Why did you choose to be an ND instead of an MD?
I became a lifeguard at the age of 17 and, after rescuing a teenager from drowning on my first week on the job, I knew that helping people was what I was born to do! I then went on to respond to 9-1-1 calls as an emergency medical technician throughout Los Angeles. After seeing that an overwhelming number of patient’s medical concerns were caused by lifestyle choices, instead of accidents or trauma, I knew that there was a deep problem not being addressed. After seeing that patient’s symptoms were largely being suppressed by their doctors, instead of the root cause of their illnesses being treated, I decided to become a healthcare practitioner that would genuinely help restore people’s health and become a Naturopathic doctor.
What is your favorite part about practicing naturopathic medicine?
My favorite part about practicing naturopathic medicine is seeing how it can greatly restore both health and hope in people, so they may live a life free from pain and troublesome symptoms, with enough strength and energy to enjoy life, especially with loved ones.
Are there any exciting developments in naturopathic medicine that you are looking forward to sharing with your patients?
There are many different conditions a naturopathic doctor can treat. I am very excited about sharing with people the role that the microbiome plays in their health and even happiness. On our skin and inside of our bodies, especially the intestines, there are microorganisms living there, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Scientists refer to all of these microorganisms living with someone as their microbiome. These microorganisms have been living with us since we were born (some scientists believe they have been with us since we were in our mother’s wombs). There is extraordinary research showing that the microbiome, through the chemicals they release, can regulate our immunity and inflammation, impact blood sugar, and even influence our circadian rhythm, athletic performance and mood!
The good news is that the microbiome responds to the lifestyle changes a person makes, from the food they eat, the types of drinks they sip, and even the people they surround themselves with. That’s right! There is some research showing that people who lived in close proximity to each other shared similar microbiomes, suggesting that the microbiome can be transmitted between people. More research is still being done to explore this idea. As a Naturopathic doctor, our knowledge about probiotics, prebiotics, diets that support a healthy microbiome, and herbs that can eliminate the bad bacteria in our guts, can all be shared with our patients. As our patients incorporate our recommendations into their lives, seeing their microbiome (through special tests), symptoms and mood improve is what makes this area of health so exciting!
How would you describe your approach to naturopathic care and medicine? My approach to providing naturopathic care to patients is one that was shaped that day I took my daughter to her first vaccine appointment. As concerned parents, we wanted to space out the administration of vaccines for our daughter, so that she would not receive more than three vaccines at an appointment. As long as there were no adverse reactions, we would return the following month for the next series of vaccinations recommended by the CDC. The pediatrician at that time told us that “if you don’t follow the vaccine schedule our hospital follows, then we will not provide care to your daughter.” To this day, I can’t describe the depth of the horrible feelings that rushed through my body when she said that, so I made a promise to never have one of my patients feel the way I did that day and make sure they feel heard, valued, cared for, and respect their beliefs when they come to see me.
My approach to naturopathic care respects the values of my patients, is evidenced-based, integrative, personalized, and provides the best available scientific information about the benefits and risks of treatments available. The journey towards restoring health can be long, filled with many ups and downs, and my patients and I work as a team. We discuss goals and the reasonable methods we will be using to achieve those goals, all while respecting each other and focusing on the mission of optimizing their health.
How long have you been practicing naturopathic medicine?
I have been practicing naturopathic medicine for over 4 years and pre-hospital emergency care for over 10 years.
When you aren’t in the office, what do you like to do?
I enjoy walking my Siberian husky, playing the electric guitar, weight training, swimming, practicing mixed martial arts, and spending quality time with my wonderful 11-year-old daughter.
What would you offer as advice to a person that has never seen a naturopathic doctor before?
Every day, from the lotion that we apply to our skin to the food that we eat, it can either predispose us to disease or protect us against it. Unfortunately, we live in a society that overwhelmingly values profits over people’s health and continues to expose our bodies to countless chemicals that can degrade our health. Naturopathic doctors are passionate about their patient’s health, which is why they spend up to an hour and a half genuinely listening to their patient’s concerns and informing them about the risks and benefits of available treatments, instead of just seeing patients for ten minutes. When visiting a Naturopathic doctor, you can rest assured that you are with a doctor that is at the forefront of evidence-based, integrative medicine, so that they can provide you and your family with the most recent, innovative and advanced therapies that can optimize your health and quality of life.