JULIE FOSTER, MSN, FNP

Bridging Medicine, Wisdom and the Human Experience of Healing

Julie Foster is the Founder and Medical Director of Pohala Clinic — A Place of Healing, a multidisciplinary Integrative Primary Care and IV Therapy clinic in Portland, Oregon.

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With more than 35 years in nursing and integrative medicine, Julie brings together evidence-based mainstream medicine, Anthroposophic Medicine, naturopathy, functional approaches and Indigenous wisdom. Her work is grounded in a lifelong pursuit of understanding healing not simply as the treatment of disease, but as a process involving the whole human being.

AT A GLANCE

More Than Three Decades Dedicated to Healing

35+ Years

Nursing & Integrative Medicine

Since 1998

Licensed Nurse Practitioner

Double Board Certified

Family Practice & Anthroposophic Medicine

Since 2004

Training in Integrative Oncology & Mistletoe Therapy

Since 2007

Founder & Medical Director of Pohala Clinic

A LIFELONG PATH IN MEDICINE

From Emergency Care to Integrative Practice

Julie began her journey in healthcare as a teenager volunteering in hospital settings, later becoming an Emergency Department nurse with a focus on trauma and acute care. She went on to complete graduate studies in Family Medicine while continuing clinical work in both urban and rural settings.

Since becoming a Nurse Practitioner in 1998, she has consistently practiced integrative medicine, combining evidence-based care with a broad range of therapeutic traditions. Early exposure to collaborative healing environments and Anthroposophic Medicine shaped her lifelong commitment to understanding health beyond conventional boundaries.

Over time, her clinical focus expanded into complex care, integrative oncology, functional medicine, and whole-person healing approaches that address physical, emotional, and systemic health together.

FOUNDING POHALA & INTEGRATIVE PHILOSOPHY

Creating a Place of Healing

In 2007, Julie founded Pohala Clinic with the intention of creating more than a medical practice — a true Place of Healing where science, relationship, and meaning could coexist.

At the core of her philosophy is integration: bringing together mainstream medicine, functional and naturopathic approaches, Anthroposophic Medicine, botanical therapies, and Indigenous wisdom in a responsible, patient-centered way.

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Her Hawaiian heritage and the concept of Kuleana (responsibility and purpose) deeply inform her leadership, shaping how she approaches care, mentorship, and the creation of healing environments grounded in respect, Aloha, and human connection.

CURRENT PRACTICE, LEADERSHIP & PERSONAL FOUNDATION

Complex Care, Mentorship and Servant Leadership

Today, Julie focuses on complex integrative care, including chronic illness, metabolic and hormonal health, longevity medicine, and integrative cancer support such as Mistletoe Therapy when appropriate. She also mentors clinicians and emerging healers, sharing decades of clinical experience.

Her leadership extends beyond the clinic through national and regional professional roles in nursing, integrative medicine, and healthcare development. She is deeply committed to advancing a model of care that values both scientific rigor and the human experience of healing.

Outside of medicine, Julie finds grounding in her Ohana, nature, and the study of medicinal plants. Her life and work are guided by curiosity, service, and a continued dedication to understanding what it means to truly heal.

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Begin Your Own Pohala Journey

Every healing journey is different. Wherever yours begins, our team is here to meet you with thoughtful care, clinical expertise and the spirit of Aloha.