When he left CCNM as a new grad, Callum Cowan and his wife Nicola, also an ND, had big dreams.
Navigating the first few years of practice can be difficult, but with twice the debt and just their ambition,
these two NDs have taken their vision and created a powerful brand in Phenom High Performance
Medicine. A true trailblazer, Dr. Cowan, ND has worked with hundreds of professional althletes and for
the last three years been a crucial member of the coaching staff of an NHL team. Their clinic works
closely with many of the most elite in their fields: top NHL players, UFC Champions, Olympic Gold
Medalists, Elite Executives, Millionaire Entrepreneurs, and Fortune 500 Companies.

OAND: Take us back to when you and your now wife, Nicola, were fresh out of CCNM and looking forward to starting your careers. Tell us about those early experiences.

Dr. Callum Cowan, ND: To be honest, in the beginning, I was just figuring out what we really wanted to do, how I wanted to spend my days, what got me excited. My wife, Nicola, who is also an ND, and I started from scratch with no other income, just us fresh out of school, trying to make it work. We wanted to start with a vision of how we wanted to spend our time, crafting everything around our passions. That might sound naïve now, but I really believe that our success has a lot to do with the fact that our goal was to focus on what we loved to do and how we wanted our days to look. That being said, I vividly recall the financial pressures and uncertainty during those early years. You leave school with a lot of passion – and many bills to pay, and we had double! It felt like survival mode at times. I have always wanted to work with hockey players and MMA fighters, my two favourite sports, but in the early days, I saw as many patients as possible. I thought that if I treated these experiences as learning opportunities, figuring out what works and what doesn’t, the rest would come. So, while I was working and learning, I also made sure I was carving out time to pursue those passions. My brother and I both had a lot of involvement in sports, particularly high-level hockey, which allowed us to establish a network within the Burlington and Oakville region. I reached out to two fighters from the community that I knew of through that network, with an offer to collaborate. It was a bit unnerving, treating high-level athletes wasn’t something we were taught to do in school. I was confident that I could genuinely assist them and that naturopathic medicine possessed the tools to make a difference, I spent so much time in those early days just digging into any research I could find. Those two fighters really bought in, and I was handling everything from their nutrition, performance, weight cutting, rehydrating, recovery, all of that. We achieved remarkable results right from the start. Their success in their first competitions got a lot of attention. That marked a turning point, as people began approaching me wanting to work together.

OAND: I know many new students often ask whether they should establish a general practice or specialize from the outset.

Dr. Callum Cowan, ND: Initially, we were working in a multidisciplinary clinic that focused on physiotherapy, and it had other services like massage therapy, chiropractic care, and occupational therapy. Because of the nature of the clinic and the financial situation, we both just started to see any patients interested. While we loved seeing patients, very quickly we started to feel like we wanted more. I felt like we were at the bottom of the pecking order in terms of importance. People usually started with physio, then moved to other therapies, and we were last in line. Knowing the potential for naturopathic medicine and the way we are trained, it seemed backwards to me. We have this incredible vantage point of seeing the whole patient and how systems are working (or not working) together and so feeling like we were an adjunct therapy didn’t sit well. I wanted something more objective and evidence-based in my practice. I wanted to provide services that had a solid foundation, especially if I wanted to be working with high-level athletes who demanded results. So, we decided to venture out and build something different. We kept working at the clinic for a few years while building our own system, but in both places, we focused on providing the best care we could, building a solid reputation and gaining confidence in our procedures and practices. We opened Phenom High Performance Health with the idea of offering efficient, effective results for not just athletes but really targeting people who are high performers. These patients are busy, have high expectations of themselves and want results when they invest in something. This was the system we developed and now train our other practitioners in. It was important to us that everyone who walked through those doors got the same experience – an efficient, effective, and high-quality care program.

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OAND: I would love to hear the story of how you broke new ground and became the first ND to work full-time on the coaching staff of an NHL team.

