About Us - The Health and Wellness Center

Our Team!

At the Health & Wellness Center, it is our goal to make sure you feel your best and stay that way. You can count on
our many years of experience, our highly trained team of wellness professionals, and exquisite professional service.
Read below to learn more about our team.

Dr. Secil Schodroski, FNP-C, DNP Founder of The Health & Wellness Center

My name is Dr. Secil Schodroski and I'm a Family Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice. In reflection mode, I think back and would like to share my medical journey.

At around 12 years of age I knew that someday I would become a nurse. My great grandparents instilled in me values, strength, and the understanding that the word “can’t” does not exist. By the time I was 17, my great grandparent’s health was failing and I became their primary caregiver. The strong compassion to care for them was effortless. I also gave birth to the most beautiful baby boy in the world. I then carried the single mother title. I started Junior college at 18 years old with all of my prerequisites geared toward nursing. Juggling being a waitress, a college student, and a young mother was a challenge. Thank God for all of the family support.

Over the years, I excelled from one nursing program to another. My degree status contents consist of CNA, LPN, RN, BSN, MSN, FNP, and DNP. Clearly the word “can’t” does not exist, as my great grandparents stated. Currently, I have 20 years' experience in the medical field. I have thousands of hours in practice, clinical, practicum, travel nursing, and internships of training. I have never once dreamed of owning my own business. I was always satisfied with clocking in to someone else’s clock. I believe that it was the natural thought of having the feeling of being secure.

However, that idea quickly changed once I found myself unhappy, not being able to provide quality care to my patients, and having the feeling of being rushed in the workplace. My last place of employment was the driving force to guide me into the notion of I can provide quality care to patients on my own. My last employer compelled me to pilot my career and to land on both feet.

I believe in quality patient care. With quality care upfront and being maintained, quantity will be sustained in the long run. Sometimes in life fear keeps us safe, and there are times it can hold us back. I believe that I needed that punch of confidence to move forward. I believe that my last employer provided that goal to me without knowing it. One may never know where their fate may be; however, it is the journey that places us, supports us, and carries us to the destination of where we are supposed to be.

I am a member of the Saint Louis Nurses in Advance Practice and I am licensed in both Missouri and Illinois to practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner. I am also member of the Black Business and Professional Association as well as ACLS certified and CPR certified.

Dr. Eboni January, MD, Co-Founder of The Health & Wellness Center

An East St. Louis native, Dr. January completed medical school in Ohio, but returned home for residency training at Mercy Hospital. Shortly after, she began her thriving OB-GYN practice at Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers in North County. Along with her focus on women’s health, Dr. January created ‘text coaching,’ a fitness program featured in Gazelle Magazine, the St. Louis Argus and on Fox 2; co-founded Pavlov’s Wellness Firm, a company focused on instituting health and wellness in small businesses and large corporations; and began a health and wellness podcast, The Wellness Wheel. She was also recently chosen as physician for All Among Us, a new not-for-profit in Ferguson providing opportunities for homeless women to become self-sufficient.

Beyond this work, Dr. January is passionate about youth mentorship. She has been a mentor — or rather, a coach — for more than 10 years, helping young adults set achievable goals and ensuring their success by teaching time management and other fundamental skills.

Taron Blount, Business Practice Administrator

My name is Taron Blount, B.S., MBA and I am the Business/Practice Manager. I was born and raised in St. Louis, Mo. During middle school, I decided that I wanted to be an Electrical Engineer. I thought it would be cool to make the parts that make electricity. This changed during my senior year in high school. After a talk with my My Uncle Ronald, who I have looked up to for many years, I decided that getting my MBA was a better choice. Since that time, I have accomplished that goal. Now I can proudly say that I am working side-by-side with my amazing sister and a great team. I am married and I have two handsome and smart sons.

My goal is to help anyone get their life filled with happiness, healthiness, wellness and fulfillment. I can only help those that want my help. I can say with the help of my sister, I am not only the Manager, but also a patient. I love my sister, I love this center, and I love what we stand for with the health and wellness of the community. I am on a mission to help as many people as I can to live a strong and healthy life.

Shasta Demecs, Registered Nurse

My name is Shasta Demecs. I currently live in St. Louis with my 6-year-old son Tristin and our dog Tonka. I found that my place in this world is anywhere that I can help educate and care for people in trying to achieve their highest level of health, using my skills as a Registered Nurse.

My journey began at a small nursing home in Cape Girardeau, MO. This is where I became a certified nursing assistant. I cared for the elderly and specialized in an ambulatory Alzheimer’s unit. It is where I began to see the reward I felt when I could bring joy, peace and quality care to the people I was responsible for. In 2000, I graduated from Applied Technologies Licensed Practice Nurse Program which is where I met Secil for the first time. I stayed in Orthopedics for about another year. From there I did Agency Nursing. I worked as a home health nurse, in nursing homes, and at a couple of local hospitals. I saw in myself that I could do more, but was limited as a Practice Nurse. I went to Lutheran School of Nursing where I graduated in 2004, second in my class.

