – 1996

Urgent care moonlighting. Dr. Claire Warren

CLINICIAN, ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER; HARTFORD CT  — 1994 – 1996

Moonlighting, inpatient Pediatrics

EDUCATION – CONVENTIONAL/MEDICAL

University of Connecticut  School of Medicine,  Farmington, CT — Family Medicine Residency, 1993-1996

Award: Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Resident Teaching Award

University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT — Medical Doctorate, 1989-1993

Award: Grant from the Medical School’s Department of Pharmacology for basic     biomedical research (muscle cell physiology)

Wellesley  College, Wellesley, MA — BA, Biology and French 1985-1989

Honors: Phi Beta Kappa

Magna cum laude

Sigma Xi (Science Fraternity)

Honors Thesis – Biology (muscle cell physiology)

Honorary Teacher’s Assistant Position – Symbolic Logic

Awards: Summer student research grants form the American Heart Association

    (twice) for basic biomedical research

Summer student research grant from the Zimmerman Foundation for basic

    biomedical research (muscle cell physiology)

Miss Porter’s School Farmington, CT — HS, 1981-1985

EDUCATION – FORMAL ASIAN/INDIAN MEDICAL & AESTHETIC/EXTENDED (partial list)

Empire Medical Training EMG/NCV for Physicians training in technical competence and interpretation EMG/NCV. Online and New York, NY 11/2/20–1/31/21

Esthetic Skin Institute 5-day training in Botox, Dermal Fillers, Advanced Botox and Fillers, Sclerotherapy and Platelet Rich Plasma Aesthetic Injection; Fort Lauderdale, FL /12- 5/16/17

National Laser Institute 5-day Medical Aesthetics Training: Advanced Injectables; Scottsdale, AZ –10/26-10/30/16 (40 hours, 17 of which are AAFP category I CME)

Soliman’s Auricular Allergy Treatment; Alternative Medicine Seminars; Rockville, MD — May 2014

One-Needle Auricular Allergy Desensitization Technique as developed by Nader Soliman MD (8 hours AMA category I CME)

Management of Neuromuscular Pain and Dysfunction with Scalp Acupuncture; Helms Medical Institute/Stanford University; Phoenix, AZ — May 2013

Trained by Jason Hao in Chinese Scalp Acupuncture developed by Jiao Shunfa in the 1970s, and refined by Jason Hao DOM (20 hours AMA category I CME)

Medical Acupuncture for Physicians Certification Course; Helms Medical Institute/Stanford University; Potomac, MD — March – September 2012

Repeated Medical Acupuncture for Physicians Certification Course, completed. Five phases and neuroanatomical cognitive frameworks. Faculty approached me about joining the Helm’s course faculty. (300 hours AMA category I CME)

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Physicians Certification Course; Academy of Pain Research/University of Chicago; San Francisco, CA — June 2010 – Dec 2010

Comprehensive TCM Chinese Herbal Medicine for Physicians course, administered by Tsun Lee MD of the Academy of Pain Research, with accreditation through UC Irvine and University of Chicago/Pritzker Medical Schools  (270 hours AMA category I CME)

Clinical Pulse Practicum; The Ayurvedic Institute; Albuquerque, NM — June 2007

Comprehensive training in Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis with the US’s premier Ayurvedic educator, Vasant Lad BAMS (40 hours, not eligible for CME)

Ayurvedic Training Course; Ayurveda Academy/Bastyr College of Naturopathic Medicine; Seattle, WA —  2004

Administered by Vivek Shanbhag ND.  One-year course; participation interrupted due to illness, course certification not completed

Medical Acupuncture for Physicians Certification Course; UCLA/Helms Medical Institute; Santa Monica, CA — 2000-2001

Medical Acupuncture for Physicians Certification Course, didactic lectures and skills workshops; five phases and neuroanatomical cognitive frameworks. Requirements fulfilled to become a physician certified to practice acupuncture in New York State (300 hours AMA category I CME)

Shiatsu Certification; The Ohashi Institute; New York, NY  — 1992-2000

Founded by Wataru Ohashi, a student of Japanese master Masanaga. Strong emphasis on meridian, hara and Five Phases diagnosis/treatment. Course work voluntarily completed twice; some teaching for the institute.

