Tragedy fuels medical dream

Dr. Tammy McInnis’s initial exposure to the medical system was when her young mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

As a girl, the North Bend resident watched her mother endure seemingly endless rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. At times, McInnis said, she felt disappointed with the impersonal care that her mother received and the lack of collaboration among her mother’s doctors. At a young age, she came to believe that creating meaningful relationships with patients and their families should be an integral part of the healing process.

Out of the tragedy of her mother’s illness and untimely death, McInnis began dreaming that she might one day become a physician. She envisioned herself practicing relationship-based medicine in an environment that balanced science, art and compassion.

During naturopathic medical school at Bastyr University, McInnis met Naomi Bryant and Jill Monster, who shared a similar philosophy on patient care. In 2007, the three physicians opened NaturoMedica, a naturopathic health clinic in Sammamish.

NaturoMedica combines natural therapies, conventional medicine and highly personalized service. The NaturoMedica doctors see men, women and children of all ages for all types of medical conditions.

A patient’s first visit at NaturoMedica typically lasts two hours, which gives patients time to go through their entire health history and review their concerns. The doctors say that the extra time with patients allows them to be proactive about their patients’ health, rather than just reacting to problems.

“Our patients want to take a more participatory role in their healthcare and we enjoy being able to take the time to sit down and really listen to what our patients are telling us,” McInnis said.

“I wish that this kind of medical care would have been available for my mother,” McInnis said. “I take some comfort in knowing that I provide my patients with the kind of healthcare that I would have wanted for my own mother.”

To learn more, visit www.naturomedica.com or call (425) 557-8900. NaturoMedica is located in Sammamish in the Pine Lake Plaza shopping center.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.