What is your educational Training?
I graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Arkansas in 2003.
I received my naturopathic medical training at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. This is the oldest naturopathic medical school in North America. Like every medical school, our first year is spent learning the basic medical sciences—biochemistry, anatomy/physiology, cadaver lab, etc. Our second year we are taught how to diagnose disease by taking a medical history, doing physical exams, interpreting labs and imaging. Throughout our naturopathic medical training, we are taught the basics of Western, conventional medicine, but our philosophy of healing is inherently different. We are exposed to many paradigms of healing, encouraged to use the least invasive methods first, and trained to integrate with other health professionals and refer when medically necessary. In the third and fourth year, there is an emphasis on learning the different modalities of healing (pharmacology, minor surgery, physical medicine, herbal medicine, nutrition, counselling/stress management, homeopathy, and hydrotherapy), the different body systems (endocrinology, gynecology, gastroenterology), and doing our clinical rotations. I graduated from NCNM in 2007. We sit for two sets of board exams—during and after our education. I have been and am currently licensed in the state of Washington as a Naturopathic Physician since 2007 through the Washington Department of Health. Note: I cannot diagnose disease or prescribe medication in the state of Missouri.
I completed an oncology residency program through Bastyr University at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America from 2007-2009. Following that I sat for my oncology board exams through the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP) and obtained my Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO).
One of the delights of being in this profession is the necessity to continually learn. To maintain my license, I must complete continuing education every year. My continuing education has included topics in methylation and nutrigenomics, oncology, SIBO, mental health, endocrinology (hormone pathways), herbal studies, homeopathy, and autoimmune disease. I enjoy doing hands-on classes and professional lectures and have presented on topics including respiratory herbs, naturopathic care for kidney disease, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, end-of-life palliative care, homemade skincare products, caregiving, women’s health, and traditional paradigms of healing. I spend a considerable amount of time researching topics for my clients and putting all the pieces of their case together; it is the reason why I don’t see every weekday 8-5. There’s a lot of learning and research that goes on behind the scenes. Our understanding of health is continually evolving and I am convinced I will have the opportunity to always learn throughout my career.
I received my naturopathic medical training at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. This is the oldest naturopathic medical school in North America. Like every medical school, our first year is spent learning the basic medical sciences—biochemistry, anatomy/physiology, cadaver lab, etc. Our second year we are taught how to diagnose disease by taking a medical history, doing physical exams, interpreting labs and imaging. Throughout our naturopathic medical training, we are taught the basics of Western, conventional medicine, but our philosophy of healing is inherently different. We are exposed to many paradigms of healing, encouraged to use the least invasive methods first, and trained to integrate with other health professionals and refer when medically necessary. In the third and fourth year, there is an emphasis on learning the different modalities of healing (pharmacology, minor surgery, physical medicine, herbal medicine, nutrition, counselling/stress management, homeopathy, and hydrotherapy), the different body systems (endocrinology, gynecology, gastroenterology), and doing our clinical rotations. I graduated from NCNM in 2007. We sit for two sets of board exams—during and after our education. I have been and am currently licensed in the state of Washington as a Naturopathic Physician since 2007 through the Washington Department of Health. Note: I cannot diagnose disease or prescribe medication in the state of Missouri.
I completed an oncology residency program through Bastyr University at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America from 2007-2009. Following that I sat for my oncology board exams through the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP) and obtained my Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO).
One of the delights of being in this profession is the necessity to continually learn. To maintain my license, I must complete continuing education every year. My continuing education has included topics in methylation and nutrigenomics, oncology, SIBO, mental health, endocrinology (hormone pathways), herbal studies, homeopathy, and autoimmune disease. I enjoy doing hands-on classes and professional lectures and have presented on topics including respiratory herbs, naturopathic care for kidney disease, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, end-of-life palliative care, homemade skincare products, caregiving, women’s health, and traditional paradigms of healing. I spend a considerable amount of time researching topics for my clients and putting all the pieces of their case together; it is the reason why I don’t see every weekday 8-5. There’s a lot of learning and research that goes on behind the scenes. Our understanding of health is continually evolving and I am convinced I will have the opportunity to always learn throughout my career.
