Dr. Annette Sacksteder of Vibrant Naturopathic Care is smiling outdoors in a park with green trees in the background, wearing purple glasses, a green plaid shirt, and a blue vest.

Naturopathic Physician · Washington State

Meet Dr. Sacksteder

An experienced naturopathic physician with more than 20 years of clinical experience and decades of leadership in healing and community organizing. She brings a deep understanding of the systems that shape health, along with a personal journey that informs her responsive, patient-centered approach to care.

How I arrived here

About Dr. Sacksteder

Annette Sacksteder, ND, EAMP, has actively supported people in their healing for decades. Her experience includes fifteen years as a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist, five years in the substance abuse field, and over thirty years of leadership and teaching in peer counseling focused on liberation and the elimination of oppression. She is licensed as a Naturopathic Physician and East Asian Medicine Practitioner in Washington State.

Dr. Sacksteder's clinical approach is shaped by her own health journey: osteoporosis, diabetes prevention, emotional healing, and transforming her relationship with food and body image. Facing osteoporosis in her early 60s prompted her to expand her clinical philosophy into a proactive, multi-system, multi-modality approach for peri- and postmenopausal women. Her practice now centers on bone health, menopausal hormone therapy, and blood sugar and cardiovascular optimization, all informed by her experience, expertise, and commitment to healing.

Read Dr. Sacksteder’s Full Story →

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Working Together

Working with patients is a collaborative process: good minds working together to develop practical, effective solutions to real health needs.

You have lived in your body for a lifetime. I recognize that knowing, and I honor it. In my experience, health and healing are most effective when explored in the context of the whole person: family, work, community, history.

I have the experience and flexibility to navigate the emotional and spiritual aspects of healing alongside the science and physiology of health. As a member of your health team, I bring my training, intuition, creativity, and problem-solving to our time together. I recognize the impact of childhood trauma, oppression, and systemic barriers on individual health and access to care.

These are complex times, and navigating your health through them deserves a physician who can meet you where you are. You are worthy of that care.

Education & Training

Dr. Sacksteder is a committed lifelong learner who stays current with the latest research and clinical best practices through ongoing continuing education in menopause and hormone therapy, osteoporosis prevention and treatment, cardiometabolic health, and cognitive health.

Degrees & Credentials

Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine, National College of Natural Medicine (2010)
Master of Science in Oriental Medicine, National College of Natural Medicine (2010)
Bachelor of Arts in Women's Studies, University of Washington
Hawai'i Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) (1999-2003)
Licensed Naturopathic Physician, Washington State (2010 - present)
Licensed East Asian Medicine Practitioner (EAMP), Washington State (2010 - present)
Certification for administering and scoring the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA®)

Professional Memberships

Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians (WANP)
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP)
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR)
The Menopause Society (ASBMR)

Recognition

2013 Seattle Met Top Doctor, Acupuncture
2023 Best Naturopathic Services in Seattle, Quality Business Awards (Rainbow Natural Health Clinic)

Residency

Completed a two-year residency at the Institute of Complementary Medicine under the supervision and mentorship of Dr. Eileen Stretch.

Certified Cognitive Assessment

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA®)

Dr. Sacksteder is a certified administrator of the MoCA®, a gold-standard screening tool for detecting mild cognitive impairment and early dementia. This certification ensures cognitive evaluations are conducted with validated, evidence-based methods, giving patients and families accurate, reliable assessments of memory, attention, executive function, and other critical cognitive domains.

My Commitment

Dr. Annette Sacksteder with short, curly hair taking a selfie in a kitchen, wearing a colorful apron and dark shirt, with a smile.

My commitment to patient care is grounded in the belief that every individual deserves healthcare that honors their whole self—including their unique history, circumstances, body, and personal goals.

In each patient relationship, I draw upon my full range of resources: clinical training, current research, the wisdom shared by my patients, lived experience, intuition, and an honest willingness to acknowledge uncertainty or limitations in my scope of practice. I will not simplify your health to fit a template.

Beyond individual care, I am dedicated to the broader work of social justice, the elimination of all forms of oppression, and the building of liberation movements. My organizing and leadership in peer counseling have centered on ending racism, with an understanding that the historical roots of all oppression are interconnected. I recognize that the elimination of one form of oppression necessitates the elimination of all, and that this work is fundamental to confronting the climate emergency. I am currently teaching a fundamentals course in peer counseling theory.

These commitments are inseparable from my practice of medicine. They shape how I understand illness, access to care, and what it means to truly support someone’s health and resilience in these complex, challenging, and beautiful times. I honor the inherent goodness in all people while standing firm against harmful behaviors and policies.

I have a deep love and respect for the wonder of life, and I am committed to supporting my patients in the continued discovery of their own sense of wellbeing. For me, a day well spent includes movement, music, dance, connecting with plants and nourishing food, speaking out for liberation, and living in connection with spirit and the people I love. I strive to create a space for the ongoing deepening of what brings us connection, fulfillment, and joy.