Staying power, community connection, and a willingness to grow have defined Dr. Whitney Young’s healthcare journey - long before her work earned formal recognition.
Young, a naturopathic doctor and co‑owner of Rooted Naturopathic Clinic in Barrie, has spent nearly two decades building a practice focussed on collaboration and patient-centred care. While she was recently honoured the Barrie Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Healthcare Hero award, Young says her motivation has always come from a simple question.
“ I’m someone who always looks at what’s next and how else can I help,” she said during a recent interview.
After graduating in 2008, Young chose Barrie as the place to plant her roots. She joined Rooted Naturopathic Clinic as a co‑owner in 2013, helping grow it from two practitioners into a multidisciplinary clinic with several doctors and a full administrative team. Along the way, she has mentored new naturopathic doctors, expanded services, and taken on emerging healthcare gaps in the community.
One notable addition over the past year has been iron infusion therapy - a service Young says responds to a widespread but often overlooked need.
“Iron deficiency is quite high,” she explained, noting that many patients struggle with low iron levels and don’t tolerate traditional supplements. The clinic now receives referrals from medical doctors, reflecting a shift toward greater collaboration between conventional and naturopathic care.
That collaborative approach is something Young has seen evolve over her 17 years in practice. Where naturopathic medicine once required significant explanation, she says awareness and acceptance have grown.
“Barrie was always receptive,” she said, adding that patients today are more likely to view naturopathic care as part of a broader healthcare toolkit rather than an alternative on the fringe.
Listen below to our interview with Dr. Young. It begins at the 9:40 mark.
Young traces her career path back to an unlikely fork in the road. Before medicine, she once considered acting - a dream gently redirected by family advice to get a 'real' job.
“Probably my mother. Probably,” she laughed.
While her path may have changed, she says she has found purpose in walking alongside patients through major life moments, from fertility journeys to long‑term health challenges. Seeing the outcomes years later still resonates.
“It’s life-changing for that family,” she said, recalling patients she supported through fertility struggles whose children she now sees growing up.
Despite her demanding schedule, Young practices what she preaches when it comes to avoiding burnout.
“Sleep is very important,” she said, emphasizing routine, movement, nutrition, and laughter as essentials, not luxuries.
As Rooted Naturopathic Clinic continues to evolve, Young remains focused on steady growth - and staying grounded in the community that has supported her work from the beginning.
