NYANP Member Spotlight questions:
Where did you go to school and when did you graduate?
University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine, class of 2016
Why did you want to become a Naturopathic Doctor?
Originally I had the intention of being a chiropractor but in my twenties I was led from school into food service. I had made a promise to myself to go back to school and learn more about health and healing. After over 20 years in food service I saw that diet and lifestyle choices had a huge impact on people’s lives. I discovered Naturopathic Medicine through my own health issues and two very talented ND’s helped me through those. I learned that Naturopathic Medicine combined physical medicine with diet and lifestyle; this made a lot of sense to me. So, as I prepared to re-enter my education, I sought out ND schools and wanted to go either to UBCNM or NCNM. Circumstances landed me in Bridgeport where I did a dual ND and MS acupuncture degree.
What health conditions or patient populations do you focus on, and what do you like about working with these groups?
I don’t have a specific population that I work with. I do not have many pediatric patients who are not teenagers. I otherwise have patients aged 18 to 93 year olds.
What is the most valuable thing that you have learned while being an ND?
How much stress and anxiety affects people’s physical health.
What do you wish you had known when you were just starting out in practice?
To take it slow and enjoy the ride.
What brought you to practice in New York?
I grew up on Long Island and had businesses on Long Island; my family was here so I stayed.
Practicing in a pre-licensed state can be challenging as an ND, especially in New York where there is no access to specialty lab testing. What are some of the ways you’ve worked with or around these issues?
I do have an office in Connecticut not too far from the border and near the Ferry from Long Island. I do have patients come over for specialty lab testing. I really try to get patients to work with their other practitioners to get the labwork that I wish for them to have. That works most of the time. Having a New York State acupuncture license has helped a lot in my ability to treat patients in New York State.
Is there any new treatment or health condition you are working with that has you super excited right now?
I really do enjoy using Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s opus23 genetic software. Every time I do that work with a patient I learn so much.
I do like working with auto-immune issues a lot; they fascinate me.
If you could tell people just one thing about naturopathic medicine, what would it be?
We see you, you as a whole person, everything that is going on with you. We listen to how you got to this point in your life and where you are headed…we then make a plan that works with your own particular circumstances to allow your body’s own innate healing to happen.