|
In the 1970’s I became very interested in nutrition through reading the books written by Adele Davis. I realized that what we choose to put in our mouths makes an incredible difference in our health. We can encourage our bodies to become optimally healthy (alert, vibrant, full of energy) or we can encourage them to just not be outright ill, or we can actually set them up to become seriously ill. I found this to be wonderfully empowering. I set out to learn all I could about nutrition and what would contribute to optimum health. First I completed a Bachelor’s degree at the University of British Columbia in human nutrition, but that didn’t give me the information that I wanted. Then I completed a Master of Health Science at the University of Toronto in Community Nutrition. This was getting closer to what I wanted but still focused on preventing deficiency diseases, not on achieving optimum health.
At that point my career took a detour. I got married, became a stepmother to 3 pre-teens and went to live on Gabriola Island. After a few years I was approached to get involved with the B.C. Ambulance Service in a part-time/volunteer position. I did, and found that I really enjoyed the work. I went on to complete the training and work part-time as a paramedic on Gabriola and in Nanaimo for three years. Then I was hired full-time and worked for the next seven years as a paramedic in downtown Vancouver, a lot of it in the downtown Eastside area. Although I loved the work and had a wide variety of medical experiences, I eventually burned out.
Upon researching various medical fields, I came upon naturopathic medicine. I was excited to realize that I could combine my medical experience with my passion for nutrition. I enrolled in the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, the oldest naturopathic college in North America. Four years later I graduated fourth in my class of 97, with high academic honours. At last I had found the training that allowed me to use nutrition to prevent and treat disease and to help people achieve their optimum health.
After I graduated in 2000, I spent 5 years practicing general naturopathic medicine in the Shuswap area of B.C. In 2006 I moved to North Vancouver and opened the Seymour Naturopathic Clinic.
Every year I attend over 40 hours of continuing education seminars and courses, many about nutrition. I completed the “Applying Functional Medicine to Clinical Practice” training in Gig Harbor, WA. I designed, developed and taught both the first course in Nutrition and the Emergency Medicine course for the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster. I have given many talks to various groups on naturopathic medicine, stress, workplace productivity, diabetes and nutrition. I particularly like working with those you are stressed, overwhelmed, depressed or anxious.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
-
-
B. C. Association of Naturopathic Physicians www.bcna.ca
-
Canadian Association of Naturopathic Physicians www.cand.ca
-
Treasurer, Northwest Naturopathic Physicians Conference www.nwnpc.com
|
