Family Medicine Physician-led Osteopathic Treatment. Grounded in whole-person care.

Welcome to this small physician practice where we have time to listen, connect, and consider your health as a whole.

Dr. Van Niekerk offers targeted and personalized osteopathic manipulation with the background of a board-certified family medicine physician.

Whether you are looking for hands-on treatment, another perspective on your health, or simply a physician who can take the time to look at the bigger picture, the goal is to help you feel informed, cared for and connected to your health.

Health in Rhythm as Philosophy of Care:

  • Health is dynamic, not simply the absence of disease

  • The body has interconnected systems that influence one another

  • Healing involves finding balance, adapting, and restoring function

  • Sleep, movement, stress, relationships, and daily habits all matter

  • Health changes throughout different seasons of life

Your Neighborhood Osteopathic Physician

Anna van Niekerk, DO

I am a board-certified family medicine physician who believes good healthcare starts with taking the time to understand the whole person.

My approach combines the breadth of family medicine with my particular passion for osteopathic medicine, hands-on care, and whole-person health. I enjoy caring for people across all stages of life with an emphasis on thoughtful prevention, practical health guidance, and individualized care.

I earned my Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, and completed my family medicine residency at UC San Diego, where I was recognized for leadership in osteopathic medicine. Throughout my career, I have pursued additional training and experience in integrative medicine, osteopathic manipulative medicine, and procedural care.

My work has included caring for patients in community health centers, serving as a clinic director for a federally qualified health center, teaching and mentoring family medicine residents, and helping expand access to osteopathic manipulative treatment. I have practiced and taught in diverse clinical settings, including UC San Diego Health, the University of Pennsylvania, and Mayo Clinic in Florida.

Today, I continue to practice primary care with UC San Diego Health while building a smaller private practice centered around the kind of care I value most: unhurried, relationship-based, hands-on, and personalized.

I’m especially passionate about creating a space where patients can feel heard, understood, and empowered to take an active role in their health.

Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers

  • A hands-on approach where trained physicians use gentle pressure, stretching, resistance and massage to help diagnose, treat and help prevent illness or injury.

  • A comprehensive, hands-on medical appointment that combines a standard health checkup with physical adjustment. Initial visits generally last 60 minutes. Follow-up sessions are often shorter.

  • OMT should not be painful. I will ask for your ongoing feedback and permission and will immediately switch to a gentler technique if you feel discomfort. You may experience soreness after a visit. Ensure hydration after visit.

  • Comfortable clothing. Shoes optional during visit.

  • Variable based on severity and chronicity of symptoms. Certain concerns may require a plan of 2 to 5 sessions spaced a few weeks apart to maintain lasting alignment. I will also prescribe home stretches or exercises to maintain alignment.

  • OMT is highly appropriate for individuals looking for a non-invasive, medication-free approach to relieve pain, restore mobility, and improve overall physical function

  • We accept payment after each visit and provide you with a superbill to submit to insurance for reimbursement. How much is reimbursed is variable based on your insurance provider.