Kirsten Ward, owner of Ridglea Wellness, has over 20 years experience in the healthcare industry. She holds a doctorate of Naturopathy from Trinity School of Natural health, is a Certified Health Specialist, a Certified Natural Health Practitioner, and a certified Thermographer
After completing her Masters degree at Vanderbilt University in 1992, Kirsten entered the healthcare sector as a researcher at Xynet Laboratories specializing in transplantable soft tissue and FDA approval for new technologies from Europe. From there, she moved into the field of medical device sales. However, the more time Kirsten spent working in the industry of conventional medicine, the less comfortable she felt with the treatments and drugs that were being prescribed. For that reason, Kirsten decided to leave allopathic medicine altogether for a career she could pursue with good conscious—naturopathic healing.
Kirsten's Story
Aside from Kirsten’s dissatisfaction with the way big medicine seemed to focus on profit rather than patient wellbeing, Kirsten was also drawn to natural medicine through her personal experiences. Kirsten had sought treatment for herself with naturopathic doctors and specialists for many years, but it was the transformative experience of her daughter that truly solidified her commitment to natural and holistic care.
Kirsten’s daughter, born in 1996, was repeatedly ill for the first several years of her life. As an infant, she was inconsolable with no diagnosis. For years, she battled chronic infections and had difficulty with social and emotional integration due to her deteriorating physical condition. Kirsten and her daughter visited doctors, specialists, and labs on a weekly basis. Countless hours were spent in waiting rooms and on hold with medical insurance companies trying to get authorization for testing, care, and treatments. When a doctor or treatment was ineffective, they would be sent in another direction to start all over again.
As she nursed her ailing daughter, Kirsten began pre-med coursework so that she could be a better advocate for her family’s health. These studies provided her with the information she needed to seek out an appropriate natural care program for her daughter. After careful research, she decided to take her daughter to the Pfeiffer Institute in Illinois, a leading institute in the evaluation and management of biochemical imbalance. After a workup at the institute, Kirsten’s daughter was given a course of amino acid therapy and a few simple diet modifications. Shortly thereafter, she began thriving physically, socially, and educationally. She was soon transferred out of the special education program that had previously been considered a long-term placement and finished out her years in school without further trouble. She is now a wonderfully healthy, well-adjusted, successful young adult.
After Kirsten saw her daughter to health, she used her studies to pursue a teaching certificate and became an educator in the sciences with a focus on biology. After years of teaching and continuing her own education, Kirsten holds a doctorate of Naturopathy from Trinity School of Natural Healthy, is a Certified Thermographer, Certified Health Specialist, and Certified Natural Health Practitioner. Kirsten is committed to serving the community by promoting health education, customizing natural healing programs, and providing spiritual and emotional support for better living.