About Me
I believe everything is interconnected and has a story to tell. We learn from each other, we learn from the earth, and in our learning and sharing we heal. I feel my calling is to help create bridges between seemingly disparate people, places, and thoughts. Part of acting out this calling is becoming cross-trained in multiple disciplines. Another part is exploring life in different cultures and knowing people with different perspectives.
I am a chiropractic physician, anthropologist, and epidemiologist:
- BA in anthropology, The College of William and Mary, 1989.
- DC, Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, 1994.
- currently completing a PhD in anthropology and an MPH in epidemiology at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
From a clinical perspective, I am interested in understanding why breech presentation happens and helping moms, babies, families, and communities eliminate barriers to babies turning. I believe all life exists only in relationship. Therefore, the breech baby cannot be treated as if she/he is isolated from social context.
From an anthropological and epidemiologic perspective I am interested in looking at breech presentation as an adaptive event in response to stress. I am writing my dissertation on socio-cultural risk factors for breech presentation and am hypothesizing that those risk factors differ in a variety of sub-populations.
My life has been a patchwork quilt of amazing experiences. I have enjoyed studying the relationship between herbs, healing, and spirituality in the Caribbean and in Brazil. In Peru, I worked on an Earthwatch project studying prevention and treatment of infant diarrhea in a shanty town. In Nicaragua, I studied with bonesetters and with midwives. I also taught perinatal maternal massage and infant massage at a high risk pregnancy center in Matagalpa. I studied with a Shaman for one and one-half years in Portland, Oregon. I also worked on organic farms in Mexico, Brazil, and Costa Rica as a WWOOFer.
My post-doctoral training in natural medicine has focused on women’s and children’s health from the perspective of functional medicine. Additionally, I am trained in multiple energy medicine techniques such as Applied Kinesiology, BEST, Cranial Sacral Technique, Neuro-Emotional Technique, Neuro-Modulation Technique, NAET, Sacral-Occipital Technique, and Total Body Modification.
If you would like to participate in my research or are interested in breech turning, doula, or chiropractic services, please contact me.