Dr. Naomi Placella, NMD

Howard County, MD, in a town of less than 500, on a 50-acre farm.

The population of Glenwood, Maryland, on June 30, 1985, was 297.

Today, the population of Glenwood, Maryland, is 3,373, with a population density of 482 people per square mile. My point is, it’s a VERY small town.

UMBC for B.A. (Fine Arts Degree) 2001

SCNM for NMD 2015

I’ve completed continuous education and advanced preceptorships every year after my 2015 graduation.

Everything and anything anti-aging: microneedling, and weight loss, hyperhidrosis, PRF/PRP therapy, regenerative medicine, and pain management treatments like acupuncture and cupping.

My philosophy is that if you look your best, you will feel your best. Then, you will have the confidence to reach your highest potential in everything you do in life. Whether that is in personal or professional relationships, work, or personal goals, etc.

Because I was fed up with the conventional medical model, where you see a doctor for 5 minutes and you certainly don’t feel heard. I was also injured by a medication that was not indicated for a condition I had. The sequelae took 2 years out of my life to heal/repair, but have even continued to affect my health today.

I like the fact that we have so many tools in our toolbox. Unlike an MD or DO, we are trained in chiropractic adjustments, homeopathy and energetic medical modalities, botanical medicine (plants), nutrition and vitamin therapies, hydrotherapy, acupuncture and Chinese herbs, medical grade supplements, and preventative wellness. Instead of addressing a single symptom or sum of symptoms, Naturopaths are trained to find the root cause of disease, eliminate the obstacles to cure, and allow the body to regain its innate homeostasis. Naturopathic Medical Doctors address the mind, body, and spirit of a given individual. We custom-tailor treatment based on the individual, not based on a “standard of care.”

Honing my skill and expertise in aesthetics with multiple and never-ending post-doctoral training and education. Staying at the forefront of this industry to be cutting-edge. Never looking back, only forwards. Never stop learning, never stop growing. Be the best that I can be at everything I offer.

Spending time with friends and family, enjoying performing arts, cooking and fine dining, dancing, writing music, art exhibits, and physical fitness.

It is my personal opinion that the majority of Americans are grossly overfed and highly undernourished. To understand this, you must first understand the impact conventional farming methods have had on our food, water, and air. I chose naturopathic medicine because I wanted to understand why Americans were getting sick in the first place and what I could do about it.

I chose aesthetics because I love the way it makes people feel. I love the confidence it gives patients. I love aesthetics because it helps people love how they look, and when they look good, they feel good, too. And when you feel good, you tend to have a better outlook on life. When you embody this positive outlook, you have the strength to help and heal others around you with kindness and generosity. This is what drives me every day to be the absolute best provider I can be.

So many. First of all, I had a baby in the middle of my medical school education. While I was able to graduate on time, I was a single mother struggling in the world with my friends and family members over 2,000 miles away. I had to work FT while simultaneously doing my (unpaid) preceptorship. I had difficulty passing my board exams, mostly because I was physically and mentally exhausted, and I had no time to study. On top of that, I was paying for training in the BHRT and aesthetics modalities because they don’t teach any of these skills in medical school. These were trying and highly emotional times for me.

Driven. Passionate. Authentic.

Too many to list. Many of my teachers at SCNM inspired me to be a better person and the best doctor I possibly could be. Even now, it’s my patients who inspire me. Also, Joy Chapman, Co-Founder and Clinical Director of DrSkin Med Spa, can maintain a positive outlook and pleasant demeanor no matter how tough times get for the business.

Instead of thinking about what I need, I strive to understand the needs of others. What do they need to get the results they’re looking for? Motherhood was probably more of a catalyst than medical school, but both played a role. I’m on my journey, and my patients are on theirs. Our roads converge if only for a brief moment in time. In that short visit, I am their guide, and it’s my job to point them in the right direction.

For me, I approach the patient experience as if the roles were reversed and I was the one coming in for advice. Honesty is paramount. I will never sell a patient on something they don’t need or that will not benefit them. But at the same time, the truth can be brutal. I am results-driven. My aim is to provide the patient with realistic expectations and timelines. There are many types of procedures, and people have many choices. Some cost more, and some come with more risks to consider. Only when things are discussed honestly can the patient make an informed decision. The patient has a duty to be honest with their provider for this process to work for everyone. We are all on the same team at the end of the day.