The Group

Dr. Eric Arrata, BSc, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

After entering university in "Pre-med", I felt it was clear sailing (and a bit of hard work) towards being a medical doctor until I took graduate level classes in virology, immunology and biotechnology. The professors, including a few from the Faculty of Medicine, teaching those classes were unable to answer questions to my satisfaction.  It didn'­t make sense to me that the body could be described simply as machine without thought of the "intelligence" behind the biological processes I was being taught. At this point I decided to forgo medicine for the time being and ended up doing research (related to anti-HIV medications) in Montreal. It was here I learned about naturopathic medicine - I had never heard of it before or known that it was a formalized area of study. The rest is history.

About a year later I found myself beginning my first year at Bastyr University in Seattle.  I felt like a kid in a candy store.  Botanical medicine, counseling and lifestyle coaching quickly became my strengths in the teaching clinic while advanced training with respected naturopathic doctors, herbalists and healers opened my eyes to the art of not only botanical medicine but healing as a whole. Finally I was being provided with a framework on which to hang my knowledge and understand past experiences.  Previously caught glimpses of relationships within the natural world coalesced within me and I was left with the knowledge of the interconnectedness that creates health.

It also happened that as my first shifts as a student clinician approached, the teaching clinic at Bastyr was short on "primary" clinicians (3rd and 4th year students) and it was necessary for me to take on role of a primary clinician well before my time.  Although initially daunting with a steep learning curve, this early clinical experience greatly tempered the clinician within me.

Upon graduating in 1995 I moved back to be with my family, and the mountains, in Calgary. Over the following few years I was fortunate enough to learn herbal and ceremonial lore from the Blood tribe in southern Alberta.  Herbal medicine and healing now became a living, breathing experience for me that never left.  Our health is impacted moment by moment with the decisions we make, the thoughts we have and the words we use.

My practice has grown immeasurably over the years with the experience of seeing over eight thousand clients over the past 15 years, working with some of the most challenging cases (cancer, chronic fatigue, degenerative neuropathies, stealth infections) and bringing my own personal health experiments and experiences to the table.  I am no different from the people I see everyday. We all have challenges in our lives that can compromise our health or sense of it.  Whether it'­s a fever my daughter runs, an injury I get from hiking or working through issues with my wife or son.  These common threads provide the warp and weave of wellness.

– and on the odd day that I'm not in the clinic, you'll find me tending my yard, trying to double-bounce my kids (or their friends) on the trampoline, backpacking, hiking, trail running and generally enjoying the outdoors.

Dr. Trevor Hoffman, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Dr. Trevor Hoffman moved to Calgary in 1998 from Kelowna where he was born and raised on a small family orchard.  This experience gave him an appreciation for wholesome organic foods.  Since he was young Dr. Hoffman wanted to be a doctor.  Years of suffering with migraine headaches, only to find results from non-traditional approaches, made him realize that there must be a better solution to the standard medical model. 

Dr. Hoffman graduated from the southwest college of Naturopathic Medicine and Health sciences in Tempe, Arizona.  There Dr. Hoffman was introduced to regenerative injection therapy and quickly put those skills into practice after he noticed how effective the treatment was in healing an old injury that was nagging him.  Dr. Hoffman was also given the opportunity to partake in hospital rotations at three Phoenix area hospitals.  This blend of farm raised appreciation of nutrition and progressive naturopathic care integrate into his style of practice today. 

Dr. Hoffman practices an integrative style family medicine and enjoys focusing on sports medicine.  He has worked with all levels of athletes, including many high profile Olympic and professional athletes to the weekend warrior.  His focus is not only to optimize performance through sound nutrition, but also to speed recovery from training or sporting events and speed recovery from injuries.


Dr. Jason Ahlan, BSc, (Honours) ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Hello and welcome to the Paradigm Health Group!  I am very excited to be part of this integrative team!  Having moved here in 2004, I left a land of papers and libraries graduating with a degree in Biochemistry and a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine.  I obtained further training in Emergency Medicine at Greenwich Hospital, teaching centre for Yale University.  At graduation I was awarded the "Naturopathic Honour" for leadership and dedication to the academic community.  Furthering my passion for the outdoors, I am now happy to call Calgary home.

I am board certified with the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, the Alberta Association of Naturopathic Doctors and the Naturopathic Academy of Therapeutic Injection where I sit on the board as the Canadian representative. I also represent the University of Calgary at the "Consortium of Academic Health Centres for Integrative Medicine".  This is a collection of 42 institutions, of which only 4 are in Canada.

With particular interest in sports medicine and pain management, I have successfully treated both Olympic and professional athletes.  My further training includes Clinical Nutrition, Botanical Medicine, Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Mesotherapy, Prolotherapy and Homeopathy. What else do I love to do?  International travel, photography, athletics and anything else that brings me closer to the mountains!

Dr. Rhiannon Owens BA. (Health Sciences), ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Dr. Owens graduated from Queen'­s University in Health Studies and then pursued her doctorate degree at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.  Dr. Owens is a licensed and board certified Naturopathic Doctor and is affiliated with the Alberta Association of Naturopathic Doctors, the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, and the Institute for Functional Medicine, and the Naturopathic Academy of Therapeutic Injection.   She has completed her education with advanced training in therapies such as Emergency Intravenous Therapy, Chelation Therapy, Prolotherapy, Advanced Colonic Hydrotherapy, Integrative Oncology, NAET (allergy elimination technique), Mesotherapy, Bowen therapy and Acupuncture.