Hatha Yoga and Meditation Training; The Himalayan Institute; New York, NY — 1999-present

Traditional Hatha Yoga and Indian Meditation/ Pranayama. Daily yoga and mediation regimen; some yoga therapy teaching to patients

CREDENTIALS

Board Certification/Diplomate, American Board of Family Medicine          July 1996–present

Board Certification/Diplomate, American Academy of Medical Acupuncture     2000–preset

New Jersey Medical Board/License number 25MA11290500   September, 2021

Pennsylvania Medical Board/License number MD475203           August, 2021

Virginia Medical Board/License number 0101272752 June, 2021

Ohio Medical Board/License number 35.142574 June, 2021

Connecticut Medical Board/License number 68967 June, 2021

Florida Medical Board/License number 150788 May, 2021

Colorado Medical Board/License number DR.0066423 April, 2021

Certification to practice Chinese Herbal Medicine           December, 2010

Carolina Medical Board Registration/License number 2007-00724         May, 2007

New York State Certification to Perform Acupuncture   203-848(a)    July,  2001

New York State Medical Registration/ License number 203-848                 July, 1996

DEA Registration number BV 4948848                   July, 1996

National Board of Medical Examiners/USMLE, exams passed                   July, 1993

Hospital Affiliations None, currently

Skills – Active

IV Therapy – 4/2026

EMG/NCV – course completion only 1/21/2021

Chinese Herbal Medicine/ Formula Preparation

Medical Acupuncture, Chinese Scalp Acupuncture, Auricular Acupuncture, Gua Sha, Cupping & Soliman Auricular Allergy Desensitization – effective for IgE-mediated allergy      

Superficial Nerve Block, Scar Injection   

Aesthetic Botox and Dermal Filler Injection, PRP Injection & Microneedling, PDO threads , Sclerotherapy, CoolSculpting application, Ultherapy, Fractional Aesthetic Laser, IPL, CO2 Laser, EmSculpt, etc

Joint Injection, including SI joint (w/out fluoroscopy, past)     

Trigger Point Injection Therapy, Biopuncture

Laceration suturing

Skills – Historic

Flexible sigmoidoscopy

Low risk Obstetric deliveries - 110   

Pregnancy termination  - 40          

Endometrial biopsy

Incision and drainage of superficial abscess, skin biopsy, sebaceous cyst removal

Skin punch and elliptical biopsies   

Nail avulsion       

ACADEMIC AND LECTURING EXPERIENCE (partial list)

Consulting/ participating speaker for a Sirius Satellite Radio call-in program, fielding public interest queries regarding allopathic and Asian medicine                           February 2017

Multiple lectures delivered on Chinese Herbal Medicine, Acupuncture, Ayurveda and/or Ayurvedic cooking delivered to UNC Integrative Medicine program, Orange/Durham County Medical Societies and other groups           2008-present

Guest speaker on Sirius Satellite Radio’s “Dr. Radio” network on the nature of and indications for Acupuncture and Ayurveda         October, 2008

Consulting/ participating in formation of clinical faculty, the American School of Traditional Ayurveda, launched in 2010.  Director: Shekhar Annambholta, BAMS, MD (Ayurveda, India).  Inactive 2011   May, 2007

Moderated and presented introduction to the Vata Diseases Panel at the National Ayurvedic Medical Association Conference, New York, NY   September, 2006

Guest speaker on upstate community radio on the Basic Science and Clinical Medical Evidence of Acupuncture’s Efficacy         January, 2003

Guest speaker on WBAI (Pacifica Radio Affiliate) on the Basic Science and Clinical Medical Evidence of Acupuncture’s Efficacy   May, 2002

