OUR TEAM
When you visit the team at Dr. Brkich's office you are being welcomed into a family that lives the life they recommend.
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Dr. Brkich and his wife Gaetana Deni have worked together as long as the Doctor has been in practice. Gaetana's sister, Anne, has worked with them since the beginning. The "twins" are passionate about physical fitness and are often seen sharing a Sunday morning run on the streets of Prince George.
Dr. Lawrence Brkich is an advocate for treating the underlying causes of illness and disease. His approach is based on a historical principle of medicine which has become a foundational principle of naturopathic medicine, "Tolle causam", Latin for "identify and treat the causes."
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He believes that the departure from this basic principle, as seen in the widespread practice of treating symptoms with "band-aid" solutions, is at least partly responsible for the growing pandemic of chronic degenerative diseases that are destroying the quality of our lives and threatening to bankrupt our health care system. These destructive diseases enter our lives surreptitiously and, unfortunately, no one remains untouched. Dr. Brkich believes that these diseases can be avoided if we learn what to do to prevent them.
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Dr. Brkich believes in science and evidence-based medicine and values the role of medical research in furthering our understanding of human health. He has a tireless passion for expanding his medical knowledge and staying abreast of new developments in medical education and clinical research. He has studied with and continues to learn from leading health experts, researchers, and practitioners from around the world. Dr. Brkich will work with your family physician, specialist, or other health care provider to ensure the most comprehensive and integrated approach to meeting your health care needs.
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Dr. Brkich is always open to changing his way of thinking to align with the latest medical breakthrough. He is skeptical of scientifically unfounded philosophies of health and healing regardless of their source, and is constantly searching for the truth amidst a sea of contradictions. He believes that conventional allopathic medicine is the best option for emergency medical treatment and that natural medicines and practices are preferred for all other preventative and curative treatments. A foundational philosophy that guides Dr. Brkich's approach to his practice is "Vis Medicatrix Naturae", Latin for the "Healing Power of Nature".
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DR. LAWRENCE BRKICH
Naturopathic Physician
Dr. Brkich has been practicing naturopathic medicine since 1994. He received his naturopathic medical degree at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon - the oldest accredited naturopathic medical college in North America. He is certified by the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia in chelation therapy and has prescriptive authority to prescribe pharmaceutical drugs pursuant to the Health Professions Act of British Columbia. He also holds degrees in political science and law from the University of British Columbia. During his pre-med studies at the University of Calgary he co-authored a research study on the utilization of alternative medicine by patients attending a gastroenterology clinic at Foothills Hospital in Calgary. The study is published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Dr. Brkich is a member of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND); a member and past board member of the British Columbia Naturopathic Association (BCNA); and a member of the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia (CNPBC).
GAETANA DENI
Director of Clinical Services
Gaetana Deni fills the role of Clinic Director. She has a diploma in dietetics and has studied Health Care Economics at the University of Calgary. Gaetana held positions as dietary supervisor at both the Foothills Hospital and Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. She was proud to be a part of the organization and development of the 1988 Olympics by providing nutritional services for athletes. Previously, Gaetana worked at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia as a dietary supervisor. While Dr. Brkich was obtaining his N.D. degree, she worked in a naturopathic medical clinic and at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon.
Gaetana believes that her greatest asset is the compassion she has gained through personal experience with illness in her family. Longstanding infertility issues in her own life have given her a deeper understanding of the challenges that patients may face. Gaetana considers giving birth to a healthy baby girl at the age of 48 among her greatest accomplishments.
ANNE DENI
Co – Director of Clinical Services; Director of the Dispensary
Anne (Tonina) Deni holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Food and Clinical Nutrition from the University of Alberta. She has worked as a nutritional counselor for conventional and naturopathic physicians since the late 1980's. She maintains a strong focus on gastro-intestinal disorders as well as geriatrics and sports nutrition.
Anne has been with Dr. Brkich since 1994 as the Co-director of Clinical Services. Anne's passion for understanding the causes of and the search for cures for gastro-intestinal disorders was sparked by her father's long suffering with Crohn's disease.