Brooke Vander Pol, WHNP-BC
Integrative Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and Coach“Brooke, what else can I do?”
This question from cancer patients was the driving force that led me on the Integrative Medicine path. My passion and life purpose is to help women achieve optimal health and wellness in a more holistic way.
My Story
Hello, my name is Brooke and I want to welcome you to Integrative Feminine Wellness, a space of healing for you. You have come here, trusting me with your concerns and questions about your health.
I have worked for over 20 years in the traditional Allopathic system, initially in OB/Gyn, and then in Gynecologic Oncology. During that time, I found the Allopathic system to be principally focused on disease, prescribing of medications, and treatment of symptoms. However, I believe there needs to be room to harness the innate potential of our bodies, more than what the Western form of medicine allows.
This ultimately led me to pursue a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. Using Integrative Medicine philosophy and practices, I have not only helped others heal, but have healed myself of hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia.
I believe that medical care shouldn’t have to be an either/or approach. In bridging the traditional with non-traditional, the integrated approach connects the best of medicine. As your guide in this journey, I will listen to your experiences, concerns and needs. I will give you my time and energy, and together we will come up with a plan that will be the best for you.
My Values & Beliefs
Innate Healing
Our bodies are continually trying to heal and create homeostasis. By eliminating factors that promote disease, and adding factors that promote health and regeneration, one creates an internal terrain that is conducive to healing.
Whole Person Focus
Each part affecting the whole, the parts of our body are intricately intertwined. Caring for the whole person involves the mind, body, and spirit. Focusing on one aspect, while neglecting the others, could render attempts at healing as unsuccessful.
Our Choices Matter
I believe that the foundations of our health lie in our daily choices. Root causes of disease are typically multifactorial; genetic predisposition combined with lifestyle choices over time. Healthy habits and choices over time make big changes in health.
My Approach
As an Integrative Medicine Practitioner, I work as a bridge, integrating the traditional with complementary and alternative modalities, giving a more holistic approach to your wellness plan. I focus on you as a whole person, not just a physical body, and will go over your very detailed medical history before your scheduled visit. At the initial consultation, we will first establish any health goals you may have. We will then explore nutritional, lifestyle and mind-body interventions that may be helpful for you, as well as relevant supplements and botanicals. We will also explore whether alternate modalities like Acupuncture, Ayurveda or Homeopathy will be helpful in your case. We will create a plan together; one that is specific for you.
These plans are designed to create lasting changes in your life and help create an internal environment that is inhospitable to disease states. I will also take carefully into consideration where you are at in your health journey, whether it’s providing additional support while receiving traditional treatment, getting to the root cause of illness, or just overall prevention of disease.
Benefits of Integrative Medicine
In this short 2-minute video, Dr. Andrew Weil, Founder & Director of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, discusses the benefits of integrative medicine for long term health and wellness, as well as the distinction of partnering with AWCIM Fellowship in Integrative Medicine graduates.