Thom Rogers, ND
 I was born in 1972 and grew up on the New Jersey shore. My
first encounters with nature came through enjoying the natural
rhythms of the ocean. I spent many early mornings experiencing
the sunrise in solitude while surfing. These eventually lead
me to an interest in natural processes and my practice of naturopathic
medicine.
When I was young, I had many health problems. I suffered from
allergies, asthma and chronic bronchitis, for which I used
an inhaler and was given many rounds of antibiotics. Later,
in high school, I had skin ailments, such as acne, psoriasis
and seborrheic dermatitis, which lead to more antibiotics and
cortisone injections. The results were severe gastrointestinal
disturbances, a prolonged bout of an intestinal Candida infection
and multiple food intolerances. My health kept getting worse
and I saw many allopathic doctors — but none were able
to cure me.
I became interested in going to medical school myself and
obtained an undergraduate degree from Rutgers University in
pre-medical sciences, Health Psychology, and Economics. In
the course of my studies, my interest in botanical medicine
and herbs bloomed as an alternative way to resolve some of
my own health issues. I began spending as much time in the
conservatory and botanical gardens as in the science lab.
Before I went to medical school, I spent two years working
in hospitals, getting clinical experience in emergency rooms,
critical care units, and psychiatric units. My experiences
in the psychiatric units were especially profound for me. Again
and again I saw patients relapse — and I began to see
the severe limitations of western medicine in addressing the
deeper issues of the human psyche and spirit.
This lead to my own internal quest to heal myself from the
inside out. I changed my diet, tried homeopathic and herbal
medicine, saw counselors and tried shamanic healing, meditated
and made art. For about five years, I intensively studied myself,
mapped out food intolerance patterns, took numerous natural
medicines, and worked in every way I could think of to heal
myself. Finally, I felt healed and genuinely better. Now, I
no longer suffer from food allergies, have not had an asthma
attack for more than fifteen years, only get bronchitis very
infrequently, and my skin has improved by 80 percent.
This experience in self-healing convinced me that I wished
to practice naturopathic medicine. My research lead me to Bastyr
University as the world’s premier school of naturopathic
medicine and health sciences and I decided to study there for
my ND.
After completing my ND, my first clinical residency was in
Vancouver BC treating cancer patients with detoxification,
IV medicine, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. I also used hyperbaric
oxygen therapy to treat numerous children with cerebral palsy.
I then studied environmental medicine with Walter Crinnion,
ND, learning much about the connection between human health
and the health of the ecosystem. I next became an associate
physician with a chiropractor/naturopathic physician who trained
me in the arts of spinal and peripheral manipulation as well
as soft tissue manipulation techniques.
Then I was fortunate enough to return to Bastyr University
and be the first Educational Teaching Fellow, which is a formal
post-graduate training in graduate-level education of natural
medicine. I taught both dermatology and orthopedics and am
currently one of the adjunct faculty teaching a course in medical
procedures.
In 2003, I moved to Whidbey Island with my wife, Dr. Alicia
Capsey. Together we opened Whidbey Island Naturopathic, PS,
where I am now a primary care naturopathic physician. I have
particular interests in natural hormones, natural cardiovascular
treatment and protection, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia.
However, I love treating and healing my patients for whatever
reason they have walked though our doors. Whidbey Island is
a great place to practice naturopathic medicine.
Dr. Rogers' Specialty Modalities
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