Ayurveda Practitioners
Hi! I’m Dr. Teresa Goldsmith, a practicing Naturopathic Doctor in Washington State since 2011.
I love my job! Helping people by using principles from science and nature is what I’m called to do. However, I didn’t always know that I wanted to be a naturopathic doctor. In fact, I didn’t even know there was such a profession until I had already gone through college.
The Story Begins
What I did know was that I wanted to help people. I studied Biology as an Undergraduate in San Diego and Chico, California. My plan was to go to medical school and become a pediatrician after graduation. Along that path, I studied Biochemistry which intrigued me. I ended up graduating from California State University, Chico with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, with a Biochemistry option and minor in Biology
The Path Changes
Instead of medical school, I attended the University of California Santa Cruz for PhD studies in Biochemistry. I ended my PhD studies without completing the program. It wasn’t for me. One of the hardest decisions that I ever had to make turned out to be one of the best! I still love Biochemistry but just realized that it was not my path to be focused primarily lab work. Some very cool things I learned along the way: I love to teach, and I was introduced to the world of plant medicine and pharmacology.
When One Door Closes
And then, one of the coolest things happened to me on one of my last days in Santa Cruz. For fun and to begin to explore new career options, I attended a free on campus Graduate school fair. They say that when one door closes – another opens. While it sounds cliché, this situation could be the prime example! This is when I found out about Bastyr University and Naturopathic Medicine. It seemed to be the perfect blend of medicine, science and nature. I will never forget that day because it changed the path of my life and career.
The Journey Continues
However appealing, I decided not to jump into another school program right away. I worked at a local food co-op where I gained retail experience and learned about business, natural foods, and nutrition. I taught Chemistry labs to students who always wanted to know if we were going to blow something up that day. My answer was always “hopefully not!”
I became a wife and mom to two kids who have grown up fast just like everyone said they would. Ultimately, my family came with me to Kenmore, Washington to pursue my formal education in Naturopathic Medicine. I completed my Naturopathic Studies in 2011. My first class at Bastyr was called “Introduction to Ayurveda” which is the natural healing system from India. I fell in love with this particular field of natural medicine and completed an Ayurvedic Wellness Practitioner Program with Kerala Ayurveda Academy concurrently with my ND training.
Practice Makes Perfect
After graduation, I was fortunate to be offered a 1 year residency with the Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Medical Clinic in Bellevue, WA. After my residency, I focused full-time on my practice in the Northgate area of Seattle (ECIM). Now I am practicing in two greater Seattle area locations (Northgate and Woodinville). Outside of work, you can usually find me spending time with my family, seeking sunshine, dancing, or tending to my herb garden.