How long have you been in practice?
I have been in practice for 9 years.
I graduated naturopathic medical school in June 2007. I got my license and started practice in November 2007.
I graduated naturopathic medical school in June 2007. I got my license and started practice in November 2007.
What do I call you (i.e. Do I call you doctor)?
Please call me Katrina.
Do you accept insurance?
My services are not covered by insurance. Filing insurance requires a diagnosis code (even if you file the insurance yourself). I do not provide diagnosis codes for my services because it is against the law for me to diagnose disease in the state of Missouri.
Will your rates ever change?
Yes. I do track the amount of time that Our Healing Roots, LLC, spends providing care, researching cases, working on records and answering messages. Using this time information and any changes in overhead costs, I do evaluate my rates every October and may make a rate change once a year. Additionally, new service options may be offered at that time.
Do you see children?
I will provide naturopathic care for children age 1 year and up. Please note that I am not a substitute for a pediatrician. For younger children, the initial visit is typically scheduled for 45 minutes and costs $80.
Do you provide a family discount?
I do not provide family discounts. However, please see the question above regarding a reduced initial visit cost for younger children.
What Do you do at the first visit?
In the first visit, I will take a history of your chief concerns/symptoms, your past medical history, your allergies, current medications and supplements, basic life history, ask about other symptoms you may have elsewhere in your body, and basic aspects of your health such as sleep, digestion, stress, energy, and regular movement. I may do a non-invasive and non-diagnostic physical exam. Based on the history and exam, I may then recommend physiology-based labs, make referrals, and provide naturopathic recommendations.
I live out of state. Do you skype or provide phone appointments?
For the initial visit, I do need to see each client in person. I can provide some of your follow up appointments via Skype or phone conversations.
What do you treat?
I cannot treat disease in the state of Missouri, so I do not claim to treat any condition. Most of the care I provide falls into two categories:
- Optimizing the function and wellness for people
- People seeking care using natural paradigms of health (i.e. homeopathy, hydrotherapy, herbs) in instances where appropriate referral to conventional medical treatment is not necessitated
Can I use you for my medical care instead of my regular doctor?
No, I am not a substitute for medical care. In the state of Missouri, I cannot diagnose disease, order labs, or treat disease. I cannot write for prescriptions in the state of Missouri.
Do you treat cancer?
I cannot treat disease in the state of Missouri, so I do not claim to treat any condition. I do provide integrative naturopathic care for people who are under the care/treatment of a licensed oncologist. I do not provide alternative (natural-only) care for cancer.
In our initial visit, I review your cancer history and your current and past medical treatment, which might include a wait-and-watch approach by your oncologist, hospice care, or preventative care. I will ask your permission to sign a consent form so that I can send my consult notes to your doctor and request your medical records. My goals of integrative oncology care include:
In our initial visit, I review your cancer history and your current and past medical treatment, which might include a wait-and-watch approach by your oncologist, hospice care, or preventative care. I will ask your permission to sign a consent form so that I can send my consult notes to your doctor and request your medical records. My goals of integrative oncology care include:
- Monitor for any potential drug-herb-food interactions, helping to ensure that clients do not begin any supplements/foods that may interact with therapy
- Decrease risk of side effects so that patients can receive their full course of therapy on time
- Provide evidence-based natural recommendations that are synergistic with the prescribed therapy
- Support performance status and digestive health during treatment
Do you treat Thyroid Disease?
I cannot treat disease in the state of Missouri, so I do not claim to treat any condition. I do provide care for people experiencing subclinical hypothyroidism. If you have hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, autoimmune thyroid disease, or thyroid cancer, you will also need to be under the care of a licensed medical doctor to help you manage this condition, but I can provide integrative naturopathic care in these instances. In the instance of autoimmune thyroid disease, I follow the functional approaches of Dr. Susan Blum and Dr. Izabella Wentz.
