Ernest Kevin Mar, M.D.

Ernest Kevin Mar, M.D., owner of Pinetop-Lakeside Integrative & Physical Medicine, LLC, unexpectedly passed away at 2:00 am Monday October 1, 2018 at his Lakeside home in Arizona at the age of 59. Dr. Kevin Mar was a pioneer – ahead of his time, who never gave up in serving his patients and community with his Integrative Medicine solutions.  He knew from his own experience of having Cerebral Palsy what Integrative Medicine can do in helping the body to heal itself. He is deeply missed.

Dr. Kevin Mar was a compassionate individual who always showed people how to look at life, including their aliments and pain, from a different perspective. As a trusted advisor, he formed partnerships with his patients to assist in their healing process.  He was known to be an excellent listener and passionate about providing top quality service to his patients. Dr. Kevin Mar was also an educator, who donated his time and shared his wisdom with the community.  He authored an interactive children’s book, "Captain Life Force: Your Body's Energy," that introduced Integrative Medicine concepts including healing the body, mind, and spirit.  He also wrote monthly articles, “Health Tips on How to Help Yourself to be Healthy,” in the local magazine called The Maverick, from February 2010 through December 2013.  During the same time, he was a regular monthly contributor on Barbara Bruce’s radio show, “Believe.”  Wintertime, you could find him volunteering on the slopes at Sunrise Ski Resort as a Ski Patrol, attending to the injured.

Despite his personal adversity, Dr. Kevin Mar rose above his own disability with Cerebral Palsy, and his life’s achievements are a testament to his strength and perseverance to overcome all obstacles. As a toddler, Kevin was written off by the medical experts, who advised not to expect him to be able to accomplish anything in his life – at most being taught a menial job so that he could at least support himself. Given this, it is truly miraculous what Dr. Kevin Mar has accomplished: earning Eagle Scout at age 14, without a medical wavier; showing other children what can be done as a member of the “Yes, I Can” organization; persisting through mainstream education from Physical Ed classes to regular school from an early age; learning to type with one hand; skiing with proficiency; earning his M.D. degree, without medical wavier; completing his medical clinicals overseas at Oxford University, England & Queensland, Australia; upon returning, studied Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture at the American College of Acupuncture in association with China’s Cheng Duo University where he completed his integrative clinicals, while also completing his medical residency at Montifore Medical Center, Albert Einstein School of Medicine, N.Y.C, N.Y; next completed a fellowship in Integrative Medicine, from Arizona State University in Tucson, Az.;  his first position was a medical practitioner, for 3 yrs. at the VA hospital, Albuquerque , N.M.; next was a position in Great Falls, Mt.; after a year, he decided to  establish his own independent medical practice both in Lakeside and Phoenix where his patients were his first priority.  Through perseverance and hard work, Kevin became an inspiration to all who knew him. His life’s work was to heal others, and the care and compassion that he selflessly gave to patients, friends, family, and the community will always be remembered.

A memorial service to celebrate Kevin’s life will be held:
November 3^rd, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. -  Unity Church located at 257 North Woodland Rd., Lakeside, Arizona