Meet Doctor Heidi

I’m Dr. Heidi, your new women’s health BFF! I am that friend that everyone calls and texts for every random medical question.

Notttt that those questions are always within my scope of practice, but it doesn’t stop the texted photos of random rashes. 

Why am I starting a platform dedicated to women’s health topics perimenopause and beyond? 

I am inspired by years of conversations inside the walls of my clinic, within Tabu “Office Hours” and the calls, text and coffee-talks with friends. I hear confusion from all of the social media “noise”, difficulty knowing where to get real info, a lack of ability to self-advocate at medical appointments and a general lack of a safe space to have conversations about potentially things that happen with our bodies that cause us to blush. 

This is partly the story of how I went from practitioner to patient. I was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2020 and, in the course of treatment, I have experienced chemically induced menopause and am back in perimenopause again. With alllll the fun that it entails. I am you. 

Listen, I am hardly an expert in all things woman. But I will never BS you. If I don’t know the answer, I will pull from my last web of medical experts and my own ability to read and synthesize research and will find you a fact-based, snake oil free answer. I will pull from the years of my own medical training (see, My Credentials) to help give practical applications for concepts that are otherwise hard to imagine. And we will do this all in bite-sized-pieces. Easy, like a warm chocolate chip cookie. K?

Most importantly, this is a safe space (see Community Guidelines). If you were born with a uterus and ovaries - regardless of how you identify - this space is for you. If you are the partner of someone born with a uterus and ovaries or you are a dude who is simply here to learn, this space is for you. Let’s talk about it!

Why can you trust me?

I am a physical therapist of 19+years and a Herman and Wallace trained pelvic floor specialist. I own a private, outpatient orthopedic and pelvic health clinic in Manhattan Beach, CA: Mountain to Sea Physical Therapy. I believe that the pelvic floor must be considered as part of holistic health for all of my patients and have been striving to normalize this topic. 

I have been working as a medical advisor for Tabu Groups for years and routinely lead their “Office Hours” providing education on all topics pelvic health. I have played key roles in the development of several of their product offerings over the years. I was also on the r&d team consulting on the development of Fringe Health’s new Pelvic Wand. 

I have taken a long list of continuing education courses on the management of women’s health conditions, read every related book, journal article and mass-publication article I can find on the subject and am essentially a junkie on this topic. 

And I have more personal experience with the subject matter than ever wished to have. I often get “you're too young for that”! Rest assured, I am not. 

Fun facts about me!

A few things I would like you all to know about me outside of my professional credentials:

• I am an avid adventurer of all spaces, mountain to sea (in case you wonder how I got my clinic name).

• I am a Minnesotan native and Californian by choice. I love living and working at the beach. 

• I am a dog-mom to Doc, a 4-year old Aussie, and am Auntie Heidi to many.

• I love all granny-crafts, gardening, cooking and have been adapting to the gluten free life for the past 4+ years.

• I practice what I preach and taking care of my own health is one of my top priorities in life.