Introducing the Boston Wellness Expert Panel

Why am I always hungry? Do I really need cardio? How bad is it to skip my yearly physical?

We get it. Health and wellness can be complicated, and you probably have a question or two. That’s why we’ve put together a panel of local experts who are here to solve your health quandaries, big and small.

Every month, each of our four experts (more on them below) will answer one of your questions, on topics ranging from food and fitness to medical care and mindfulness. Don’t hold back—you can send any and all questions to jducharme@bostonmagazine.com.

And now, without further ado, meet your Boston Wellness experts:

Prianka Chawla. / Photo Provided

PRIANKA CHAWLA

Title: Primary care physician at Tufts Medical Center

Specialties: Diabetes, women’s health, cardiovascular disease, weight management, anxiety and depression, chronic pain

Bio: Prianka Chawla is a practicing physician and assistant professor at Tufts Medical Center, within the Division of Internal Medicine and Adult Primary Care. She treats patients with diverse needs, including chronic disease prevention and management, weight maintenance, and mental health issues. She’s also part of in-hospital patient service and is heavily involved in teaching medical students and residents. 

Dr. Chawla received her B.A. in neuroscience from Wellesley College and her M.D. from Drexel University College of Medicine. She returned to Boston, her hometown, to complete her residency at Tufts Medical Center. She loves traveling, New England sports teams, exercise classes ranging from barre to boxing, and creating healthy meals with her husband and dog.

Parker Cote. / Photo Provided

PARKER COTE

Title: Personal trainer and founder of Parker Cote Elite Fitness

Specialties: Fat loss, muscle building and development, abdominal training, body transformation

Bio: As a fitness model, Parker has appeared on 24 magazine covers across the globe. He has also been featured in more than 250 national and international magazines including Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, GQ, Cosmopolitan, ESPN, and Maxim, and on the Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda. He is a writer and fitness expert for Men’s Fitness, and has written dozens of articles for major fitness publications worldwide.

He is passionate about teaching clients how to make fitness a fun part of their lives. His goal as a trainer is to help people experience the benefits of a fit and healthy lifestyle while maintaining balance in all aspects of life. He has certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the International Sports Sciences Association.

Rebecca Pacheco. / Photo Provided

REBECCA PACHECO

Title: Yoga and meditation teacher, writer, and speaker

Specialties: Making yoga tradition accessible in and applicable to real life, yoga for athletes, meditation and mental performance

Bio: Rebecca Pacheco is the author of Do Your Om Thing, an award-winning yoga and meditation teacher with more than 20 years of experience, an inspiring speaker, and creator of OmGal.com. She’s also the creator of the Runner’s World Yoga for Runners DVD, as well as With Yoga from Women’s Health. She has been featured by NPR, the BBC, Publisher’s Weekly, Huffington Post, Yoga Journal, the Boston Globe, and more. She is the only person to have taught yoga at all three iconic Boston sports venues: Fenway Park, the Boston Garden, and Gillette Stadium. You can connect with her on social media @omgal.

Matt Priven / Photo Provided

MATT PRIVEN

Title: Registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and founder of Oceanside Nutrition

Specialties: Digestive health and the gut microbiome, making sustainable behavior changes, building healthy food environments, mindful and intuitive eating, chronic disease prevention, healthy cooking 

Bio: As an RDN, Matt is an expert in the areas of food and nutrition. He holds a M.S. in nutrition and health promotion. Passionate about research, he is a published author in multiple scientific journals, including the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Having trained and worked at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Matt helped thousands of individuals before opening a private practice. At Oceanside Nutrition, Matt provides individual nutrition counseling in Boston and Newburyport for a variety of health concerns.

Got a question for Prianka, Parker, Rebecca, or Matt? Send it to jducharme@bostonmagazine.com.