Founder & Naturopathic Doctor
2o years of medicine. Still Curious.
For Dr. Gairns, good medicine begins with something remarkably simple: understanding the person sitting in front of her.
For 20 years, she has cared for patients who know something has changed — their energy, weight, sleep, mood, digestion, hormones, libido or simply the way they feel in their own body — but don't necessarily know why.
For Dr. Vicky Gairns, good medicine begins with listening.
She takes the time to understand what has changed, what has already been investigated, what may have been overlooked and, just as importantly, what matters most to the person sitting in front of her.
That means looking beyond a single symptom or lab result. It means considering the broader context of a patient's health, explaining what she sees, discussing the options available and making decisions together.
Dr. Gairns believes patients should understand their own health. She wants them to know why something is being investigated, why a treatment is being considered and what other reasonable options may exist.
And when someone's health feels complicated, she doesn't expect them to arrive knowing which hormone, test, treatment or appointment they need.
— Dr. Vicky Gairns, ND
Dr. Gairns has always been naturally curious about the connections between symptoms, physiology, health history and what is happening in a person's life.
Practising naturopathic medicine in British Columbia since 2006.
Founder and leader of naturopathic and integrative healthcare practices throughout her career.
Former teaching faculty and clinical supervisor in naturopathic medical education.
Former owner/director and instructor with the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, Kelowna.
Advanced education and experience in intravenous and intramuscular therapies; former Medical Director and Master Formulator of The IV Zone.
Former clinical study coordinator in the nutraceutical field.
Over two decades in practice, Dr. Gairns has developed particular experience and clinical expertise in the areas of medicine she is most passionate about. Vogue ND brings many of those areas together — from stress, hormones, energy and mood to metabolism, digestive health, sexual health, facial rejuvenation and healthy aging.
The result is a practice intentionally shaped around the areas of medicine she has spent years studying, treating and refining her clinical skills in.
Since earning her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree from the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in 2006, Dr. Gairns has never stopped learning. She has continually expanded her clinical knowledge, skills and therapeutic toolkit through additional education and training, giving her a broader range of options to draw from when caring for her patients.
Dr. Gairns was part of the first cohort of naturopathic doctors in British Columbia to obtain Prescriptive Authority in 2010, when pharmaceutical prescribing was first introduced into naturopathic practice in the province. Prescriptive Authority allows her to prescribe eligible prescription medications within the regulated scope of naturopathic practice, giving her the ability to consider both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical options when developing an individualized plan of care.
Twenty years later, that curiosity continues to shape the way she practises medicine.
— Dr. Vicky Gairns, ND
Experience should deepen curiosity, not replace it.
Throughout her career, Dr. Gairns has continued to pursue additional clinical education and training, expanding the perspectives and tools she can draw from in practice.
Her professional development has extended across areas including hormone health, intravenous therapy, neural therapy, metabolic health, medical aesthetics and longevity — and continues to evolve.
Dr. Gairns' career has included teaching and clinical supervision in naturopathic medical education, leadership in holistic nutrition education, clinical research coordination, clinic ownership and the development of focused IV therapy services.
Those experiences reinforced something she had believed from the beginning: patients should understand their health and have a meaningful voice in the decisions being made about their care.
Outside of patient care, Dr. Gairns is a wife, mother and devoted animal lover, sharing her home with a lively household of seven pets.
She loves life in the Okanagan — time on the lake, boating and family bonfires — and has always had a creative streak, from resin art and other creative projects to a newfound love of growing roses.
She is also currently working on her first book, exploring the interconnected factors that can contribute to persistent fatigue and overwhelm in women — a project being written in the margins of a full clinical practice and family life.
Curiosity has always been a constant, both personally and professionally. There is usually something new she is studying, creating or thinking about next.
You don't need to know exactly what's behind how you feel before you begin. Your first consultation is a place to start — with time to talk through what's been changing, what matters to you and what your next steps could look like.