Dr. Lisa Marie Pate’s journey into health began as a teenager. At the age of 13 she developed a strong interest in exercise and nutrition. During this time, she began running long distances and expanding her knowledge on diet. Dr. Pate always felt that simply using medication to address health issues was not the right approach. She was driven by a desire to understand the underlying reasons for health conditions and had a deep interest in the body’s physiological processes.

From a young age, Dr. Pate wanted to help others and knew she wanted to become a physician. However, she was never drawn to conventional medicine. Her discovery of naturopathic medicine felt like finding her true calling. Upon this discovery, she immediately transferred from the University of Washington, where she was pre-med, to Bastyr University, where she completed her first bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. She then earned her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine.

Returning to her home in Louisiana, Dr. Pate was dismayed by the poor quality of care and the lack of effort to uncover the root causes of illnesses. She noticed that many patients felt their doctors were dismissive, often diagnosing them with conditions like depression without exploring further. Recognizing that Naturopathic Physicians are not licensed in all states, Dr. Pate pursued additional education to further assist with her patient’s needs and to provide the type of care she feels all patients should have access to. She earned a second bachelor’s degree in nursing from Southeastern Louisiana University, followed by a master’s in nursing, becoming a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She continues to hold her Washington State license as a naturopathic physician.