Naturopathic Doctor with Women's Health/ Fertility Focus (Part-Time)
4 days ago
San Diego
Job Description:\n\nNaturopathic Physician - Women's Hormonal Health & Fertility Specialist EmpowerMed Naturopathic Medicine | San Diego, CA | Part-Time (20 hrs/week) We're Not Just Hiring. We're Building a Legacy in Women's Health. EmpowerMed is a specialty naturopathic practice exclusively focused on women's hormonal health and fertility - serving the patients conventional medicine has labeled "fine" but who know something is deeply wrong. We're the practice where hope is restored, root causes are found, and healing partnerships are forged. We're seeking an experienced naturopathic physician who specializes in female reproductive health and endocrinology to join our growing team. You'll work alongside a board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist (FABNE) in a well-established practice with proven systems, dedicated patients, and a culture built on our H.E.A.R.T. values. The Immediate Opportunity: We need clinical coverage beginning September 2026 when Dr. Carleigh Golightly-Downing begins maternity leave. This isn't a temporary position - we're seeking a physician who will integrate into the practice long-term and help us continue our growth trajectory. You'll have the unique advantage of stepping into an established patient panel while building your own practice simultaneously. This isn't a corporate job. This is a calling for the right physician. The Clinical Opportunity Your Patient Population: Women experiencing complex hormonal dysfunction who are: Navigating PCOS, unexplained infertility, or recurrent pregnancy loss Struggling with hypothyroidism that's "managed" but not resolved Experiencing perimenopause symptoms dismissed by conventional medicine Dealing with hormonal imbalances affecting metabolism, mood, and quality of life Seeking partnership in their health journey, not just prescriptions These are informed, invested patients who: Value comprehensive assessment and individualized treatment Are willing to do the work required for deep healing Appreciate the therapeutic relationship as medicine itself Generate meaningful clinical outcomes that remind you why you became a naturopath Your Clinical Practice: Focus area: Female reproductive endocrinology, hormonal optimization, fertility support Appointment structure: 60 minute new patients, 30-45 minute follow-ups Patients per week: Building to 15-20 patient visits/week at full capacity Schedule: Part-time, 20 clinical hours/week (2-3 days, flexible during ramp-up) Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday availability preferred initially to coordinate with Dr. Carleigh's established schedule during the onboarding period Clinical autonomy: Practice your way, with mentorship available when desired Billing rate: Average $300/hour The Maternity Leave Coverage Component: Timeline & Structure: Start date: Flexible Q3 2026 (ideally by July to allow transition time) Initial phase: Build your own patient panel while learning our systems and shadowing Dr. Carleigh September 2026 onwards: Provide clinical coverage for Dr. Carleigh's established patients during her maternity leave (minimum 6 months) Post-maternity leave: Continue as part of our multi-provider model, maintaining patients you've built relationships with while Dr. Carleigh returns to practice What This Means for You: Faster ramp-up: You'll have access to an established patient base during maternity leave, accelerating your path to sustainability Built-in mentorship period: Work alongside Dr. Carleigh before she goes on leave to learn our protocols, patient preferences, and clinical approach Patient continuity opportunity: Some of Dr. Carleigh's patients may choose to continue with you long-term, jumpstarting your panel Lower initial financial risk: Coverage work provides immediate patient volume while you simultaneously build your own practice Long-term growth: You're not a temp - you're becoming a permanent part of our expanding team This is a unique opportunity to step into clinical volume immediately while building your own sustainable practice foundation. Available Modalities & Services: Comprehensive functional lab testing (hormones, metabolic panels, microbiome, food sensitivities) Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) Fertility optimization protocols Advanced thyroid management Lifestyle and nutritional therapeutics Constitutional hydrotherapy and Craniosacral therapy Emsculpt NEO aesthetic and pain management therapy Acupuncture (provided by colleague, collaborative referrals) IV/injection therapy including NAD+ and GLP1 In-office referrals for a holistic esthetician, and a mental health NP who provides TMS and ketamine therapy The Mentorship Component: Work directly with Dr. Carleigh Golightly-Downing, FABNE (Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Endocrinology): Pre-maternity leave (Q2-August 2026): Intensive shadowing, case consultation, and protocol training to prepare you for patient coverage Ongoing mentorship: Regular case consultation on complex endocrine presentations (continuing after return from leave) Advanced training in functional lab interpretation Guidance on fertility protocols and BHRT Clinical decision