I have always been interested in both medicine and art simultaneously. Even when I was of elementary school age, I enjoyed watching "Trauma: Life in the E.R." on television just as much as I liked to sit down at the piano and learn a new Bach Invention. My mother, an artist, fostered my creative side. My father, who was a paramedic and firefighter, would entertain me with medical and trauma stories, which further fueled my passion for the health professions. After high school, I attended San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) for orchestral clarinet performance.

My education in music school was priceless, but something was missing. I realized that I was always meant to study medicine and become a doctor. I left SFCM in good standing, moved back to San Diego, started pre-medical studies, and became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). The EMT class reminded me of how much I love medicine and I worked in the emergency department at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, California.

As a pre-med student, I was awarded an internship in clinical research through the UCSD Howard Hughes Scholars Summer Research Program. I participated in asthma/COPD research in the emergency department at UCSD Hillcrest Medical Center in San Diego. I presented my research at the UCSD Summer Research Conference. During my senior year at SDSU, I was also awarded a year-long internship through the SDSU California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Stem Cell Research Program, and participated in neurodegenerative disease modeling in the Laboratory of Genetics at the Salk Institute in La Jolla. I was published in "Current Protocols in Stem Cell Biology", a major scientific journal.

After getting my Bachelor of Science in Biology from SDSU, I moved to Maui, Hawaii, to spend time with my family and take some time to evaluate my future. I founded a small business creating shell jewelry, natural edible body care products and gluten free foods and began to sell my creations at local farmers markets. At these farmers markets, I met many people who were passionate about a healthy lifestyle, and it was then that I became aware about naturopathic medicine. I applied for and was accepted to Bastyr University in California shortly thereafter.  

During my four years of medical school, I completed extensive additional training in IV therapy and neurology. I acquired a love for IV therapy after seeing how effective it can be for alleviating anything from fatigue to side effects from chemotherapy. I obtained over 200 additional credit hours in functional neurology and rehabilitation, and I am proficient in neuroanatomy and the management of neurological conditions.

After graduating medical school, I started this private practice to offer mobile IV therapy and general naturopathic medical care. I am proud of my IV therapy skills and usually get my patients on the first stick. I had the privilege of teaching medical students how to perform IVs at my medical school, Bastyr University. I have also gained experience in helping patients lose weight.I have extensive experience recognizing common patterns on patient’s labs and making lifestyle and diet recommendations to improve them.

In my free time, I enjoy creating my own tinctures, capsules, teas, syrups, and body care products from organic herbs. I enjoy sharing my love for botanical medicine with my patients. I also make jewelry and arrange flowers for fun! I enjoy spending time with my family, especially my two young boys.

I have always been inspired by Hippocrates’ statement “Let thy food be thy medicine, and let thy medicine be thy food”. As a naturopathic doctor, I hold up that ideal by teaching my patients how to heal themselves naturally. I believe that going to get medical care should be an invigorating and rewarding experience. If. you would like to become a new patient and work on your health through diet and lifestyle , please fill out the form on the contact page, and I will get back to you at my earliest convenience.

In health,

Dr. Samantha Larkin, ND