Dr. Callum Cowan, ND: Working in hockey started similarly to MMA. I began with a few players, and word started to spread. It was like a snowball effect, with more players seeking my help. I love hockey, so it was a natural progression to start working more and more with these players. It really goes to show when you focus on making sure that each patient is getting the best care you know how to provide, work spreads. I started to see more and more high-level players, including some OHL and NHL players. Then, about three years ago, I got a call from an NHL team, the Arizona Coyotes. They had heard about the work I was doing and were already familiar with my background. During our initial conversation, they offered me a role as their performance nutrition specialist. But again, I know our medicine isn’t sideline, adjunct medicine. I had a vision that was broader than just nutrition basics. They said they needed to talk and scheduled a call back for the next day. That proposal was different, with the idea of working much more deeply with the players. I accepted the offer and then worked to get my license in Arizona and have been working with the team ever since. I work closely with each player, including prospects and new draft picks. I collaborate extensively with our medical staff, including athletic therapists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and orthopedic surgeons. This role aligns perfectly with my long-standing vision of working with a team and seeing how collective efforts can yield better results. It’s been a great experience, but it’s not always smooth sailing. People often ask if I was intimidated going into the NHL. I always told them I carried on with my methods, even though many within the medical field were unfamiliar with our approach. Not everyone understands what we, as NDs, do, and opinions can vary widely. Especially at the beginning, there would be a lot of questions. “What does gut health have to do with how I play hockey?” But I had confidence in my approach and in our medicine, I had spent years working and learning and so, I was ready to step into that role and really lead with confidence. I believe in staying the course, and it has paid off. I’ve achieved excellent results, tailored strategies for each player, and gained a deep understanding of what works for them individually. Alongside my work with the Arizona Coyotes, I committed to collaborating with the London Knights in the OHL. This role involves more team-based efforts, guiding pre-game and post-game nutrition, performance optimization, and immune system support. In addition to my work with these teams, our clinic is still going strong. We also have three kids now, and it takes a village to manage all the moving pieces.

You may not have all the confidence yet, but if you have grit and determination, if you are relentless in doing good work, you can impact so many patients and build something incredible.

OAND: What is some advice you would give to new graduates or even seasoned NDs who are inspired by your story and want to explore other opportunities in our medicine?

Dr. Callum Cowan, ND: Firstly, don’t be afraid to stand your ground. We get out of school, and we are so enthusiastic about our work, but when you enter a larger and more competitive setting than the teaching clinic, you might not receive the same positive feedback you’re used to. It can be tough, and you might feel defensive. Having confidence in your abilities as a naturopathic doctor (ND), our medicine is powerful. But there is a balance to that because you also must really put in the work, especially in those early years. Our medicine can help so many people, but we know true confidence is going to come when you put in the hours and the work. You may not have all the confidence yet, but if you have grit and determination, if you are relentless in doing good work, you can impact so many patients and build something incredible. That being said, I have seen in some cases where new grads underestimate the amount of work needed to build a thriving practice. Yes, it is possible, but I don’t think anyone with a successful practice would tell you it didn’t come with a ton of sacrifice and hard work. When we leave school, set up to work in a private health care setting, our back is against the wall. The reality is that it takes time to grow your patient base and reputation. Results matter in the healthcare field, and a results-driven mindset is essential. All of this requires a lot of grit and determination. I don’t think that is always the impression that new grads have. In today’s world, you have the flexibility to carve out your niche and do what you love every day. But it is going to take time, a ton of effort and a lot of resilience. Our medicine is about more than just waiting for patients to show up. Even now, I feel like I can’t or don’t want to take my foot off the gas. High expectations are great, but achieving success requires persistent effort. That’s why making sure you are clear about what you love doing is important – it’s vital to maintain your drive because success can vanish quickly in today’s competitive world. And then, don’t be afraid to take a risk or a chance on something you love. It was not easy to reach out to those first few ideal clients and put myself out there. But I knew two things – I had confidence in the systems and solutions naturopathic medicine has to offer and I knew that no matter the amount of work, I would keep at it, find solutions, and get results. If you are brave, follow your passions and are willing to put in the (tremendous) work, you will be successful and you will help so many people.