…But adapted and stayed here because of the Gringo Gazette!
BY DAVID WALKER
“I moved here permanently because of an article in the Gringo Gazette!”
Dr. Lana Wilder grew up in Tel Aviv, Israel, and subsequently moved with her parents and siblings to California. Her father is a professor of theoretical physics at Stanford University (still teaching at the age of 83!). After much travel, Lana settled with her husband, Chris Ford, in Phoenix, Arizona. It was there that Dr. Wilder completed a doctorate and residency training in Neuropsychology. She had a private practice in Arizona and was a member of the medical staff of Honor Health hospitals in Phoenix and Encompass rehabilitation hospital in Scottsdale, for which she also served as Director of Neuropsychology. In these varied capacities, Dr Wilder had extensive experience in neuropsychological assessment, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, dementia, and others. She is also licensed in British Columbia, and is currently with West Coast Psychological Services, headquartered in Vancouver. With them, she provides online forensic and independent medical exams, assessments, and interpretive recommendations. She also serves (remotely) as the medical director of a neurorehabilitation program in Phoenix which specializes in helping individuals with brain and spinal cord injuries return to work. In all the above, Dr. Wilder also works with family members of these individuals needing this specialized care.
So why is she now living and working in Cabo? The short answer? An article in the Gringo Gazette!
In addition to teaching responsibilities, Lana, as a health care professional, was experiencing the dreaded Covid burnout from horrendous hours of stressful work at the hospitals. She and her husband had bought a small place in Todos Santos, primarily for stress-free getaways. They loved the region but decided to move to a home in Cabo. When she was having some difficulty adjusting to the transition, another trusted colleague of Lana’s told her to: “Get back to work. It is your love and quite frankly will be the best therapy for the Covid burn out you have experienced.” With the advice and input of a local physician (Dr. Daniel Velazquez) and his neuropsychologist wife, Gaby Mechaca, she became licensed in Mexico and started a small practice at Healthy Cabo clinic on the tourist corridor in San Lucas.
Last year, the Gringo Gazette published an article on Dr. Mauricio Mercado, who, along with two other colleagues, Neurologist Dr. Francisco Mena Barranco and Neurosurgeon Dr. Karl Pedraza, were opening Canas, the Center for Neurological Care and Geriatric Care here in Cabo San Lucas.
Lana read the article. It seemed too good to be true!
Lana, through the Gazette, contacted the Director of Canas, Dr. Pedroza and the rest is history. Dr. Wilder is now part of the multidisciplinary team of doctors who provide specialized care for the elderly and other neurological patients in the Los Cabos area. This new clinic is patterned after their successful one in La Paz.
Lana and her husband Chris, (who works remotely for law firms in Oregon and California) decided then that they would live permanently in their home in Cabo Bello. Their six children and 11 grandkids were scattered throughout the United States, so, they thought, why not?
Dr. Wilder says that when she went back to practice in her area of expertise, everything changed for her. “Here I am in this beautiful region, getting to practice in my field with an amazing team of multidisciplinary professionals. Like other newcomers with whom I chat, we are so grateful we found employment here that matches our skill set while living in this beautiful part of Mexico.”
This past year has been busy, both learning Spanish more fluently, and establishing her practice with the team at the Canas Clinic. Dr. Mercado adds: “Obviously, Dr. Wilder’s education and experience of many years, and her English-speaking ability has added much value to the clinic. Especially so with our American and Canadian clients. It has been a perfect fit and a win for everyone in this community.”
But the main reason Lana loves it here? “It is one of the best communities I have experienced. So many of us have either moved here from the US or Canada, or professionals from the mainland of Mexico, that it becomes essential to establish healthy friendships with one another as well as with other locals. That is the magic of living in Los Cabos. My clients, the beautiful environment, and the joy of deepening friendships would be hard to match anywhere in the world.”
As a former Karate instructor, and with her former surfer husband, they both have rediscovered the joys of living well. Lana volunteers once a week using her health-care skills in free local spay and neuter clinics run by veterinarian Dr. Erickson Bacarra and his team. She also participates in the pro bono work that the team at Canas does in the surrounding communities.
“I love collaborating with the multidisciplinary team of experts at Canas on all things aging and neurology. It is the best of all worlds to live in such a beautiful paradise and to give back from all my skills and experience as a practicing neuropsychologist.
David Walker lives in San Jose del Cabo and Vancouver, British Columbia. David posts daily on Instagram at: #poemsandphotosbydw
