Tel Franklin is a Board-certified physician and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Franklin also holds advanced degrees in chemistry and medicine. He completed graduate medical studies at East Carolina University and trained at The London Hospital Medical College, University of London [England]. He is credentialed in Medical Acupuncture though the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, and has completed advanced study in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

At the University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina, Dr. Franklin authored and was the primary investigator of studies on treating coronary heart disease through lifestyle modifications. An experienced educator, he has presented seminars and workshops and has been a guest speaker at major medical conventions. He is the recipient of many honors for academic, scholastic and research achievements, and was recently recognized as one of the 50 outstanding family physicians in the state of California by the California Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Franklin integrates Eastern and Western philosophies in his practice. He has created an approach to health care, Appreciative Medicine™, that fosters a partnership between patient and practitioner and focuses on achieving optimal health. To disseminate his work, Dr. Franklin has formed the Center for Appreciative Medicine. He is in private practice and lives on the Monterey Peninsula in California.

"By asking the questions—and listening—a dialogue begins that allows for peaceful transformation. It is in this dialogue, in which patients actively participate in the decision-making process, that healing begins that creates integrated protocols which surpass all expectations. This is a journey, each step a bit closer to your optimal self. The courage is to begin."