Donielle Wilson, ND, Follows Her Intuition to Find Bastyr

You could say Donielle ("Doni") Wilson, ND ('00), found Bastyr University by following her intuition. She has always been interested in nutrition, so, naturally, she was considering becoming a nutritionist or a medical doctor. Yet, she had a hard time finding a school where nutrition was considered an integral part of total healing and health. When a friend told her about Bastyr University, she immediately knew it sounded right.

"I visited Bastyr University, and I knew right away that it was what I was looking for. I couldn't believe that it actually existed!" Dr. Wilson says.

Wilson reflects on other ways that she has been guided by a strong sense of what has felt right. She found her specialization, women's health issues and midwifery, simply by being exposed to the profession. She explains, "As part of my schooling at Oregon State University, I observed nurse midwives in their practices… I went to births with the practitioners, and I realized how much I enjoyed assisting women in the birth process. Instantly, I knew I wanted to be a midwife.

"When I found out I could study naturopathic midwifery at Bastyr University, I could hardly wait to begin," she continues. "The midwifery course work did not begin until my third year in the program, so I became a doula--which is an emotional support person and partner in the birthing process--as a way to begin my study of childbirth and give to others through my passion."

But nutrition and women's health issues are not Wilson's only passions. When time has allowed, she has also followed her inner prompting to dance. "I took dance all through college," she says. "Then, when I took a year off between my undergraduate degree at Oregon State and my graduate degree at Bastyr, I started teaching movement and dance to adults and children," she says. "I love teaching dance and teaching in general."

As a good role model in self-realization, it's no wonder she enjoys the counseling component of practicing medicine. "I particularly enjoy dealing with emotional issues," says Wilson. "I currently supervise counseling shifts and a counseling lab for naturopathic medicine students. I realize that the emotional realm can be a hard place for patients to go and a hard thing for doctors to bring up, but it can be a central component in a person's health."

In her future, Wilson sees herself having a family practice with a focus on women's health and pediatric care. "I feel lucky to have [had the Bastyr clinical residency] opportunity. It's a chance to extend my education and work with doctors who have been practicing for a long time."

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