Background in Western Medicine
Jessica has cultivated a diverse clinical background that bridges conventional medicine with evidence-informed integrative care. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Women’s Health & Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2005, where her early work focused on supporting women with complex physical, cognitive and emotional needs.
Drawn to clinical medicine, Jessica returned to the University of Massachusetts Amherst to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, graduating magna cum laude. She went on to spend nearly a decade as a registered nurse in critical care and post-anesthesia care, including extensive experience as an ICU nurse caring for medically complex and critically ill patients. In this role, she managed high-acuity conditions, supported patients through life-threatening illness and recovery, and collaborated closely with multidisciplinary teams in fast-paced, high-stakes environments. She also provided care in the recovery room, supporting patients through the immediate post-operative period. These years provided a strong foundation in acute care, clinical judgment, and compassionate patient advocacy.
Jessica later completed her Master of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain University and became board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has practiced in primary care and community medicine, caring for patients across the lifespan while developing a particular interest in chronic disease prevention, longevity, and whole-person care. In addition to her primary care experience, she has pursued advanced training in functional, regenerative, and integrative medicine to better address the underlying contributors to health and disease.
While her foundation remains rooted in modern medicine, Jessica’s search for a more comprehensive understanding of health ultimately led her to the study of Ayurveda and the Vedic sciences. These traditions have profoundly influenced her philosophy of care and continue to complement her clinical practice in meaningful ways.
A Circle of Vaidyas
Background in Eastern Medicine
While Jessica values the strengths of modern medicine, her years in clinical practice revealed that many patients needed a more comprehensive approach to achieving lasting health. This realization inspired a lifelong commitment to the study of classical Āyurveda, one of the world’s oldest continuously practiced systems of medicine.
Jessica began her independent study of Āyurveda in 2011 before pursuing formal education and advanced clinical training. Since that time, she has studied under respected teachers in both the United States and India, completing extensive postgraduate education in classical Āyurvedic medicine, herbal therapeutics, pulse assessment, pañcakarma, and traditional clinical practice. Her education is rooted in the classical Āyurvedic texts, including the Caraka Saṃhitā, Suśruta Saṃhitā, and Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdayam, while emphasizing their thoughtful application in contemporary clinical care.
In addition to Āyurveda, Jessica is a certified Jyotishi (Vedic Astrologer) trained within a traditional lineage descending from Śri Achyutānanda Dasa of Odisha, India. Her studies draw extensively from the Bṛhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra, the foundational text of classical Jyotish. She integrates this tradition as a complementary tool for understanding the broader patterns that influence health, relationships, vocation, purpose, and the unfolding stages of life.
Jessica remains committed to ongoing study, believing that both medicine and the Vedic sciences are lifelong disciplines requiring continual learning, humility, and dedicated practice.