In 2016, Carol Joy Bender had a vision: a wellness hub in Southern California where individuals aren’t just treated but truly listened to, understood and cared for. A distinguished Nurse Practitioner and alumna of the prestigious Wharton School of Business and The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Carol dreamed of a place where the innate healing power of the body was not just acknowledged, but celebrated.
Carol’s journey into healthcare started young, and her passion only deepened with time. Post-college, she found herself in Africa, spearheading a non-profit aimed at training locals in healthcare. Upon her return, backed by her mentor’s faith, she was convinced that if she could ignite change across the globe, she could definitely do it closer to home.
However, during a stint in the ERs of several local hospitals Carol witnessed a startling reality: Individuals received temporary fixes, only to return still burdened by persistent pain and unresolved health issues. The turning point came when Carol encountered integrative regenerative medicine. With this modality, her patients experienced transformation and lasting results.
Despite skepticism from peers, Carol stood firm in her belief in the potential of regenerative medicine. In 2016, she realized her dream and opened Joy Wellness Partners in San Diego to provide accessible integrative wellness options and cutting-edge regenerative treatments for all–from dedicated military personnel and world-class athletes to busy parents, fitness enthusiasts and business executives.
“Joy Wellness Partners isn’t just a clinic, it’s a movement. In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to lose sight of our body's inherent capabilities. At JWP®, we don’t just treat symptoms – we embrace the body's innate healing power. Our goal? To make regenerative and functional medicine the first choice, not a last resort."
We’re not just healthcare providers; we’re trailblazers, shaping a future where wellness isn’t an aspiration but a way of life.
We offer natural, non-invasive treatments such as bio-identical hormone replacement, including testosterone therapy and peptide therapies, for optimal wellbeing.
We have a full-service IV lounge for optimizing hydration and restoring energy levels.
We perform treatments using ultrasound guidance, including nerve hydrodissection, joint aspirations, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and other regenerative injections.
Our team members are expert providers of the Stellate Ganglion Block, a treatment for PTSD, anxiety and chronic pain.
Our state-of-the-art shockwave therapy has the potential to provide relief from erectile dysfunction and injuries such as plantar fasciitis.
We hold a med spa within our clinic so patients can have a one-stop shop for their anti-aging goals.
Thousands have joined our JWP® family, trusting us with their wellbeing. And our JWP® family continues to grow as friends invite friends from all across the country to share in our wellness therapies.
We invite you to join them! Contact us to begin your holistic wellness journey today.
2021: Entered a strategic partnership with Novastem in Tijuana, Mexico, enhancing our suite of regenerative medicine treatments unavailable in the United States.
2022: Founded our sister clinic in Provo, Utah.
Coming Soon: We are setting our sights on the East Coast for our next expansion.
A Nurse Practitioner since 2013, Carol Joy Bender specializes in regenerative and integrative medicine, providing a broad range of care, ranging from emergent medical treatments to medical consultations and regenerative injections.
Carol grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 2009, she earned dual degrees from the University of Pennsylvania: Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of Business and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the School of Nursing. In 2009, Carol also co-founded LifeNet International, a non-profit conversion franchise of healthcare clinics in Burundi, Africa.
From 2009 to 2011, Carol developed her clinical skills as a nurse in the emergency room at the University Medical Center of Princeton in NJ. In 2011, she returned to Burundi to serve as the Medical Director of LifeNet International.
In 2013, Carol completed her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and became board-certified as a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care.
From 2013 to 2017, Carol worked in five emergency departments in Southern California and in the Temecula Valley Advanced Medicine (TVAM) Clinic in Murrieta, CA. In TVAM, she learned to help patients find solutions to their pain through the powerful, life-changing results of regenerative medicine.
