About Wheelz That Heal

About Us

Wheelz That Heal is an automotive driven philanthropy that raises funds to support a holistic approach to health and wellness. Currently, monies raised are donated to the Integrative Medicine Department at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Founded in 2013 as Wheels For Wheels, we have donated over $1.1 million to Phoenix Children’s with the support of generous sponsors here in Phoenix and around the country. (Wheels For Wheels was originally founded to raise money to buy a new Mobile Medical Unit, a 35-foot RV/exam room on wheels, but a generous sponsor paid for one outright, so Wheels For Wheels became the more appropriately titled Wheelz That Heal.)

Our initial approach to raising funds was to obtain vehicles (either donated or discounted), restore them to better-than-new condition, and then sell them with every penny going to Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF). We have completed nearly two dozen vehicles in this manner with our sponsors donating basic maintenance, engine, suspension, paint/body, interior/upholstery, wheels/tires, stereo/AV and much more. We are now transitioning to an updated model where individuals, dealers and collectors donate vehicles outright (and our sponsor shops can offer anything needed above). We mostly specialize in enthusiast-type vehicles – sports cars, classics, off-road, etc., but will entertain anything that might garner funds for PCHF.

We have had great success restoring and upgrading the Pontiac Solstice, General Motors’ late, great two seat convertible, as they are reasonably priced and there is a market for clean and well-sorted examples – we have completed 19 of these, including five rare Coupe models and four with V8 swaps. However, as we transition to dealer/collector donations, we anticipate taking this program to a much higher level with more valuable submissions and restorations.

Looking to the Future

What started as an on-off vehicle donation in 2013 by local screenwriter/producer and philanthropist Scott Bindley, Wheelz That Heal has grown into an organization supported by hundreds of generous individuals that will impact countless patients and staff members at PCH. Given the vibrant automotive community in the Valley, the potential for support of Wheelz That Heal is limitless. As we move into our second decade, we could not be more excited about our drive toward health to support Integrative Medicine at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Our Team at Wheelz that Heal

Scott Bindley – Founder

Screenwriter and film producer Scott Bindley spent decades as an athlete and fitness fanatic, pushing himself to the limits without much thought of health and nary an injury. In fact, he fueled four years of Division 1 collegiate tennis with pre-match meals of donuts and Dr Pepper. However, later in life, his diet and lifestyle choices began to catch up with him with nagging aches and pains. When his twin daughters were diagnosed with an autoimmune condition that was treatable only with a lifetime of harsh medications, he was inspired by his wife Polly to dig deeper into integrative approaches. Seeing their entire family respond to a much cleaner diet, regular and targeted exercise and a host of supportive treatments, Scott knew he needed to share this information with others seeking similar outcomes.

Having been a board member of the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation for several years, and a supporter of the hospital with his car-based charity program, initially titled Wheels For Wheels, Scott decided that all funds raised going forward would go toward the opening of the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Integrative Medicine Program (PCH IM). Within the last three years, PCH IM has become a reality, seeing hundreds of patients and achieving real world success stories. Scott is thrilled that the program continues to grow and expects his car-based philanthropy, now called Wheelz That Heal, will raise many millions more and improve the health of countless children in the future!

Scott is a graduate of Northwestern University where he studied writing and film production. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife, Polly, and three children, Greta, Gwen and Boden.

Our Integrative Medicine Team

STEVE SCHNALL – SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, PCH FOUNDATION

Steven Schnall has been an integral part of Phoenix Children’s since 1983. As the Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer of the Phoenix Children’s Foundation, Steve oversees all philanthropic efforts, providing strategic leadership that has significantly advanced the health system’s mission. Under his guidance, the Foundation has spearheaded numerous successful campaigns, including a transformative 5-year, $250 million initiative aimed at building world-class children’s hospitals.

In his previous roles at Phoenix Children’s, Steve served as Vice President of Business Development and Outreach, where he managed strategic planning, marketing, public relations, community and physician relations, and grants. Additionally, he held the position of Vice President of Ambulatory Services, among other administrative roles, contributing to the health system’s growth and success.

Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Arizona State University and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. His extensive experience and dedication continue to drive Phoenix Children’s towards excellence in pediatric healthcare.

Steve’s unwavering support for Integrative Medicine at Phoenix Children’s is a testament to his commitment to holistic and comprehensive pediatric care. This program, which focuses exclusively on Integrative Medicine, embodies Steve’s vision of blending traditional medical practices with complementary therapies to enhance the well-being of children.

