Welcome to my Integrative and Functional Medicine Practice
At the wise age of nine, I decided to become a doctor. I was fortunate to receive my medical education at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, a school that has historically been committed to women in medicine. After completing my residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Toronto, I was ready to explore warmer places and a new direction in medicine.
Since moving to the Bay area over three decades ago, I grew a very successful private practice and co-founded Avenues for Health, a dynamic women’s health practice in Danville.
Throughout more than 20 years in Internal Medicine and Women’s Health, I enjoyed wonderful long-term relationships and the continuity of care I could provide as a primary care doctor. During these years, I continued to learn and blend many different complementary and alternative therapies to help my patients, including nutrition, functional medicine, herbal medicine and medical acupuncture.
In December 2009, I proudly graduated from the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, under the direction of Dr. Andrew Weil. This unique and innovative two-year journey is the premier program in Integrative Medicine training for physicians. It has solidified my foundation in the art and science of Integrative Medicine and provided me with a community of practitioners who will lead a much-needed transformation in healthcare.
My Future in TeleMedicine...
My knowledge of herbal medicine has continued to grow through formal training with master herbalists, providing my patients with options to choose between pharmaceuticals and herbs or a careful blending of both. I am fascinated with herbal medicine and am very excited to start a new in-depth course, Foundations in Herbal Medicine, taught by Tieraona Low Dog MD, a renowned herbalist and physician.
In 2010, the time was right for me to realize my dream of a new model of practice, one which honored the individual’s right to choose a healing path, free of the time constraints of the insurance-based medical model. Since then, I have been honored to work with my patients, drawing on the knowledge I have incorporated from the best of both western and alternative medical traditions.
Now, personally and professionally, I will be taking a leap into the new world of telemedicine. My office in Lafayette will be closing in mid January. I will continue to offer Integrative/Functional medicine consultation visits through telemedicine. Video visits are similar to FaceTime or Skype, but our visits will be private through a HIPAA compliant platform with support for connection. Telephone visits will also be available.