Here’s My Story (and Why I Invite You to Share Yours)
Hello,
& welcome to this little corner of the universe. It’s so wonderful to have you!
This has been a long time coming, and because my goal is to get to you know you & listen to your story, I thought it only fair that you know mine. You see, getting to this point (being a naturopathic doctor) has not been straightforward, and I certainly didn’t come into this world knowing what I wanted to do, but after a few hiccups, crazy adventures, and wrong turns, I did, in fact, find myself here. And I can wholeheartedly say that I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.
Let’s dive in.
I knew I wanted to be in healthcare after taking a Wilderness EMT course my freshman year of college. Scared of committing to the length of time it would take to be a doctor, I thought I wanted to be a nurse for a while. My junior year of college I fully committed to the pre-med track, with the end goal of going to allopathic medical school to become an MD. However, my mom ended up getting diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of this school year. She saw an ND in addition to her conventional treatment who was amazing—she helped my mom in really special ways ways that the conventional system could not. After that experience, I took a tour at the National College of Natural Medicine (now National University of Natural Medicine) in Portland, and made the decision to become an ND.
This path has completely changed my life (to put it lightly). I have met so many amazingly bright, caring, and interesting humans on this journey, and even though I’ve been sure this is what I’ve wanted to do ever since my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, there were still many low moments. Moments where I wanted to quit medical school, convinced that it wasn’t for me—that being a doctor wasn’t for me.
Long story short, I stuck with it and am so glad I did. My job is rewarding and dynamic, and there is never a dull moment!
So, who/where am I now after all the schooling & all the “I don’t know if I can do this” moments?
After completing a 4-year accredited doctoral program at the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR, the nation’s oldest naturopathic medical school, I can finally say that I am a naturopathic physician (still can’t believe it!).
So what does that mean? In a nutshell: I can diagnose and treat disease and am trained in conventional and specialty diagnostics. I have training in botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, counseling, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, physical medicine modalities, minor surgery, and pharmaceutical prescribing. And as a naturopathic physician, I firmly believe in the prevention of disease and the body’s innate ability to heal itself once obstacles to cure are addressed and removed.
Here are a few reasons why I decided to stick with this medicine (this only scratches the surface, and I’m sure that should we choose to work together, you will find out more!).
On a micro level: I want people to feel better! I want them to be able to live the life they desire without being fatigued all of the time, having persistent abdominal pain, PMS, etc. I also love helping people get off of pharmaceutical medications when safe and indicated.
On a macro level: I want naturopathic medicine to get the attention and respect that it deserves from the mainstream. We live in a world of chronic disease and I firmly believe that this medicine has the power to change that.
Not only that, but naturopathic medicine has the potential to cause a big disruption to the conventional medical system (a badly needed disruption). I believe there is a time and place for everything, and I have the most respect for my MD colleagues, but natural medicine is extremely effective for many ailments! I think ND’s pose a threat to the conventional system, and that is one of the reasons why we are often chastised, but also another reason why this work is so important.
As far as right now goes.
I am an active female who enjoys pushing my body and what I think it can do. On that same token, I feel really passionate about encouraging healthy nourishment in female athletes (everyday athletes included), and promoting body positivity in athletics and everyday life. I believe this is something that is not done often enough, and I want to prioritize showing up for every kind of female athlete, no matter your goals or areas of focus (YOU deserve nothing but the best health care, both mentally and physically).
My dog is my everything, rock climbing keeps me feeling most like myself, and my friends make me a better human.
And when working with patients, I would never dream of overlooking the safety of a treatment plan. For example, I would never recommend a botanical without ensuring that it did not have an interaction with a pharmaceutical medication my patient was taking. I also would never end a visit without asking my patient/client if they had any questions (I promise to always leave ample time for Q&A to ensure there is complete understanding of and agreement with the treatment plan recommended).
Ultimately, I would like to help change the current healthcare paradigm. Our healthcare system is essentially a “sick care” system and that needs to change. We have an overwhelming amount of chronic disease in our society. More times than not, we can prevent and reverse this chronic disease and help people to live more full, enjoyable lives.
On a day-to-day, I strive to eat a balanced diet, but sometimes I eat things I know aren’t good for me [insert junk food here] as we all should from time to time! I exercise most days, prioritize sleep, practice mindfulness, and use the herbs and supplements I recommend when I need them. On the flip side, I am nowhere near perfect, and can become crippled by anxiety and fear of failure. Some days, life gets in the way and I can’t fit in a workout and don’t meditate. But, life does go on and I will be ok.
Long story short: I am human and perfection is never, ever the goal when it comes to my personal health, and if you do choose to work with me, I don’t want it to be your goal either.
Perseverance & tenacity are two attributes I always strive for (and admire so much in others).
This goes for both my climbing community and healthcare/patient community. I am inspired by the human spirit and drive to be better, do better and feel better. My climbing partners encourage me to try hard even when I feel scared or weak. My colleagues and patients inspire me to be a better doctor, to keep learning and changing the paradigm. Right now, our healthcare system is essentially “sick care,” and that needs to change, and the change starts with what we can do right now to better support each other and ourselves.
Sadly, most of the world has very limited (or no access at all) to naturopathic medicine, and I believe our world needs this medicine more than ever. I want to empower you in your journey to health, especially those of you who may not have in-person access to an ND.
Alright, before I write a novel, I’ll leave my story here (to be continued…)
Now, I would love love love to hear from you! Here are a few ways that we can stay in touch.
Signing up to my newsletter below (little monthly updates & helpful tidbits, always with an air of lightness & ease!)
Signing up for my 20 minute complementary discovery call, that way we can get to know one another a little better before committing to anything!
Reaching out via email with any questions (you can reach me here).
With Love,
Kelcie xx