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Meet the founder & CEO

Rashida S. Vassell, MD

After graduating from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, Rashida S. Vassell, MD completed General Surgery training at the University of Vermont Medical Center, where she served as Chief Resident in her final year. Dr. Vassell, during her research year at UVM, obtained graduate certification in Clinical and Translational Science.

Dr. Vassell is a board-certified Wound Specialist, and in Anti-Aging Medicine. Dr. Vassell spent years honing her clinical skills as a Medical Director at the teaching institution, Montefiore Mount Vernon, in Westchester County, NY; followed by Guthrie Corning Hospital. During her tenure at Corning she served on multiple committees, including the Credentialing Committee. Dr. Vassell served as a Trustee on the Chemung Valley Montessori School Board.

Dr. Vassell’s dedication extends beyond the walls of her clinic through The Safahla Foundation. Recognizing that access to restorative wellness and aesthetic care is a matter of equity, she founded the organization to formalize and expand the practice’s commitment to service. The Foundation works to provide wellness resources and therapeutic care to marginalized communities, reinforcing the belief that health, confidence, and dignity should be universally accessible.

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More about dr. Vassell

True to her desire to help people and love of life-long learning, Dr. Vassell founded the integrative, cutaneous surgery and medical aesthetics practice, Safahla Medical PLLC, in Corning, NY. With over 15 years of clinical experience, and as a breast cancer survivor, Dr. Vassell’s approach to integrative medicine incorporates evidence-based clinical judgment, an appreciation for wellness, and shared decision-making. The practice of Medicine is ever-evolving, requiring ongoing education and research. When not doing so, Dr. Vassell enjoys traveling with her husband and two daughters.

Meet the Team

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Registered Dietitian nutritionist

Lindsay, RDN

Lindsay Sawyer-Pratt is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) whose passion is to educate and counsel patients on using food to create an environment within their body where healing and balance can be restored. Lindsay strives to assist her patients in meeting their personal goals and to achieve optimal health and wellness.
Lindsay holds a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from SUNY Oneonta and a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Ithaca College. She has worked as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for the last 12 years in public health and clinical settings. In addition to Lindsay‘s nutrition and exercise background, she is a certified lactation counselor who loves to assist moms & babies in meeting their nutrition goals during pregnancy and postpartum.
When Lindsay is not with her patients, you can find her in her kitchen cooking healthy meals for her family and friends, on her yoga mat, or enjoying the outdoors with her husband and children.

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Director of client services

Jezel

As the Director of Client Services at Safahla Medical, Jezel brings over 8 years of customer service experience and a deep passion for helping people feel their best. With a warm and welcoming presence, she ensures every client feels supported from the moment they walk through the door. Her love for all things beauty, skincare, and aesthetics makes her role especially meaningful, as she’s able to combine her professional background with her personal interests to enhance the client experience. Being part of a mission that empowers people to feel like their most confident selves is what inspires her daily.
Outside of work, Jezel is a proud dog mom to a Husky and a Chihuahua and is an all-around animal lover. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her pets, baking sweet treats, winding down with a good movie, and playing video games. Her caring nature, enthusiasm for the beauty industry, and commitment to excellent service make her an essential part of the Safahla Medical team.