Dr. Mari Sawai
Naturopathic Physician
Dr. Mari’s passion for healing began at a young age. She graduated from Arizona State University with her bachelor’s degree in Applied Biological Sciences. Upon graduation she immediately started classes at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. By age 25 she completed her Doctorate studies.
During her first year in medical school Dr. Mari participated in a 5-day intensive where she completed her first green juice fast and permanently healed herself from chronic constipation and digestive distress. After healing her gut so quickly she was eager to learn everything about fasting and detoxification. In her last years of medical school, she devoted her focus to fasting and detoxification methods. After graduating she completed internships at TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Monica, CA and Hawaii Naturopathic retreat Center in Hawaii. Dr. Mari’s first venture was opening Omizu Medical Sanctuary on the big island of Hawaii where she specialized in water-only fasting, advanced detoxification, and IV therapy. She has supervised over 500 fasts and helped to cure her patients from conditions such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, IBS, parasitic infection, sugar addiction, and more.
She moved to Maine in 2015 to get hitched, Dr. Mari and Isaac co-founded Maine Comprehensive Health Institute that same year! She is now the proud mother of two beautiful children, a handsome pup, sassy little bird, and a Russian tortoise.
Dr. Mari combines the principles and ethical standards of Naturopathic Medicine with Functional diagnostic and laboratory techniques. Her patients appreciate her Sherlock Holmes style pursuit of the root cause of illness. By the time patients make it to her they have usually been around the block a few times and are relieved to feel heard and supported. She looks forward to working with you and uncovering the obstacles blocking you from achieving your best health.
Areas of special interest include women’s health at all ages/ stages, thyroid dysfunction, GI disruption, and chronic illness including Lyme disease and chronic fatigue syndrome. Dr. Mari is also known for her love of injection therapies including prolozone, neural therapy, and trigger point injections to treat all types of pain.
Deborah Brann
Physical Therapist
DeeDee graduated from the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine in May of 1998. Following her graduation, she moved to New York to work with children with multiple disabilities ranging from infants to twenty-one years old. While in New York her focus of therapy was to assist children with acquiring functional mobility skills utilizing a neurodevelopmental technique (NDT). NDT is a hands-on approach facilitating proper muscle recruitment and utilization of proper movement patterns.
DeeDee decided to move back to her home state of Maine following 9/11. Since returning to Maine she has worked at Inland Hospital (Northern Light) in the acute care setting, at Lakewood helping residents with rehabilitation and has continued working with school age children developing their motor skills in the northern school system.
Once DeeDee started a family of her own she continued to work for Inland but on a per diem basis while she transitioned to a facility in her hometown. DeeDee began to manage the rehabilitation unit at Sebasticook Valley Nursing Home in Pittsfield. Following the completion of her contract and the closing of SVNH she began her employment at Redington Fairview General Hospital Rehab and Fitness (RFGH). At RFGH she was introduced to craniosacral therapy (CS) and developed her passion for hands on therapeutic interventions. She studied CS1 and CS2 at the Upledger Institute, studied Neural Manipulation from the Barrel Institute, and became certified to utilize Graston tools as another form of treatment in the management of tissue tension and restriction. DeeDee focuses on utilizing a combination of manual techniques to address pain and functional limitations, while incorporating exercises and education to assist with long term self-management and improved quality of life for her patients.
DeeDee is confident in treating post operative musculoskeletal patients, patients with neck pain, thoracic pain, lumbar pain, headaches, tendonitis, bursitis, all joints in the lower body and shoulder, as well as balance deficits and fall prevention.
Isaac Axtell
Acupuncturist & Chinese Herbalist
Isaac graduated from Bastyr University in 2012. During his studies he became particularly interested in Tui Na (a form of Chinese body work). Isaac finished his degree working in internal medicine, gynecology, and pediatrics departments in hospitals around Chengdu and Shanghai, China.
Upon completion of his studies he moved to Big Island Hawaii where he grew a private practice, worked along side naturopathic doctors at a detox retreat, and was a core faculty member and chief resident with the Hawaii College of Oriental Medicine. His motivation is to work with a variety of other practitioners, whether they be from a Western or alternative mindset, to find the treatment that works best for the patient. He is a member of National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), Maine Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAAOM), and is licensed to practice both acupuncture and Chinese herbalism in Maine.
Isaac’s practice emphasizes manual therapies, cupping, and acupuncture to manage chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions.
Dr. Abby Walker
Chiropractor
Dr. Abby started The University of Maine at Farmington with an early childhood education major in mind. It was a year later she switched her path to becoming a chiropractor. After her first adjustment at 19 years old, her chiropractor removed her nerve interference and gave her body a chance to heal and repair from years of suffering from multiple allergies. Dr. Abby could only smell skunk before that. Finishing her pre-med courses at UMF she then attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. She graduated in 2003 with a Doctorate of Chiropractic and Bachelor of Science degrees.
Her first year of practice was in Hartland, Maine before purchasing an existing office in Skowhegan. She diligently created professional relationships with her patients’ physicians, physical therapists and massage therapists.
While managing her practice Dr. Abby furthered her education with the ICPA4Kids. (International Chiropractic Pediatric Association) She enjoys teaching everyday how the body, however old or young, has the potential to heal at its optimum functional capacity when given the correct tools.
Dr. Abby is a strong advocate for patients taking control of their own health. Working in a wellness center like MaineCHI has been a life long dream to help ease patients’ health quest in one accessible place.
Dr. Irwin
Medical Director
Dr. Irwin graduated with honors from The University of Health Sciences, College of Osteo Medicine in 1981. He then completed his internship at Normandy Osteopathic Hospitals in St. Louis, followed by Internal Medicine Residency at University of Missouri In Kansas City. Having more than 41 years of diverse experiences in medicine, especially in the area of digestive health. Currently Dr. Irwin cooperates other doctors and specialists and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital and Maine Veterans Affairs Medical Center. We are extremely fortunate to have him as our medical director here at MaineCHI.