Dr. Mandy Swinden

My dream has always been to open a clinic + gym. I have a deep passion for sports and fitness, and I know that movement is truly the key to health, and muscle is the organ of longevity. If I can help keep my patients moving, I am doing my job in keeping them healthy.

I’ve known for a long time that our healthcare system is actually more of a disease care system. Although many great doctors and healthcare professionals are working in this system, they are not adequately trained in how to prevent disease. They are trained in methods of treating and alleviating patients’ symptoms after they have met specific diagnostic criteria.

But here’s the truth: in general, we do not go from having good health to suddenly having a disease. Health and disease exist on a spectrum, and it is possible to catch people on their way to disease and change the trajectory of this progression, especially when we consider that the leading causes of death in North America are largely lifestyle-related.

After starting my practice in 2015, I knew that I could help many people prevent and reverse chronic diseases if I could help keep them active, give them tools to manage their stress, and educate them on proper nutrition.

And this is why I chose not to pursue my goal of becoming a conventional medical doctor, but rather to walk the path less traveled and become a naturopathic doctor.

This was the BEST decision I could have made, as it equipped me with a robust toolbox and profound respect for the amazing human body, which is fully capable of attaining and maintaining a state of true health.

I decided to open Elevate Functional Health for a number of reasons, but the main one was to provide a space for other alternative healthcare practitioners to not only treat their patients, but also to have a thriving career which includes a model where experienced practitioners can mentor and teach new or recent graduates, and be compensated for it.

The world needs more alternative medicine practitioners, and it breaks my heart when I see my fellow colleagues quit their careers because of the lack of career opportunities and the need to be business savvy to have a thriving practice.

I am also passionate about women’s hormones and athletic performance. You can learn more on my personal website.

Ready to elevate your health?