

I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, to a large family (four sisters and two brothers). In the 3rd grade I started square dancing and clogging and continued through 10th grade, performing and eventually touring Eastern Europe. This early travel experience and exposure to cultures, unlike my own, shifted my perspective and opened my world, giving me a deep respect for human life of all kinds.
After high school, I attended Oberlin College in Ohio where I studied neuroscience, before returning home to San Francisco to do research at University of California, San Francisco for three years. In 2000, I moved to Portland to pursue study in naturopathic and Chinese medicine.
As a naturopathic physician, I find that one of the greatest rewards of a holistic approach is the one-on-one connections with my patients. Though modern medicine seems to be missing the art of listening, I make it a point to not only listen to my patients, but really hear their needs and priorities for both the visit and their long-term health care. This allows me to meet my patients where they are, coming up with a plan that works to optimize their health and that is attainable and fits their lifestyle.
Specializing in women’s health (polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, menopause, and endometriosis) as well as blood sugar regulation, hormone balancing, weight loss, physical medicine, and nutrition. I believe balance is key. How we treat ourselves, how we think and feel and how we choose to live our lives, matters. As human beings, there are many aspects to our lives that inform our sense of well-being, health and happiness. Each of these aspects needs tending in order to thrive and be strong, achieving optimal wellness. Working together, we will find out what it means to for you to be and feel well.
When I’m not working with patients, I am immersed in family life. I love to knit, garden and cook (making jam and bread are my specialties) as well as hike in the amazing natural spaces around Portland. I take pride in raising my three kids to be kind and thoughtful people with an eye towards nature and knowing where their food comes from.
A doctor and a Chinese medicine practitioner, specializing in women’s health, fertility, PCOS, bodywork, mental health, and pain management, Ashley earned her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and a Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR. While at NCNM, she focused on Chinese herbs, Qi Gong, women’s health, and physical medicine, with a women’s health specialty in endocrine and fertility issues associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). In 2005, Ashley completed her thesis for the Chinese medicine program on “The Treatment of PCOS from a Chinese Medicine Perspective”. She has been studying PCOS for 8 years and did a 3 year post-doctorate fellowship at the Helfgott Research Institute at the National College of Natural Medicine (www.helfgott.org). Ashley is currently an adjunct faculty member at NCNM, where she teaches lab diagnosis.