Hi, I'm Jennifer Drummond. My route into naturopathic medicine was not direct by any means. Though I always had an interest in health and wellness, I hadn't grown up with naturopathic medicine in my family. My diet as a kid was full of sugar, canned foods and soda pop. Don't get me wrong - it was tasty at the time, and I certainly didn't complain. But, as a young teenager, I began becoming more interested in nutrition. I was also playing a lot of hockey, basketball and soccer. I avoided medications if I was ill with the flu or cold as I wanted my own body to fight it off itself. But, I had never heard of naturopathic medicine, never really even been inside of a health food store. I only first heard of this kind of healthcare as I was deciding whether or not to accept a scholarship for a Masters degree in gastrointestinal research. A friend who was finishing her Ph.D. stopped me one day to talk to me about my future. She knew I was interested in pursuing medicine down the line and wanted to introduce me to the idea of naturopathic medicine. My friend felt being a naturopathic doctor would be a better fit for my personality rather than conventional medicine. She stressed the amount of time I would get to be with each patient, really getting to know them and working to help them and their families in their healthcare. My friend then told her personal story of having been hospitalized with a life-threating and antibiotic-resistant strain of pneumonia and how it was her naturopath who ended up helping her with herbs and hydrotherapy. Her story intrigued me. It was quite incredible that later that day, I noticed a sign saying the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine was giving a talk at my university later that week. The seed already planted, I went and was impressed. The investigative side in me was ignited, and I set up interviews with all the local naturopathic doctors around. I saw first-hand how valuable the time we as naturopaths can give to each patient, as well as the individualized care, which were instrumental to the patient's well-being and improvement. These two factors are fundamental to my practice to this day. Since graduating in 2005, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with numerous patients and am honoured to be a part of their healing journey. I welcome you to call or write me a note, and we can chat about how we can work together as a team in your healthcare. Sincerely, Jennifer Drummond, BScH ND