Jana Nalbandian, ND, MT : Avante Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska

Naturopathic Medicine

"Naturopathic doctors practice as primary care providers. They make a conventional Western diagnosis using standard diagnostic procedures such as physical examination, laboratory tests, and radiology. However, they also make a pathophysiologic diagnosis using physical and laboratory procedures to assess nutritional status, metabolic function and toxic load. In addition, a considerable amount of time is spent assessing the patient's mental, emotional, social and spiritual status.

Therapeutically, NDs use virtually every known natural therapy: dietetics, therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, physical therapy, naturopathic manipulative therapy, lifestyle counseling, exercise therapy, homeopathy, psychological and family counseling and hydrotherapy.

Naturopathic medicine concentrates on whole-patient. Wellness, the medicine, is tailored to the patient and emphasizes prevention and self-care. Naturopathic medicine attempts to find the underlying cause of the patient's condition rather than focusing solely on symptomatic treatment. Naturopathic doctors cooperate with all other branches of medical science referring patients to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate."

Jana Nalbandian, ND, MT

Jana Nalbandian graduated with her Naturopathic Medical Degree from Bastyr University in 1989, and has more than 20 years of experience in practicing and teaching in Naturopathic medicine.

Dr. Nalbandian received her pre-med training in Texas and spent four years in the United States Air Force as a Medical Laboratory Technician. Dr. Nalbandian practiced in Seattle since 1995 both in private practice and as a clinical faculty member at Bastyr University. At Bastyr University, Dr. Nalbandian taught many of the clinical skills courses. While at Bastyr, Dr. Nalbandian was the Department Chair of Clinical Sciences, Director of Clinical Skills evaluation of students and recently the Naturopathic Midwifery Program Director.

"I enjoy learning who my patients are and their specific needs, focusing my treatments on the whole person and not just the symptom picture"

Dr. Nalbandian is a Primary Care Naturopathic Doctor in Family Medicine taking care of patients of all ages and health concerns. Over the years Dr. Nalbandian has developed an expertise in Women's Healthcare including the treatment of menopause, irregularities in menstruation and PMS. Besides women's issues, Dr. Nalbandian has spent many years studying and treating the following conditions; allergies, food sensitivities and intolerances, gastrointestinal disorders and endocrine issues including thyroid and adrenal dysfunction and blood sugar dysregulation including Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes.

Her personal healing philosophy involves finding the underlying cause and taking time to teach her patients about their health, treatment options and ways to make necessary life changes.

She describes her approach as:

"Gentle; I meet each patient where they are on their journey toward wellness and treat each patient as an individual."

Dr. Nalbandian has lectured extensively throughout Washington State including yearly lectures and panels at the University of Washington on Naturopathic Medicine approaches to Women's Healthcare and Fibromyalgia. Over the years, Dr. Nalbandian has lectured on Cardiovascular disease in Women's healthcare, Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes, and lectures and interviews on diet and nutrition.