We love it when one of our readers spontaneously recommends a great company. Thanks to Lois for referring Ilham Bernichi Claudet from Swiss Med Office to us. We caught up with Ilham and asked her to tell us more about her company and herself.
When and why did you start Swiss Med Office?
In all areas, everyone wants the best. This is even more true when it comes to health, and when we and our loved ones are sick. But how do you know if a doctor or surgeon is good? Unless we have a health specialist in our environment, we have no way of knowing the professional reputation of a practitioner.
Hence the importance of having a neutral and independent health confidant at his side, who guides us in our choices.
What is behind the name?
Swiss: because we only work with Swiss partners to ensure the quality of our services.
Med: for medical.
Office: for the family office side, since we work as a medical concierge or PA.
What is your background: nationality, education, why Geneva?
I was born in Casablanca and spent the last 30 years of my life in French-speaking Switzerland (and am also a Swiss national), first in Geneva where I obtained my international diploma as a travel specialist (IATA) in 1993, while I studied experimental sciences and did my final internship at Rhône Poulenc Pharma, then in Morges. So I spent about ten years in travel, at a time when the Concorde was all the rage, particularly as a sales manager and agency manager in a United Nations office.
I am very fortunate to have been invited to visit and test palaces or the Business Class of the best airlines; very rewarding experiences. I have been around the world three times, met unforgettable people and discovered unique sites. Travelling forges the mind and nourishes the soul, which is why I feel at home everywhere and adapt quickly. As some would say, I am a citizen of the world!
After Swissair's grounding and the arrival of the Internet, travel agencies were confronted with a new business model dictated by low-costs. They have begun to charge for administrative and advisory fees in the absence of the commissions historically granted by airlines. I realized then how valuable the quality of neutral professional advice was.
Thanks to these long years of experience in the field, rich in human contact, I have built an important business network, which has allowed me to access the health sector. A position was created for me at the end of 2007 in the largest group of private clinics in French-speaking Switzerland and the second largest in Switzerland.
As part of my duties, my role has been to advise and support VIP patients, both Swiss and foreign. In order to meet their needs in terms of medical and surgical treatment, often in emergencies. I have made it my responsibility to facilitate their access to care by offering them personalized care, while guaranteeing them total confidentiality and security.
The next step was obvious for me and in 2017, I founded Swiss Med Office.
A local spa and beauty salon, with a long-standing reputation for providing high quality treatments using 100% natural products and state-of-the-art equipment and technology, is offering our readers a 30% discount on their first visit to their newest spa location. Located in Nyon, Institut Above The Sky provides clients with therapeutic massages and “high-tech” beauty treatments either at their own day spa or in the comfort of your own home.
Specialties
Slimming, anti-aging, laser hair removal and holistic Asian, oriental treatments and pair package treatments are their particular specialities of the center with clients having the option to choose from sugaring, laser, Hifu, lipocativation, radiofrequency, ultrasound, cryolipolysis or world massages and rituel treatments.
Training for beauticians and therapists and collaboration with top experts
In addition to servicing the needs of its clients, the institute is also gaining a reputation in the area for its training services, which allow local beauticians and therapists to learn new treatments which they can then offer to their own clients.
Owner Sophie Jing Su told knowitall.ch, “Originally from China, I am passionate about caring for others, to bring them the best treatments using the most natural products. However, it doesn’t stop there. I think it’s really important to share my knowledge with other health and beauty specialists so that as many people as possible can benefit from our services."
Many therapists organise workshop and consultation at our spa to create a win-win relationship. We strongly propose you to check our agenda of free or paid workshops."
By Laraba Friedman, Balanced Healing
As I celebrated the New Year with my family, I asked each one of them what they would like to give back – the answers were:
- to continue to raise money for a friend’s education in Africa
- to lower personal plastic consumption
- to be vegan 2 x week (at least)
- to continue eradicating waste at school through a special committee
- and to befriend an older person in the community.
I was proud. As for me, I want to continue on my minimization of plastics and to create a pace where I am able to enjoy the moments without wishing them away. And… because of who I am, I want to continue my adventure to a healthier gut!
Where are you with your thoughts for 2019?
Want to join me on the path of a healthier gut (and mind)? If so, I invite you to participate in one of my Healthy GUT….Healthy YOU, 4 week workshops starting 17 January.
This course is a great way to get to know your body (and its limits) and to take note of what is over ‘committing’ in the physical and emotional sense.
I recommend people do my workshop twice a year, as it gets you back to basics and thinking about a healthier way of living. If you have already done one course then why not try it again? You do have the tools but from personal experience, it’s much easier to do it with others.
An orthopaedic and trauma surgeon, specialising in the treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis, fractures, as well as ligamentary lesions of the knee has recently been recommended to knowitall.ch. Dr. John McManus holds the post of consultant surgeon and joint head of the department of orthopaedic and trauma surgery at the Nyon Hospital (Groupement Hospitalier de l'Ouest Lémanique - GHOL) since June this year.
Dr. McManus completed his undergraduate studies at Queen’s University Belfast, in the United Kingdom, obtaining his medical degree in 2007, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Human Anatomy with first class honours, followed by a Masters in Applied Biomechanics at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
Following two years as a junior doctor at the university hospitals in Belfast, Dr. McManus began his training in orthopaedics and trauma surgery at CHUV — Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois in 2009, caring for patients with traumatic and degenerative conditions of the musculoskeletal system.
After two years as chief resident at the Riviera Chablais Hospital, with a large experience in general orthopaedics and trauma surgery, he returned to CHUV where he specialised in the care of patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis, as well as complications after prosthetic surgery. He also has specialised training for the care of patients with ligamentary or meniscal lesions of the knee. He also has a wide experience in general orthopaedic and trauma surgery.
Christiane Raza Romana's Pilates studio in Morges
What exactly is Pilates?
Joseph Pilates (JP, 1883-1967) was a German physical trainer and invented the "Contrologie" known as Pilates: a method that brings together hundreds of movements using gentle and precise physical exercises that require a total concentration of "body and mind". Pilates is performed on the ground, mat, or on machines by systematically engaging the deep muscles of the abdominal strap "powerhouse" in order to stretch and simultaneously tone the whole body. This is why this discipline (both authentic and classical types) is practiced without music. The program will gently reshape and rebalance the body, and bring wellbeing through self-centering in less than one hour.
This discipline can be practiced from age 16 for as long as you are able, and at any level. Athletic or not, a clear improvement in physical performance and a gain of flexibility will be visible and felt.
JP's priority was to keep your body in shape and improve your daily life through individual programs. He worked tirelessly all his life to perfect his movements and invent his own machines. Romana Kryzanowska, one of his pupils, managed to pass on this pure teaching by opening the training school "Romana's Pilates" around the world.
Christiane Razakarivony, Christiane Raza Romana's Pilates, has been athletic since a child, and graduated as a fitness instructor from "Les Mills" in 1999. She decided to join Romana's Pilates in 2013 and is certified to teach. She boasts, "I am nearly 47 but my body has regained its flexibility of when I was a teenager!". She remains loyal to the CPE (Continuing Pilates Education), which encourages instructors to deepen what they have learned over 6 and 24 months (depending on their availability and location) as well as attend an annual conference that helps to better understand all aspects and focus of what JP has put a lifetime, and how to teach the same exercises differently on different bodies: the result should be the same — a healthy mind in a healthy body. She believes that this is a sport that exceeds all other sports she's tried (judo, swimming, gymnastics, dance, tennis, karate, triathlon).
