Naturopathic Doctor • Pharmacist
About
Dr. Shabita Teja
Naturopathic Doctor, Pharmacist and lifelong learner.
My path to naturopathic medicine
Chapter I · Pharmacy
Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis while studying pharmacy.
I was 22 and in the middle of pharmacy school when I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. I understood the pharmacology of my own medications better than most patients ever get to, and it still wasn't the whole picture.
Pharmacy school taught me how medications work.
Chapter II · Patient experience
Two surgeries: an ileostomy, then a J-pouch.
Within a few years I'd had two surgeries, an ileostomy and then a J-pouch.
Living with inflammatory bowel disease taught me what a prescription alone doesn't address: the worry before a flare, the practical realities of an ostomy, and the quiet toll chronic illness takes outside the exam room.
Chapter III · Naturopathic medicine
Practising with both trainings in mind.
That is why I went on to study naturopathic medicine.
Today I practice with both trainings in mind. I'm not choosing between conventional and natural medicine. I look for the approaches that fit the person in front of me, and I work alongside their other healthcare providers.
Approach
What informs Dr. Teja's care
- 01
Pharmacist background
Medications, supplements and possible interactions reviewed together.
- 02
Lived experience
A personal understanding of chronic digestive illness.
- 03
Patient-centred care
Longer visits, time to listen, and plans built around your life.
- 04
Evidence-informed
Recommendations grounded in the available research.
Credentials
Education & registration
- B.Sc. Pharmaceutical Sciences
- University of British Columbia
- Licensed Pharmacist
- British Columbia
- Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
- Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine
Beyond the clinic
Community & writing
Dr. Teja serves on the Board of Directors of United Ostomy Canada and has written for South Asian Woman, Natural Selections and several clinic publications.
“My experiences, in the pharmacy, in the clinic and as a patient, all inform how I care for you.”