Marissa Fernandez Kiemele, MD, is a board-certified physician in Family Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine who has been in practice for over 25 years. Marissa completed her medical school at University of Alberta, Canada and her residency with University of Ottawa, Canada. Besides Canada and the US, her medical work has taken her to South America, South Africa, Central America, and the Caribbean. Her focus is on whole-person wellbeing – body, mind, soul – through the integration of modern medicine and contemplative wisdom traditions. She is the co-creator of “AIM to Live Well”. Through the integration of Lifestyle and Family Medicine practices, she has guided patients individually and as groups in the prevention and treatment of various chronic medical conditions.

Marissa believes that wellbeing is both an individual and collective responsibility. She promotes collaborative and integrative relationships between individuals and their physicians, other health and wellness providers and their communities and families to support each person’s unique journey toward greater wellbeing. Along with her medical practice, Marissa also shares her passion for whole-person wellbeing as a speaker and retreat and workshop facilitator in various community groups throughout North America and beyond.

She has trained in various Culinary programs, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Mindful Self Compassion. Marissa’s interests include watercolor painting, playing Native American-style flute and drum, organic edible gardening, visiting organic farms and farmers’ markets across the globe, and physical activities that allow her to connect with nature.  She is currently exploring embodied wellbeing and expressive arts.

John Kiemele, PhD, is a Wellbeing Educator, Spiritual Guide, and Listening Coach who has spent the past 30-plus years guiding individuals and groups across North America and internationally, assisting them to discover and deepen life-giving connections and wellbeing practices. John is co-creator and facilitator of “AIM to Live Well.” 

Recognizing how intentional pausing and deep listening unlocks life, John strives to engage the whole person – body, mind, soul – in the lifelong process of living well.  As an AIM team member, he creates listening spaces, facilitates retreats and various wellbeing workshops and courses, consults with retreat centers and other non-profit groups, helps train spiritual guides/deep listeners, and teaches as an adjunct graduate professor. John is Founder and Director Emeritus of Selah Center, a dispersed community of contemplative companions in the greater Seattle area.  He is also a retired clergy having served congregations across the US and Canada.

John earned a PhD in educational studies and spirituality, and completed certificates in Mindful Self-Compassion, Wellness Coaching, Spiritual Direction, Mindfulness, and the Enneagram Spectrum.  John’s interests include baking, writing poetry, walking labyrinths, traveling, visiting cathedrals and monasteries, connecting with nature, watercolor painting, playing Native American-style flute and drum, attending live theater, and rummaging through antique shops and used bookstores.