Meet Our Friendly Staff
OFFICE MANAGER
Vanessa Knapp joined Be Well Natural Medicine in February 2016 after experiences in administrative and volunteer work in both hospital and complementary healthcare settings in the Twin Cities.
Vanessa's undergraduate study was in performance art and creative writing at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and she is currently training for certification as a Classical homeopath at Northwestern Academy of Homeopathy in Saint Louis Park. She will finish the 4-year program in 2019 with 2 years of clinical training completed. The bridge between art and healing has been an organic one for Vanessa, drawing from her interest in performance artists using presence, observation and intention as creative, collaborative mediums, as well as her own experiences of injury and illness while in art school.
At Be Well Vanessa most enjoys getting to know patients and witnessing the details, idiosyncrasies and expressions that make people unique. She’s also the one happily coordinating the details that make your care plans roll out smoothly.
In her spare time Vanessa enjoys the family cabin, messing up her kitchen, embarrassing her two children with her exuberant dance moves, and watching nature documentaries.
PATIENT CARE COORDINATOR
Ashley Katzakian is excited to be joining the team at Be Well Natural Medicine as the new patient care coordinator. Growing up in Northern California, Ashley developed a strong passion for helping others, healing and medicine. After graduating from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2014 with a B.A. in Theatre Directing and a minor in Applied Psychology, Ashley moved to Minnesota to pursue a career in helping others through the performing arts.Through her time working in the arts with both children and adults, Ashley discovered the best way for her to help others was through health and wellness. Ashley received her yoga teacher training certificate through the Yoga Center Minneapolis in 2017 and teaches in various spaces throughout the Twin Cities. She also holds a nutrition certification through Precision Nutrition and is currently studying to become an Ayurvedic Practitioner through Yoga Veda Institute with an expected graduation date in late 2020.
Ashley believes in a holistic approach to healing, bringing peace to the body, mind, and soul by bridging the gap between Eastern and Western medicine.
