USA, Oregon

OREGON


BEAVERTON

Margaret Vandenbark, family practice 
	Beaverton Kaiser
	Beaverton, OR
	643-7565

BEND
Linda Krug Porzelius, Ph.D., Psychologist in private practice
	965 S.W. Emkay Drive 
	Bend, OR 97702
	541-419-5860
	www.highdeserthealthpsychology.com
	Self-referred.
	I am a clinical health psychologist in private practice. I work
	with overweight women and men who struggle with eating and body
	image issues to achieve a healthy, sustainable lifestyle and a
	positive body image. I have been working in the field of eating,
	weight and body image as therapist, researcher, and teacher for
	the last 25 years. I am passionate about the serious problem of
	weight bias in our society and am a strong advocate of
	non-dieting approaches. 

EUGENE
Jesica Dolin, CPM, LDM (Licensed Midwife)
	See entry under Portland

PORTLAND
Andrew Ahmann, MD, diabetologist 
	Oregon Health Science University 
	Portland, Oregon 
	503 494-3273
	A diabetologist is an endocrinologist who specializes in
	diabetes. Dr Ahmann is a researcher who lectures on diabetes all
	over the world. Not only has he never bugged me about my weight,
	I've heard him say that he's not all that impressed with weight
	loss as a treatment for diabetes, and that only about 11% of
	diabetics can control their illness with diet and exercise
	changes alone. Last week he asked me for subscription
	information to the fat-accepting diabetes email list, as well as
	any other fat-acceptance lists I'm on. I think he's a good
	doctor, has a dry sense of humor, and listens to my perceptions
	of my own body. -- Mara Nesbitt-Aldrich (nesbitt at hevanet dot
	com)

Dr. Ashton, Chiropractor
	http://www.agchiro.com/
	5939 SE Belmont St Ste A
	Portland, OR 97215
	(503) 774-2240
	I went to a chiropractor for the first time ever last week for
	some out of control lower back pain. She diagnosed and treated
	my pain effectively and thoroughly (she was fully able to
	maneuver my very large body with no problems at all), and was
	absolutely the most fat friendly practitioner I have ever met
	with. On my new patient forms I had included my usual note about
	how I want my whole body to be treated and respected, regardless
	of my weight, etc. and she made a point to tell me how wonderful
	it was that I wrote that and how fully she agreed with it. She
	talked about how all bodies are healthy, and how they deserve
	respect and accurate treatment, and I should never let anyone
	tell me otherwise in regards to my weight. She also had a NAAFA
	member come out when they furnished the office to make sure it
	would be welcoming to people of all sizes. I wish there were
	more health practitioners like this. I have been to doctors,
	nurses, and other people in the field with varying levels of fat
	friendliness, but this really upped my standards on what I
	should consider an acceptable level of support. I WISH she
	offered primary care. -- JB

Patra Behary, general practitioner
	Kaiser Permanente East Interstate office
	Portland, OR
	When I entered the examination room, there was a sign that said
	that this room is a space that people's personal choices about
	their bodies were respected. I found that to be true. She did
	not say anything about my weight, even when she was referring me
	to a sleep study. Weight loss was only mentioned as one of the
	ways to deal with sleep apnea, but she never indicated that I
	was to do that. Overall, I found her pleasant and felt like she
	actually listened to what I was saying. -- Jamica

Jesica Dolin, CPM, LDM (Licensed Midwife)
	Providing home appointments and delivery from Portland to
	Eugene; as well as births at Andaluz Birth Center in Tualatin,
	OR.
	503-702-5392
	jesicadolin@yahoo.com
	Self-referred.
	I apply many principals of size-friendly care to all women in my
	practice.  For example, I tell each client the advantages and
	disadvantages of weighing at each prenatal, and give each the
	opportunity to decline routine weigh-in's.  The important things
	are the size and health of the baby, and the health of the mom;
	not the number on the scale.  Body image issues affect most
	women, and just as many thin women have declined to be weighed
	for psycological reasons.  Size-friendly care is simply
	respectful care, which is every woman's right, regardless of
	size. VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) welcome.

