Chapter Two
The physician behind the practice
About Dr Maria Hatton
Family Physician · Women's Health · Lifestyle, Integrative & Functional Medicine
Opening
I have always been fascinated by the stories behind people's health.
I
Training
As a family physician, I spent years caring for patients across general practice, emergency medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry and women's health. While this training taught me how to diagnose and manage disease, it also revealed something equally important: many people, particularly women, were living with symptoms that could not be fully understood through a diagnosis alone.
Fatigue, hormonal symptoms, digestive concerns, low mood, sleep difficulties and a general sense of not feeling well often exist within a much bigger picture.
Over time, I became increasingly interested in understanding that bigger picture.
This curiosity led me to further training in lifestyle medicine, integrative medicine and women's health, including completing Dr Aviva Romm's Women's Integrative and Functional Medicine Professional Training Program.
My approach combines the strengths of conventional medicine with a broader exploration of the factors that influence health and wellbeing.
II
Beliefs
—I believe that good medicine begins with listening.
—I believe that patients deserve time to tell their story.
—I believe that health is rarely explained by a single factor, and that meaningful change often comes from understanding the connections between different aspects of our lives.
III
Practice
I also believe that medicine is both deeply human and sacred. To sit with another person in moments of vulnerability, uncertainty, transition or healing is a profound privilege. While some aspects of health can be measured through tests and investigations, others are revealed through conversation, reflection, meaning and connection.
For me, medicine is both a science and a relationship. It is about understanding not only what is happening in the body, but also the person who lives within it.
Most importantly, I believe that every patient deserves to feel heard, understood and empowered in their healthcare journey.
My goal is not simply to treat symptoms, but to help you better understand your health, make informed decisions and create a path towards long-term wellbeing.
Because when we take the time to look at the whole picture, a different kind of healthcare becomes possible.