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Menopause: A Journey to Self Realization and

Awareness
Photos by Lisa K. Miller

As a young girl of 17, Dr. Sudabeh Moein started an adventure into to give back as a volunteer clinical instructor to the UCLA medical
her future 7664 miles away. Born and raised in Iran; her two loving students in their training in Women’s health.
parents served as role models as city council members for their Continuing to give back to her profession, as an Adjunct Clinical
community. They were advocates of service, the pursuit of higher Professor, she shares her wealth of knowledge with medical stu-
education, and always encouraged Dr. Moein to follow her dream to dent at Touro School of Osteopathic Medicine, and Physician As-
make a difference in the world. sistants from Stanford Medical Center by allowing them to precept
with her in her private practice.
Due to the untimely adverse political climate in her homeland and
strained relations with the west for traveling, Dr. Moein held fast to Dr. Moein is passionate about empowering patients with health
her goal of seeking higher education in the US where her sister Dr. information and has given over 40 lectures to the women of San
Susan Moein was already studying. Over the next two years of her Diego. This is in addition to her full time private practice of Wom-
migration from Iran, Dr. Moein led an interesting journey out of Iran en’s Integrative Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (WICOG)
through Pakistan, Portugal, Spain and finally the US. Following her located in Poway. She is a staff physician at Pomerado Hospital
uncle’s example, Dr. Moein wanted to combine her passion for sci- and a consultant physician working to help develop a comprehen-
ence and inclination towards surgery while always recognizing the sive Women’s Health program at the Jean McLaughlin Women’s
importance of women’s rights. Center next to the Hospital.

When you think about finding the perfect doctor there
are certain qualities that most of us look for during the
selection process. Of course, the first item on our list is
qualifications, but there are many more characteristics
that lead people to decide on who they will go to for their
healthcare needs. After meeting and speaking with Dr.
Moein it is easy to see why so many women have cho-
sen Dr. Moein. Aside from her impeccable educational
training the characteristic that stands out most is her
kindness. Dr. Moein is the type of doctor who believes
that there is nothing more important than listening to her
patients. With a practice both in Obstetrics and Gynecol-
22 ogy her patient’s are women of varied ages. She is not
only responsible for bringing new lives into the world,
but also helping women deal with issues of aging and
hormonal changes.

You can be certain that each patient gets the neces-
sary time and attention. Dr. Moein uses an Integrative
Medicine approach to treating her patients, she adds, “In-
tegrative medicine has to happen, particularly for women.
True healing occurs when we address all three elements,
mind, body and soul. When there is a balance a woman
finds her highest self.”

Several years ago Dr. Moein realized that her patients,
especially in their forties were coming to her confused
and upset with how they were feeling and what limited
options were available to them. Perimenopausal women
were experiencing serious side effects of hormone
fluctuation, yet most were frightened at the prospect of
beginning a regimen of synthetic hormone therapy. They
needed answers and Dr. Moein knew there had to be a
way to help her patients. She attended various confer-
ences and did extensive research on the amazing chang-
While working diligently to assimilate into the American culture and es achieved through the use of bio-identical hormone therapy.
perfecting her English, Dr. Moein took her sister’s suggestion and
applied, was accepted, and given a scholarship to UCLA. Never When a patient comes to see Dr. Moein with complaints of being
one to take the easy route, Dr. Moein chose Microbiology and tired all the time, lost interest in sex, vaginal dryness , hot flashes,
Molecular Genetics as her major which prepared her for medical anxiety, mood changes, sleep disturbances, and memory loss; Dr.
school. With the advancement of her medical studies she real- Moein understands that there are hormonal issues at play. She will
ized that Obstetrics and Gynecology was her “true calling”. After listen to their list of complaints and work towards helping to relieve
finishing her specialty training at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and the symptoms that are making life so unpleasant. Often the answer
receiving an award for the “Best Resident Surgeons”, she continues is to start Bio-Identical hormones. continued on page 24
November/December 2010