Sarjita J. Shukla, MD – MEdical Director

Sarjita Shukla, MD, is a pediatric hospitalist who cares for patients while they’re in the hospital. She’s also the medical director of Integrative Medicine, a program she developed and the first of its kind at Phoenix Children’s.

During her residency at Phoenix Children’s, Dr. Shukla saw motivated and innovative pediatric providers who sought the most up-to-date medical knowledge to provide the best care for their patients. Their dedication and passion for being and doing better for patients inspired her to stay.

Dr. Shukla’s grandfather, a physician in India, was her motivation to pursue a career in medicine. She saw first-hand the impact of his care for patients in underserved communities and how the field of medicine uses the power of education, empowerment and human connection for the greater good.

Dr. Shukla is board certified with the American Board of Pediatrics in general pediatrics and pediatric hospital medicine. She’s also board certified with the American Board of Physician Specialties in integrative medicine.

Dr. Shukla contributes to advancing her field by teaching the next generation of physicians and participating in quality improvement initiatives. She’s also presented at national and regional professional conferences.

Paola V. Genovese, MD

Paola Genovese, MD, is a pediatrician dedicated to making the lives of children more comfortable. In addition to general pediatrics, she specializes in Pain Medicine as well as Hospice and Palliative Care.

Dr. Genovese earned her medical degree from the Universidad Nacional de Asuncion in Asuncion, Paraguay. After moving to the US, she completed her pediatric residency at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland. She then completed a Pediatric Pain fellowship at Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle, Washington and a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Care medicine at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

Holding board certifications in General Pediatrics, Pain Medicine, Palliative care and Hospice care, Dr. Genovese provides well-rounded, comprehensive care to her patients. She is also trained and skilled in Acupuncture, Craniosacral therapy, Visceral Manipulation and Neuro-meningeal Manipulation.

Dr. Genovese is actively involved in research to improve quality of care in the fields of Pediatric Pain Medicine, Hospice and Palliative care.

Margery A. Shoptaugh, MD

As the youngest of 10 children, pediatrician Amy Shoptaugh, MD, has always enjoyed being around kids. When it came time to choose a career path, she followed in the footsteps of her father, a pediatrician, and her brother, a neonatologist.

A graduate of Arizona State University and the University of Colorado Health Science Center, Dr. Shoptaugh completed her residency at Phoenix Children’s. She founded All About Kids Pediatrics in 1998 and practiced there until joining Phoenix Children’s in 2020.

Dr. Shoptaugh believes it’s important to address the whole person — mind, body and spirit –along with the social, environmental and biological factors that affect health and well-being. Her specialty areas include adverse childhood experiences, integrative health and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Outside of work, Dr. Shoptaugh enjoys spending time with her spouse and her dogs. An avid reader, she also enjoys traveling to new places. She loves exercising and spending time outdoors enjoying nature or working on her yard.

Joanna L. Kramer, DO

Joanna L. Kramer, DO, MPH, is a physician in Phoenix Children’s Division of Primary, Complex Care and Adolescent Medicine.

After obtaining her undergraduate degree from Ursinus College in Pennsylvania, Dr. Kramer earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Doctorate degree in Osteopathic Medicine from Touro University Nevada. She then completed a pediatric residency and a chief residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio. Dr. Kramer’s professional interests include resident and medical student education, osteopathic education, research in the areas of public health and osteopathic medicine, and quality improvement (QI) in medicine and education.

Dr. Kramer is passionate about contributing to the body of evidence-based medicine and continuous quality improvement in her work. Her research and quality improvement interests include pediatric osteopathic manipulation, environmental health, public health and health disparities, and COVID-19 prevention and surveillance.

Gabrielle S. King, RD

Gabby King, RDN is a Pediatric Registered Dietitian specializing in integrative medicine with over a decade of experience working in inpatient, outpatient, and school nutrition settings.

Focusing on an integrative approach, Gabby blends evidenced based nutrition with complementary therapies to support optimal health and development in children. Gabby is passionate about the role of diet and nutrition in the treatment, prevention, and healing of illnesses.

She provides personalized, holistic care for complex pediatric conditions and considers nutrition an integral component of integrative medicine treatment.

Outside of work, Gabby enjoys cooking/baking new recipes, traveling, hot yoga, and spending time with her family.