Meet the Doctors

Deena Hackett

Deena R. Hackett, DOM

Dr. Deena is a Florida Licensed Acupuncture Physician. She received her Bachelors of Science in Biology and Chemistry from Radford University in Virginia. Although initially trained in the Western tradition, she has always been interested in Chinese Medicine and an holistic approach to healing. While employed as a biologist/geneticist for the University of Florida she decided to pursue her doctorate in Oriental Medicine. She graduated from the East West College of Natural Medicine in 2004. In addition, Dr. Deena has been certified in Acu-Injection Therapy and Sports Medicine Acupuncture

Integrating knowledge from East and West, she uses acupuncture, herbal medicine, and diet/lifestyle counseling in her acupuncture practice to help patients achieve holistic health.

She has been practicing in Sarasota since 2004. She has had great success in the treatment of infertility, sports injuries, arthritis, osteoarthritis, back pain and weight loss.

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Learn more about Dr. Deena
Mara

Dr. R. Jeff Mara, Medical Director

Originally from Northwest Indiana, Dr. Mara graduated from Indiana University Medical School in 1993.  He completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois in Peoria in 1996.  After practicing in the ER of an urban hospital in Indianapolis for almost 20 years, he moved to Sarasota in 2015.  After years of seeing the devastating effects of the opioid crisis, he became interested in medical marijuana as an alternative once Florida passed the law legalizing medical marijuana in November 2016.  He became educated and began qualifying patients in the fall of 2017.  He has been gratified to find help for many other patients in addition to those suffering from pain.

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Vicki Mara, RN & Patient Advocate

Originally from Speedway, Indiana in the shadow of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Vicki went to college in 1988 to pursue nursing.  After an unfortunate meeting with a guidance counselor who told her that “there are too many nurses and the program is full”, she pursued Marketing.  After working as an Office Manager for a medical practice, she still had the strong desire to be a nurse.  In 2000 Vicki graduated from Ivy Tech Community College, passed her boards, and finally realized her dream to be a registered nurse.  She worked for many years in a family practice office in a suburb of Indianapolis.  In 2006 she took a job doing telephonic case management for patients with chronic conditions.  She was promoted quickly to Informatics Manager doing training, implementation, and design of case management software.  

Vicki became a medical marijuana patient in 2017, and her eyes were opened to how confusing and overwhelming the process can be.  This has inspired her to use her case management experience and skill to help others navigate through the process.  With her caring and empathetic nature, she quickly makes all of her patients feel the care and support they deserve.

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Rita Specht-Anderson, AP, DOM

Rita Specht-Anderson, AP, DOM

Dr. Rita is a graduate from East West College of Natural Medicine. Born and raised in New Jersey, Dr. Rita has been a Sarasota resident for 26 years. Dr. Rita has been in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine practice for 16 years and has over 30 years of experience in alternative healing modalities. Dr. Rita’s training includes acupuncture, herbology, homeopathy, Acupuncture Injection Therapy, massage and Polarity bodywork, pediatric care, fertility and women’s health, anti-aging and addiction. She is licensed by the State of Florida and recognized by The National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and a member of FSOMA. She holds an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education.

“I am pleased to be a part of the 941Wellness family. I am grateful to share the benefits of my training with you. Together we can achieve your optimum health and wellness.”

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Lois Winkler, R.N. C.H.C & Aromatherapy

Lois Winkler, R.N. C.H.C & Aromatherapist

Lois has a varied background in health and wellness. She worked at Sarasota Memorial Hospital for 22 years as an R.N. with experience in Intensive Care, Oncology, and Med. Surg.

She started working with a nutraceutical company in 1996 where she started to lean more toward alternative medicine expanding her knowledge of supplements and essential oils.

In 2009 she was the administrator of a nurse registry working with Hospice and persons with disabilities. Essential oils were used in the treatment of some of these patients. That is when the love for essential oils started! Lois became a certified aromatherapist and Certified Health Coach and in 2017 started to do raindrop therapy for 941 Wellness.

“A great day is when someone gets off my table feeling better than when they got on.”

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941_Amy

Amy Algustowski, Sound Healing Practitioner

Owner of Sound Healing with Amy, she was certified through Meditate: School of Mindfulness & Sound Healing. She began her own healing journey several years ago and has found that incorporating sound baths into her healing regimen works to release negative emotions and physical ailments associated with CPTSD. Amy seeks to share this healing modality with anyone who may be suffering from pent-up physical and emotional pain.

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Jessica Samac

Jessica Samac, Licensed Aesthetician

Jessica’s interest in the beauty industry started in 2016 when she began makeup artistry. Through this work, she came to understand that beauty starts with great skin; this understanding is what led her to pursue a career in Aesthetics.

Jessica received her education from Fashion Focus Academy in Sarasota, Florida; studying Facial Treatments (with and without devices), Hair Removal, Anatomy & Physiology of Skin, and Alternative Therapies.

Her mission is to perform custom skin services that help you look your best.

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