Ara Walline, ND
For the last 10 years, I have served as a primary care doctor in the greater Seattle area. I enjoy working with people of all ages from children to adults and in all stages of health and vitality. I have a particular interest in supporting individuals who are experiencing the stresses of life transitions, whether that is in childhood, adolescence, becoming a parent, midlife or beyond. At all times, it is my goal to help individuals understand their bodies and use this knowledge to optimize their health so that they can spend quality time doing what they love with the people who love them.
I consider myself to be an integrative medicine practitioner. To me, that means several things: (1) I like to use a variety of tools to support my patients including nutrition, exercise, physical medicine, herbal medicine, nutrient support, biofeedback, or pharmaceuticals when needed, (2) I draw insights from the many systems of medicine around the world as well as the scientific research available when difficult problems in the body emerge, and (3) I enjoy helping my patients create a team of practitioners that they can trust when they need help.
I am flexible, curious and committed. I want to learn what makes the people I work with unique so that I can tailor my suggestions to their needs. I enjoy using the biochemistry and physiology of the body in order to identify the treatments most likely to be of benefit to my patients. Navigating the health care system can be difficult, especially under the stress of illness, and it is my goal to be a partner in this process and ease this stress whenever possible.
I was fortunate to be exposed to a holistic model of health and wellness while working for 5 years in the area of public health for a Native American owned health care consulting company in Eastern Washington. In this position, I witnessed a model of health that honors the intersection between mental, emotional, spiritual and community wellness. I was also exposed to naturopathic medicine which holds many of the same values. Being a naturopathic doctor, for me, is a culmination of a lifelong interest in the healing arts and an intersection between a myriad of public health service roles that I have filled from Easter Seal camp counselor and candy striper at my local hospital, to women’s shelter and advocacy center intern and UN non governmental organization volunteer, to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center lab technician and pharmaceutical sales representative. I am always ready to listen, to share what I know, and to learn more at every opportunity so that I can be a better doctor tomorrow than I am today.
License, Certification and Education:
Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine, Bastyr University, 2011
Bachelors of Art in English Literature and Creative Writing with Minor in Public Policy, Dartmouth College, 1999
Other areas of Interest and Study:
I like to experiment with new recipes, travel and spend time in nature with my husband and family, read mystery novels, and dance and sing with my two daughters as much as possible.