support when you need it Teaching opportunities as you develop expertise You're not being thrown into the deep end alone. You're joining an established specialist who's built this practice specifically to be a center of excellence in women's hormonal health, and who will ensure you're fully prepared to provide exceptional care during her absence. What We're Looking For Required Qualifications: Licensure & Education: Licensed Naturopathic Physician in California (or able to obtain California license within 60 days) Graduate of CNME-accredited naturopathic medical school Current DEA license (or willing to obtain) Clinical Experience: 3-7+ years experience in clinical practice Demonstrated expertise in female reproductive health and/or endocrinology Strong foundation in: Hormone replacement protocols (bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA) Fertility assessment and optimization PCOS diagnosis and comprehensive management Thyroid disorders (Hashimoto's, hypothyroidism, subclinical presentations) Perimenopause and menopause management Functional lab interpretation (DUTCH, comprehensive metabolic panels, specialty hormonal testing) Specialized Training (Highly Preferred): FABNE certification (Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Endocrinology) - certified or actively pursuing Additional training in reproductive endocrinology, fertility, or women's health Advanced coursework in bioidentical hormone replacement Functional medicine training or certification (IFM, AFMCP) Critical for This Role: Availability to start by July 2026 (allows 2 months of transition/training before maternity leave coverage begins) Commitment to long-term practice building beyond maternity leave coverage period Flexibility and adaptability to manage both your developing patient panel and established patient coverage Strong clinical judgment to independently manage complex cases during Dr. Carleigh's absence (with support as needed) Clinical Competencies: Skilled diagnostic reasoning for complex, chronic hormonal presentations Comfortable managing patients requiring nuanced, long-term protocols Experience with comprehensive intake and treatment planning Ability to educate and empower patients as collaborative partners Strong documentation and clinical communication skills Comfortable stepping into ongoing patient relationships and maintaining continuity of care The Intangibles We Can't Teach: You believe: The therapeutic relationship itself is medicine Every body is different - protocols must be individualized Listening is as powerful as prescribing Patients deserve to be seen, heard, and understood Sustainable healing requires partnership, not paternalism You are: Entrepreneurial - You see opportunity in building something, not just maintaining it Collaborative - You value mentorship, team input, and shared learning Mission-driven - Patient outcomes matter more than volume Comfortable with ambiguity - You're joining a growth-stage practice, not a corporate machine Committed to excellence - "Good enough" isn't in your vocabulary Trustworthy - Dr. Carleigh needs to know her patients will receive exceptional care in her absence You want: To specialize deeply rather than practice broadly Clinical autonomy with support when needed Work that feels meaningful, not transactional Financial upside tied to your contribution To be part of building something that outlasts you A faster path to full clinical volume through maternity leave coverage while building your own foundation What You Don't Need: You don't need a huge social media following or existing patient base (although it’s great if you have it!) You don't need to be an extrovert or natural marketer You don't need every answer figured out - we'll grow together You don't need prior business ownership experience Compensation & Financial Structure We believe in radical transparency. Here's exactly how this works: Phase 1: Foundation Building (Months 1-3, approximately) Base Salary: $4,000/month Guaranteed income while you build your patient panel AND learn our systems No production requirements or commission calculations Focus on: patient acquisition, shadowing Dr. Carleigh, learning protocols, clinical integration Training on our established patient cases in preparation for September coverage Our investment in you: $12,000 over three months Phase 2: Sustainability Milestone Evaluation (Beginning Month 4) Starting in Month 4, you'll be evaluated monthly for "sustainability" - the point where your practice becomes financially self-supporting. Important Note on Maternity Leave Coverage: Collections from Dr. Carleigh's patients during her maternity leave (September 2026 onwards) will count toward YOUR collections for sustainability and commission calculations. This means you can achieve sustainability faster through the combination of your own new patients plus coverage patients. Sustainability is defined as meeting BOTH criteria: Revenue threshold: 3-month rolling average collections of $12,000/month from your patient panel (including maternity leave coverage patients) At $300/hour billing rate, this represents approximately 12 billable hours per week Achievable milestone typically reached within 4-6 months Likely to be achieved during or shortly after