About
Alan Spira, MD, DTM&H graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude from UCLA with a BS with Honors in Microbiology, then earned his MD from UCLA School of Medicine in 1988. His training spans Emergency Medicine, Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine, Hyperbaric and Diving Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Acupuncture. He holds fellowship status in the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine, and the American Society of Tropical Medicine, and he is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture.
Captain Alan Spira served in the US Navy Medical Corps and received decorations from the Marine Corps, Navy, and Army before his honorable retirement in 2000. He founded Jamii Health International, a nonprofit that develops health centers in underserved communities, and he has volunteered or taught as a physician in the developing world for more than 30 years. He has published scientific articles, lay articles, and textbook chapters on tropical and travel medicine. Dr. Spira supported The Village Doctor intermittently since 2009 and returned as a full-time physician in April 2025.
Education & Training
Undergraduate
BS with Honors in Microbiology (Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude), UCLA
Medical School
MD, UCLA School of Medicine (1988)
Fellowship
Fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine; Fellow of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine; Fellow of the American Society of Tropical Medicine
Additional Training
Training in Hyperbaric and Diving Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Acupuncture; Diplomate of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
Certifications
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Spira right for?
Dr. Spira is an excellent fit for patients who travel frequently, especially to tropical or developing-world destinations. Adults seeking primary care with a strong preventive and occupational health lens benefit from his broad training. Patients interested in acupuncture as part of their care plan will find his diplomate-level training valuable. His decades of global health experience make him well-suited for patients with complex or unusual infectious disease histories.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Spira focuses on primary care, preventive medicine, travel medicine, and tropical medicine. His training also covers Emergency Medicine, Hyperbaric and Diving Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Acupuncture. This breadth makes him especially valuable for patients with complex health histories or frequent international travel.
Yes. Dr. Spira holds Diplomate status from the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. He integrates acupuncture into his primary care practice when appropriate for his patients.
Dr. Spira holds fellowship status in three organizations: the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine, and the American Society of Tropical Medicine. These fellowships reflect his deep expertise in emergency and tropical medicine.
Yes. Travel and tropical medicine represent a core part of Dr. Spira's clinical background. He advises patients on travel vaccinations, disease prevention, and health risks specific to their destinations, including travel to tropical and developing-world regions.
Dr. Spira earned both his undergraduate degree and his MD from UCLA. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude with a BS with Honors in Microbiology, then completed his MD at UCLA School of Medicine in 1988.
Yes. Dr. Spira served as a Captain in the US Navy Medical Corps. He received decorations from the Marine Corps, Navy, and Army before his honorable retirement in 2000.
Dr. Spira has volunteered and taught medicine in the developing world for more than 30 years. He also founded Jamii Health International, a nonprofit focused on developing health centers in underserved communities worldwide.
Dr. Spira returned to The Village Doctor as a full-time physician in April 2025. He had supported the practice intermittently since 2009 before rejoining on a permanent basis.
Doctor profile last updated March 21, 2026