Life and Work with Dr. Beth Bendokaitis, NMD

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Beth Bendokaitis, NMD.

Dr. Bendokaitis, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My parents moved me to Scottsdale, Arizona at three years old from Cleveland, Ohio. Growing up in Scottsdale there is a natural push toward health and wellness. It is always sunny, people are active and beautiful. As a kid, I participated in dance, swimming and tried several sports. Athleticism as a whole was inspiring and represented cleanliness, order, discipline, and success. It was not until my mother had a small bout of breast cancer that our family started to take nutrition and wellness seriously. Suddenly, low sugar eating, vitamins, and herbal medicine were part of our everyday conversation.

When choosing my degree in undergrad I started where most of my peers did, business. I found my spirit sinking in sea economics and accounting 101. Sitting in my Arizona State dorm room, conveniently named Palo Verde East after the state tree, I was flipping through a magazine and it hit me. Each time I received a publication, I always went straight to the nutrition article… “5 Nutrients For a Better You” or “Magnesium and Muscles.” “How could I have missed this?”, I thought. In the next four years, I worked for Arizona State Athletics as an intern, was a Diet Technician for Honor Healthcare and received a Bachelors of Science in Nutrition from Arizona State University.

Working as a Nutritionist for Honor Health inspired me to expand my practice. Initially, I investigated becoming a physicians assistant, but the western medical model left me feeling like I was abandoning my roots and core beliefs. One evening, my mother took me to hear a Naturopathic Physician speak. I was blown away that such a physician even existed. I bravely rose my hand in a room full of strangers and asked if I could spend the day with the doctor. When the doc kindly said yes… my life changed forever. Soon after, I applied to The Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and graduated with my medical degree in 2017.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest struggle along the way for me was my voice of doubt. I later named this voice, Frenemy. That voice will always be there to tell you: you aren’t smart enough, thin enough, pretty enough, short enough…whatever it comes up with to hold you in a “SAFE ZONE.” The “SAFE ZONE” is where routine lives. It is your comfort zone. The key you will learn as you grow through a challenge is that life truly begins at the end of your comfort zone. The only one holding you back from anything is yourself. If you put your mind to it, you are truly unstoppable. Never be afraid to be different. Being different makes you a leader. Sometimes, being a leader means striking out on your own for a while. Once I did this for myself, I ended up building an even larger community of people who I share a more common interests with and inspire me to be better daily.

Please tell us about your work.
I am a board-certified Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in hormone health and medical aesthetics. I have come up with a system of practice called the I. O. A. Approach. This acrimony stands for INSIDE, OUTSIDE. and ATTITUDE. I have found through clinical experience that this method helps me address the whole person.

INSIDE: I do a whole system analysis of hormone health and general wellness. This allows me to address patient concerns from hot flashes, thinning hair, constipation, acne, irregular menstruation,  fatigue, anxiety and low libido. When assessing a patient, I like to see how we can optimize their health not just eliminate symptoms. Together, goals are set and treatment plans are built. Treatment tools I use include: herbal therapy, nutrition counseling, partnership with personal trainers, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (injections, troches, pellets) and when necessary pharmaceuticals.

OUTSIDE: This is where medicine and artistry come together. A little vanity never hurt anyone and the reality is, feeling attractive makes us feel amazing on the inside. I love aesthetic medicine for this exact reason. I have been trained and certified to use neuromodulators (Botox & Dysport), dermal fillers, laser facials, Cool Sculpt,  chemical peels and micro-needling with platelet-rich plasma. These amazing therapies are not only a BLAST to work with, but they give my patients a boost in their confidence. I cannot tell you how many times we do a little Botox, and suddenly my patient has lost that extra 5lbs because they feel good about themselves.

ATTITUDE: Mental health is the driver for our success. “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t you’re right.” -Henry Ford. We spend time on this in my patient visits. What is going on? How is your family? What is happening with your marriage? All the stress impacting our day to day life has to be addressed because it impacts the outcome of health goals. This is a key component of my practice and what I feel sets me apart from a physician.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I am a self-help junkie and Audible makes this possible for me. I would be lost without that app. Medically I refer to Epocrates and UptoDate at least three times a week. For meditation, I use the Insight App for guided meditations and soundscapes.

Contact Info:

• Email: DrBethBendokaitisNMD@gmail.com
• Instagram: Doctor_B_NMD
• Facebook: facebook.com/beth.bendokaitis.50

Image Credit:
Ryan Humiston

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