Who We Are
Nancy Aagenes, ND, LAc
Naturopathic Physician and Licensed Acupuncturist
Owner of the Natural Medicine Clinic
Since 1989
Ann Peaslee, Clinic Administrator since 1995
Vicki Roehl, Clinic Receptionist since 2002
Ask staff help with anything and they will know how to do it or how to get it.
Ann and Vicki are extremely competent and have broad authority to help you with clinic transactions. They can help you with almost anything except diagnosis, treatment and questions about pharmacy. They have full authority to handle your insurance, financial and credit arrangements, pharmacy orders and status (but not content) of lab work.
Biography of Dr. Aagenes
The depth and maturity of Dr. Nancy Aagenes' commitment to patient care is reflected in every aspect of the work of the Natural Medicine Clinic. "This isn't something a new doctor starts with. It's hard won over many years of experience," she says.
Dr. Nancy Aagenes has practiced naturopathic medicine and acupuncture in our community since l989. She earned her naturopathic doctorate at Bastyr University -the world's leading educational institution of natural medicine. She received two years of academic training in acupuncture at the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Seattle, and completed 2000 hour apprenticeship in acupuncture. She is certified by the North American Menopause Society in menopause competency. For medical and naturopathic doctors this is the meaningful credential for those treating women at and beyond menopausal age.
Dr. Aagenes was president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) from 1999 to 2001, and served eight years on their Board of Directors. In 1991 Dr. Aagenes was named Naturopathic Physician of the Year by the AANP. As former Legislative Chair of the Montana Association of Naturopathic Physicians she has been the instrumental leader in guiding legislative work for laws to insure the highest standards for naturopathic practice in Montana and the best possible access for insurance reimbursement for Montana patients.
Continuing medical education is a high priority for Nancy. She is regularly enrolled at the Institute for Women's Health and Integrative Medicine . This is a school for advanced practitioners (mostly medical doctors and naturopathic doctors) that meets for three days quarterly in Portland, Oregon. This school focuses on integrating therapies from conventional and naturopathic schools so that understanding of both continues to grow.
Dr. Aagenes also attends continuing education for medical doctors at St. Peter's Hospital in Helena . She attends the annual conference of the North American Menopause Society -an intensive four day update held annually primarily attended by conventional doctors. One year with 1700 physicians in attendance, Dr. Aagenes was one of only two naturopathic doctors registered.
Dr. Aagenes' writing for doctors is beginning to receive national attention with her featured article and cover photo in the February/March 2004 issue of Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal . Dr. Aagenes writes a monthly column on patient care for Helena's Independent Record, usually published on the fourth Tuesday of each month. She welcomes response to the column, and suggestions and ideas for future columns.
Dr. Aagenes is well connected in the conventional medical community in Helena. She often serves as a bridge into that community and an advocate for patients with conventional medical institutions. She integrates her work with conventional physicians and many patients have benefited from her sophisticated willingness to work across the barriers and boundaries.
More personally, Dr. Aagenes spent her first 18 years in Wolf Point, Montana. She received her undergraduate degree from Rocky Mountain College in Billings. She has lived in Helena for more than 30 years and raised her daughter and son here. She is married to Jason Jonas, who owns his own business offering internet web site development. This site is an example of his work! He teaches web development at the local community college and spends some summer days as a fly fishing guide.
Nancy has two adult children. Madeline is married and lives with her husband in Helena. Mark is a teacher and adventurer based in Missoula.
Zack, a 12-year-old Shelty, who lives with Nancy and Jason keeps her accountable to her commitment to daily walking. She spends her spare time garment sewing and quilting.
"The sweetness of my marriage, my family and my home is the foundation of everything in my life," Dr. Aagenes said. "They make everything else sturdy and possible."
The History of the Natural Medicine Clinic
The Butte Years-1989 to 1991
In 1989, after graduating and completing board examinations, Dr. Aagenes returned to make her home in Helena. With no capital to start a practice here, she began in Butte by assuming responsibility for the practice of a naturopathic doctor who was leaving that community. To be with her high school age children, Dr. Aagenes continued to live in Helena while working in Butte.
Butte patients continue to travel to Helena to see Dr. Aagenes. When the Helena practice became established, she sold the Butte practice in 1994 to business and marriage partners, Dr. Shahab Samaien, a naturopathic doctor, and Kathlyn Swan, an acupuncturist.
