"One day changed how I looked at health and the human body."

 

My passion for improving health began after I had a car accident in 2002.  I approached my care with the traditional medical model as this was all I knew and it resulted in minimal improvement. I explored alternative medicine with chiropractic care, massage therapy, and professional-grade supplements.   This is when my healing and my journey towards functional medicine began.  As a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, I feel that my auto accident led me to my true calling in life: to help people improve their health through nutrition and lifestyle medicine.

 

I began to do what I do naturally, which was to learn what I could.  I worked for a professional supplement company, became certified as a nutrition counselor, and then formalized my education by earning a Master's Degree and pursuing Functional Medicine training at the Institute for Functional Medicine.  I have since earned a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition, hold the national credential as a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), and am a licensed/certified dietitian nutritionist in 2 states (NY and FL). 

 

I can relate to you and your concerns.  Following my accident I noticed many small and large changes starting to occur in my health.  I gained weight, became easily fatigued, my digestive tract seemed easily disturbed, even by healthy foods, my immune system was weakening and my hormones seemed to have a mind of their own.  I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in 2010 and then in 2011, testing confirmed what I suspected...my adrenals were tired!  Through my own journey, I have not taken any prescription drugs but rather turned all of these things around and managed them through nutrition and lifestyle.

 

My personal experience, as well as a passion for certain aspects of nutrition care, led me to specialize in mental health (anxiety depression, and sleep disturbances), nutritional genomics, hormonal imbalances, and GI dysfunction.  I think it is my personal journey and ability to relate to what you are going through which makes me a stronger nutritionist for you.

 

Education and Certificates

• Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition, Maryland University of Integrative Health

• M.S. Applied Clinical Nutrition, New York Chiropractic College

• M.B.A. Utica College

• Certified Nutrition Specialists (CNS®)

• Certified Ketogenic Nutrition Specialist (CNKS)

• Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist (CDN) in New York

• Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN) in Florida

• Institute For Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner (IFMCP)

• Certified Life Coach

• Certified First Line Therapy® Lifestyle Educator

 

Outside of Clinical Care

• Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) School of Nutrition::

  • Division Director and Assistant Professor

 

Publications

• Nutritional management of surgically induced menopause-A case report

• Innovative therapies for mood disorders- A case report

• Managing mood-related symptoms utilizing diet, targeted nutrient supplementation, and lifestyle changes- A case series

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