I am a licensed graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College and of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Toronto. In addition to certification in veterinary acupuncture through IVAS, I have taken numerous other courses and training including a certificate course in Environmental Medicine through the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors, Biological Medicine at the Marion Institute in Massachusetts, Bowen Technique and Reiki. I believe that the art and science of medicine is a life-long study and continue to attend courses and seminars to update my knowledge and learn new skills.
I was fortunate enough to grow up on a farm. I had lots of exposure to all kinds of animals which sparked my interest in veterinary medicine. I also had the freedom to spend lots of time on my own exploring the nearby fields, streams and woods on the farm and in northern Ontario. From this I developed a deep connection to the natural world and an awareness of our interdependence with it.
My medical training and practice was initially strictly conventional. A chance mention of a course in acupuncture for animals caught my interest and this was the start of my natural medicine journey. Over the years my children and animals have good humouredly if not always enthusiastically been the first recipients of my latest discoveries and innovations. In return they have a collection of “remember the time when…” stories that are an endless source of entertainment.
A downside of growing up on a farm was the exposure from an early age to many of the chemicals used in conventional farming. Even then I knew intuitively that these chemicals could not be a good thing for the environment but it was only when I got older that I began to recognise some of the long term effects on myself and my family.
These firsthand experiences have given me the knowledge and motivation to share what I have learned to inspire others to become aware of environmental impacts on our health and what we can do about it.