What is a Naturopathic Doctor?

A naturopathic doctor (ND) is a medical doctor that receives comprehensive medical training from a 4-year accredited graduate-level school. NDs are trained as primary care physicians, meaning they receive all the medical science and standard of care education that a general practitioner (MD) would receive. In addition to the conventional education, NDs receive comprehensive training in natural modalities including nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, mental health, and physical medicine. The goal of naturopathic medicine is to uncover and treat the root cause of imbalance that may be contributing to disease.

What are the benefits of receiving naturopathic care?

Naturopathic doctors have a wide toolbox and can utilize many modalities to help you achieve wellness. If medication is needed, we can use that. If a gentler approach is indicated, perhaps an herb or tincture can be utilized. Diet and lifestyle interventions are also always at the forefront of naturopathic care, which helps patients strive for longer-lasting change and well-being.

Can you serve as my Primary Care Provider?

I cannot be officially recognized as a primary care provider because my clinic does not offer 24/7 after hours emergency coverage. This means our visits will be billed as a specialist, which typically has comparable co-pay rates. I am trained as a primary care provider and can complete many of the tasks a PCP would including ordering labs, performing physical exams, completing referrals, and prescribing medication.

Will my visits be covered by insurance?

If you live in the state of Oregon, we are in-network with several insurance plans. Click here to see which plans I am in network with. If you are out of state, we offer packages and cash-based rates.

Do lifestyle and nutrition play a role in my healthcare plan?

Yes! A main goal of naturopathic medicine is to focus on the foundations of health, which include diet and lifestyle changes. While supplements and other interventions can help, focusing on the foundations of health such as digestion and sleep can set you up for longer-lasting change.

What are your credentials?

I graduated from a four-year, accredited medical school. This means I finished a Bachelor’s of Science first before starting medical school. Once I finished medical school, I was required to complete a rigorous national board examination (NPLEX) to become licensed as a practicing physician (ND) in the state of Oregon. NDs complete an average of 224.50 credit hours in basic clinical sciences, 72 pharmacology hours, 250 hours of field observations, 84 weeks of clinical rotations etc. These hours are comparable to MDs and DOs.

Each year, NDs are required to complete 32 continuing education hours to continue renewing their license.