Meet Our Team

Aaron Stutz

Dr. Aaron Stutz, MD FAAEM

 

Aaron is a board-certified emergency physician who has been working independently in emergency departments in California and Nevada since 2013. In 2014 he co-founded Mountain Medics Inc., which subsequently grew into the nation’s most successful wildland firefighting medicine and ambulance service. Mountain Medics’ current clients include the US Forest Service, California Department of Fire, Oregon Department of Fire, and Pacific Gas and Electric.

Aaron has a special interest in emerging pain and depression treatments and has been using ketamine in emergency department settings for 10 years. Aaron will serve as the chief executive officer in this new clinic endeavor, as well as the primary medical officer responsible for creating medical protocols and for staffing the clinic.

CodySims

Cody Sims, MS, PA-C

 

Cody Sims is a seasoned Physician Assistant with a specialization in emergency medicine, bringing over a decade of experience to his practice since 2010.
His career has taken him on a diverse journey through various healthcare settings, from the high-intensity environment of trauma surgery in New York City to the tranquility of remote community hospitals and bustling metro ERs across California.

A recognized National Geographic Explorer, Cody’s humanitarian spirit led him to provide medical care to the Meakambut tribal natives in the isolated Karawari Sepik River Basin of Papua New Guinea, an experience showcased in the documentary “Last of the Cave People”.

Before embarking on his PA career in New York City, Cody served as an EMT paramedic in underserved areas of the Bronx since 2001, laying a foundation of compassionate care and community service.

As a co-founder of Kensho Well-being in 2020, Cody is committed to advancing the field of early disease prevention through an evidence-based approach known as Medicine 3.0, pioneered by Dr. Peter Attia. This innovative model focuses on lifestyle optimization and proactive disease detection, demonstrating the potential to intercept and mitigate life-threatening and chronic conditions decades before they manifest.

Beyond his medical endeavors, Cody is an accomplished international rock-climbing guide with over two decades of experience, leading expeditions in diverse locations including Alaska, The Alps, Mexico, and across the United States.

With a holistic and empathetic approach to healthcare and wellness, Cody believes in the intrinsic value of each individual’s contribution to the collective well-being of society. He remains dedicated to tackling challenging issues with compassion and resilience, recognizing the unique role each person plays in fostering a community of abundance and support.

Meet Cody

Luke Rodarte,  Associate Director of Clinical Operations

 

A Truckee, CA native, Luke holds a B.S. in Exercise Science and was an NCAA Division I athlete in both swimming and alpine ski racing. With years of experience training and competing at the highest level, he brings a deep understanding of how the body responds to stress, recovery, and intentional movement. Luke’s foundation in nutritional biochemistry and physiology comes from both undergraduate and professional research experience. Inspired by renowned longevity expert Dr. Peter Attia, he approaches medicine through the lens of prevention, performance, and long-term health. Luke is also a NASM-certified personal trainer and fitness instructor. Outside of the clinic, you’ll find him skiing, swimming in alpine lakes, or exploring new zones throughout the Tahoe Basin.

Barbara Chandler

Barbara Chandler, LMFT, KAP, Life Coach

 

Barbara is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and certified Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapist. She has also completed MDMA training through MAPS. She takes an integrative approach by combining psychological and transpersonal experiences with spiritual growth and self-discovery. Her methods are grounded in mindfulness and focused on supporting inner healing and balance.

Barbara mentors other practitioners in the psychedelic field and she hosts several support circles to assist people with prep and integration. She has been a key speaker several times with Sierra Psychedelic Society, and she has done multiple interviews, speaking about the healing potential of psychedelic medicines.  When she is not working with clients, she can be found at home, in Reno, with her family and pets. She enjoys reading, meditation, and Earthing, and she is a big Grateful Dead fan.

Learn more about Barbara Chandler at bchandlercounseling.com

Meet Barbara

Dr. Charles I. Flores, LPCC, LAADC-S, MAC

 

Dr. Charles Flores LPCC, LAADC-S is a California licensed and nationally certified psychotherapist, and a state and internationally certified advanced drug and alcohol counselor who has practiced in multiple settings in the field of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders for over 25 years. He has directed several multi-million dollar substance abuse and mental health treatment programs in the Bay Area. He currently provides ketamine assisted integration psychotherapy for a clinic in Northern California.

He is the Psychedelics and Addictions Fellow for the CIIS Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research. He is also professor of Chemical Dependency Studies at California State University, East Bay and has taught psychology at John F. Kennedy University and several other universities for the past 15 years. Dr. Flores is a Board Director of the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals, where he serves on the Executive and Legislative Committees.

Dr. Flores obtained his BA from Vassar College in International Studies and Philosophy, his MS in Counseling Psychology at Fordham University, and gained additional training and certifications in Family Counseling in Iona College, the Ackerman Institute, Gestalt Associates, Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science, Sophia University, and his Ph.D. at the California Institute of Integral Studies in multicultural, humanistic, and spiritual psychology. He has published and presented on the topic of Integral Psychology and somatic psychology in conferences in the US, Europe, and India.