Faculty Appointment - Department of Family Medicine Columbia Presbyterian College of Physicians and Surgeons (The New York Presbyterian Hospital), New York, NY 50% Obstetrics skills training and didactic lectures for residents 25% precepting residents              January – July, 1998

Invitation to lecture at the regional Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Conference.  Delivered the External Fetal Monitoring Interpretation Lecture for the ALSO course (Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics)             March 1997

Faculty Appointment  - Department of Family Practice, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Yonkers, NY; Affiliation – New York Medical College, Valhalla; 25% time precepting residents. 5% one-to-one medical student teaching. Didactic lectures monthly     July, 1996 – December, 1997

Invitation to lecture at the regional Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Conference, co-presented with residency director personal experiences and some qualitative findings from our residency's Systems Medicine month-long rotation             March, 1996

Violence prevention seminars and workshops: administered the Prothrow-Stith Violence Prevention Curriculum to adolescents at risk             January – May, 1996

Honorary Teacher’s Assistant position: Symbolic Logic teaching       Fall, 1988

RESEARCH

Details available upon request: Energy based & acupuncture induced neuromodulation, connectomics and sub cellar non-classical physics considerations in ion channel gating

Basic science publication/work performed over 5 years during college and medical school

Clinical inquiry performed during residency; non-published

CREATIVE

Recipient - 2026 New York State Council of Arts Artist Support Grant for conception, co-authoring, producing and supervision of biosensed integration into multimodal theater work Forms of Fire

Published poet and essayist. Professional film writing/producing/scoring/editing – story concept development

Semi-professional musician – electric bass and vibraphone playing, writing and recording for my own musical group, for theater and in support of local musicians in New York City, North Carolina. Extensive experience in community radio (DJ) and voice-over work

LANGUAGES

I have been fluent in Spanish and French. During my first 6 years of clinical practice, I practiced medicine largely in Spanish

RELATIONAL DATABASE CREATION

Using FileMaker Pro, I have created three functioning electronic medical records (relational database construction)

I have created a number of websites, and am comfortable with photographic and video editing.  I have created my own, professional quality brochures, websites, business cards and flyers

Current Favored Direct Patient Care Services

Allergy Relief Acupuncture (SAAT - Soliman Auricular Acupuncture Therapy)

Allergies occur when your immune system produces an IgE-type antibody in response to proteins (antigens) from outside the body. The antigen/antibody combination irritate the respiratory tract’s lining, the skin, etc starting the inflammatory cascade. Histamine release from inflammation &/or skin cells which release the histamine that produces the itch, runny nose/eyes, sneeze and cough you experience. Conventional therapies are avoidance, antihistamines, steroids and epinephrine for anaphylaxis

Conditions

• asthma

• allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies)

• eczema / (allergic) urticaria

• eosinophilic esophagitis

• mast cell activation syndrome

Technique

Allergy Relief Acupuncture,1–4 of these needles are placed under the ear’s skin and remain in place for 3 weeks, while the allergen is avoided as much as possible. After needle removal, those with milder allergies may introduce very small amounts of the allergen (such as food, pets, etc), and we monitor for response. The goal is to attenuate or eliminate allergic responses to the allergen

Those with very severe reactions and anaphylaxis must continue strict allergen avoidance & carrying epinephrine, antihistamines and/or steroids: the goal is to attenuate possible accidental allergen exposure

Thanks to Nader Soliman MD, there is now simple and effective ear acupuncture allergy desensitization. Dr. Soliman combined Auricular Acupuncture Therapy expertise (Paul Nogier MD) with resonance-testing to produce this highly effective desensitization technique (SAAT: Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment). In June 2014, Dr. Soliman published research on treated patients who later demonstrated allergy desensitization on objective blood &/or skin testing. Dr Villanova has provided this service since 2014 with remarkable success.

*Allergy elimination occurs in most cases, but cannot be guaranteed

learn more here – view brochure here

for an individualized information – contact me directly at 917-756-2312

as I am semi-retired – my availability for medical consultations is limited at this time

to learn more about the modalities used – visit my medical website here