Dr. Owens was first introduced to Naturopathic Medicine at an early age, when she and her family explored alternative health care.  Helping people has always been her passion, and after her experience in Nursing at Queen's University she ventured into the Naturopathic field.  That was where she found her true calling.  Dr. Owens has a full time medical practice specializing in chronic pain and disease.  She has been an athlete her entire life in sports such as field hockey, soccer, mountain climbing and biking.  She became interested in healing sports injuries through her association with various teams.   She is one of few doctors in Calgary who practice Regenerative Injection therapies on athletes with injuries and chronic pain.  Dr. Owens is proud to be a part of the Paradigm Team that brings a unique integrated approach to health care.

Dr. Jana Exner
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
I was introduced at an early age to natural healing concepts by my mother. She would take us on trips to the health food stores and talk to us about facts that she learned in health books and magazines.  Although I had a good base of knowledge, as a typical teen, I didn'­t adhere to all the advice and I became ill.  The western medical system did not have any answers for me, so my mother took me to alternative therapists and with their help I got my life back.  They found that I had a systemic Candida infection that was wreaking havoc in my body.  I remember the relief I felt when I finally found someone who really listened to me and gave me an explanation of why I was feeling so terrible.  I remember how challenging it was to radically change my diet, take supplements and go through the detoxification and then how wonderful it was to feel like myself again.

Shortly after this time I was in University with the goal of becoming an Orthodontist, and my mother showed me an article written about Naturopathic Medicine.  As I read it a light bulb went off in my head and I had to know more!  I sent for information from the Naturopathic colleges and I was hooked.  I knew from personal experience how amazing this type of medicine could be and I wanted to help people like I had been helped.  I loved how there were classes for the body, mind and soul.  I finished my pre-medical Science requirements and then attended the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto from 1990-1994.  At my graduation I received the Dr. Roy and Dr. Boucher award for Excellence in Nutrition.  I had opportunities to practice in Ontario and BC, but decided to come back home to Alberta to be with my family and friends.  My dream of being a Naturopathic doctor was realized when I opened my practice in Edmonton in 1994.  I had a successful and fulfilling practice there for 11 years, when life took me to Calgary and eventually to Paradigm Health Group.

The past 17 years of caring for my patients have been more rewarding than I can say.  I continue to love helping people get to the root of their health issues, while helping them to understand what got them there and seeing the "aha" moments.  It is so rewarding to create health plans that give people renewed happiness and well being.  I greatly admire all of my patients who do what it takes to get better, because I have been on the other side of the desk.  I can empathize with what they are going through and I incorporate this knowledge with every health program that I prescribe.  I have found through all my years treating patients, attending many conferences and seminars and a lot of research that my passion and interests are in the areas of hormonal balance, gastro-intestinal disorders, fatigue, and anxiety and stress issues.  My other interests, besides striving for my own optimal health balance, are travelling, cooking, hiking, scrapbooking and spending time with my family and friends.

Angela Merlo, TCMD, RAc
Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Angela is a graduate of The Canadian College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Victoria, B.C.  She has been vastly innovative in her Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice, treating a wide array of health issues. It was because of her own return to health through TCM from severe and devastating health conditions that Angela decided she wanted to devote herself to helping others regain their health through this ancient form of medicine.

Angela specializes in treating Allergies/sensitivities and is the passionate founder of The CAST (comprehensive allergy and sensitivity treatment) Program. In this cutting edge program, Angela brings together the best assessment and natural allergy treatment modalities available, including NAET (Nambudripads Allergy Elimination Technique), BioSET and MORA therapy/testing, Acupuncture, Herbal therapy, Nutrition and Supplementation.

The connection between the mind, emotions, spirit and body has always been obvious and a fascination for me. We all know what is best for us; there is an internal voice that can be our healer to help us find balance. If we listen to this voice we can heal ourselves of most illness. Traditional Chinese Medicine inherently utilizes this approach, as it is inseparable from the medicine itself, it is the premise of TCM that if there is balance between body, mind, emotions and spirit then health will follow. I strive to bring this aspect of healing into all of my sessions, I recognize that true healing always occurs deep within a person’s body/mind and often is preceded by a shift in awareness/consciousness. I always meet my patients where they are; I am simply a catalyst to your own transformation.

I have been a student of Yoga for over 15 years and became a certified Yoga instructor in India. I believe it is through mindfulness and presence within self that true understanding and change occurs. Without mindfulness, I believe that it is nearly impossible to make authentic lifestyle changes and initiate the healing process. Mindfulness enables us to be fully present and have a direct relationship with our lives. I incorporate Yogic theory, mindfulness and Yoga therapy into my practice and they have become indispensable as the most transformative means for my patients to achieve true and lasting health. Yoga has changed my life.

I am very passionate about Nutrition; food truly is the most powerful of medicines. I mostly use TCM and Ayurvedic principles of nutrition to help people to discover their unique body/mind type and create a nutrition plan that creates harmony and therefore vibrant health. I also incorporate nutrition into my holistic anti-aging program with facial rejuvenation acupuncture, what we put into our mouths affects every level of our being inside and out.

Robin McKinnon
Lead Hand
Chavita 3, Emitiva 9 pretty much wraps me up in a nut shell!  But for those of you who have yet to meet me - I will start at the beginning.  Born and raised right here on the prairies, but in my heart I will always call the East coast home.   There is something about the smell of the kelp on the rocks and the crash of the waves that soothes my soul.   As I await my return "home", I spend time in my organic vegetable garden and chasing after my four dogs .   It all sounds pretty Martha Stewart, which is really what I was going for, of course minus the incarceration, but I have done some pretty amazing things as well – I climbed Mount Vesuvius in Naples, explored Pompeii, been deep sea fishing on an out board boat, explored washed up shipwrecks from the war of 1812 and body surfed next to ancient temples in Mexico.   Somewhere along the way my path led to Paradigm, and here I am manning the desk, striving to make each person's appointment feel like they are visiting family.