A career in medicine was always my intention. The question just came down to what area of medical science would be the most rewarding, have the greatest room for personal growth, allow me to really get to know my patients and share in their experiences, and allow me to feel confident that health and vitality were being harnessed. I feel very fortunate to have found Naturopathic medicine. Naturopathy offers me the flexibility to provide primary health care within a setting that allows individualized treatment through exploring patients' circumstances and their complete clinical picture.
Before moving to Toronto for the four-year naturopathic program, I balanced out the scientific laboratory environment of my university chemistry degree by maintaining active work in crisis counseling for children and women affected by domestic violence. This draw to counseling came from a long background of working with children in a variety of recreational settings. This background has taught me the impact that trauma, emotion and stress can have on general health and has certainly influenced my naturopathic practice, especially with respect to working with children. Clinically, I have maintained a broad primary care practice, though there is a focus on family medicine, pediatric care, women's health, stress syndromes (including digestive upset, fatigue, pain complexes), fertility and pregnancy care.
My naturopathic education has offered many opportunities for growth and learning that have shaped my clinical style and understanding of the dynamics of optimal health. I was honoured with the 2006 Governor's Medal of Excellence for outstanding academic and clinical performance throughout the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program. I have also been fortunate enough to attend four advanced classical homeopathy seminars in India, learning from many of the world's homeopathic leaders. The naturopathic philosophy is to stimulate the healing power of the body and to treat the root cause of disease. As a Naturopathic Doctor, I can draw from a variety of treatment methods depending on the individual needs of each patient. My goal is to bring each patient to a state of independence in their health, to restore flexibility, and most importantly to educate.
In the last number of years, the principle of Docere (Doctor as Teacher) has become central focus in my practice and within Calgary at large. Since 2007, I have been teaching naturopathic medicine introductory courses within the Faculty of Continuing Education at the University of Calgary. These courses have also stemmed numerous lectures on women's health, pediatric care and homeopathy for the public, allowing charitable donations to the same domestic violent shelters that helped shape my career choice.