Do you treat depression and anxiety?
I cannot treat disease in the state of Missouri, so I do not claim to treat any condition. I will see people experiencing mild to moderate, non-suicidal depression and/or anxiety. My approach in these situations is to help optimize digestion and lifestyle, provide support with flower essences and/or homeopathy, recommend supportive hydrotherapy, and explore physiology-based testing for cortisol, hormones, neurotransmitter imbalances, neuromethylation genetics, nutrient deficiencies, and/or food sensitivities. For some clients, simply removing the simple, refined sugars from the diet has made a profound impact.
Can you manage my diabetes?
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you will need to continue medical management with your licensed physician. If you are not on insulin, I can support you integrative naturopathic care. To do this process, you will need to monitor your blood sugar daily and have your hemoglobin A1C monitored every 3 months (usually done by your physician).
Do you see people for wellness or when nothing is wrong with them?
Yes! I am happy to review naturopathic care for maintaining wellness. There is never a 100% guarantee that we can prevent all diseases from ever happening to you, but we can work to stack the deck in your favor and try to mitigate risk factors.
Can you prescribe drugs/medications?
No, I cannot prescribe drugs/medications in the state of Missouri.
Do you handle medical emergencies?
I am not equipped to handle medical emergencies. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, I will refer you to the ER or to call 911. I am trained in basic first aid and CPR if something happens while you are in the office. If you become unresponsive, I will dial 911 for you.
What types of recommendations do you make?
- Healthy lifestyle recommendations
- Nutritional supplements
- Herbs—teas, capsules, tinctures, syrups, and topical forms (salves and herbal poultices)
- Hydrotherapy—home application of hot/cold water topically to the skin, castor oil packs
- Homeopathy and flower essences
- Review of potential drug-natural supplement interactions
- Referrals, when appropriate, to other providers
Can you fix my pain?
I do provide integrative support for pain. In my experience, there is no one size fits all when it comes to pain. Some people will have more success using medication to manage their pain than natural supplements. On the other hand, some people cannot tolerate the medications and natural approaches to address pain are a better fit for them. I do not provide physical medicine approaches such as physical therapy, massage, and/or chiropractic, and these can be very effective approaches for pain in some instances and inappropriate in other instances.
In my experience, sometimes pain gets better by removing certain foods from the diet, addressing the underlying cause of the pain (i.e. neuropathy secondary to diabetes), reducing inflammation in the body, using relaxation and mindfulness techniques, and using herbal analgesics and/or homeopathy.
In my experience, sometimes pain gets better by removing certain foods from the diet, addressing the underlying cause of the pain (i.e. neuropathy secondary to diabetes), reducing inflammation in the body, using relaxation and mindfulness techniques, and using herbal analgesics and/or homeopathy.
Do you provide acupuncture?
No, I do not provide acupuncture services, but I would be happy to refer you to qualified providers.
Do you sell supplements?
No, I do not sell supplements in my office. At my office, I may recommend a place to buy the supplement locally or a website where you can get a discount on a particular brand I am recommending. You are not obligated to buy your supplements from the places I recommend though.
Can you send/obtain my records to/from my doctor?
If you fill out the HIPAA forms I can send and/or obtain your records. Please allow 14-30 days for processing.
Will you work with my doctor?
I will never recommend that you go against something your doctor recommends. Upon request, I will send a letter to your doctor or in some instances try to call your doctor. Not all doctors have time available to call me back, but I will generally try to contact them several times if requested. In most instances, I can at least talk to their nurse to pass along important messages and to help coordinate care.
Why are you LICENSED in WASHINGTON and Not Missouri?
The state of Missouri does not license the practice of naturopathic medicine. The level of education varies greatly in this unlicensed state—from simply self-educated to correspondence school education to people who have completed a four year on-site naturopathic medical degree and boards and residency, such as myself. I choose to maintain my license in state that does recognize the practice as I have been trained.