maternity leave coverage begins due to established patient volume Represents roughly 60% of full capacity (conservative and fair) Patient panel minimum: Active base of 20+ patients Active = seen within past 90 days OR scheduled appointment on books Includes both patients you've personally acquired AND patients you're seeing for maternity coverage Ensures you're building recurring relationships, not just one-time visits Validates sustainable practice development Why these thresholds? They cover the practice's costs while leaving reasonable margin They're achievable for a competent physician within 4-6 months They're highly likely to be achieved during maternity leave coverage given the established patient volume They ensure you're building a real practice, not just hitting revenue spikes They protect both parties' interests Phase 3: Mature Practice Compensation (Once Sustainability Achieved) The Structure: Base Salary: $2,000/month (ongoing financial security) Commission: 30% of ALL monthly collections from your patient panel (including maternity leave coverage patients) Important: Commission applies to your total collections, not just amounts above the $12,000 threshold After 12 Months of Employment: Profit-Sharing Eligibility: 5-15% of annual practice net profit growth Distributed among eligible providers based on contribution, performance and tenure Calculated and paid annually Rewards practice-wide success, not just individual patient revenue Compensation Examples at Various Stages: At Sustainability Level ($12,000/month in collections): Base salary: $2,000 Commission (30% of $12K): $3,600 Monthly total: $5,600 Annualized: $67,200 Plus profit-sharing (Year 2+): ~$3,360-$10,080 TOTAL YEAR 2: ~$70,560-$77,280 During Maternity Leave Coverage (estimated $18,000-$21,000/month in collections): Example at $20,000/month: Base salary: $2,000 Commission (30% of $20K): $6,000 Monthly total: $8,000 Annualized: $96,000 Plus profit-sharing (Year 2+): ~$15,000-$20,000 TOTAL: ~$111,000-$116,000 Post-Maternity Leave (maintaining some coverage patients + your own panel, estimated $15,000-$18,000/month): Example at $16,000/month: Base salary: $2,000 Commission (30% of $16K): $4,800 Monthly total: $6,800 Annualized: $81,600 Plus profit-sharing: ~$15,000-$20,000 TOTAL: ~$96,600-$101,600 What This Means: Year 1 projected earnings: $75,000-$105,000 (accounting for ramp-up + maternity coverage boost) Year 2+ projected earnings: $95,000-$120,000 (with profit-sharing) For 20 hours/week of clinical time (can expand to more hours if desired) Uncapped earning potential - as you grow, you benefit directly Faster path to higher earnings through maternity leave coverage opportunity Hourly equivalent at maternity coverage capacity: ~$110-120/hour take-home (you bill at $300/hour, keep ~$110-120/hour) Additional Benefits: Paid sick leave 401k Access to in-house clinical mentorship and case consultation Flexible schedule during ramp-up phase Professional development support (FABNE certification, specialty trainings) Transparency & Support: You'll receive monthly performance reports showing: Your monthly collections (actual and 3-month rolling average) Your active patient count Progress toward sustainability threshold Projected earnings based on current trajectory Breakdown of collections from your own patients vs. coverage patients (for your information) You'll always know exactly where you stand. Performance Review Process: If sustainability thresholds are not achieved within 6 months, we'll conduct a collaborative review to assess: Patient acquisition challenges and solutions Clinical efficiency opportunities Marketing and referral support needs Mutual fit assessment Our goal is your success. If barriers exist, we'll work together to address them. If after honest evaluation we determine this isn't the right fit for either party, we'll part ways professionally with appropriate notice. Why This Compensation Model? Traditional models offer: Fixed salary (security but capped earnings) Pure commission (high upside but high risk and income volatility) Our hybrid model offers: Security during ramp-up ($4K guaranteed while building) Ongoing baseline stability ($2K once sustainable) Significant upside through commission (30% of collections) Shared success through profit-sharing (5-15% of growth) Accelerated earnings through maternity coverage opportunity Alignment of incentives - when you succeed, we all succeed This is designed for a physician who: Values security but wants unlimited upside Is confident iSpecialty naturopathic practice focused exclusively on women's health, hormones and fertility. Founded 2019 by FABNE-certified Dr. Carleigh Golightly-Downing in San Diego.\r\n\r\nWe treat complex hormonal conditions (PCOS, thyroid, fertility, perimenopause) with comprehensive, individualized care. Our H.E.A.R.T. values guide everything we do: creating safe spaces, honoring individual differences, practicing what we preach, honest communication, and holistic care.\r\n\r\nServices include advanced functional labs, BHRT, hydrotherapy, Emsculpt, acupuncture, and IV therapy. We use Scaling Up methodology and maintain 60-90 minute appointments for deep patient partnerships.\r\n\r\nGrowing strategically. Seeking mission-driven team members.