Best of Chico 2022: Health & Wellness

Acupuncture Clinic

FIRST Place: Chico Community Acupuncture
1815 Mangrove Ave., 345-5300
Open since 2010, Chico Community Acupuncture has been a Best of Chico fixture. It’s a nonprofit and part of a national cooperative, People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture, dedicated to increasing access, availability and affordability of treatment. Chico Community Acupuncture does so in a group setting without sacrificing individual attention.
SECOND Place: Amy Dawson
572 Rio Lindo Ave, 891-1823
THIRD Place: Acupuncture Center of Chico
1550 Humboldt Road, Ste. 7, 345-7735

Alternative Health Care Provider

FIRST Place: Privvy Modern Health
1950 E. 20th St., Ste. E-523, 451-3373
Located in the Chico Marketplace, Privvy provides therapeutic infusions and injections in a spa setting. The team features registered nurse Morgan Hatzis, a competitive athlete with extensive experience in IV therapy, and Dr. Nerissa Prieto, a board-certified anesthesiologist and critical care physician with over 15 years in practice. Open daily, Privvy offers appointments and walk-in services.
SECOND Place: Creating a Sustainable You
811 E. Fifth Ave., 521-7328
THIRD Place: Chico Naturopathic Medicine
196 Cohasset Road, Ste. 260, 332-9355

Boutique Gym

FIRST Place: Sweet Fitness Kickboxing
1390 E. Ninth St., Ste. 170, 521-8495
“This is NOT a professional fighters gym!” Sweet Fitness Kickboxing makes crystal clear that it’s a place to get fit, not get hit. The gym has 36 pro-grade punching bags that aren’t shared, which makes the workouts sanitary as well as face-saving. Make no mistake, participants feel the burn!
SECOND Place: Basis Health & Performance
177 E. 20th St., 636-0850
THIRD Place: Orangetheory Fitness
874 East Ave., 722-4000

Chiropractor

FIRST Place: Preference Chiropractic
1635 Magnolia Ave., 895-0224
Situated in a converted house, Preference Chiropractic is a family-oriented clinic run by a family of practitioners. They offer treatment to people from early to late stages of life, including expectant mothers.
SECOND Place: Joyce Family Chiropractic
9 Frontier Circle, 899-8500
THIRD Place: Chico Chiropractic Center
1140 Mangrove Ave., Ste. C, 345-3043

Dental Care

FIRST Place: Nelsen Family Dentistry
1307 Esplanade, Ste. 4, 898-8511
A perennial Best of Chico winner, Nelsen Family Dentistry is a true family affair. Dr. John Nelsen and Dr. Missy Nelsen met the first day of dental school and moved to Chico to start their practice, which has been going strong for 22 years.
SECOND Place: Kremer Dental Care
Two locations: 140 Independence Circle & 3 Glenbrook Court, 892-1234
THIRD Place: Willow Creek Dentistry
2765 Esplanade, 891-6611

Dermatologist

FIRST Place: Hodari MD Dermatology & Rejuvené
80 Declaration Dr., 894-6832
CN&R readers consistently vote Dr. Kafele Hodari as Best of Chico. He specializes in medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology—meaning, on any given day, he may see a patient with an unusual rash, remove potentially cancerous moles from another patient and apply a wrinkle-removing treatment to yet another.
SECOND Place: Chico Dermatology
774 East Ave., 280-7529
THIRD Place: Argyll Skincare Center
110 Independence Circle, 899-9393

Eye Care Specialist

FIRST Place: North Valley Eye Care
114 Mission Ranch Blvd., Ste. 50, 891-1900
Ahead of its move to Meriam Park, North Valley Eye Care has a new plaque. CN&R readers recognized the practice, with three of its nine clinics in Butte County, for comprehensive vision care—from eye exams to new glasses and contact lenses to laser surgeries. Starting Sept. 6, the Chico office will be located at 1700 Bruce Road.
SECOND Place: Chico Eye Center
605 W. East Ave., 895-1727
THIRD Place: Family Eye Care
2565 Ceanothus Ave. Ste. 155, 899-3939

General Practitioner

FIRST Place: Dr. Julie Archer
Chico Primary Care, 1645 Esplanade, Ste. 1, 896-0386
Honored as a Living Legend last year, this internal medicine physician has repeatedly topped Best of Chico voting. A patient’s online review gives Dr. Archer “high marks for the skilled, attentive and dependable care she has provided” both for him and his wife for more than two decades—and he’s obviously not alone.
SECOND Place: Dr. J. Randal Sloop
2068 Talbert Drive, Ste. 150, 809-0009
THIRD Place: Dr. Vimali Paul
85 Declaration Drive, Ste. 110, 894-6600

Gym

FIRST Place: In Motion Fitness
1293 E. First Ave., 343-5678
Spanning five acres, In Motion Fitness encompasses eight pools; seven areas for weight training and cardio exercises; and six spaces dedicated to yoga and other mind-body activities. Members use those facilities on their own or in classes, which include programs for kids and youth. A routine Best of Chico winner!
SECOND Place: Sweet Fitness Kickboxing
1390 E. Ninth St., Ste. 170, 521-8495
THIRD Place: Orangetheory Fitness
260 Cohasset Road, Ste. 190, 345-9427

Hearing Aid Specialist

FIRST Place: Chico Hearing Aid Center
1600 Mangrove Ave., Ste. 160, 342-8132
Chico Hearing Aid Center has served the community’s auditory needs since 1949. Deanna McCoy has been there 19 years, the past 15 leading the team. The office specializes in digital and open fit hearing aids along with providing exams, hearing tests, device cleaning and repairs.
SECOND Place: Costco
2100 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy, 332-1742
THIRD Place: UpState Hearing Instruments – Chico
676 E. First Ave., Ste. 12, 893-4327

