West Eastern Health

Aneel Paulus is a distinguished physician-scientist and consultant with over 15 years of experience in translational oncology, clinical trials, and drug development from pre-clinical to early-stage clinical phases. During his tenure at the Mayo Clinic in Florida, Dr. Paulus spearheaded the laboratory research program focused on mature B-cell cancers, leading to significant advancements in the treatment of multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and rare lymphomas. His innovative research included the discovery of new drug indications and therapeutic combinations, notably utilizing the unique properties of the Neem plant and Curcumin. More recently, his work has expanded to explore the intersection of aging, immunology, cancer neuroscience, and neuromodulation. Dr. Paulus was the Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Alpha2 Pharmaceuticals. This clinical-stage company is dedicated to developing personalized therapeutics to combat cancer drug resistance and prevent relapse. In his role, he oversaw all facets of drug design, manufacturing, production, strategic acquisitions, and product pipeline development, positioning Alpha2 Pharmaceuticals at the forefront of innovative cancer treatment. Dr. Paulus' extensive experience at the Mayo Clinic included leading a multi-disciplinary malignant hematology research team composed of physicians, nurses, clinical coordinators, and laboratory scientists. His work has covered a wide range of therapeutic areas, including small molecules, natural products, proteasome inhibitors, B-cell receptor pathway inhibitors, therapeutic antibodies, and nanotherapeutics. He has contributed to the development of several key drugs such as Lenalidomide, Venetoclax, and Ibrutinib, and has been involved in the design and execution of multiple Phase I and II clinical trials, providing a critical bridge between pre-clinical research and clinical application. Educationally, Dr. Paulus holds an MD from Windsor University and an MS in translational oncology from the State University of New York at Buffalo/Roswell Park Cancer Institute. His expertise is recognized globally, having served on international grant review committees and disease-focused think tanks. He has also consulted for leading Fortune 500 biopharmaceutical companies including GSK, BMS, AstraZeneca, Janssen, and Takeda, as well as smaller companies like Natera, Ascentage, Affimed AB, and Vivolux AB. Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Paulus is an active community member, coaching youth soccer and promoting exercise and wellness. His contributions to cancer medicine, his patents in novel treatment strategies and individualized cancer vaccines underscore his commitment to advancing medical science and improving patient outcomes - mind, body, and spirit.

Maddie is a board-certified physician associate whose passion for Functional Medicine began in 2017 while working with Angeli M. Akey, MD, at North Florida Integrative Medicine in Gainesville, Florida. There, she trained in a comprehensive, holistic care model that blended internal medicine with skin allergy testing, gastrointestinal mapping, acupuncture, exercise, Qigong, and spiritual and nutritional counseling. Maddie served as the Chronic Care Manager, coordinating virtual care for complex Medicare patients with two or more chronic conditions, with a strong focus on proactive management to prevent emergency department visits and hospitalizations. After earning her Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies from South College in Knoxville, Tennessee, Maddie chose to work in Emergency Medicine to further strengthen her clinical expertise. Over the past three years, she has practiced in high-acuity emergency department settings with Baptist Healthcare and HCA Healthcare. Her emergency medicine experience includes rapid patient assessment, acute and chronic disease management, trauma evaluation, procedural skills, medication administration, and stabilization of cardiac, respiratory, and psychiatric emergencies across the lifespan. In addition to her emergency medicine background, Maddie has experience in the mental health space. She is well-versed in the assessment and treatment of anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma-related disorders, OCD, ADHD, and addiction/substance use disorders. Maddie is passionate about her work with ketamine administration and therapeutic integration, supporting patients before, during, and after treatment to promote safety, insight, and lasting healing. She values a compassionate, trauma-informed approach and integrates evidence-based mental health care with functional and holistic principles. Maddie is grateful to return to her roots in integrative, patient-centered medicine at West Eastern Health, where she combines her broad medical training with a preventative, whole-person approach to wellness.