Dr. Brenda Tapp Leonard

Peterborough Centre of Naturopathic Medicine

386 Burnham Street, Peterborough, ON, K9H 1T6

Medicine is rarely simple. Some people respond exactly as expected. Others do everything “right” and still do not feel well. Those are often the patients who find their way to me. I am currently in my 15th year of clinical practice as a naturopathic doctor, with a practice focused on complex chronic healthcare, particularly cases that require deeper investigation, more nuanced decision-making, and a willingness to challenge assumptions. My work includes integrative cancer care, chronic infections, complex health, and supporting individuals who are either exceptionally sensitive to treatment and experience side effects to seemingly everything, or feel they have tried everything and nothing is working. Many of the patients I work with arrive after years of searching for answers. They have seen multiple providers, completed testing, and have been told everything looks normal or that nothing more can be done. These are often the cases that challenge conventional algorithms and require thoughtful integration of physiology, evidence, clinical experience, and collaboration across disciplines. A large part of my work exists at the intersection of conventional medicine and evidence-informed naturopathic care. I believe patients deserve healthcare that is collaborative rather than competitive, and individualized rather than protocol-driven. I have been prescribing menopause hormone therapy (MHT/HRT) for over 10 years and performing intravenous nutrient therapy for 14 years, with a strong emphasis on safety, clinical appropriateness, and integration with ongoing medical care. Cancer care remains an important focus of my practice. Cancer changes everything, but treatment should not come at the expense of quality of life. I work alongside oncology teams to help patients navigate treatment, reduce side effects where appropriate, support recovery, and rebuild health after cancer. Teaching and mentorship have also shaped my career. For more than a decade, I trained student clinicians, many of whom have gone on to become exceptional practitioners themselves. I continue to advocate for raising standards, asking better questions, and expanding what thoughtful, evidence-informed care can look like. I do this work because there are still too many people being told to live with symptoms, too many patients falling between specialties, and too many opportunities to do better. My goal is to leave a meaningful footprint in healthcare here in Peterborough, one that makes it easier for patients to access collaborative, evidence-informed care.