Bonnie Nedrow ND, LM ('00) and
Tracy McDaniel ND, LM ('02)
Seattle, Washington
Interviewed June 2003
Briefly describe your practice (business model):
Private practice partnership, naturopathic family practice and midwifery care.
How is natural medicine accepted in your region?
Naturopathic medicine is generally well accepted in Seattle and we have a wide variety of consumers. Midwifery, on the other hand, is facing a crisis. Like obstetrics in general, malpractice fees are skyrocketing and women are losing their right to make choices about how to have their baby.
What do you find to be the most interesting aspect of practicing?
We love having the opportunity to treat entire families, as our interventions are often applicable to many members of a family. Providing for kids in their first year of life is also very satisfying. During routine visits and during first colds/flus, we do a lot of education and avoid the use of suppressive therapies. Bonnie teaches pediatrics, prenatal complications and maternal postpartum at Bastyr, and her work challenges us to keep up to date on the issues in these areas.
What are your overall marketing strategies?
We haven't done much active "advertising". We are listed once in the yellow pages and are close to having our Web site up. We occasionally send newsletters or bulletins to our patients. People generally find us through word of mouth or insurance provider directories. We have had a number of people walk in after seeing us while walking or driving by. We have also had a number of referrals from Bastyr or the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians. We always appreciate referrals from our colleagues who do not do births.
What keeps you motivated to practice?
The joy of watching people get to know themselves and become well. Attending babies and their new parents.
What's next for you? Where would you like to place your energies?
We continue to build our practice. We would like to be doing even more births and we will continue to train midwifery students. We are teaching many community classes, including childbirth education, metabolic cleansing, fertility awareness method, pediatric nutrition and immune support. Tracy is on the board of directors for the Midwives Association of Washington State, keeping us actively involved in the politics of birthing.
What are some of your interests/hobbies outside of healing?
We both love camping, hiking and gardening. Our kids are great friends and provide a lot of entertainment!
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