Originally hailing from the South Bronx, Dr. Flores has had a long-standing passion for harm-reduction Recovery from substance mis-use, and the use of technology and meditation and other spiritual practice to support individual and societal change. He is excited about the prospects for the use of psychedelic therapies for mental health and recovery in this “psychedelic renaissance”, and directing these therapies to the underserved and traumatized populations that most need them.

Learn more about Dr. Flores at www.vitalpuma.com

Ashley Ley

 

Ashley was born and raised in San Francisco and spent her summers escaping to the mountains in Truckee, CA. Falling in love with the area, Ashley pursued her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno graduating in 2020. Ashley worked in orthopedics for several years, dealing with patients suffering from various conditions from acute injuries to chronic pain. Observing the benefits of patients who were proactive in prioritizing their health, she was inspired to delve deeper into preventative and functional medicine. Ashley also works as a certified barre instructor and is committed to empowering individuals to take control of their health and well-being. When not working, Ashley enjoys adventuring with her dog from paddleboarding to snowshoeing or checking out the local events and concerts in town.

Simon Whitton, Ph.D. 

 

Dr. Simon Andrew Whitton attained his Ph.D. in Integrative Neuroscience from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). He applies an integrative approach encompassing behavioral, experimental, and neuroimaging methods to optimize client assessment and treatment outcomes within the Nevada and California wellness industry.

He has numerous first author publications in prestigious scientific journals such as Neuropsychologia, Journal of Experimental Research: General, and Psychological Research. Throughout his Ph.D., Simon contributed significantly to advancing our understanding of neural plasticity, exploring the functional adaptability of the human brain with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and EEG. Currently affiliated with the Plasticity lab at UNR, his work underscores the synergy between neuroscience and psychotherapy, providing clients and clinicians with theory-driven insights for informed interventions. Simon emphasizes the crucial role of cognitive function and flexibility as indispensable tools for daily life.

At Kensho, he measures and trains clients’ cognitive function and offers individualized treatment plans based on integrated EEG measurements.

About Us

Kensho Well-being was created by a medical group of mountain enthusiasts, professional athletes, and nomadic taste-makers who believe personalized medicine is the way forward. We are an independent medical group that offers personalized intake, monitoring, bedside care, lab draws, IV vitamin infusion, and medication management at our Truckee, California location. Our office has a comfortable lounge, light snacks and drinks, and a curated line of wellness products for sale. We also have two private state-of-the-art treatment rooms furnished with T.V.’s and luxury medical chairs, in case privacy and tranquility are paramount for your treatment.

What is Kensho?

Kenshō translates roughly to “seeing one’s true nature” in the Zen tradition. Kenshō is an initial insight or awakening; it is to be followed by further training to deepen this insight, and learn to express it in daily life.

At Kensho, we help initiate personal transformation in our customers. We believe in the inextricable duality of mind and body, that physical and mental well-being are both essential to happiness.

We’re here to help set you on your path to well-being.

A Customized Approach To Wellbeing

Kensho IV Lounge strives to provide customized health programs for our clients. We believe taking the time to listen to each individual’s needs is as important as taking time to inform.

We’ll work with you to determine the ideal IV hydration, vitamin supplementation, longevity, weight loss, and/or performance protocol to custom tailor it for your current health situation.

First, we conduct a detailed medical evaluation anchored by a detailed lab test to get an accurate baseline. Once we have the results, we will tailor the Medical Club experience specifically to your needs and goals.

Our Philosophy

“My medical practice is centered on discovering the personalized factors that contribute to an optimized result for each of my patients. To me, the key is to look at the whole picture by taking into account each patient’s biological, nutritional, aerobic quotient, genetic predisposition, lifestyle realities, physiological, and psychological components in order to provide the best outcomes.”

Cody Sims, MS, PA-C

“I believe the patient's perspective is critical in a modern healthcare relationship. A physician may feel he is doing everything right and even may see the patient physically benefiting from the therapy—but if the patient doesn’t agree, the treatment is not entirely successful. It's the patient's belief in the therapy that is most important. Patient autonomy is one of the highest ethical principles a doctor should adhere to. However, I also believe in the power of evidence-based medicine and statistics to logically indicate which therapies best treat each patient. I base my recommendations on those principles. At Well Being IV Lounge our team is committed to making sure each patient is on the right path.”

Dr. Aaron Stutz, MD FAAEM

“Every patient deserves my time and I center each evaluation around a comprehensive intake method to determine each person’s underlying health goals, motivators, and hurdles, I can provide recommendations for custom testing and broad treatment plans that are based on evidence based medicine, cutting edge science and novel therapeutics. My goal is to provide patients with the most current medical knowledge and scientific insight to drive integrated plans and actions in order to optimize individual health.”

Cody Sims, MS, PA-C

Polaris Insight Center

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All of our staff are trained through Polaris Insight Center.