Deborah Duran-Snell, Certified Nurse-Midwife
	Westside Women's Care
	9155 S.W. Barnes Rd., Suite 340
	(Office Building of St. Vincent's Hospital)
	Portland, OR  97225
	(503) 297-3775
	FAX: (503) 297-0353
	An excellent midwife who is also a person of size herself.
	Provides size-friendly care and is gentle and laid-back in
	personality. She has had 1 C-section, and 3 vaginal births after
	cesarean herself, so she is empathetic to a variety of client
	concerns. There are 4 midwives in the practice and they are
	associated with a number of backup OBs. If complications occur,
	they co-manage the case with an OB, so you retain continuity of
	care. The backup OBs are not as size-friendly, but the midwives
	can and do intervene. They also tend to be very
	non-interventionist in managing things like gestational
	diabetes, so a mild case would not automatically incur many of
	the interventions common to OBs. I highly recommend this care
	provider.

Carl Erickson
	503 233-5273
	S.E. Milwaukie Ave. 
	Portland OR
	I've been seeing Dr. Erickson for about 6 years now. I chose him
	after I made a series of phone interviews with other doctors in
	my health plan. I asked: "Do you think it's possible to be both
	fat and healthy?" Dr. Erickson said "Of course!" He put in two
	armless chairs in his waiting room, his staff knows not to ask
	me to weigh, and he really listens to me. I'm a health
	professional, so I have my own opinions about my body and what's
	going wrong, and he respects that. I do have to push him
	sometimes to recommend a test or a procedure. I think this is
	mostly due to pressure from the insurance companies to limit
	their expenditures. All in all, I think a lot of him. -- Mara
	Nesbitt-Aldrich 

Laura Erickson (CPM, LM) and Laurie Perron-Mednick (CPM) 
	Alma Midwifery 
	1608 SE Ankeny St Portland, OR 97214
	503-233-3001
	They are fat-friendly providers. They attended my daughter's
	birth at home and I am happy to be seeing them again for a
	second pregnancy. They are not even fazed by my size, as they
	emphasize health and good habits over the number on the scale.
	They are far more concerned that I am eating plenty of good
	foods to stay healthy than they are with my size or weight gain.
	Weigh-ins are optional, I did them last time but this time I am
	opting out. I discussed with them why keeping a written food
	diary was psychologically not ideal for me, and they happily
	agreed to simply having casual in-office discussions about
	nutrition instead. The emphasis is always on what foods would be
	good for you to eat, not scolding about what you should not eat.
	They respect each client's autonomy and will not pressure you
	into screening tests just because--though if one may be needed,
	they won't hesitate to explain why they think it's a good idea.
	Lots of helpful advice, no guilt, no pressure. In general I feel
	respected and safe in their office.

Grain Integrative Health
Sara Kates-Chinoy, ND; Nicole Weigl, ND; Amy Castellano, ND
	4246 SE Belmont St, Ste 5, Portland OR 97215 
	503-445-8114
	http://grainintegrativehealth.com/
	Self-referred.
	We have several providers with all of the qualifications you
	list. We have appropriate seating, we tend to focus on health
	as opposed to "issues." Our clinic is primary care oriented.
	We found you through patients who recommended we find you!
	[Note: The clinic as a whole and Dr. Kates-Chinoy list weight
	loss as an area of focus.]

