About Me
My journey into natural medicine began after college, while living in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. What started with identifying and wildcrafting plants in my own backyard grew into a deep passion for herbal medicine. I studied with herbalists throughout New England, including Rosemary Gladstar, Susun S. Weed, David Winston, and others, and completed a six-month apprenticeship with herbalist Ursula Basch.
I went on to earn my doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Arizona. After practicing in New Hampshire, I returned to Pittsburgh and joined the UPMC Center for Integrative Medicine, where I worked from 2011 until its closure in November 2026.
Today, I offer virtual naturopathic care to people of all ages throughout Pennsylvania. My approach draws on nutrition, botanical medicine, nutritional supplementation, homeopathy, and lifestyle counseling, with a focus on helping each person find practical, individualized ways to support their health and wellbeing.
My areas of interest include digestive health, women’s health, chronic fatigue, cardiovascular health, anxiety and mood, and autoimmune conditions.
I look forward to working with you.
What Is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic Medicine is a system of integrative health care that blends conventional tools with a holistic approach and natural therapies such as herbs, nutrition, and lifestyle counseling.
The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges defines naturopathy as a distinct health care profession that combines nature’s wisdom with modern science’s rigors. The origins of naturopathic medicine date back to health care practices in Europe in the 1600s and 1700s.
Dr. Benedict Lust first codified naturopathy in 1902 when he founded the American School of Naturopathy in New York.
What do naturopathic doctors do?
During your first appointment, expect to spend 90 minutes as the naturopathic provider reviews your medical history and gets to know you and your health goals. Be ready to explain your health conditions, health history, and family history to the ND. Bring your medical records, particularly lab test results, your list of medications, and your supplement bottles, to your first appointment.
Nutrition is central to naturopathic medicine. You may need to complete a food diary in conjunction with your first appointment. You'll also answer many questions about your diet during your first visit. These questions may also touch on how you feel after eating certain foods, and any supplements you take. They'll review lab tests to help establish a baseline understanding of your health or find the cause of your symptoms. You will also spend time discussing your symptoms, energy levels, sleep, digestion, stress, exercise, and more. Different forms of testing may be considered, such as stool or saliva testing.
Naturopathic practitioners can work in cooperation with your conventional doctors. Communication and cooperation ensure safe and coordinated care. Note that in Pennsylvania, NDs do not diagnose disease nor prescribe medications, nor act as primary care providers. Patients seeing an ND should also have a conventional medical doctor (MD, DO, PA, CRNP, etc.) to act as their PCP, or primary care provider.
The naturopathic approach aims to see the patient as a whole, not just individual symptoms. Symptoms can be managed while continuing to seek underlying imbalances contributing to illness. The focus is on a holistic approach, with natural therapies being tailored to the individual and their unique concerns. Naturopathic practitioners seek to determine the underlying cause of disease.
Naturopathic Modalities
NDs may use a variety of therapies or modalities, including but not limited to:
✓ Botanical medicine
✓ Homeopathy
✓ Hydrotherapy
✓ Lifestyle changes, such as dietary changes and exercise.
✓ Nutritional supplements
✓ Lifestyle Counseling
✓ Stress reduction techniques, such as deep breathing or mindfulness meditation.
What Training Do NDs Receive?
Naturopathic practitioners complete a 4-year undergraduate degree with standard pre-medicine prerequisites, then a 4-year graduate-level doctorate program at a residential naturopathic medical school accredited by the US Department of Education, earning a doctorate degree in naturopathic medicine (ND).
Naturopathic medical schools provide a minimum of 4,100 hours of classroom and clinical training. During naturopathic medical school, students are educated in biomedical sciences as well as natural therapeutics. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, these schools require their graduates to complete four years of training in a number of natural modalities, including clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, physical medicine, and counseling. For at least the final two years of this program, naturopathic medical students intern in clinical settings under the close supervision of licensed professionals, receiving at least 1,200 hours of supervised and hands-on clinical training.
For more information on the education and training requirements for NDs, visit the website of the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges at https://aanmc.org/.