Dr. TERESA SPANO

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be involved in healthcare, I just didn’t know in what capacity. I originally thought I’d end up a veterinarian because of my love for animals. Aside from animals, my other passion was soccer. I grew up active often playing sports, but I played soccer all year, and traveled throughout New York state to play.

As many young female athletes do, I ended up with two knee injuries, requiring two surgeries for cartilage and ligament tears. After admiring my orthopedic surgeon, physical therapist, and chiropractor for how much they helped me during my injuries, I solidified my plan to help others with their health as they helped me. I spent time shadowing as many healthcare providers as possible during college while I completed my undergraduate biology degree at SUNY Oneonta. I shadowed physical therapists, a few family practice doctors, and chiropractors. Nothing seemed to fit exactly what I was looking for. Around the same time, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. I will never forget my confusion hearing from my gastroenterologist that the food I ate didn’t affect my digestive system, and I was offered more medications to blunt my symptoms. This is when I found Naturopathic Medicine, and it changed my life.

While I attended the four-year doctorate program at the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine in Bridgeport CT, I saw a local ND who helped me determine my food allergies/sensitivities, emphasized stress reduction techniques that work well for me, and we found the correct supplements. With this, it has been over 10 years now since I have needed medications for Crohn’s, and despite two knee surgeries I run 5ks without any pain.

In 2014 I moved to SWFL to be closer to my parents and to avoid cold weather. Shortly after, I met Dr. Auld. We opened the Integrative Medicine office for Lee Health January 2015. April 2019, we continue to work together, now at SWFL Integrative Medicine in Fort Myers. Empowering people to learn more about their health and teaching them what they can do to improve is incredibly rewarding.

Unfortunately, Florida does not currently have a license for Naturopathic Medicine. I do maintain my active Naturopathic Physician license in the state of Connecticut. I am the Vice President for the Florida Naturopathic Physicians Association, we are working to obtain a license so consumers can recognize an accredited Naturopathic Doctor, and receive the care we are trained to provide. In the meantime, I completed my Certified Nutrition Specialist certification and have a license in Nutrition through the state of Florida.