I founded Nayeli from a conviction that healthcare can be both intellectually rigorous and deeply human.

Before entering clinical practice, I spent many years as a University Professor, Epidemiologist and health researcher. I hold a PhD in Community Health Sciences, specializing in epidemiology and health promotion, from the College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba, as well as a master’s degree in Family Studies with an emphasis on child development.

My work focused particularly on maternal and infant health, family health, health promotion and healthcare programming in diverse and First Nations communities. It taught me to look beyond individual symptoms and consider the broader conditions that shape health: family, culture, history, community, access to care and the circumstances of a person’s life.

Over time, I became increasingly aware of what can be missed when healthcare is divided into symptoms, systems and specialities. I wanted to practice in a way that allowed more time for listening, deeper attention to the relationships among symptoms, and greater recognition of the whole person.

This led me to study Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and Traditional Chinese medicine. I later pursued advanced education in fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, menstrual health, perimenopause and menopause. Today, I bring together Traditional Chinese Medicine, biomedical science, epidemiology and more then 25 years experience in healthcare, research and education.

Nayeli grew from the belief that people should not have to choose between bing carefully assessed and compassionately heard. Our practitioners bring different forms of knowledge and care together, helping each person find an approach that reflects their needs and goals.

The name Nayeli is my granddaughter’s middle name and is commonly understood to express the words, “I love you”. From this came the principle at the heart of our clinic: Love is the Foundation of Healing.

For me, love in healthcare is expressed through careful listening, intellectual honesty, respect and a willingness to see the whole person — not only a symptom or diagnosis.

Healing does not always mean curing. It may mean relief, recovery, adaptation, understanding, dignity or feeling supported through a difficult passage. Whatever healing means in a particular life, I believe care should begin with knowledge, compassion and genuine regard for the person receiving it.

That is the vision behind Nayeli and the standard towards which we continue to grow.