From the outside, she is Dr. Sangeetha Nadarajah MD DABFM CFPC, but from within her clinical space in historic Yaletown, she is Dr. Sangeetha MD, a vibrant woman of colour bringing a fresh approach to women’s health. An avid practitioner and proponent of yoga and plant medicine, she lives a compassionate lifestyle of veganism and actively gives-back to many causes as part of her life path.
What inspired you to start the Dr. Sangeetha MD Integrative Medicine clinic?
From my perspective, there is a great need for evidence-based integrative medicine and aesthetics in Vancouver. The west coast has a reputation for being health conscious and cultivating a holistic way of life. As a physician, it is important to offer solutions to patients who have either been failed by conventional medicine or are seeking treatment that aligns with their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. There is a common misconception that there is a dichotomy between traditional allopathic medicine and evidence-based health and wellness practices, and I want to bridge that gap because I have the specialized expertise to do so. With my studies beginning over 20 years ago in social cultural anthropology, I am practical in my approach to help and provide sustainable solutions that help patients be more compliant and understand their bodies. (Recommended reading: What is Integrative Medicine) INSERT BLOG #1 link on the title)
What makes your clinic stand out from other integrative clinics in Vancouver?
The Dr. Sangeetha MD Integrative Medicine clinic, located in historic Yaletown, is a new and much-needed care approach. It is no secret that downtown Vancouver is over-saturated with medi-spa’s and aesthetics clinics and is experiencing a lack of physicians! I am helping people not only improve their health (plant medicine, yoga prescriptions, and more) but look their best, providing sustainable optimization of their health – both physically and emotionally.
Experience: Besides being extremely passionate about evidence-based yoga research, I am a Vancouver-based US-trained medical Doctor. My experience is vast and includes a large spectrum of clinical settings, such as running an ER at a Level 2 Trauma and Stroke Centre in the American midwest, delivering babies, assisting in different surgeries, working concierge medicine in Southside Chicago, and essentially managing a busy walk-in clinic in downtown Vancouver for almost five years. I understand that integrative medicine isn’t just for young healthy people – as marketing would have you believe – it is for everyone from young to old who will benefit from it.
Yoga: I will admit that I am more than a little obsessed with yoga, having completed my 200-hour Vinyasa and Yin Yoga instructor training. Under my physiotherapist father’s guidance, I have been a lifelong yoga student and have been known to write prescriptions for Yoga for patients. I love to give my patients yoga prescriptions. Given that I understand anatomy, physiology, and pathology, the prescription can be quite helpful for people who live with acid reflux and menstrual cramps, for example.
Plant Medicine: I am very specialized in plant medicine offerings. Medical cannabis only became legal in Canada in 2018. Since 2019, I have been working with a team of pharmacists and specialists to study the pharmacotherapy and interaction between Cannabis and medications. I treat a wide spectrum of conditions such as easing the side-effects of cancer treatments (chemotherapy), seizures, migraines, and those in palliative care. I also help people with Cannabis Use Disorder – a touchy subject in a culture holding the erroneous belief that cannabis is a cure-all for everything that ails you with no side-effects or negative consequences. Other integrative clinics just do not have the same type of background, experience, or clinical knowledge.
Culinary Medicine: In addition to the above, I am becoming the first doctor in BC and the second in Canada to have a Culinary Medicine certification. This is a very specialized field, and I am incredibly excited to bring this knowledge to my practice.
Why it is important to you to celebrate and recognize women of all ages and backgrounds within your practice?
Recognizing and celebrating women of all ages and backgrounds is important! I went into medicine to serve and create safe spaces for women. Over the years, and much too often, I have met with patients who finally felt comfortable with a physician to be able to disclose intimate issues they had with their bodies and sexuality. My practice in Yaletown offers a safe space for all women and those who identify as women.
… Some final thoughts to inspire
If you are thinking about or have already started moving toward a healthier lifestyle, be very gentle with yourself and imagine yourself as your best friend. When we think about a healthy lifestyle, the process must start with communication with ourselves. I feel that being softer with ourselves is a missing component in developing a workable, sustainable practice for our health.