My healing journey has been anything but “normal”…

I didn’t start my career in nutrition... actually, the complete opposite! Initially, I worked in the “family trade” of engineering and construction management. After graduating from Purdue University, I worked for a company that built dams, pipelines, and transmission lines until I was hit with a Lupus diagnosis at age 22. But because of the stressful nature of the work that I believe contributed to my illness, I left the industry. As you can imagine, I was not only left with the stress of finding a new career, but also that of reassembling my health.

Now… this wasn’t my first illness. As with many “chronic and complex” cases, it’d been a steady decline into dysfunction: a slew of diagnoses at age 11, delayed puberty, a list of food intolerances and allergies through my teens, loss of menses and extreme hypothyroidism, eating disorders, Celiac’s, Lupus, mast cell activation, chronic pain, and some hypermobility. That’s quite a list for someone, huh? As you can imagine, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired!

The quest to regain health can push someone to some extremes. With the motivation to feel better and with support from my mother, I returned to school to become a nutritional therapist (NTP). Over the course of several years, I’ve regained my health and have since continued my education. Given my own adversities, I have come to specialize in seeing clients with chronic and complex illnesses, and those especially affected by mast cell activation and hypermobility.

Currently, I’m pursuing a medical degree (MD) at the University of Split School of Medicine (USSM) in Split, Croatia, and am expected to graduate in 2028. I am also completing a Master’s of Science (MSc) in Human Nutrition and am expected to graduate in 2027. I truly believe in the balance between western and holistic ideologies, and look to use both in my practice; both have a time and a place. It’s a message I’ve learned over the years, time and time again.

To date, I have completed training as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP). I have also trained with Susan Cachay (MNBP) and Rick Malter in Nutritional Balancing/Mineral Balancing. I hope to continue my career in research and helping those with mysterious maladies, using various and diverse perspectives of medicine—conventional and alternative.

Happy healing to you!