Optimising your Wellbeing.
Real Wellth: Well+ Healthy=Wealthy.
Dr Zuzana Oravcova-Wheeler- MBCHB, FACNEM, FASLM, MA, BA
INTEGRATIVE, FUNCTIONAL, LIFESTYLE MEDICINE
I chose a career in medicine primarily to fulfil my deep desire to help people thrive. A few years into my medical career, I found myself within the grips of serious burnout: this was a pivotal point for me professionally and personally. Burnout is not an experience I would wish upon anyone, yet it was incredibly valuable because it invited me to look outside of the box of conventional paradigms. I discovered a whole new world of possibilities, for me and for my future patients; possibilities of healing and enduring wellbeing.
Changing my own trajectory inspired and empowered me to change how I practice medicine. My goal is to identify and tackle the root causes of any health concerns you may have. I stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in diagnosis and treatment of common medical issues, both conventional and complementary. I have an integrative approach to wellbeing, tailored to each person’s needs and circumstances. To optimize outcomes, my management is multifaceted and collaborative, addressing as many modifiable factors as possible. Screening and prevention are integral to my practice. I strive to empower my clients with information, tools and support to help them in their pursuit of health and wellbeing.
Optimism and compassion form the core of my practice. Though I may not always be able to completely restore your health, my aim is to help you discover the answers you are looking for, enhance your quality of life, and guide you in finding purpose and joy amid your challenges.
In my practice, I aim for wellbeing- inside and out, whatever that may mean to the person. I endeavor to connect, hear people out and appreciate the whole person, within their unique context, respecting their beliefs and opinions. I customize my management to suit the unique needs of each individual. I am thorough and look for root causes. I address all modifiable factors, wherever possible. I put a lot of emphasis on prevention. I work in partnership with my patients and other health and wellbeing professionals.
Three principal beliefs guide me:
1. We are complex beings. Our humanity reaches far beyond our biology, physiology or biochemistry. In order to truly thrive, we need to attend to all our human needs, including physical, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual, environmental.
2. In order to really solve a problem, we need to find the root cause, and effectively address it, as well as its drivers.
3. Many answers lie within us and can make themselves available via inner awareness and enquiry.
I will be truly honoured if you chose to consult me about your health and wellbeing.
FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS
Fellowship in Nutritional and Environmental Medicine - Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine
Fellowship in Lifestyle Medicine - Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (ASLM)
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction - via the Global Mindfulness Collaboration
Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program - University of California, Berkeley
Nutrition Network Advisor Certification
Neuroprotective Developmental Care Accreditation (The Possums Program)
Lifestyle Medicine Certified Physician - International Board of Lifestyle Medicine
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of Otago, NZ
Masters of Arts (Portuguese Literature), Pontifica Universidade Catolica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Bachelor of Arts (Portuguese and Dutch), Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Stredna zdravotnicka skola, Banska Bystrica, Slovakia
AREAS OF PROFESSIONAL INTEREST?
I continue to learn about different approaches to health and wellbeing and have completed numerous extracurricular courses, including:
Psychology and Behaviour Science
Health Coaching and Behaviour Change
Mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
DNA-V- (ACT for Children and Adolescents)
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)
Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
Motivational Interviewing in Healthcare (MI)
Food and Eating Behaviour
Addictive Eating
Intuitive Eating
Nutrition and Nutritional Medicine
Clinical Nutrition
Therapeutic Fasting
Low-Carb and Ketogenic Nutrition
Plant-based Nutrition
Gastrointestinal tract disorders and gut health
Small intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (a common cause of IBS)
MIcrobiome
Movement and breath
Trauma Informed Yoga
Other Trauma-Informed Embodied Movement Modalities
Environmental Medicine
Medicinal Herbs and Nutraceuticals
Optimising Healthspan and Lifespan
Neuroprotective Developmental Care (holistic approach to supporting infants and their carers in their early life experience- includes breastfeeding, sleep support, mental health support for carers, etc.)
and more…