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RETURN PATIENTS:Book Online with Dr. Bonville (Dr. Ali)
Why did I become a doctor?
Ever since I was five years old I wanted to be a doctor. I named my favorite doll after my pediatrician, Dr. Joan. Joan and I would play with toy bottles and potions; we would administer dried leaves, grass, and berries collected from the yard to the other stuffed animals and dolls in our “clinic.” My mother noticed my interests and began teaching me the names of wild plants and herbs; she taught me what was safe for eating and what was poisonous. Growing up in eastern Montana, we would hike along rivers and in the mountains to collect and press flowers and plants. I loved being in nature and knowing the secrets of the wild flora.
During college, I struggled with my own health. I found myself depressed, getting sick frequently, and having hormonal problems. Wanting more knowledge on natural therapies, I took a job at a local health food store during college. There I learned the basics of about vitamins, herbs, and nutrition and made small changes to my diet and lifestyle that greatly improved my health! I fell in love with “natural” therapies and knew my future would somehow incorporate modern medical science and Mother Nature’s medicine cabinet.
After college, I knew I needed some Real World work experience. I had finished a post-graduate internship for Medical technology (as a medical lab technician) and was still unsure if I would follow the conventional or naturopathic medical path. My husband and I moved to Portland, Oregon where there are both types of medical schools. There I worked as a licensed Medical Technologist for seven years in an oncology clinic. This gave me such a great experience of working directly with cancer patients and their physicians. It was inspiring to see science save lives. However, one question consistently nagged at me…what if we could PREVENT people from getting cancer in the first place?
This question and the subsequent realization that my path was to prevent people from getting sick lead me to National University of Natural Medicine, a naturopathic medical school. It took me five years and the birth of my first child to complete medical school. There I learned how to prescribe conventional medication and administer alternative/complementary therapies. This was what I had been looking for all along!
My passion for learning lead me to focus in Women’s Health, Hormone Balancing, Endocrinology and Functional Medicine. While in medical school I also was drawn to the ancient wisdom of Ayurvedic medicine and did many extracurricular studies to help balance the energetics of the body.
In 2012 our family had the opportunity to return to our home of Montana. We were so excited to be closer to friends and family. I was inspired to open Spring Integrative Health to help bridge the gap between conventional and naturopathic medicine. I truly believe that all forms of medicine have valuable tools to help one improve their health. This is why I create lasting connections with medical doctors on my patients behalf and create a community at Spring Integrative Health to offer many types of therapies.
On my time off, I enjoy playing in the beautiful Montana outdoors with my sons and husband.
I look forward to joining you on your journey to health and vitality.
Conditions I love to treat:
- Women’s Health and Hormones
- Digestive Health
- Thyroid Disorders
- Busy Entrepreneurs
- Busy Moms
- Fatigue
Things you may not know about me:
- Rock climbing is my favorite sport.
- I am a strong believer in MODERATION “Everything in moderation, including moderation.” 😉
- I am a yoga teacher and I own a gong
- I think raising two boys is crazy-busy #raisingboys
- My favorite snack is chips, guac, and salsa
