About Dr. Milligan
Naturopathic primary care, grounded in evidence
I'm a naturopathic physician practicing primary care for adults in Portland. The label "naturopathic" sometimes suggests an alternative to conventional medicine, but that's not how I practice. My approach is evidence-based medicine done carefully — with the time to consider the many facets of your case, the willingness to dig into the details, and a clinical reasoning process that takes the whole picture into account.
What patients tend to notice first is that visits are longer and less rushed. What they notice over time is that the care is more thorough — labs are reviewed in context, medications are chosen deliberately, and the plan we build together actually fits the person I'm sitting across from.
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and trained here too. I earned my Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, then completed a residency in family practice — the same general primary care training that prepared me to manage the conditions most adults live with: high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease, cholesterol, mood and anxiety, ADHD, and the long tail of chronic concerns that benefit from a steady, attentive physician over time. I also provide gender-affirming primary care for trans and nonbinary patients, including hormone management.
I'm licensed in Oregon and Washington and see patients both in person at my Portland office and via telehealth across both states.
A few things shape how I work:
I read the literature, and I read it honestly. Good evidence changes my mind. Weak evidence — even when it's popular — doesn't.
I take symptoms seriously and I take labs seriously, and I try not to confuse one for the other. A normal lab doesn't mean you're fine, and an abnormal lab doesn't always mean something is wrong. Context matters.
I think the best primary care is longitudinal. Most of what I do is help people manage chronic conditions well over years, not solve a single complaint and move on.
I'm direct about what I can and can't help with. If something is outside my scope, I'll tell you and help you find the right person.
On a personal note, as mentioned I'm a Northwest native having spent over 20 years in Portland and now living across the river in Vancouver, WA with my husband and our two dogs. Outside the office I enjoy travelling, staying active, and practicing the clarinet which I have played since I was a kid.