Meet Our Team of Dedicated Providers
Dr. Joy Hardison, MD MPH
CEO, Emergency Physician and General Practitioner
Dr. Joy Hardison is a board-certified emergency physician. She earned both her MD and MPH in 2009, graduating from Mayo Medical School. Dr. Hardison completed her residency in emergency medicine at the University of Arizona and has since worked in hospitals throughout the Southwest. She is also an adjunct professor at Bastyr University California. Dr. Hardison founded Healthtopia Clinics in 2018 to bridge the gap between traditional medical care and integrative medicine, leveraging the benefits of both practices to provide patients with thoughtful, comprehensive care.
Dr. James Howard, MD MS
COO, Emergency Physician and General Practitioner
Dr. James Howard is a board-certified emergency physician and has been practicing medicine for over 10 years. He has a variety of experience with healthcare transformation, health services research, emergency medical services, disaster preparedness, aeromedical retrievals, and emergency and general medical practice. He is one of the initial founders of Healthtopia and is currently the Chief Operating Officer. In his free time he enjoys spending time with family, endurance sports, water sports, camping, hiking, cooking, and music.
Dr. Sharina Mapleton, DO
Internist and Cardiologist
Dr. Sharina Mapleton is a board-certified Internist and Cardiologist and completed her training in 2016 through Midwestern University in Illinois. After graduating from her fellowship in general cardiology, she moved to Southern California to be closer to family. Her primary focus is preventive medicine and cardiovascular health, encouraging proper nutrition and staying active to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Mapleton joined Healthopia Clinics in 2020 and is pleased to serve the Rancho Santa Fe and Encinitas communities.
Dr. Kendra Etzel, ND
Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Kendra Etzel, ND is a graduate of Bastyr University here in San Diego, California. Before attending naturopathic medical school, she attended Washington State University where she received a Bachelors in Nutritional Science. She has over 15 years of experience in the medical field and has a true love for helping people achieve their health goals. Being a naturopathic doctor, she believes in combining the latest research with natural therapies to get to the root cause of illness and deliver the best in individualized medicine. In her spare-time she enjoys hiking, spending time on the beach and reading.
Nicole Kenney, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Nicole is a Physician Assistant and has been with Healthtopia since 2018. Originally from the Northeast, she received her Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies in Boston at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University in 2017. Prior to graduate school she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Science along with a radiography certification. She has experience and interests in rheumatology, autoimmune diseases, urgent care and primary care. Her passion is to treat patients as a whole with a more natural approach, as well as educating her patients. In her free time she enjoys being a foodie with a sweet tooth, traveling, hiking, yoga and stand-up paddle boarding.