Meet Dr. Karrina Wallace of Ponderosa Natural Medicine in West Highlands and Wheat Ridge

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Karrina Wallace.

Dr. Wallace, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Since a child, I aspired to become a doctor to help others. As a young adult facing illness of my own, I discovered the healing power of natural remedies when conventional healthcare offered no help. This healing experience empowered me to become a naturopathic doctor to provide natural healing modalities. In pursuit of this goal, I completed her Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition Foods and Exercise from Virginia Polytechnic and State University (Virginia Tech). I then earned her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in Portland, Oregon.

The curriculum at NUNM fuses both conventional medical knowledge with traditional healing modalities. Upon completion of my doctorate and board exams in 2015, I moved to Colorado to begin my practice. I had visited Colorado often as a young adult and had fallen in love with the area. Also, at that time, naturopathic doctors had recently gained registration status in Colorado which presented an exciting new opportunity. I am fascinated by the complex nature of the human body and confident in the role of herbal and nutritional medicine in the healing process. It is my goal to provide compassionate and effective naturopathic medical services.

Has it been a smooth road?
The process of obtaining my goal to become a naturopathic doctor was not an easy one. The financial and emotional commitment to attending naturopathic medical school was extremely demanding. However, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about herbal medicine, nutritional medicine and all of the other modalities we learned in school. Following naturopathic medical school and board exams came the task of starting and growing a business. I am highly educated and experienced in human/ medical sciences, nutrition, and clinical practice. However, I was not educated in business management. Running a business was another area of expertise I needed to learn. I am still humbled by the experience and learn new things every day. The process has been challenging but rewarding.

Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
My company is Ponderosa Natural Medicine located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado where I share a beautiful clinic with an acupuncturist (Stephanie Ann), and an integrative OB/GYN (Dr. Stephanie Ring). It is my goal to empower my patients to achieve optimal health compassionately and realistically. I take pride in my ability to truly connect with and understand my patients to discover where their imbalances may lie. I provide a wide range of services to patients from childhood to the end of life and simultaneously support both patients’ physical and mental health. I specifically enjoy working with patients with gastrointestinal issues, mental health concerns, and women’s health issues. I am most proud of my ability to use herbal medicine and nutritional support to reverse and/or prevent the onset of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

At Ponderosa Natural Medicine, we offer a wide variety of laboratory diagnostic options including hormonal/adrenal testing, functional digestive analysis, nutritional assessments, toxicity screenings, genetic testing, and all standard medical laboratory tests. Treatment recommendations will be comprised of a variety of modalities and be individualized for each patient and may include a combination of nutritional/diet recommendations, lifestyle modifications, herbal medicine and constitutional hydrotherapy. Through working with me, my patients gain an in-depth knowledge of their health and practical ways to improve their wellbeing.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I have had a lot of help from mentors over the years and am very thankful for their support. Dr. Katz who was my healer when I was younger showed me how effective and exciting natural medicine can be. Dr. Robin Murphy who I worked for in Blacksburg, VA was highly supportive of my journey into naturopathic medical school. Here in Colorado, I am so thankful to work along side Stephanie Ann LAC, as part of an integrative healthcare team.

Pricing:

• Comprehensive New Patient Intake Appointment- $225.00
• Laboratory Review/ Follow up- $125.00
• Constitutional Hydrotherapy Treatment- $75.00

Contact Info:

• Address: 6279 W. 38th Ave. Suite #4 Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
• Website: www.ponderosanaturalmedicine.com
• Phone: 7207220178
• Email: Dr.K@ponderosanaturalmedicine.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PonderosaNaturalMedicine/

Image Credit:
Paul Hoar

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.