Who is Dr. Nina?

Hi, I am Dr. Nina and I am very excited to be starting out writing a new blog for the Patch.  I thought the best way to get started was to tell you all my background and who I am.  I am hoping to blog once a week here and in following blogs I will be talking more about my new office at 270 Stonegate in Algonquin and about Natural Expressions Wellness and Naprapathy.  Let’s get started!

I earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in biology from Loyola University in Chicago in 1981.  I then continued my education in small animal clinical nutrition and have worked as a small animal clinical nutritionist for over twenty years.  I am the staff nutritionist at TOPS Veterinary Rehabilitation in Grayslake Illinois where I provides nutritional guidance in general and for the specific nutritional need of patients with cancer, diabetes, renal and hepatic diseases, allergies, weight problems, post operative recovery and for peak athletic performance.

I realized that my interests went far beyond working in nutrition with small animals. At this point furthering my education was key and expanding to treat humans as well as dogs and cats became my focus.  I graduated top of her class with a perfect grade point average from National College of Naprapathic Medicine in 2013.

Doctor’s of Naprapathy are neuromyologists or better known as a connective tissue specialist.  I am skilled in Naprapathic manipulative techniques.  Knowing exactly which technique to use to get the correct release of tissue to restore balance and relieve pain is what I do.  My colleagues are often quoted as saying “Dr. Nina has some of the best hands in the business.”  

Of course nutrition is a large part of what I do.  The saying garbage in garbage out is one I apply often.  If what you eat is not the best, then how can your body become the best if the building blocks you give it are bad? I focus on nutritional lifestyle and on making improvements both immediate and long lasting.  I am a big believer in what Hippocrates said about food.  “Let food by thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

I look at everyone who comes to me as whole person and I try to root out the complete cause of their problem, not just treat the symptoms.  This is my core philosophy.  I believe in medicine as a continuum, not eastern or western or traditional and alternative.  I look to find what is exactly right to help each of my patients heal.

When I am not seeing patients either human or canine I am often out lecturing or teaching.  Education is the foundation of patient understanding and the first step on the road to healing and wellness.  And when I am not the teacher, then I am known to love my continuing education courses and seminars and training opportunities.  My favorite hobby is learning something new that will help me, help my patients! 

I grew up in the city of Chicago on the northwest side.  I graduated from Notre Dame High School for Girls and then attended Loyola’s Lakeshore campus.  I am still just a city girl at heart and I love the ethnic neighborhoods and diversity of Chicago.  I must admit to my chagrin that I am a lifelong Cub’s fan and like all Cub’s fan’s I live in constant hope that “Wait till next Year” will someday become more than the futility that it is today.

I live with my amazing husband Gary and my wonderful white German Shepherd Valiant. They are the true joys of my life and I love spending time with them most of all.

And that is who Dr. Nina is.  I hope you enjoyed my first blog post.  Next week we’ll talk about my new office Natural Expressions in Algonquin. Till next time,

Be Well,

Dr. Nina