Awaremed Medical Institute

Meet the AWAREmed Institute Team

Dr. Dalal Akoury

Dr. Dalal Akoury, MD is the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center and the director of the Wellness U program. Dr. Akoury is fellowship trained and certified in anti-aging functional and regenerative medicine, as well as having more than twenty years of accumulated experience in emergency medicine, pediatrics, and a master’s degree in public health. Dr. Akoury has also served fellowships in pediatric hematology/oncology and has preformed research in leukemia and the effects of smoking. This lifetime of experience, along with a unique sensitivity, genuine compassion, and a driving passion to inspire health in everyone has prepared “Dr. Dolly” to be the doctor she is today. About developing her dream,  AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center and Wellness U, Dr. Akoury says, “My mission is to ignite the spark of health deep within everyone, and to allow this sparkle of wellness to shine through everyone’s eyes, becoming one with the universe, and aligning "spirit body,and. mind".Board Certifications and Associations:

• American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M)

• Member of the Fellowship for Anti-Aging and Functional Medicine (FAAFM)

• Member of the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)

• Member of the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM)

• Board Certified in Emergency Medicine (BCEM)

Melody Iles, N.P, PhD, CH

Dr. Iles has accumulated more than twenty years of experience in the art of natural healing. Dr. Iles received her PhD degree in Natural Health, NP (Naturopathic Practitioner) through the University of Arizona, The Natural Healing Institute of Naturopathy.  Dr. Iles desire to understand all aspect of true and complete healing led her to pursue a degree of clinical Nutrition and a degree of Clinical Herbalist from the American Academy of Nutrition and University of Natural Health.  Dr. Iles, NP  also completed the course study of Fingernail and Tongue Analysis, through Dr. Chi. Dr. Iles' passion for providing Natural Healing and her devotion to balanced health and Wellness prepared her for her mission here in the Grand Strand

Rebecca Goodman, RN

Graduated of Gordon College, Barnesville, GA. with her Degree in Nursing. Associate degree in Business, Floyd college, Rome GA. Ms. Goodman, RN manages the office, is responsible for policy and procedure, she supports Dr. Akoury and her staff, she is the person patients come to for any concerns

Marta Rotello

Marta Rotello has been a counselor since 1992, Mrs Rotello holds a license in Professional Counselor.  She studied the relationship between Western psychology and the Eastern contemplative traditions and incorporates these various perspectives in her therapy practice.  This enables her to draw from a wide range of approaches when working with clients to suit their particular needs and facilitate emotional releasefor enhanced healing

Denise Augustino, Lmt #5523

Denise is a Nationally Certified SC licensed massage therapist. Originally from Long Island NY, Denise moved to SC 5 years ago with her family. She at that time pursued her lifelong dream of helping people by becoming a massage therapist. Her desire and passion for helping people has led her to expand her knowledge of massage by taking multiple continuing education classes. During her four years of massage she realized the importance and the privilege it is to work with people living with cancer. To further her knowledge and to help suffering with cancer, Denise took an oncology massage course. It is now an added privilege to be working with Dr. Akoury, as it will enhance her level of experience working with this very special population of people. Knowing that the power of touch is critical in every aspect of our lives, and no one should be left out. During her training in this specialized massage it has reached a moer person level of interest, as both of her parents were diagnosed with cancer.

Denise’s training include: Oncology Massage, Myofacial Release, Myokinesthetic (pain relief) Lypossage (cellulite reducing), Hot Rock, Swedish, Prenatal and Therapeutic Deep Tissue.

Denise listens to your needs and adjusts each massage appropriately. Each session can be a different experience based on your health requirements. Her mission is to individualize each massage, and treat each client according to his or her own special needs. It is her passion, determination and love for helping people makes her the therapist that she is today.

Donna Stead

Donna is the founder and Creative Director of The Yoga Room Healing Arts Co-operative . After finding Yoga through an injury in 1998 – her passion for this ancient healing art grew. In 2000 she fulfilled her vision of opening a yoga center in Myrtle Beach. She is grateful for all the support she has received and amazed by the teachers that have greeted her on her path ! A Certified Yoga Teacher, she can’t imagine her life without yoga and the benefits it brings . Donna loves working with beginners , seniors and teens. She enjoys sharing her love of Gentle Heart Centered Hatha Yoga, combined with guided imagery and meditation. Her classes blend breath-work, postures and meditation to create healing, balance and flexibility in a calming, nurturing environment.

Her training includes 280 Yoga Alliance Certification, Reiki- Master Level , Open Heart Prayer, and her experience facilitating Women’s healing circles and retreats.  . Donna leads a transformational women’s retreat in the spring/and or fall each year.

Monica Huggins

Licensed esthetician in both North and South Carolina and certified in oncology esthetics. She has been in practice for over two years in the South Carolina area.

Ms. Huggins Uses all organic skin care products for your sensitive skin.

Monique Bernstein:

Monique Bernstein attended Nassau County Community College in NY and trained in Atlanta Ga. as a compounding pharmaceutical technician.

Ms. Bernstein is a compounder for AWAREmed, she is versed in IV, Herbal and pharmacological compounding. Ms. Bernstein compounds drugs to fit the unique needs of a patient, this helps the patient to avoid any ingredient that they may be allergic to. Compounding is also used to obtain the exact dosage needed for the individual patients. Ms. Bernstein specializes in hormonal balancing.

Candice Johansen:

Graduated of Sussex Community County College, NJ, with her Associates Degree in Biology. She received her License as a practical nurse from Atlantic Tech in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Ms.Johansen works closely with Dr. Akoury to provide direct patient care including IV therapy, Bio-oxidative therapy and patient education.

Kimberly Skaggs, CPC

Ms. Kimberly Skaggs is a Certified Professional Coder trained by the American Academy of Professional Coders and is a current member of the Academy. she has worked helping patients with insurance and billing issues for over 20 years. Kim also has rained in HIPAA and Safety and is a current member of the Wilmington Health and Safety School in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Ms. Skaggs believes that the most important part of a medical practice being successful is client service, she practices this belief with all patients at AWAREmed.

Stephaine Iles

Stephanie Iles graduated from James Madison High School and will start college for her nursing degree this coming fall. Ms. Iles is AWAREmeds' receptionist and she is support for Ms. Becky Goodman, RN.

Ken Lux, PhD

Received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Indiana University and his internship was at Connecticut Valley hospital in Middletown, CT., was a licensed psychologist in the state of Maine from 1973 and was in private practice in Auburn and Rockland, Maine until 2009. In addition to private practice, he has held the following positions which include: Psychotherapist at Mid-Coast Mental Health Center, Rockland, ME; Consultant to St. Andre’s Group Home for adolescent girls; Director of the acute inpatient unit at Bangor Mental Health Institute; Clinical Coordinator at the Family Visitation Center for Kennebec Valley Mental health; teaching staff at Albany Medical College, and at the University of Maine at Orono. Books he has authored or coauthored include Humanistic Economics: The new Challenge; Adam Smith’s Mistake: How a Moral Philosopher Invented Economics and Ended Morality (Shambhala). I moved to South Carolina in 2010, and after obtaining his license in the state has gone into private practice, largely in the alternative clinical settings.