Dr. Nadine Kexel, Naturopathic Doctor

Prior to completing my education at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM), I graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and minor in Psychology. During this time, I was further exposed to the powers of exercise, nutrition, and mindfulness, and how these factors ultimately affect our physical wellbeing and overall risk of disease. Having played soccer and other sports my whole life, I felt motivated to funnel my energy towards encouraging physical activity within the community as well. Outside of working at my school’s gym facility, I volunteered at a gym for those with neurological impairments and published research related to removing barriers and enhancing physical activity among those with disabilities.

During my years at CCNM, my passion for holistic health strengthened, and my interests within it continued to evolve. Eager to learn and stay up to date with the research, I attended conferences and worked part-time in the supplement industry. It was through these experiences that I discovered the significant role naturopathic medicine can play in cancer care and started pursuing opportunities that allowed me to explore this further. One of the more pivotal experiences for me was seeing firsthand the impact naturopathic cancer support can have on patients, while shadowing an ND who focuses in this area; I was inspired and motivated to do the same for my own future patients.

Upon graduating from CCNM, I applied for the residency position here at the Integrative Cancer Centre (ICC) and dedicated two years to expanding my knowledge and experience in supporting those diagnosed with cancer. Beyond seeing patients in clinic, I have enjoyed leading the ICC’s Nutrition Program and crafting blogs/media posts on cancer-related topics, as well as teaching students about the safe and effective use of natural therapies in cancer care. During this period, I also obtained certification in intravenous therapy, allowing me to offer another valuable tool to patients for improving outcomes and overall quality of life.

Fast forward to now, I am consistently humbled by the experience of working with patients affected by cancer. I enjoy taking the time to educate patients about their health, the science behind our therapies and why we recommend them. I strongly believe naturopathic medicine fills an essential gap in cancer care at every stage of treatment, and I strive to contribute my best to this care by continuing to build upon my knowledge in integrative oncology through research and clinical experience. Having witnessed the immense benefit it provides patients at each stage of their treatment, I am grateful for the opportunity to work in an integrative setting that prioritizes safety and efficacy when combining natural therapies alongside conventional treatments. Put simply, naturopathic cancer care aims to optimize quality of life and improve outcomes, and my mission as a naturopathic doctor is to help facilitate this for all patients at the CCNM Integrative Cancer Centre.

When I’m not in the clinic, I continue to play a lot of soccer and enjoy hiking or biking on nearby trails as much as I can.

As a licensed naturopathic doctor in Ontario, I am also an active member of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP), Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND), and Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND).