My Story

I was born in 1978 in Toronto, Ontario as the youngest of two girls. From an early age I had a keen interest and ability in science and math. Even as a child this meant a curiosity about health and how the body works. Many of my close family members held careers in the helping professions (especially in mental health).  My instincts told me my background would one day lead me to look after people, but the specifics were still undefined.

I continued my study of science at McGill University, and was inevitably surrounded by pre-med students (including 2 of my roommates). I ended up majoring in chemistry with a focus on environmental studies. Even back then, I had a desire to go against the grain and pursue a less conventional path. After university, I worked, traveled, and turned my recreational yoga practice (that had started in university to calm my nerves), into a more central part of my life. I completed a year long yoga teacher training in 2001. For me this experience was the tipping point. I decided to combine my affinity for science, my interest in the environment, and my understanding of the  mind-body connection, into a career in naturopathic medicine. I moved to Vancouver, BC and enrolled at Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine.

I’ve always been someone drawn to pregnant bellies and stopping to say hello to babies. I can't pinpoint why exactly, they just seem magical to me. I started working in the birth world even before I finished naturopathic school. I taught prenatal yoga, trained as a doula, started to attend births, and aced my obstetrics class. My passion for fertility, pregnancy, and pediatrics blossomed.

A couple years after graduation from naturopathic medical school, my (then) husband and I decided to try and start a family. I was able to conceive, had a routine pregnancy, and delivered my son at home in 2011. But then, I struggled to establish breastfeeding, dealt with postpartum mood changes, and a deep sense of isolation. When my son was 18 months old my marriage ended suddenly. I was living across the country from my family, grieving the end of my relationship, and throwing myself into raising my son. To add to the complexity of my life, I also had a spirited, sensitive child, which has challenged me in ways I could not have imagined.

As I have plodded along in my journey as a mother and a naturopathic doctor, I have learned a great deal through personal experience, my patients, and my continuous training. I have relied on my own community of health professionals, family, and friends to guide and inspire me along the way. My adventures weave into my approach with my patients. As a result, I am uniquely qualified to help families seeking to get pregnant, stay pregnant, deliver, and raise their babies. I also have a special interest in supporting breastfeeding, postpartum mental health, and working with parents of sensitive children.  

I see my role with my patients as multifaceted. I am here to provide the resources and advice that I needed myself. I work to support, educate, inform, and cheerlead. I empower patients to move towards the healthiest version of themselves, and hold their hand during the 'in between'. If I could wave my magic wand, I would be a part of a village for each person I work with. One that I believe we all need to conceive, birth, and raise a family. My goal as a naturopathic doctor is to support each of my patients to thrive with a healthy mind, body and spirit. I look forward to meeting you soon!

In health,