My experience with naturopathic medicine started organically and informally.  I lived what could be described as a pioneering childhood.  My family of origin homesteaded the rural farm I was raised on, even my very earliest memories included daily exercise, organic home grown whole food diet, herbal medicine and many of the other tenets of self-care.

As a young man in my early 20s, I became a father. This was when I found myself researching healthcare, in effort to provide my young family with the tools to live and develop well.  This was when I learned about Naturopathic Medicine as a profession.  I decided then, with great passion, I was going to become a Naturopathic Doctor.

I had a long convoluted road to reach that goal.  By the time I finally entered Naturopathic Medical school, I had earned a BSc (double major in Chemistry and Biochemistry) from UNBC in Prince George, a MSc (Pharmaceutical Sciences) from UBC in Vancouver and had spent several years working in academic medical research and biotechnology. 
 
I started Naturopathic training with loads of science and medical understanding.  By the time I completed  my Naturopathic Medical training, I had learned so much more. 

Medicine includes all that science but also it's... 
being human, 
living in community with others and the planet,
living inside your head, how others live in their's and how we coexist with our differences and similarities, 
consciousness (which is yet to be defined), 
spirituality which is completely individual even within groups of like-minded believers, 
trauma and how deal with that trauma, cultural and familial.
Understanding and supporting one person's health fully requires getting to know  who they are and how they fit into the world within which they spend their days.

My areas of interest have always included preventive medicine, pediatrics and neurodivergent care.  During my time in school I learned of prolotherapy; I knew immediately it would be a part of my practice. Interestingly, prolotherapy was a gateway to treating pain in patients.  Naturally, as pain impacts mental health, I felt a need to build an understanding of how to support people's mind and thought patterns and it's vast influence on our quality of life.   
Mental health treatment has returned me to neurodivergent health and management. 

I have always spent exorbitant amounts of time pouring through the research and learning new approaches to support my patients.  At some point recently, it became apparent that I am  undiagnosed but undeniably autistic.  Having this information has made it much easier to understand myself and live in my head with myself. Reflecting back it is interesting that I have always been interested in this and related conditions.

I am also enthusiastically following the direction and developments of the research into psychedelic therapies.  This remains prohibited for Naturopathic Physicians in BC, but I am looking forward a time when this is within our scope of practice.  I have had quite a number of patients who have come to me for support with integrating their experiences. I feel it's consciousness medicine and has the capacity not just individuals but also communities.

Another area that I am avidly interested in is that of the aging brain, dementia halting, and potentially the eventual reversal altogether of demented brain symptoms.  I recently completed a comprehensive program in the field and I have seen significant changes in the patients that I have supported using those tools combined with naturopathic approaches.  

Naturopathic Physicians working in BC have acquired a large scope of practice through decades of lobbying the provincial government.  I am grateful for the tools and treatments that I have at my disposal to support my patients.  We are provincially regulated by the College of Complementary Health Practitioners of BC. This regulation is in place to give individuals reassurance that the care they receive is from a fully trained practitioner who has a duty to practice in a way that serves the patient's best interest.

Outside of work, I have a great life which I get to share with my supportive long-suffering wife Laura, my adult sons and their young families.   I spend my time in various artisan projects interrupted by moments with Attie, my faithful dog and companion