Dr. Ben Connolly is a Halifax area Naturopathic Physician and public speaker who focuses on increasing quality of life for his patients
I was born and raised on the South Shore of Nova Scotia in the town of Shelburne. While growing up I developed a love of being active, playing sports and being in and on the water. I was home schooled for the last few years of high school which allowed me to begin my first year of at St. Mary’s University in Halifax, while simultaneously completing my grade 12.
While attending St. Mary’s, I took part in a co-op program where I gained exposure to various fields of work which I could enter with my Bachelor of Science Degree (Major in Biology) upon graduation. I had the opportunity to have a co-op placement with Capital Health in Halifax which after 1 term turned into a regular part time job. There I worked as a lab assistant in the HLA lab where organ donors and patients were matched for hearts, livers, kidneys and bone marrow transplants. I worked there for 3 years and gained extensive working knowledge of hospitals, doctors, patients, nurses and how everything flows. It was here that I became disillusioned with conventional medicine.
Upon graduation from St. Mary’s, even with my uncertainties and doubts, I went ahead and wrote the MCAT because I had always wanted to pursue a career in medicine. At the time, I believed that standard medical school was the only option for me. It was that summer that a family friend asked me if I had thought about Naturopathic Medicine. I seem to remember replying “all that stuff is hokey and not evidence based”. Being the skeptic I am I began researching Naturopathic Medicine and discovered that there is a large amount of research for most of the modalities used by ND’s. The more I read about Naturopathic Medicine the more I realized that the principles were in line with my own and that if I were an ND I wouldn’t be questioning myself if I had made the right choice.
I then applied and was accepted to Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) in Toronto where I completed a 4 year full time medical program. While there I was accepted in the Sports Medicine shift where I worked with athletes and nurtured my love of sport.
Upon returning to Nova Scotia I opened Cornerstone Naturopathic in St. Margaret’s Bay as well as a second clinic in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. I am currently in the process of building the very first custom designed, chemical free and environmentally friendly integrative medical center in Nova Scotia.
Since graduating from medschool and beginning a practice, I have realized that to become an excellent doctor and not just a good doctor, I need to build on my current foundation and expand my knowledge base. This thirst for knowledge has led me enrol in several courses across North America to learn form the experts and leaders in their respective fields of medicine. These opportunities have allowed me to enrich my skills and learn new treatment modalities in order to provide the highest caliber of patient care. I am a professional member of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND) as well as the Nova Scotia Association of Naturopathic Doctors (NSAND).
Continuing Education:
Parenteral Therapy by Dr. Paul Saunders ND (Toronto, Ontario 2011)
Clinical Applications and Advanced Topics of IV Nutrient Therapy by Dr. Virgina Osborne ND & Dr. Paul Anderson ND (Toronto, Ontario 2013)
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (Halifax, Nova Scotia 2013)
Microscope Training (Chicago, Illinois 2013)
Segmental Injection Therapy by Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt MD, PhD (Seattle, Washington 2013)
Progressive Practitioner Coaching Program by Tom Malterre MS, CN – author of Whole Life Nutrition and Nourishing Meals (2013)
EDTA Chelation Certification by Dr. Virgina Osborne ND & Dr. Paul Anderson ND (Seattle, Washington 2013)
Biopuncture by Dr. Anouk Chaumont ND (Halifax, Nova Scotia 2013)
Intravenous Therapy for Common Complaints by Dr. Tara Gignac (Toronto, Ontario 2013)
Ozone Therapy by Dr. Frank Shallenberger (Reno, Nevada 2013)
Prolozone Therapy Level I by Dr. Frank Shallenberger (Reno, Nevada 2013)
Prolozone Therapy Level II (Advanced) by Dr. Frank Shallenberger (Reno, Nevada 2013)
Neuroprolo Therapy Basic by Dr. Jeff Lyftogt (Kona, Hawaii 2013)
Neuroprolo Therapy Advanced by Dr. Jeff Lyftogt (Kona, Hawaii 2013)
Living in St. Margaret’s Bay has allowed me to live an active lifestyle on land and water while maintaining a life and work balance. I love spending my free time with my wife Julie, son Caleb as well as our faithful dog Loki.
Tags: Doctor