Meet the Team
Dr. Ariana will be on maternity leave from approximately mid-August to December 2024. Kaitlyn Owens, a graduate from the Canadian College of Naturopathic medicine who is working with Dr. Rick Bhim ND, will be taking over care while Ariana is away.
Ariana Candaras ND graduated from the University of Guelph earning her BSc. in Biological Science and went on to complete her Doctor of Naturopathy degree at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM).
Ariana runs a general practice, and welcomes anyone looking to make positive changes to their health and wellbeing. She takes a special interest in mental health, stress management, hormonal imbalance, digestive issues and skin conditions. As a new mother, she also focuses on pre/postnatal and paediatric care.
Ariana strives to make better health simple, and sustainable for all patients who walk through her door. She advocates for maintaining a balanced lifestyle and making health a priority in order to bring focus back to living a more enjoyable and meaningful life.
Naturopathic medicine is a philosophy. Ariana practices it herself through maintaining an active, social and environmentally conscious lifestyle. She wants her patients to wholly thrive with what naturopathic medicine has to offer.
Outside the clinic, Ariana enjoys the outdoors, art, music, yoga and spending time with her husband and toddler.
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Click here to access Ariana's Online Booking Portal. Ariana also provides Free Meet and Greet calls to briefly meet and learn more about naturopathic medicine!
Kaitlyn Owens (with Dr. Rick Bhim, ND) Growing up as a competitive athlete, Kaitlyn developed a strong curiosity about the human body and its capacity for healing and optimization. This curiosity led her to pursue an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Guelph, where she was also involved in research at the Human Nutraceuticals Research Unit.
Kaitlyn pursued her calling further by completing the Doctor of Naturopathy degree from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. During her clinical internship, Kaitlyn's dedication and expertise stood out as she was selected for the Sports Medicine and Chronic Pain shift. This experience provided her with invaluable training in pain management and athlete care. Kaitlyn works with athletes of all levels; she believes that everyone should have access to a form of movement they enjoy.
In her practice, Kaitlyn is dedicated to empowering her patients with the knowledge and tools necessary for sustainable health. She deeply understands the interconnectedness of the connection between physical, mental, and emotional health. She acknowledges that these aspects of well-being are inherently linked, which guided her to adopt a comprehensive, holistic approach to patient care.
In her treatment sessions, Kaitlyn employs a diverse array of modalities tailored to the individual needs of her patients. These include physical medicine approaches like myofascial release, mobilizations, and cupping. Nutrition and specific dietary strategies, along with supplementation recommendations, form integral parts of her treatment plans. Furthermore, Kaitlyn provides personalized lifestyle counselling to ensure her patients can integrate long-term, sustainable habits into their daily lives.
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In addition to providing general care, Kaitlyn also focuses on the following conditions:
· Musculoskeletal: injury recovery/prevention, arthritis management, pain management
· Gastrointestinal concerns
· Brain health: ADHD, concussion, brain fog/fatigue
· Metabolic dysfunction & optimization: weight management, diabetes, insulin resistance, cholesterol concerns
· Autoimmune conditions
Marilyn May B.P.H.E., N.D. graduated from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland Oregon in 1985 with her doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine degree after earning her B.P.H.E. from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. She has taught Nutrition and Endocrinology, and has been Clinical supervisor for the offsite Residency Program of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. She has served on the board of directors of the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Medicine and vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. She presently lectures at corporations in Hamilton, Burlington and Milton. Dr. May, N.D. has practiced at the Dundas Naturopathic Centre since 1987 using a full scope of naturopathic treatments including homeopathy, nutrition, acupuncture, Chinese herbs, botanical medicine, intravenous parenteral therapy (board certified 2002) and Bowen Therapy (certified 1995) in her practice. Her other interests include the piano, gardening, art, and skiing.
Paul Richard Saunders, PhD, ND, RHOM, obtained his PhD from Duke University in Forest Ecology and Botany and taught at Clemson and Washington State Universities. He returned to graduate studies and earned one ND from the now Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, Ontario, and a second ND and completed residency in homeopathic medicine from National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Portland, Oregon. He has served the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) as Clinic Director, Associate Dean, Chief Naturopathic Officer, Chair of Materia Medica, and Professor of Materia Medica. He continues to teach various courses at CCNM, the National University of Health Sciences, and the Canadian College of Homeopathic Medicine. He also continues to conduct clinical research, publish and present scientific papers, and serve on various professional committees, nationally and internationally. He has practiced at the Dundas Naturopathic Centre since 1991 using the full scope of naturopathic medical modalities, including acupuncture, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathic medicine, naturopathic manipulation, intravenous parenteral therapy, and lifestyle counselling.
Dr. Rick Bhim MD (IMG/Unlicensed), ND is a graduate of both a conventional medical school and a naturopathic medical school. After graduating from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) in 2016, Rick went on to do not one, but two naturopathic residency programs; starting as CCNM’s Clinical Resident and becoming the first CCNM Integrative Cancer Centre Resident. You would assume Rick would be tired of school, but he continues to work for the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine as an educator and clinic supervisor. Rick uses his educational background and clinical/hospital experience to support patients by integrating natural therapies alongside their already prescribed conventional ones. Rick wants to continue bridging the gap between natural and allopathic medicine as he supports patients with their quality of life, achieving their wellness goals and optimizing their health and clinical outcomes.
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Rick has taken over the practice of the late Dr. James Spring, DC, ND, who served the Dundas community for over 40 years. He sees this opportunity as a tremendous honour and hopes to serve Dr. Spring’s patients, new patients and the community with excellence as Dr. Spring did.