Dr. Anne Frances Hardy received a Bachelor of Science in Medical Biology at the University of New England, and both a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine with high honors from the National College of Natural Medicine.
As part of her training, Dr. Hardy completed a year-long Chinese herbal discipleship focusing on difficult-to-treat conditions such as cancer, autoimmune disease, diabetes, and chronic viral and parasite infections. After studying Qi Gong and classical Chinese medical philosophy in China, she wrote her dissertation on the association between autoimmunity and digestive function from the perspective of Naturopathic and Chinese medicine.
During the 10 years of her medical education, Dr. Hardy worked intermittently as an in-patient nursing assistant for the elderly and the chronically ill. She also treated veterans receiving hospice care and undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical rehabilitation.
Dr. Hardy has studied craniosacral therapy and other energy medicine techniques, and received certificates in massage therapy and polarity therapy. She has also worked in Nepal with the Acupuncture Relief Project, providing free healthcare to patients with chronic pain, diabetes, heart disease, infectious disease, strokes, and other conditions.
Dr. Hardy is highly trained as a primary care provider to treat a wide range of acute and chronic conditions. Her primary focus is general family practice, with special interests in women’s health, hormonal imbalances, digestive issues, food allergies, mental and emotional challenges, nutrition, cardiovascular disease, and chronic conditions such as autoimmune disease and cancer. She specializes in the use of acupuncture, nutriceuticals, Western and Chinese botanicals, homeopathy, bio-identical hormones, and counseling.
One of the primary reasons Dr. Hardy entered the field of natural medicine is its strong emphasis on the emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of a person. She credits her mother, a Registered Nurse, with showing her what it means to be a compassionate and effective patient advocate.
Dr. Hardy believes patients need primary care providers who can help them put all the pieces together in a healthcare system full of specialists. She also believes in the importance of patient education and the doctor-patient relationship. She listens to each patient’s thoughts and concerns, and focuses the treatment plan to address his or her unique priorities. Her goal is to assist patients not only in attaining better health, but also in cultivating a greater sense of themselves.