Dr. Sarah Bowler, BSc. Hons, ND

Dr. Bowler, ND, completed her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Biology at the University of Birmingham, England before heading to Arizona, USA to study Naturopathic Medicine.  After graduating with her professional degree; Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine in 2010, Sarah came to Toronto to complete a 2-year Residency program at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.  

What was supposed to be a temporary stay has become home; she met a wonderful Canadian husband.  They an their 2 young children have settled in the Toronto West End for the foreseeable future!

Dr. Bowler, ND continued to teach and supervise student doctors at CCNM upon completing her residency in 2012, as well as working in private practice. These opportunities have solidified both practice, academic rigor and being able to apply the true meaning of doctor, “doctor as teacher” to both students and patients, very effectively.

Sarah has passed the Ontario Drug Prescribing Exam. (This is an extremely rigorous government provincial exam on proper drug prescribing for the pharmacological management of disease. In BC, this exam allows ND’s to have full drug prescribing authority, similar to a family physician, in accordance to ND education and medical scope of practice.  In Ontario, the political process has chosen to take a slower approach to granting ND’s their full scope of practice in accordance with their level of education. Current drug access is limited to bio-identical hormones and emergency medications, with medications being added to their scope annually over time.)

Dr Bowler’s passion in medicine comes from her core understanding of health:

“Health is the natural state of the body, and doesn't come from a quick-fix pill.  Your mind, your thoughts and how you treat yourself have a huge impact on the health of your body.  The health of your body affects the health of your mind.” 

“Taking care of our health doesn’t have to feel like a hardship or a chore; it can feel like a reward we are giving ourselves for choosing to live a lifestyle that allows us to reach our fullest potential! We can’t do this without taking good care of our body and our body-mind.”

“I believe that people are all inherently good and can find a purpose and fulfillment in life. I believe that we are all connected, and that there is power in that connection.  I believe that health and vitality, a clear mind, love and care in our lives help us find purpose and fulfillment. What give me great joy and purpose it to help support you with your health, knowing that I am supporting Your full potential.”  

On weekends Dr. Bowler can be found in her garden.  It’s chaotic and beautiful.  She loves to grow food, flowers and weeds and loves to let her two young children get very muddy.  Sarah loves  being outside, and also loves her indoor hobbies. She has serious jigsaw puzzle skills, and loves to crochet, do paint-by-numbers and play boardgames with family and friends.  Ask her about what she’s watching on TV right now, or what she is reading! Bonus points if you’re also a sci-fi fantasy geek! 😊

Dr. Kim McKenzie, MD Medical Internist, Geriatrician, Mindfullness Psychotherapy

Part Time Staff

Alison Crosthwait, Healing Practitioner

I am a former Wall Street trader and former psychotherapist.  I have stepped away from licensure to commit myself fully to this powerful work because I believe it has the potential to have a significant impact on the next version of how human beings live on this planet.

My approach has three key aspects: 

Practical - we live in the world and this work is about our daily life. 

Therapeutic - trauma, attachment, relationships, emotional access - each of these lenses are key components of our healing and I bring my intensive training to bear on your process. 

Spiritual - through belonging and connection we become free.  Opening to the natural world  brings us into connection with our daily life in a renewed way and medicine work invites us into that process of opening.

Combined with intensive inner practice, medicine work has changed my life.  The potential for opening, releasing and connecting to all the juicy things we desire is beyond what words can state.  And there is no end to that potential.  For the right person at the right time this work is a portal into life as it can be lived.

Alison Crosthwait - I support people as they connect to their aliveness and their wisdom.

Listen to The Aliveness Podcast where my guests and I talk about how to create that juicy feeling of aliveness.

Join me in Eagle a free Discord community full of people who love to grow in an outside-the-box kind of way.

Sahar Elawady, (MD, Anaesthesiologist Egypt), IV Technician

Sahar is a trained Anaesthesiologist with 15 years of experience. As with many professionals that move to Canada from abroad, the process to obtain recognition of credentials to too long and too costly. She is a kind and beautiful soul, incredibly knowledgeable and super hard working super woman. We are happy to have her skills in the IV suite.

Dr. Marillea Yu, ND, IV Technician

Dr. Marillea Yu is a Naturopathic Doctor and IV Nutrient provider. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Prince Edward Island, in Charlottetown, PE and went on to graduate from The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, ON.

She has a special interest in the management of complicated and chronic illness, and has completed additional studies in Environmental Medicine and passed the Therapeutic Prescribing exam in Ontario (Ontario Drug Prescribing Exam).

Augusto Olachea, MD (Peru), Pain Specialty, IV Technician

Dr. Augusto has completed his medical training in Lima, Peru. He has 6 years of experience as a General Practitioner including medical training in endoscopic surgery and Endocrinology at Jackson Memorial Hospital and University of Miami Hospital, Miami, Florida. He got his certification in IV administration and phlebotomy and finished this year his master in Pain management in clinical practice at University of Salamanca, Spain.

He arrived to Canada on January 2021 in the middle of the pandemic. Since then, he is studying and working hard to validate his medical license in Canada.

He has special interest in functional medicine, pain management and IV Nutrient Therapy. We are pleased to have him join our IV Staff while pursuing his equivalences.

He strongly believes that we treat patients and no diseases, and we should consider them as a system that includes physical and emotional symptoms. He would describe himself in a few words: Family, dog lover, soccer, medicine, healthy mindsets and lifestyle.

Jolene Casella, Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN)

Just over a decade ago, Jolene graduated as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition (CSNN). To accommodate her young family (two wonderful boys and a partner), she maintained her career in both healthcare and education working with individuals with learning and/or physical disabilities while starting a part-time, private nutrition practice. Spurred on by a personal tragedy in 2018, Jolene did some soul searching and decided to dedicate more of her time to what she is most passionate about – food & nutrition! She is thrilled to be working in a collaborative environment with other professionals who she can learn from and who share the same philosophy about health and well being!

“I love everything about food: growing it, eating it, cooking and sharing it with others, but I am especially passionate about the healing power food holds. One of the most rewarding aspects of being an RHN is seeing the transformation that happens when individuals dedicate themselves to making changes to their diet and lifestyle. My biggest challenge as an RHN is in convincing clients of the benefits that can be recognized through these changes, alone! My fortitude comes with each client who experiences positive results and begins to become a believer, starting the process of a healthier existence. 

I thrive on the skeptics who embark on Holistic Nutrition as a last result of feeling 'crappy,’ or having high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes meds introduced/increased, unable to shed unwanted weight, the list goes on! It is powerful and uplifting each time a client begins to see the impact food has on their health. I pride myself on and love winning over the skeptics!”

Dawn Buccigrossi, Office Admi

Dawn is one of our 2 amazing Office Admin Staff. She is an absolute gem, a woman of many talents and all heart. She is dedicated to being of service to her community. We are glad to have her help and care at VCIM.

Mark Windsor, Office Manager

Halifax born, former IT specialist, Facilities Manager, and talented crooner, we love having Mark here to manage our clinic’s incredibly complex and detailed needs. He keeps all of us giggling.