Ellen Iwasaki, Nurse Practitioner 
	As of January 2015, no longer accepting new patients

Kim Kelsey, family nurse practitioner
	Hands on Medicine practice in Portland, OR 
	https://handsonmedicine.net/
	I had an amazing experience with her. She's heard of Health at
	Every Size and wants to know more. She really encouraged me not
	to be hard on myself in the physical activity department, but to
	go as slowly as I need to and to persist, but gently. When we
	talked about shaming she said, "It just doesn't work." I could
	feel myself releasing a breath I didn't know I had been holding.
	-- Rev. Catharine Clarenbach

Hilary Kinavey, MS, LPC 
Dana Sturtevant, MS, RD
	Be Nourished (body trust therapy)
	3719 N Williams Ave., Portland OR 97227
	(503) 288-4104
	www.benourished.org
	Self-referred.
	Be Nourished is founded on the idea that we are all born with
	remarkable instincts to love and care for our bodies. We believe
	body trust is a birthright. Our passion is helping people lose
	the weight of body shame and create the change they seek from a
	deeper place. We offer group programs, retreats, and eCourses to
	help people cultivate body trust, as well as counseling, yoga,
	and naturopathic care to holistically complement the supportive
	atmosphere we believe is needed to realize long-term body
	acceptance, an ability to eat intuitively, and the power to
	psychologically and physically be nourished.

Lisa M. Loewenthal, LCSW - Counseling and Coaching
	1020 SW Taylor, Suite 660, Portland, OR 97205
	503-896-4499
	Portlandwellbeing.com 
	Self-referred
	My experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
	includes working with adults, couples, families and children
	(ages 4 and up) in a relational, non-judgmental way. I
	specialize in providing informed counseling and coaching related
	to body positivity with a Health at Every Size (HAES) focus. For
	anyone in the Portland metro area, I have a beautiful,
	ADA-accessible office in downtown Portland. Even though most of
	my counseling clients are in Portland, I am available to work
	with coaching clients nationally and internationally.

	2100 NE Broadway, Suite 225 
	Portland, OR 97232
	503.896.4499
	therapyportland@gmail.com
	Self-referred.
	My therapy approach is strength-based and positive. I believe
	that everyone deserves a supportive therapist, in a comfortable
	environment. I work collaboratively with clients and use tools
	from various therapeutic models, all of which focus on client
	strengths while addressing identified challenges. I am also HAES
	knowledgeable and I firmly believe that everybody has inherent
	value.

Theodore (Ted) Mackett
	10000 SE Main, #408
	Portland, OR  
	503-256-1575
	He mainly works at Portland Adventist Hospital, which seems to
	be a very nice, smaller hospital. Everybody has been very
	friendly and helpful. When I got an EKG, the gown even fit with
	room to spare!  I think he also works out of Providence
	Hospital. 

Michael McDonald, ENT
Portland, OR 
	I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea.  I would to recommend
	him to anybody, without hesitation. He's very warm, very funny,
	comfortable, non-judgemental, and according to the sleep lab
	technician, a very good doctor. I had my sleep study at Portland
	Adventist hospital, and it was great. (I had surgery there this
	summer, and I have very positive feelings about the staff. The
	nurses were wonderful.) The technician went out of his way to
	make sure I was comfortable, and answered all my questions. I
	could tell that great attempts had been made to make the room
	comfortable, so it didn't seem quite so "hospitalish". My only
	complaint is that the whole process was rather slow, but I'm not
	sure if it was the fault of the doctor, or my insurance. (Or
	maybe both).  -- Mary, MHDyer@aol.com

Susan Moray, LDM, CPM 
        N.W. Community Midwives - homebirth midwifery services
        Portland, Oregon
        503-230-9559
        smoray@qwest.net
        www.nwmidwives.com
        Self-referred.
        Our midwives see women as individuals regardless of age, size or
        socio-economic background.  We provide individualized prenatal
        care to optimize a healthy pregnancy for each woman and her
        baby.

