My doctorate and master’s degrees are in international public health and human nutrition.  I have been researching maternal and child health issues since I graduated from college.  In late 2000, I moved to Nepal and spent two and a half years studying the effects of supplementation with zinc and iron (two nutrients that are often lacking here in the United States) on the development of Nepali infants.  After I returned in 2003 and completed my doctorate, I began the process of writing manuscripts for peer-reviewed scientific journals as a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University.  I continue to devote time to exploring the connections between nutrition, behavior, physical development, and well-being.  

As a result of healing my own gastro-intestinal health issues and post-traumatic stress (PTSD) that resulted from living in an impoverished environment amidst a civil insurgency,  I have gained knowledge about and tools for healing that I enjoy sharing with others.  From a young age, I learned to navigate the American health care system and be an advocate for my father who suffered from multiple chronic health conditions. I have witnessed first-hand the connection between disease and nutrition and have spent more than a decade working with individuals in both the developed and developing world on health and nutrition issues.    

I aim to help individuals from all walks of life lead happier, healthier, and more fulfilled lives.  I seek to understand the relationship between nutrition and mental health, especially in the context of stress and trauma.  My long-term objective is to teach large trauma-exposed communities in the developing world how to effectively release trauma from their bodies and, in doing so, experience emotional freedom.   I feel passionate about my work and am filled with joy at the idea of being able to assist others with their healing journeys.