Open Source Wellness is a Community and a "Behavioral Pharmacy" where four basic practices underlying physical and psychological health are facilitated.
MOVE

NOURISH

CONNECT

BE

Our Story
Dr. Elizabeth Markle, Cofounder and Executive Director
As a primary care health psychologist, for years it was my job to help physicians be more effective in helping their patients. I spoke with thousands of doctors and patients about how to translate diagnoses and health information into actionable, effective steps towards health and wellbeing.
After doing this work for a number of years, I had a realization: Doctors are constantly making the same set of “behavioral prescriptions,” like “Exercise more,” or “Eat healthier,” or “Reduce your stress.” Unfortunately, they give these instructions, and then say something like, “Well, good luck with that. I’ll see you in 6 months!”
Imagine a doctor saying, “You’re going to need antibiotics (or insulin). Good luck finding that! I’ll see you in 6 months!” It would be absurd to give a prescription but have no pharmacy, no delivery system. Yet this is exactly what our patients needing to make health behavior changes (like exercise, nutrition, or stress) face: a prescription that no pharmacy anywhere can fill.
Yes, there is a boutique health and wellness system, and those with privilege can shop at Whole Foods, hire health coaches, and join gyms. But for those individuals and families who need it most, who struggle with poverty, unsafe environments, and upstream drivers of chronic disease, - there is no affordable, accessible, and culturally relevant delivery system for the behavioral medicine that they need, and as an entire society we pay the price.
Ben and I designed Open Source Wellness to fill the gaping hole between a doctor’s “behavioral prescription” and the actual experiential fulfillment of that prescription. We are happy when we see people moving their bodies together, eating well together, learning together, managing stress together, - and developing the skill, power, and agency within their communities to collectively generate health and wellbeing.
Thanks for being a part of our work, and please don’t hesitate to reach out. I love connecting with patients, providers, and others in the clinical and public health fields, and believe that together we can create a system that works for everyone.
Models of Delivery
Operating in conjunction with Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Hayward Wellness Center, Alameda Health System, and All-In Alameda County
Open to the public at
221 Oak St in partnership with Prevention Institute
Operating in partnership with Satellite Affordable Housing Authority (SAHA)
our TEAM
Elizabeth Markle, Ph.D.
Co-Founder,
Executive Director
[email protected]ourceWellness.org
Professor and Chair,
California Institute of Integral Studies
Speaker, Consultant
Ferocious pursuer of dreams.

Co-Founder,
Director of Operations
Researcher, Speaker, Advocate
Takes dreams. Makes them real.

Monet Levalley-Garcia

Susanna Merlo, M.A.
Health Coach
[email protected]penSourceWellness.org
Master's in Integrative Health Coaching & Wellness Management
Certified in Guided Imagery
Passionate, Inquisitive, Authentic

Kermit Goodman
Health Coach
[email protected]ourceWellness.org
Certified Health Coach
Transformational Counselor
Dance Instructor
Aliveness is an Infinite Scale of Discovery

Julie Alvarez
Program Manager
Guide. Advocate. Creator to do goodness

Rachel Barach
Training and Development Lead
[email protected]penSourceWellness.org
Certified Nutrition Consultant
Certified Mind Body Nutrition Coach
Trained Chef
Food Enthusiast. Lover of Dance.

Jessica Lewis
Health Coach
[email protected]ourceWellness.org
Certified Integrative Wellness Coach
Completing Masters in Integrative Medicine and Health Services
Curious. Collaborative. Creative.

Meagan Moroney

Elena Huey
Health Coach
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Masters in nutrition, Insightful, Balanced, Uplifting.

Social Media Manager
Photography. Nutrition. Animal lover
Lauren Barkan

Rohita Bhatia
Intern
Certified Nutrition Consultant
Cultural food practices advocate
Content creator & digital marketer

Bianca Garcia
Intern
Learner, listener, appreciator of beauty

Rebecca DeAngelis
Intern
Curious. Bright. Compassionate. Thoughtful.

Jacky Carrillo
Intern
Highly motivated through the power of connection, kindness, and understanding.
