Questions for Southern California ND Tamara Trebilcock

School of Naturopathic Medicine

Tamara Trebilcock, ND, graduated from Bastyr University in 2005, promptly moved to Santa Monica, California, and established a successful practice, Integrative Health Institutes. She encountered active, health-minded patients hungry for new approaches to health care and pre-med students eager for a naturopathic medicine school in the area — a need Bastyr University California is about to fill.

Dr. Trebilcock spoke to us recently about Southern California health culture and the undergraduates knocking at her door for an inside look at natural medicine. February 14, 2012

What is Southern California like as a place to practice natural medicine?

It's such a health-oriented culture. People are active. They like to be outside in the sun, exercising and hiking. There's also the Hollywood culture. So it's an interesting mix and a good place for NDs because we can offer treatment that's different than what people are used to. I've found that people are looking for a doctor who listens to them and helps them uncover the cause of their illness and treats them in the least invasive way possible. And they're interested in alternatives to conventional care. They may be having bad side effects to medications, or they're not seeing the success they'd like to have, and they've tried everything. Sometimes they've been suffering for years before they find an ND. It's really gratifying to be able to help them.

How is the naturopathic community going to greet Bastyr University in San Diego?

It's going to be great — there's a huge desire for a naturopathic school here. Almost every week I have students from local universities, like UCLA and USC and community colleges, who ask me to come and talk to them about naturopathic medicine and my practice. Many of them are going into medical school and are looking for a natural medicine degree instead of a conventional one.

I became chair of the education committee for the California Naturopathic Doctors Association (CNDA) because I wanted to see a school established here. There's a resounding need for it. When I first started practicing, there were only three naturopaths in Santa Monica on the coast. Now there are more than 20. There are more than 90 in Los Angeles and 200 in Southern California.

We're looking forward to the possibility of precepting partnerships between these doctors and Bastyr students. The new campus is also near the Veterans Affairs San Diego Medical Center and the Scripps Health hospital network, which has an integrative medicine program. Precepting with integrative doctors is another opportunity to broaden your education and gain experience seeing other patient populations with different types of illnesses. It makes your education that much more full.

And the Torrey Pines area where campus will be located is absolutely beautiful. The ocean is within a mile, and so are some stunning parks. It puts the natural in natural medicine.

How did you find your way to naturopathic medicine?

I was on the conventional route to medical school. I was very interested in cardiothoracic surgery, and I had my portfolio all ready to go to conventional schools. Then Bastyr came to visit my school. I talked to advisors, visited the campus and realized this was exactly how I wanted to study medicine. The focus on getting to the cause of illness was the big appeal. And I was still able to work in the gross anatomy lab at Bastyr for four years, so I could satisfy my special interest in anatomy.

How did you get started with your practice?

I started my practice in 2006. To establish and build it, I put myself out there any way I could. Every Friday I scheduled meetings with other doctors — general practice doctors, cardiologists, gynecologists, acupuncturists. That helped me build a referral network, which works both ways — they make referrals to me, and I do to them. Over the years that's grown into a sustainable mutual relationship. I also did lectures at Whole Foods, co-ops, compounding pharmacies and the Boys & Girls Club. Establishing an Internet presence was very important too, as well as showing my relationship to Bastyr, CNDA  and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

Now my office is packed and I'm booked four weeks out for new patients. We're looking to hire another ND. I do less and less advertising, although the CNDA and its website are still important for bringing in patients. Word-of-mouth referrals from patients are now my biggest source of patients. I can rely on patients who have been with me for years and have come to trust what naturopathic medicine can do.

What are you learning through your practice?

I'm learning I'm really lucky in my career choice, because it's so rewarding to come in everyday and have patients tell me how much better they feel. People say they were unsure about this approach, but then they feel so much better, the best they've felt in years. What I learn from my patients is that simpler is usually better. Dietary recommendations and herbs themselves can be very, very powerful, often more powerful than many medications and surgery. And they have lasting effects on wellness.

02 14 2012

http://www.bastyr.edu/people/alumni/5-questions-southern-california-nd-tamara-trebilcock

SANTA MONICA, CA, November 22, 2008  /24-7PressRelease/ -- Integrative Health Institutes (IHI) Dr. Tamara D. Trebilcock, ND a California licensed Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, is helping many regain their health, the Naturopathic way by specializing in treating gastrointestinal health, women's health, anxiety and depression.

When most individuals have a chronic health condition such as chronic fatigue, food allergies, PMS, hormone balancing, gas, bloating even anxiety or depression most tend to treat the symptoms rather than discovering what caused the problem in the first place . Dr. Trebilcock states that "naturopathic medical philosophy of health promotion is a practice of medicine which seeks to restore health, versus treating disease, where we use a combination of safe, minimally invasive and effective natural and conventional therapies.

Dr. Tamara D Trebilcock, ND received her medical degree from Bastyr University in Seattle, WA, the nation's leader in Natural Medicine for General Practitioners. She has extensive clinical experience specializing in the fields of neurology, women's health, endocrinology and gastrointestinal medicine. Dr. Trebilcock is the owner of both Integrative Health Institutes (IHI) locations in Southern California, a leader in Integrative Medicine. She has written and lectured on over 100 various health topics with an emphasis in internal medicine evaluation, diagnostics, and treatment and natural medicine therapeutics including: clinical nutrition, diet and lifestyle modification, and botanical medicine. She also serves as a consultant and lecturer providing expertise in the field of Integrative Medicine. She is the Southern California representative for Bastyr University Alumni, and participates on an Advisory Council for the creation of integrative clinics across the country.

Dr. Trebilcock, a naturopathic doctor (ND) is a primary care, general practitioner trained as an expert in natural medicine and as her credentials reflect she is clinically trained in the use of a wide variety of natural therapeutics. On a daily basis her many satisfied patients consult with her for preventive medicine as well as for most acute and chronic conditions. She serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the California Naturopathic Doctors Association, and is an active member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and Holistic Health Network. Dr. Trebilcock, shares "It is important to be current on all new CAM research in order to offer the latest treatments and lecture topics".

With the ever growing list of chronic illness and many suffering from food allergies and gastrointestinal problems as well as women's health issues among other things, getting to the root of the problem and treating the symptoms not the disease, Dr.Trebilcock, and Integrative health Institute is your solution. To get in touch with Dr. Tamara Trebilcock and her staff at Integrative Health Institute of California please visit:

www.integrativehi.com or call 310-829-7339 to schedule a consultation.

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April 2010 Whole Foods Market to have NDs on staff at in-store clinics

Dr. Trebilcock was appointed to the Medical Advisory Council in 2007 to create an innovative model for the introduction of Naturopathic Doctors into the acute care setting.Wellness Express announces the opening of the first clinic in the Cupertino Whole Foods Market store in CA. Keep an eye out for a future store near you to offer this unique care. Dr. Trebilcock is the Co-Director of Wellness for the Wellness Express company that will expand nationally.For more information visit: http://www.wellnessexpressclinic.com/

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April 2010:

 Dr. Trebilcock, Hormone, Mental Health and Digestive health expert to Chair Education Committee for CNDA

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October 21, 2009: 

Dr. Trebilcock, Hormone, Mental Health and Digestive health expert lectures on Digestive Wellness