Edison de Mello, MD, PhD
Founder & Chief Medical Officer
Edison de Mello, MD, PhD, the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of the Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine is a Board-Certified Integrative Physician by the American Board of Physician Specialties. He is also a licensed and Board-Certified Psychotherapist by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. With 13 years of experience in Community Clinical psychology preceding his entry into medical training, Dr. de Mello is passionate about integrating all aspects of a person’s unique life history into a personalized plan for each patient. He is also passionate about teaching evidence-based integrative medicine.
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dr. de Mello was first introduced to herbal medicine by his beloved grandmother, Nana, at a very early age. He remembers her as a natural healer who, with her many teas and potions, always had a remedy for the common everyday malady. Nana practiced her “medicine” with so much love and dedication that her simple presence, caring manner, smile, and unwavering respect for people were healing. Nana’s healing approach and loving mentorship were so profound for Dr. de Mello that a healthcare career was a natural choice. Nana would become Dr. de Mello’s first integrative medicine teacher.
This early exposure kindled a deep passion for healthcare, leading Dr. de Mello to graduate from the University of North Texas in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He continued his academic pursuit, earning an MA in Psychology and a doctoral degree in Health and Human Services with a focus in Clinical Psychology. For his master’s degree thesis, he co-authored a Head Start program grant funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, titled “Strengthening Head Start Families through Mental Health Intervention”
Dr. de Mello’s doctoral dissertation, “Gut Feelings – A Psychosocial Approach to Gastrointestinal Illness,” inspired his conception of a wellness center employing scientific complementary approaches to psychology. The de Mello Institute was formed in 1996 to employ approaches to mindfulness and psychological practices addressing a person’s emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
Driven by a fascination with the bio-psychosocial aspects of gastrointestinal disease, Dr. de Mello embarked on a transformative journey. In 1991, he entered medical school fueled by the vision of establishing an innovative medical center, bridging the gap between Western and Eastern medicine. Recognizing the importance of robust training in evidence-based Integrative Medicine, he completed most of his medical student clinical rotations at the distinguished University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine hospitals.
Fully committed to these goals, Dr. de Mello entered residency in 1999 at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center Urban Family Residency program in New York City. His training utilized a biopsychosocial model and offered innovative experiences in the practice of Family Medicine. Upon completing his medical training, Dr. de Mello founded the Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine.
“I meet my patients before I meet their Dis-EASE.” E.de Mello, MD
Envisioned as a “sanctuary for healing,” The Akasha Center is a testament to Dr. de Mello’s profound commitment to the principles of integrative medicine. Here, every aspect of an individual—mind, body, and spirit—is thoughtfully and equally addressed in both the treatment and prevention of disease. Dr. de Mello’s ultimate objective is to guide each patient toward optimal well-being by skillfully integrating science-proven approaches to medicine, seamlessly drawing from the cutting-edge technological advancements of the West and the timeless wisdom of the East. Meet their Patient before Meeting their Dis-EASE, a belief that he puts into practice every day.
“See one of us Get 10 of us” Is Akasha’s Motto
Beyond his medical practice, Dr. de Mello is often featured on integrative medicine podcasts and is also an author. His 2021 book, BLOATED – How to Eat Without Pain,” provides practical insights into a pain-free and mindful eating experience to achieve optimal health. His latest book chapter, “Food Addiction and the Microbiome,”, part of Dr. Andrew Weil’s book on Integrative Approaches to Addiction, addresses the hidden epidemic of food addiction, offering insights to other clinicians on the science of food addiction and how to best treat it.
Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and conversational French, Dr. de Mello expands his impact beyond his medical practice by participating on Executive Boards or offering advisory support to several organizations. He is a member of the medical advisory board of the Prism Way, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit dedicated to ex-prisoner reentry and reform, and The Unstoppable Foundation, which provides healthcare and micro-business opportunities for Indigenous Kenyans. Additionally, Dr. de Mello serves on the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood, Los Angeles, and contributes insights to the Sun Ray Peace and Meditation Society in Lincoln, Vermont.