Developing the Helena Practice-July 1991
In 1991 Dr. Aagenes evolved her Helena practice. Her first Helena location was at 104 East Sixth Avenue, the current home of Benny's Take Out. Until October of 1994 Dr. Aagenes maintained clinics in both Butte and Helena. Her accountant estimated that she was totaling about 18,000 miles annually driving the 55-mile trip on I-15 between the two cities.
The Corner of 11th and Rodney-June 1998
In 1998 Dr. Aagenes moved the practice to this busy Helena intersection occupying the large building that had once been a pediatric clinic. The move was initially very compelling.
However, that much space required keeping many practitioners busy to be economically affordable. Eventually Nancy and Ann, clinic administrator, decided that the high overhead took too much management and administrative time. Dr. Aagenes wanted to focus even more concentrated attention on individual patient care and on writing.
They decided to make one last move.
1075 North Rodney, Suite 107-July 2000
The second move in two years was difficult, but the wisdom of the decision has been confirmed by time.
When we first saw this space there were walls around the bathroom and nothing else. The function of the clinic was well thought out before we pounded a single nail. The size will accommodate two practitioners, but is easily manageable for one. The Clinic's patient load continues to grow. The space is comfortable for patients, practitioners and staff. It is centrally located-between Helena's downtown, the valley and the Capitol area. Parking is easy. We love our big sunny south facing windows.
We have extended our long term lease and hope to soon add one more west window. "This is it until I retire," Dr. Aagenes said.
Ann and Vicki-Our Great Staff
Ann Peaslee, Clinic Administration
Ann Peaslee came to the Natural Medicine Clinic in the winter of 1995 (when we were still on 6 th Avenue!) as our bookkeeper. She has grown into responsibility for the entire business administration of the clinic. She operates within policies established with Dr. Aagenes. Your total experience at the Clinic is grounded in Ann's common sense and refined judgment. Ann's daughter, Jenny, also helps us by cleaning every weekend and sometimes filling in at the front desk. Jenny is a student at Carroll College.
Vicki Roehl, Clinic Reception
In bringing Vicki Roehl on board we defied every hiring admonition. We are told not to hire patients; Vicki is a patient. We have had a policy of not hiring people wanting full time work; Vicki wanted more hours. Generally one doesn't hire from friends, and Ann and Vicki move in overlapping social circles. She has proven the exception to every rule. Her competence, good nature and laughter fill the clinic every day she works and making it a better place for all of us.
The Work of Staff at the Clinic
Ann Peaslee and Vicki Roehl confidentially watch over necessary details of every patient interaction at the Natural Medicine Clinic. From the time they make your first appointment they manage your pharmacy and prescription orders, your laboratory orders, our economic transactions and insurance communication. They handle our record keeping, bookkeeping and chart management. Their communication with each other has uncanny completeness and accuracy. You will usually find that anything one knows, the other can easily pick up.
These ancillary things make a huge difference in your experience with any doctor. For Dr. Aagenes, Ann and Vicki's remarkable sophistication and intelligent competence enables and lightens her work every day.
"They both personally place highest priority on getting patients what they need. I always marvel at their commitment to creating functional systems and practical solutions," said Dr. Aagenes. "They have my complete trust and confidence."
Ask them for anything, they will do their best. They always invite your suggestions on how to make our service better.
Dr. Aagenes Passes National Menopause Competency Exam
From Health Habits, the Natural Medicine Clinic Newsletter, January 2003
On October 2, 2002-in a room in Chicago with about 90 conventional internists and gynecologists, some advanced nurse practitioners-Dr. Aagenes took the first official menopause competency exam offered by the North American Menopause Society (NAMS). I was the only Montana doctor to take the test, she said.
What difference does this make to you? You're best served by physicians who are constantly expanding their knowledge. Medical understanding evolves rapidly, especially when it comes to menopause. For instance, conventional medical dogma on hormone therapy changed dramatically just last summer. NAMS is the leading provider of conventional menopause education and keeps its members current in many ways. Over 1,700 doctors from more than 40 countries attended the October NAMS conference to hear the latest research, much of which is not yet published. "The four days of educational meetings following the test were more important than the test itself," Nancy says.
Dr. Aagenes also studies at the Institute of Women's Health and Integrative Medicine in Portland three or four times a year. Medical doctors and naturopathic physicians alike attend the Institute to get the most current information in both fields and to find how it can be combined to serve patients. "It's exhilarating to feed my passionate excitement about practice. While it helps my patients, the other reality is that I would be utterly bored without learning more and more all the time," Nancy says.
In 2002, the Natural Medicine Clinic spent more than $11,000 on continuing education. This significantly improves the care you receive. |
