About me

Hello, I am Dr. Sandra!

From this part of my site, you can learn about my background and training. Having to go through severe health issues after graduating from medical school, I experienced and learned many things that helped me towards understanding the bigger picture related to health and life in general. Now I am sharing and using everything I learned to help others.

My story

I am going to share with you part of my life and the reasons why they led me to study Health Coaching, Health Education, Holistic Medicine and the Microbiome. I graduated as a medical doctor from the University El Bosque in Bogota, Colombia. In the beginning, I thought that by being a medical doctor I was knowledgeable enough to be healthy, I took good care of myself by exercising and eating what I thought was healthy.
Read more

Nevertheless, a few years later in December of 2006, I was diagnosed with cancer of my left vocal cord, which was already at stage three. At first, I thought it was not true. I kept asking myself why would something like this happen to me if I am a medical doctor, I didn’t smoke and I had “healthy” habits.

The first step was to begin with the traditional treatment which I started in January of 2007 at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York. The treatment consisted of six months of chemotherapy and 37 sessions of radiotherapy. During that time, I started to read about the relationship between foods and cancer, and immediately I started to eat organic foods. I got rid of all artificial drinks, artificial sweeteners, etc. Being a Christian, I put in GOD’s hands my life and my health. After three months into the treatment, well into the middle of it while I was praying, I received healing through GOD’s word. He told me through the Bible: “May you go in peace, your faith has healed you.” As confirmation that this was real, I asked the Lord to suspend the treatment. After praying, I found out that for medical reasons the treatment miraculously was suspended.

My interest to obtain more knowledge about the nutrition influence in the development of cancer increased even more and with enthusiasm, I studied at the Institute of Integral Nutrition in Manhattan, New York, where I obtained my certificate as Health Coach. I then studied cancer and nutrition program offered by the University of Arizona (Integral Medicine Faculty), and additionally, I obtained my certificate as Health Educator at the Institute of Hippocrates, in West Palm Beach, Florida, where I am currently working.

It has been many years since I had cancer and presently, I am in perfect health. I must point out that JESUS’s hands healed me and I have been compliant in keeping myself healthy. Thanks to my professional development and my personal experience, I learned that the best way to cure any illness is to prevent it.

At this time in my life, I dedicate myself to help people to reach an optimum health level through natural methods in order to prevent illness. Equally, if anybody has cancer or any other illness and wants to try different methods other than through conventional or allopathic medicine, it would be a pleasure to treat them as well.

I believe we are not only a physical body, but we also are an energetic body, emotional, mind and overall we are a spiritual body, I believe in order to heal you need to approach all these bodies, most of the western medicine have focus only in the physical body ignoring the others, in my experience we need to treat all of them to bring healing and optimum health, this is what I call Holistic Medicine.

The Microbiome the new frontier in Medicine, the super organ that needed to be discovered. 

Although for decades conventional medicine has spread the false belief that bacteria, viruses and fungi are harmful by nature, today these concepts are being revised and widely controversial.

The Microbiome refers to the billions of microorganisms that inhabit our body and that are essential in most of the processes that take place not only in the digestive system but in all systems of the human body.

My wish is to inspire you to take measures and actions in order to cultivate this relationship with the earth, nature and the beautiful microbiome that is not only present in us, it is in everything that surrounds us and us. holds.

 

 

My approach

I practice a holistic approach to health and wellness, which means that I look at how all areas of your life are connected. Does stress at your job or in your relationship cause you to overeat? Does lack of sleep or low energy prevent you from exercising? As we work together, we will look at how all parts of your life affect your health as a whole.
Read more

My approach is not to dwell on calories, carbs, fats, and proteins. It is not to create lists of restrictions or good and bad foods. Instead, I work with my clients to create a happy, healthy life in a way that is flexible, fun and rewarding.

Together we’ll work to reach your health goals in areas such as achieving optimal weight, reducing food cravings, increasing sleep, and maximizing energy. As we work together, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of the food and lifestyle choices that work best for you and implement lasting changes that will improve your energy, balance and health.

Here are some concepts that we will explore during our work together:

  • Bio-individuality™: The concept of bio-individuality is that each person has unique food and lifestyle needs. One person’s food is another person’s poison, and that’s why fad diets tend to fail in the long run. Working on the principle of bio-individuality, I’ll support you to make positive changes that are based on your unique needs, lifestyle, preferences, and ancestral background. I use a personalized, holistic approach to ensure that you will have great success!
  • Primary Food™: It’s easy to overlook all of the things that contribute to our sense of nourishment and fulfillment. It’s not just the food we eat, but all of the other factors present in our daily lives. Healthy relationships, a fulfilling career, regular physical activity and a spiritual awareness are essential forms of nourishment. When these “primary foods” are balanced, what you eat becomes secondary. I will support you in achieving all of your goals, from eating the right foods for your body to living an inspired, fulfilling life.
  • Integrative Nutrition™ Plate: The Integrative Nutrition Plate emphasizes the importance of local and organic produce, whole grains, high-quality proteins, plant-based fats, and water. It shows you how a plate should appear at mealtime and emphasizes the importance of proportions and portion size. To complete the picture, the plate is surrounded with lifestyle factors that create optimal health: relationship, career, physical activity and spirituality. I’ll introduce you to some of the healthiest foods on the planet and teach you how to find what’s healthiest for your unique body!You can learn more about my training at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

Are you ready to start feeling better than ever? Schedule an initial consultation with me today!

My training

I graduated as a medical doctor from the University El Bosque in Bogota, Colombia. After I overcame a stage three cancer in 2007, I discovered what my real passion was and I reoriented my career completely. I began studying at the Institute of Integral Nutrition in Manhattan, New York, where I obtained the certificate as Coach in Holistic Health. During my training, I studied more than 100 theories about how to obtain a balanced diet; methods to have an innovative and practical life-style; and coaching methods with well-recognized people in the areas of nutrition and well-being.
Read more

Some of my professors were: Dr. Andrew Weil, Director of the Integral Medicine in Arizona; Dr. Deepak Chopra, leader in the Medicine for the Mind and Body; Dr. David Katz, Director of the Center of Prevention Investigation at the University of Yale; Dr. Walter Willet, President of the Nutrition Department at the University of Harvard; Geneen Roth, author and expert of Eating Habits by Emotions; Dr. Joel Fuhrman, specialized in Prevention and Reverse of Illnesses through Natural Methods; and many other leaders in the areas of nutrition and investigation. While I was pursuing my studies at the Institute of Integral Nutrition, I studied cancer and nutrition, which was being offered as an additional program through Dr. Andrew Weil from the University of Arizona.

As I advanced in my work and studies, my interest in continuing learning led me to the most recognized institute in the world in the area of holistic medicine, The Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida where I obtained my certification as Health Educator. Presently, I am honored to be part of the working team at this institute.

I have broaden extensively my education with a vast knowledge in holistic nutrition, coaching in holistic health and preventive medicine, which have allowed me to develop knowledge and abilities to work with different clients helping them to create changes which can generate lasting life-styles. I believe we are not only a physical body, but we are also an energetic body, emotional, mind and over all we are a spiritual body, I believe in order to heal you need to approach all these bodies, most of the western medicine have focused only on the physical body ignoring the others, in my experience we need to treat all of them to bring healing and optimum health, this is what I call Holistic Medicine.

Recently, I got my certification in Microbiota and Health, Escuela de Salud Integrativa, Spain.

I got my certification in A Course in Miracles Psychotherapy.

Currently, I am studying Environmental Health by the Academy of Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona

On social media