I grew up in the Midwest, in a suburb of Chicago called Oak Park. I can’t say exactly what it was that transformed this conventional Midwestern gal into an eclectic healer and holistic doctor. It was a series of influences over many years, characterized by changes in consciousness, influential teachers, and a pivotal health crisis that demonstrated the stark differences between allopathic and holistic medicine.
I have always had a questioning mind and an enduring idealism. At a certain point in my late teens, my simplistic worldview started to explode, and realized that I wanted to do something unique, “alternative,” and in touch with the Earth. By college, I had developed interests in ecological thinking, eastern philosophy and mind-body medicine. At that point, I left New York University and headed for the west coast. I transferred to the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington and moved into the woods. There I fell in love with the forest and pursued my interests in herbal medicine, natural foods cooking and sustainable agriculture.
Throughout my 20’s, I continued to study various healing modalities, including western herbalism, Ayurvedic medicine, Taoist organ massage, and various forms of meditation and intuitive awareness skills. In addition to having a small healing practice, I was an avid gardener and I cooked professionally, serving as chef and kitchen manager for the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center.
As my knowledge within the healing arts grew, so did my appreciation for the complexity of human health. I ultimately realized that to become the healer I saw myself as, I had much more to learn. With this calling, I plunged into naturopathic medical school at Bastyr University, devoting four intense years to studying the biomedical sciences and to applying these principles in a holistic clinical setting. Upon earning my doctorate and passing my licensing exam, I completed a residency at Bastyr Center for Natural Health, where I focused on family practice medicine, with added training in environmental medicine, biofeedback, diabetes, gynecology, urology, and pediatrics.
My heart then called me back to West Sonoma County, where I now live with my husband and young daughter. I maintain an independent medical practice at Farmacopia in Santa Rosa, where I provide a personalized approach to healthcare that blends the science of medicine with the art of healing. I truly love my work — it nourishes my soul to help people find more peace and vitality in their lives.
in clinical practice and throughout my training
devoted to the healing arts
of training in holistic medicine