Local CBD Source

FIRST Place: S&S Organic Produce
& Natural Foods
1924 Mangrove Ave., 343-4930
In business 55 years, S&S has grown a reputation for quality fruits, vegetables, meats, groceries, vitamins and supplements. It’s no surprise, then, that Chicoans extend their trust to the store for CBD products and have chosen S&S as Chico’s best.
SECOND Place: Fresh Twisted Cafe
156 Eaton Road, Ste. E, 809-2489
THIRD Place: Serenity CBD
serenitycbd.com

Local Healthcare Provider

FIRST Place: Argyll Medical Group
100 Independence Circle, 899-0295
For 21 years, Dr. Roy Bishop and practitioners at Argyll Medical Group have delivered primary care to thousands in Chico and neighboring communities, along with addiction medicine and skin care. Argyll has been an early adopter of technology, such as electronic prescribing and telemedicine appointments, without compromising on treating patients as people.
SECOND Place: Mission Ranch Primary Care
114 Mission Ranch Blvd., Ste. 10, 894-5000
THIRD Place (tie): Enloe Medical Center
1531 Esplanade, 332-7300
THIRD Place (tie): Mangrove Medical Group
1040 Mangrove Ave., 345-0064

Martial Arts Studio

FIRST Place: Azad’s Martial Arts Center
313 Walnut St., Ste. 150, 892-2923
Grandmaster Farshad Azad is acclaimed for his hands as well as his heart. He is a 10th degree black belt in both Hapkido and Tai Chi; holds master rank in Jung SuWon and Kali; and created multiple martial arts forms. He’s also widely recognized for his philanthropy, a model he sets at his studio (see Best Volunteer in “Community” section).
SECOND Place: Haley’s Martial Arts Center
260 Cohasset Road, 895-3114
THIRD Place: Morning Sun Martial Arts
181 E. Ninth Ave., 342-5833

Massage Therapist

FIRST Place: Creating a Sustainable You
811 E. Fifth Ave., 521-7328
Candi Williamson and her massage therapy team take a holistic approach. “What I provide is the ability to assess and put the pieces together in order to see the bigger picture and provide a comprehensive solution,” Williamson says on the website of what she calls “A True Wellness Center.” From reiki to myofascial to trigger point and more, Creating a Sustainable You offers a wide range of treatment options.

SECOND Place: Wendy’s Massage Chico

1351 Mangrove Ave., 342-2222
THIRD Place: Babette Maisse
13 Williamsburg Lane, 321-5668

Pediatrician

FIRST Place: Chico Pediatrics
670 Rio Lindo Ave., Ste. 300, 343-8522
Dr. Ejaz Ahmed, last year’s winner, repeats as Best of Chico alongside his colleagues at Chico Pediatrics—Dr. Evbu Ogbeide and nurse practitioners Jill Berry, Rebecca Konkin, Monica Riccomini and Suzanne Wang. The practice, which marks its 45th anniversary this year, cares for newborns up to age 18.
SECOND Place: Dr. Patrick Tedford
643 W. East Ave., 342-0502
THIRD Place: Dr. Kathleen Sullivan
194 Cohasset Road, 893-2303

Personal Trainer

FIRST Place: Nate Carlascio
Basis Health & Performance, 117 E. 20th St., 636-0850
As owner of Basis, Nate Carlascio has a lot on his plate. But he hasn’t strayed from his roots: training clients. Carlascio’s dedication has earned him loyal devotees—and a second straight Best of Chico award.
SECOND Place: Elaina Zinko
OrangeTheory Fitness, 874 East Ave., 722-4000
THIRD Place: Nico Willis
OrangeTheory Fitness, 874 East Ave., 722-4000

Physical Therapy Office

FIRST Place: Coast Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine
1044 Mangrove Ave., 892-2966
Coast Physical Therapy adapted to COVID times with appointments by phone or on videoconference. Yet the clinic kept its firm foundation with owners Chad Layland and Kevin Vaughn, the physical therapists who opened the office in 1998 and remain its owner-operators.
SECOND Place: Enloe Rehabilitation Center Outpatient Therapy
340 W. East Ave., 332-6110
THIRD Place: Avail Physical Therapy
2555 Ceanothus, Ste. 150, 892-2810

Plastic Surgeon

FIRST Place: Dr. Emily C. Hartmann
1930 Notre Dame Blvd., 487 5020
Dr. Hartmann brings a wealth of training to her hometown practice, Beauty Eternal Medspa, where she offers surgical and nonsurgical procedures. Her expertise includes female-to-male and male-to-female top surgeries.
SECOND Place: Dr. Daniel Thomas
619 W. East Ave., 891-4391
THIRD Place: Dr. Kafele Hotari
80 Declaration Drive, 894-6832

Veterinarian

FIRST Place: Darling Veterinary Clinic
2520 Dominic Drive, 892-8910
As construction and renovations transform the area around his clinic, Dr. Gary Darling continues to look after the community’s animals as he’s done for years. His is a single veterinarian practice, open weekdays, for pets and large animals alike.
SECOND Place: Chico Animal Hospital
3015 Esplanade, 342-0518
THIRD Place: Chico Creek Animal Hospital
3449 Highway 32, 343-3516

Yoga Studio

FIRST Place: Hot Yoga Club Chico
1140 Mangrove Ave., Ste. B, 321-0611
Hot Yoga is a hit. The Chico club, which has a sister location in Granite Bay, draws rave reviews from practitioners for its amenities, classes and, most importantly, instructors.
SECOND Place: In Motion Fitness
1293 E. First Ave., 343-5678
THIRD Place: Yoga Center of Chico
250 Vallombrosa Ave., Ste. 150, 342-0100

Click here for more Best of Chico 2022.