Gerontology Masterclass

Dr Alethea Crippen Fleming, ND is a passionate advocate for naturopathic geriatric medicine. She is a 2007 Bastyr University graduate and earned a certificate in Gerontology from the University of Washington. Dr. Fleming also holds a BA from Oberlin College.

Dr. Fleming is the owner and lead physician of the Vital Aging Clinic in Anacortes, Washington where she provides primary care to all adults as well as adjunctive geriatric care.

Dr. Fleming is adjunct faculty at Bastyr University and Middle Way Acupuncture Institute. She is active in local community organizations as well as a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians(AANP) and the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians (WANP).

Stephen W. Parcell, ND earned his doctorate in naturopathic medicine in 2002 from Bastyr University in Seattle. This was a four-year full-time program with clinic rotations and internships.

Steve Parcell, ND has done additional training at the American College for the Advancement of Medicine (ACAM), the National Lipid Association (NLA), the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) and the American Academy for Anti-aging Medicine (A4M). He is the past Vice President of the Colorado Association of Naturopathic Doctors (COAND). He is board certified in anti-aging medicine through A4M.

Parcell has a strong background in medical research and is an expert in “evidence-based natural medicine.” Dr. Parcell has worked at the American Institute for Biosocial and Medical Research and has co-authored National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant proposals for Bastyr University. He also worked a freelance medical researcher at University of Washington Medical School. He co-founded nature med integrative medicine in 2005 and continues to see patients there.  He is a strong believer in an integrative approach to patient care and enjoys working with medical doctors in his community.

Stephanie Kaplan, ND has been a naturopathic physician in Portland, Oregon since 2001 and specialises in serving older adults and those at the end of life. She meets her patients wherever they are living and dying with her home visit practice.

As a geriatrician and palliative care practitioner, Dr. Kaplan supports patients in collaboration with their other health providers to find creative solutions for their medical, social, and psycho-spiritual concerns. She meets the individual needs of seniors and the dying with the vast offerings of naturopathic medicine, including nutrition, movement, mindfulness, craniosacral therapy, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and medication management. 

Noriko received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles in 2008 with honors and has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist since 2007. She earned her Board Certification in Geriatric Physical Therapy in 2013.  

In the past 13 years as a licensed PT, she has had opportunities to work in a variety of patient care settings, from clinical trials to outpatient clinics to skilled nursing facilities.

In addition to clinical practice, Noriko is an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy at the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California. She teaches in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and is involved in the Division's antiracism and equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives, primarily in the areas of health justice curriculum and equitable teaching practices. 

As a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Noriko is trained in the evaluation of movement-related impairment and dysfunction and in physical rehabilitation to improve function and quality of life. She has clinical experience in orthopedic, sports, neurologic, and oncology rehabilitation. She is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. In addition to extensive clinical and teaching experience in the area of therapeutic exercise, she has worked with recreational and competitive athletes to develop training programs as they transition from rehabilitation to return to sport.