Arche Wellness | Meet Our Staff

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Executive Director

Erin McClelland has over 17 years of experience in the addiction field as a counselor, program director, researcher and process improvement specialist. She started her career researching addiction at the University of Pittsburgh Alcohol and Smoking Research Laboratory under Dr. Michael Sayette where she attained her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1997. Her research continued at St. Francis Medical Center examining substance abuse wrap around services available to opiate dependent patients at local methadone clinics. She then attained her Master’s of Science in Psychology at Chatham University in 2002. Her clinical experience has consisted of working with addiction and mental health issues in methadone maintenance programs, outpatient drug-free programs, specialized services for women, children and families, prevention program development and implementation and now.

In 2002, Mrs. McClelland began a private practice called Arche, in which she developed a community based prevention program designed to reach parents and educators through school and community seminars and home sessions. She also began developing a more comprehensive treatment approach that included diet and exercise as a critical component of addiction recovery. As former ballerina, a certified personal trainer and a certified lifestyle and weight management consultant, she believes incorporating healthy diet and exercise are paramount to attaining a true, maintainable recovery.

Erin was hired as the Practice Improvement Collaborative Manager at the Institute of Research Education and Training in Addiction (IRETA) in 2003. In her time at IRETA, she was trained by the Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative (PRHI) under the instruction of former Treasury Secretary Paul H. O’Neill to implement the Toyota Production System in healthcare settings in order to reduce waste and errors and improve performance. This training consisted of the case method training approach of Harvard Business School (HBS) and TPS case studies created by HBS professor Steven Spear, who wrote the first article interpreting TPS for implementation in the U.S.

Erin returned to her private practice in early 2006 to create an outpatient treatment program that treats addiction like a chronic disease as opposed to the acute, episodic treatment model that currently existis in Pennsylvania. Inspired by treatment programs throughout the midwest and Western United States, Russia, Israel and Canada and the work of Linus Pauling, Abram Hoffer, Joan Matthews Larson, Chris Prentiss and Yakov Marshak, she began the process to create Arche Wellness, the first program of its kind licensed by the PA Department of Health.

Erin's experience and unique education in process improvement strategies have helped to make Arche Wellness a state-of-the art learning organization dedicated to achieving perfect patient care and providing an ongoing, long-term treatment model for addiction treatment and solving it at the root cause.

Medical Director

Ralph A. Miranda M.D. is a graduate of Saint Vincent College and Penn State's Hershey School of Medicine and has twice been certified by the American Board of Family Practice.

Dr. Miranda has been a member of the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) since 1981. In 1992 he was elected Fellow of ACAM. He has served on ACAM's board of directors, as program chairman, advisor to the board and as President. He is past chairman and currently on the teaching faculty of the ACAM workshops on EDTA chelation therapy and metal toxicity. He also teaches doctors how to integrate IV therapies into clinical practice. Dr. Miranda has been a diplomat of the American Board of Chelation Therapy and has demonstrated advanced proficiency in chelation treatments. He is past president of the American Preventive Medical Association and served on the Board of Trustees of Capitol University of Integrative Medicine in Washington, DC.

Dr. Miranda is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in integrative medicine and EDTA Chelation Therapy. He has been an invited speaker throughout the United States and several foreign countries including Brazil, Mexico, Italy and Austria.

(Dr. Miranda does not perform chelation treatment at Arche Wellness. Chelation treatment is not used in the Arche Wellness addiction treatment methodology.)

Counselor

Kristen Wickerham began her studies at Duquesne University. She went on to receive her master’s degree in community counseling, specializing in addiction treatment. Kristen has several years of experience in the field as an individual, as well as a family counselor. With great compassion, and a holistic approach to therapy, she thrives to help individuals make life long changes.

Kristen is a former ballerina, and spent several years performing with the Duquesne University Tamburitzans. She currently stays active in exercise and dance, and believes that diet and exercise is the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Office Manager

Nikki Golembiewski obtained her bachelor’s degree in Marketing/Management with a minor in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University. Nikki has gained experience in her field of study while doing her internship with a retail corporation and has become interested in pursuing further education in healthcare. She has joined Arche Wellness to use her education and familiarity while gaining knowledge of this particular industry.

Nikki participates in many activities on her own to fuel and support her health. She enjoys the behind the scenes organization of the company as well as taking a particular interest in the overall wellness of others.

Registered Nurse

Sandy is a registered nurse with over 30 years of hospital nursing experience. Sandy spent most of her career in the intensive care unit of Citizen's General Hospital. She joined Arche Wellness in June of 2006 and was instrumental in development of the program's medical model. She has extensive IV team experience and also serves as the nutritional and dietary consultant to Arche Wellness patients.