In 2016, inspired by her patients’ outcomes in this cutting-edge field of healthcare and determined to help more patients, Carol engaged her healthcare management degree, her success with a healthcare startup in the heart of Africa and her clinical experience. She founded Joy Wellness Partners in 2016 in San Diego, CA, with the vision of achieving solutions to patients’ problems through regenerative medicine. In 2019, she started Enliven Aesthetics, in order to better serve her clients’ aesthetics needs.
Dr. Masuda firmly believes that the key to healing is understanding the root cause of illness and the interconnectedness of mind, body and spirit. Her greatest passions lie with gastrointestinal dysfunction, infertility, preconception to postpartum care and pediatric health, which she treats with a combination of supplements, diet and lifestyle changes, IV and injection therapy.
After receiving bachelor’s degrees in science and biology from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and the University of San Diego, Dr. Masuda considered pursuing a career in allopathic medicine. However, she felt called to pursue naturopathic medicine, which would allow her to help patients in a way that would truly benefit them long term and give them the opportunity to take control of their health and healing.
As if medical school alone wasn’t a big enough feat, Dr. Masuda began the transformative process of becoming a mother to two vivacious girls, all while juggling her full-time student schedule. When she isn’t wrangling her two children, she enjoys being outdoors, exercising, teaching Irish dance, reading and traveling to see her family who are scattered around the world.
Fun fact: While obtaining her undergraduate degree she decided to pursue her passion of dancing by touring with the Irish dance show, Riverdance. Her time with Riverdance afforded her the opportunity to travel around the world, experience an array of cultures and enjoy really good food! More importantly, touring for months at a time in unknown countries revealed the stress that can result from this type of lifestyle and fostered the development of tools essential for maintaining her physical and mental health.
Martyna Erskine is the lead medical provider and a skilled procedurist at Joy Wellness Partners. She is also a specialist in aesthetic procedures in Enliven Aesthetics. She cares about each of her patients and strives to help them find natural and regenerative solutions to live longer, happier, more fulfilled lives.
She grew up in Poland and graduated from Adam Mickiewicz University in 2013 with a Master of Science in Chemistry. From 2013 to 2014, she worked as a chemist at University’s Laboratory in Poland where she conducted research on synthesized modified elements and molecules.
She moved to California from Poland in 2015, after her experience in a ‘work & travel’ program in Coronado, California, during the summer of 2014. From 2015 to 2017, she mastered her lab analysis and IV skills as a phlebotomist and lab assistant at Scripps and Palomar Hospitals. Simultaneously, she completed her nursing school prerequisites at SDSU and Miramar College.
In December 2018, she graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Miami with a specialty in acute care nursing. She was recruited directly out of school in December 2018 to work at Joy Wellness Partners as the first full-time RN. From 2019-2020, she also gained critical care experience as an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse in local hospitals. In January 2021, she graduated with her Master Degree of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Currently, she is completing a Fellowship in Anti-Aging and Functional Medicine through A4M.
She is fluent in Polish and English and intermediate in Spanish and Russian. In her leisure time, she enjoys roller blading, hiking, paddle boarding, photography, traveling and designing and making clothing.
Sarah Wells grew up in southern Mississippi where she graduated from the Pearl River Community College (PRCC) Associate Degree Nursing program in 2012. She began her nursing career caring for stroke patients, moved on to work in psychiatric nursing and finally settled in trauma acute care after moving to Nashville, TN. She then received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of South Alabama (USA) and continued her trauma intensive care career in New Orleans, Louisiana. She obtained her Dual Role Adult Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degrees from the University of South Alabama (USA) and moved on to become an Advanced Practice Provider in Neuro-Critical Care in Louisiana. Her journey brought her to San Diego in December of 2022 where she became a Trauma Nurse Practitioner and a proud member of Joy Wellness Partners. She is currently working to complete her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) through USA. She aims to improve the framework of future healthcare by educating others on preventative, restorative and naturopathic modalities.