Immediately after graduation, I started working at Des Peres Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit that specialized in Cardiac Care. I worked at Des Peres for a total of 10 years. After 3 years of ICU, I joined the float pool team. I worked in all areas of the hospital including Endoscopy, Cardiac Cath Lab, Orthopedics, Acute Care for the Elderly, Cardiac Telemetry, General Medical-Surgical, Cardiac Care Unit, and Outpatient Surgery. The Administration Team then offered a position to become a part of that team as a House Supervisor. This opportunity showed me a whole other side to working in the medical field. Still a member of the Float Pool team, I was then "floated" to the cardiology practice, Advanced Heart and Vascular. I once again was introduced to an entirely different aspect of nursing as an office nurse. After a year there, I was offered an opportunity to work in a larger cardiology practice.

I have also been fortunate to have developed relationships with so many caring, competent, and successful people. The one relationship I am most thankful for in my journey is the one I have with my best friend, Secil. We have come a long way in our nursing careers and we both have taken different paths. I believe that our method is going to play a huge role in making our community healthier and happier, one patient at a time.

Sophai Tach, FNP-C, DNP

My name is Sophai Tach and I am a certified family nurse practitioner. I started my career in nursing in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Louis University. I completed my Doctorate in Nursing Practice at the University of Missouri- St. Louis in 2019. I have worked in community health for the past five years and have spent three years in obesity management research. What these experiences taught me was the enormous impact of the environment on health and behavior. Each individual’s environment, behavior, and genetic makeup are unique warranting personalized health treatment plans.

Outside of the clinic, you can find me working out, playing sand volleyball, learning healthy recipes, and hanging out at coffee shops. I look forward to learning about you and providing care for you.

Derek Christopher, Nurse Practitioner

My name is Derek Christopher and I am a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, born and raised here in Saint Louis, Missouri. I started my career as a Registered Nurse 9 years ago in an acute care setting on the Kidney/Liver Transplant floor at Barnes Jewish Hospital. While Transplant was my home, I also worked many different areas of the hospital from time to time, even including a small stent in the Emergency Room. Having gained that overall experience, I began to realize that while I loved helping people get better, I more so wanted to help prevent people from getting sick which is what led me to become passionate about getting involved in health promotion and prevention. I wanted more than to help treat a short hospital stay, I wanted to help treat a full lifespan.

That being said, I jumped back into school and in 2016, graduated with my Nurse Practitioner degree from Maryville University. I soon thereafter embarked on a journey across country to Nevada to begin my new career working Family Medicine in a rural clinic. While there I became introduced into the world of Aesthetics and later obtained certification in both Botox and Dermal Fillers. Now, back in this great ole city of Saint Louis, my mission.....should you choose, isn’t for YOU to be the person I think you should be, but to help you be the person YOU want YOU to be.

Antionette Collins, Medical Assistant

My name is Antionette Collins, I am a Medical Assistant at The Health and Wellness Center. I have been in the healthcare industry for 15 years. My goals with the company is to provide the best patient care and satisfy all requirements the best I can.

In my free time I like to travel. I’ve been to Belize, Mexico, Bahamas and Key West; those are some of my favorites. My dream trip is to finally go to Paris, France. I look forward to meeting each of you!

Sarah Mujdzic, Medical Assistant

My name is Sarah Mujdzic, I am a former Paramedic and currently attend a University for a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology with a minor in Gender Studies. Once that is complete, I will further my education with a Doctorate in Physician Assistant studies. My ultimate goal is to help the people of my community and provide a smooth healthcare experience.

Outside of the clinic, you can find me relaxing at home with my dogs and cat or taking spontaneous last-minute trips.

I’m big on nature and mountains, so a lot of my trips take place in scenic areas. Also, I am a foodie so on your next visit I’d appreciate any restaurant recommendations.

Jo'Ail Bradford, Medical Assistant

Hi, my name is Jo'Ail. I am a Medical Assistant here at the Health & Wellness Center. It is a pleasure working here servicing all the patients healthcare needs.

I have been a medical Assistant for 7 years now. It has truly been an amazing journey of Medical Assisting.

I am determined, Dependable, Accountable, Easily adaptive to change, work driven medical assistant. I always remember the saying "through hard work and perseverance, you will achieve your greatest potential."

Sarah Dolan, Medical Assistant

My name is Sarah Dolan. I was born and raised in southeast Missouri. I have been working in the healthcare field since 2008. I have a passion for helping people and love working with the public. When I am not working I enjoy spending time with my 4 children, cooking, road trips, and attending concerts.