My First Blog Entry...

Dr. D'Adamo thought it would be a wonderful idea if I joined the blog and took the time to introduce myself, and I agree, so here it goes...

My name is Natalie and I have been a resident of lovely Connecticut all my life. While employed with the U.S. Department of Justice, I attended the University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, where I received my BS in Forensic Science with a minor in Chemistry. I later attended the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine, Bridgeport, CT, where I received my ND degree. In addition, I attended the college's Nutrition Institute were I received my MS in Human Clinical Nutrition.

While I was a medical student, I performed a 100 hour preceptorship at the D'Adamo Clinic over a period of six months, as well as an addition 131 hour externship with the clinic¡¦s former resident, Dr. M. Samm Robinson. I have both the Fellow and Master certifications from the Institute for Human Individuality. Besides an individual approach to both nutrition and medicine, I have a special interest in endocrinology and auto-immune disease. Enough of the "details".....

I was first introduced to the Blood Type Diet in 1997 when a close relative was reading the book. I remember thinking how interesting a concept it was to approach diet based on an individual's blood type. I never thought I would actually have the opportunity to one day be mentored by the genius we call Dr. Peter D'Adamo! It never ceases to amaze me how things in life just fall in place. An interesting side note, at birth my parents were told that my blood type was B+. This couldn¡¦t be possible based on my parents' blood types, but the hospital insisted it was. During immunology class as an undergrad, I identified my blood type myself. I am actually an A- (the same as my dad, to include all the other markers), so I guess it is a good thing that I didn't need a blood transfusion when I was born!

Over this past summer, I acted as Dr. D'Adamo's locum tenens while he was on sabbatical finishing his new book. In August, Martha and Dr. D'Adamo asked if I would like to join the clinic staff full time. I gladly accepted! Who wouldn't want to continue to learn and grow in an environment with one of the greatest physicians of our time?! Not to mention an amazing group of patients that makes their health a personal mission!

My experience at the clinic thus far has been nothing short of amazing. I am an extremely family oriented individual having been raised in a large but close knit Italian family. It is wonderful to be in a work environment that feels like home. From the caring staff at the clinic and NAP, right down to the patients, you can not help but feel like everyone is part of the bigger picture. It is unbelievable how bringing everything down to individuality really puts things into unity. :-)

What I hope to accomplish with this blog is for me to be able to share some of the clinic experience with you. If you haven't been to the clinic for some time, you may notice some changes since your last visit. Besides my addition, we have two wonderful and talented 4th year medical interns from the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine with us, Leigh White and Lauren Cassandra. They take an active participation in your individualized healthcare experience, and I am positive that you will find them to be a pleasure. Gordon is doing an excellent job handling our patients' dispensary needs. Last, but certainly never least, we can't forget Joan, the woman with many hats. Joan does an amazing job juggling the schedule and pretty much holding down the fort! (She has made my transition into part of the clinic staff much smoother.)

I look forward to meeting all of you at your clinic visits. :-)

Well, until I blog again...

Yours in health,

Natalie