Leading a vibrant and inspired life, and to help others do the same, is the core value which has driven my practice. I have a strong sense of adventure, and bring a great deal of passion into various aspects of my life, including travel, athletics, mindfulness, and my naturopathic practice. This passion for being an active part my local Hamilton-Burlington-Waterdown community helps me build relationships, empowering me to grow and develop in tandem with the deep connections around me.
I feel lucky to live in such a beautiful area of Ontario. We are blessed with Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment and when I’m not at my practice, chances are you will find me running or cycling on one of the local trails (hello Waterfront and Bruce Trails!), and I will likely be encouraging you to get out and enjoy local nature too!
My passion for the outdoors and athletic pursuits have led me to discover, quite by accident, my love for triathlons. They nourish my body and have connected me to my own inner strength. If you ask me if I have a race coming up, the chances are “yes!” I’m an active participant in local races like Hamilton’s Road to Hope, Around the Bay and Multisport’s Triathlon Series. Some of my greatest accomplishments to date include cycling 730km of the Waterfront Trail (solo!) from Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Quebec border as well as completing a half-iron distance race in Niagara Falls (which included a 2km swim, 90km bike and 21 km run!). I also summited Mount Washington (one of the windiest & coldest places in the world!) in February of 2018.
I’m an avid traveler and am almost always planning a trip. My most notable adventures have been seeing polar bears in Northern Manitoba, going on a surf and yoga retreat in Nicaragua, staying in a local village in the Indian Himalayas, and seeing the “Lion King” cast members in real time in South Africa on safari. I have been on a mission to see this globe and all its marvels and mysteries and strive to make each day count. I hope to help inspire you to do the same.
My Education and Path to Becoming an ND
The road to becoming an ND is a long one, but one I wouldn’t trade for anything. I began my post-secondary education at the University of Guelph, where I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Biological Science, with Honours. Why was Guelph such a key role in my job today as an ND? The academic world at Guelph is rich in nutrition and physiology courses that fell right in line with what I wanted to do. To heal people and help others make sense of their health, starting right with nutrition.
The next stage was attending the 4 year- ND program at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in North York, Ontario. The program includes courses on anatomy, physiology, immunology, clinical and physical diagnosis, lab diagnosis, as well as extensive courses on nutrition, lifestyle counselling, herbal medicine, nutraceuticals, and homeopathy to address our patients’ health concerns.
During my ND education, I was a naturopathic intern at the Robert Schad Naturaopthic Clinic and had the chance to work with inner-city patients at Parkdale Community Health Centre in downtown Toronto, and also got my introduction into Hamilton at local clinic Naturopathic Perspectives. Since graduating in 2011, I have been practicing naturopathic medicine in downtown Hamilton and have been the owner and operator of my own integrative clinic since 2016.
A life long student, I actively pursue my own growth as an ND and healer and regularly attend various workshops, seminars, and courses to add more tools, knowledge and understanding to my practice.
As for the technical stuff, I am registered with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario and am active members of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, and the Ontario Association of Naturopathic. I regularly meet with local MPPS to lobby for the need for the rights of naturopathic doctors in Ontario.