Gretchen Newmark, MA, RD, dietician
	2525 NE 44th Avenue
	Portland, OR 97213
	503-249-8064
	gnewmark@spiritone.com
	Self-referred.
	I am a dietitian in private practice. I've specialised in
	disordered eating for over 20 years. I don't see myself so much
	as "fat friendly" as "friendly." I consider people my friends
	until proven otherwise, and generally have respect and
	compassion for all of us--regardless of gender, size, age,
	religion, or even species. I do what I can to help people see
	their own strengths and beauty and to express it, and to hear
	their own voice saying their own truth. 

Hillary Reno, CSWA, QMHP, therapist and/or substance abuse counselor
	Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare 
	4315 SE Division Street, Portland, OR
	(503) 230-9654
	Hillary is a GREAT therapist. She calls our sessions a
	"judgment-free space." She identifies as queer and is part of a
	group of counselors who are extra-equipped to work with LGBT
	folks. After I brought up fat stigma, she recommended various
	fat-positive resources in the area, such as Fat Yoga, and when I
	mentioned the book Fat!So? by Marilyn Wann, she said she owns a
	copy! She expressed a desire for MDs and other medical providers
	to employ the same respect for a patient's knowledge of his or
	her own body that she and other counselors do. -- Rebecca,
	futuretensepdx@gmail.com

Jill M. Shaw, D.O., gynecology
	http://www.oregonclinic.com/our-team/jill-shaw
	Women's Health Today
	5050 NE Hoyt Suite 362
	Portland , OR 97213
	Phone: (503) 239-6800
	She is very personable and was very comforting when I was
	diagnosed with endometrial cancer. She realizes that people come
	in all sizes and that fat doesn't equal unhealthy. Her waiting
	room offers an assortment of types of seating.

Gerri Ravyn Stanfield, Acupuncture/Chinese Medicine
	Common Ground Wellness Center, Flanders House
	2926 NE Flanders
	Portland, OR 97232
	http://www.forestspringacupuncture.com/
	503-754-8802
	I saw Ravyn for body work and digestion support. She works from
	a very respectful, body-honoring framework that was welcoming,
	non-judgmental and fully supportive.

SALEM
Deborah Johnson, Obstetrics and Gynecology
	1275 Edgewater St NW
	Salem, OR 97304
	(503) 585-9695
	Dr. Johnson was recommended to me by another large patient of
	hers who said Dr. Johnson was large herself, employed a large
	medical assistant and was very understanding of women's issues
	with their own weight in regard to receiving health care. The
	office had plenty of fat-friendly seating, including comfortable
	benches. The scale was able to measure my weight, and went up to
	400+ lbs. The woman who weighed me was very large herself and
	said she understood "from one big girl to another" why I didn't
	like looking at my own weight. The gowns were VERY large,
	probably the only time I felt like the gown more than adequately
	covered me, and there was plenty of room to spare. Dr. Johnson
	did not comment on my weight at all. She talked with me about it
	when I brought up the topic and said that she really understands
	how it feels and was happy to help support me with any healthy
	changes I would like to try and make. She also said she does not
	think a lot of doctors really understand obesity and the issues
	that surround it. I felt like she was extremely respectful and
	she did not seem to think that weight was a complete indicator
	of health, ability or happiness. This was by far the best doctor
	experience I have ever had.

TUALATIN
Jesica Dolin, CPM, LDM (Licensed Midwife)
	Providing home appointments and delivery from Portland to
	Eugene; as well as births at Andaluz Birth Center in Tualatin,
	OR.
	503-702-5392
	jesicadolin@yahoo.com
	Self-referred.
	I apply many principals of size-friendly care to all women in my
	practice.  For example, I tell each client the advantages and
	disadvantages of weighing at each prenatal, and give each the
	opportunity to decline routine weigh-in's.  The important things
	are the size and health of the baby, and the health of the mom;
	not the number on the scale.  Body image issues affect most
	women, and just as many thin women have declined to be weighed
	for psycological reasons. Size-friendly care is simply
	respectful care, which is every woman's right, regardless of
	size.



Back to United States page
Back to Fat Friendly Health Professionals