Her true passion in healthcare is preventative medicine. With over 10 years of hospital experience under her belt, she’s well equipped and highly motivated to pioneer with JWP® in the preventative, holistic approach of regenerative medicine. Her hobbies include trying as many of San Diego’s best restaurants as she can, staying active and spending quality time with her boyfriend, Sam, and her cats, Cheeto and Biscuit.
Alina Austin is a Registered Nurse with over 12 years experience in the medical field. She earned dual degrees from Boise State University: Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Health Science Studies. She has since worked in a wide variety of settings such as Oncology, Emergency Medicine, Perianesthesia and Travel Nursing. She is passionate about teaching her patients and mentoring other nurses.
Alina has held a lifelong belief in the body’s ability to heal itself and strives to find solutions that make a real difference in her patients’ lives. She is passionate about serving on the team at Joy Wellness Partners, Utah. She enjoys helping patients to experience the results of regenerative medicine in their lives.
She lives with her family in Alpine, Utah. In her free time, Alina enjoys playing disc golf, cooking, traveling and exploring Utah’s beautiful outdoors.
Rachel Gunderson is dual certified as both a Family Nurse Practitioner and an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. She received her advanced practice degrees from University of Pennsylvania and Texas Tech University-Health Sciences Center.
She spent eight years working as an Internal Medicine Nurse Practitioner at Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. She has now moved to the outpatient setting to focus on improving patient outcomes and longevity through regenerative medicine.
Rachel recently relocated to Springville, Utah. She is married and has three small children. During her free time she likes to read books, quilt, hike in the mountains and train for triathlons.
Dr. Michael Meng has 17 years of experience in musculoskeletal ultrasound, becoming certified as a Registered Physician of Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography (RMSK) in 2003, and has collaborated with our pain and injury team members for the past 3 years.
He received his degrees in Biology and Chemistry at Truman State University in Missouri, his Doctoral Degree in Chiropractic at Cleveland Chiropractic College in Missoouri, and his Nursing Degree from the International College of Health Sciences in Florida. Over the years, he has been a private consultant to medical doctors, medical societies, and physician colleges. Furthermore, he has been a university professor and a frontrunner in the fields of musculoskeletal ultrasound and regenerative medicine.
He has extensive clinical experience in orthopedics, rheumatology, pain management, anesthesiology, sports medicine, internal medicine and chiropractic. He has provided musculoskeletal ultrasound care at the United States Olympic Committee at Arco Olympic Training Center and the Interventional Spine Care and Orthopedic regenerative experts. He has taught at Boston BioLife, Society of Pain Practice Management and Napa Pain Conferences since 2010 and formerly taught at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) as a preceptor of fellows in the Sports Medicine Fellowship Program.
He is fluent in using ultrasound to diagnose pain conditions and guide all of the procedures that JWP® offers for pain, injury and post-traumatic stress injury. He enjoys speaking with patients in both Spanish and English, and is is eager to bring his ultrasound expertise to enhance the high-level integrative and regenerative medicine offered at JWP®.
Meet Dr. Laurie Blanscet, a board-certified Family Physician with a passion for preventive medicine. Dr. Blanscet serves as the collaborative and supervising physician at Joy Wellness Partners, fostering a longstanding partnership with Carol Bender since 2015. Their collaboration began with mentorship in integrative regenerative medicine in Dr. Blanscet’s clinic An Optimal You. She continues to inspire Carol and her team to this day.
Dr. Blanscet’s journey began in a traditional insurance-based practice, where she quickly realized the limitations in patient care and the toll it took on her wellbeing. Determined to provide quality care, she transitioned to a wellness-focused approach after overcoming personal health challenges.
Driven by her experiences, Dr. Blanscet pursued advanced training in preventive and integrative medicine, specializing in hormone balancing and holistic treatments. Her practice prioritizes personalized care, opting for direct patient payment to ensure tailored treatment plans and individualized attention. With a holistic perspective, she guides her patients towards vitality and wellbeing, drawing from her own journey.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Blanscet finds joy in travel, scuba diving, yoga and reading, sharing these passions with her husband of over 30 years.