Hi I’m Lauren, co-founder and Registered Dietitian with EmpowerMed. We are so excited to offer women’s health focused services, something we feel our community is missing.

I grew up in Medicine Hat, and as an athlete I learned from a young age what food can do for our bodies. In my teens I found enjoyment in cooking and baking and always knew I wanted to work in a helping profession. With the help of my mom, I found the profession of Dietetics, graduating from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition in 2012. Shortly after graduating I returned to Medicine Hat and have spent the majority of my career since working in chronic disease management.

I want to support women in finding a way of eating that helps them feel their best while still finding enjoyment and pleasure from food. I focus on what you need to add to your diet instead of restriction and deprivation. What I enjoy most about my job is building relationships and problem solving with clients to find practical strategies that actually work for their lifestyle. While I definitely have a soft spot for pregnant and postpartum individuals, I strive to support all women throughout various life transitions.

Outside of work, I spend most of my time raising my two young daughters alongside my husband Michael. When I’m not focused on my family, I’m doing what I can to learn more about parenting, ways to manage my own health and wellbeing and becoming a better Dietitian. I continue to enjoy cooking and baking, often with a little helper or two.

In addition to my degree in Nutrition, I am currently working on my Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) Level 1 Practitioner certification. In January 2024 I start Functional Medicine Practitioner training with the Wisdom Medicine Institute out of Portland Oregon, with completion date of June 2024.

If you would like to reach out to me specifically, feel free to send an email to lauren@empowermed.ca.

Hi I’m Lauren, co-founder and Registered Dietitian with EmpowerMed. We are so excited to offer wo... Read More

Hi! My name is Colleen Sherven, and I am the medical director and one of the co-founders of EmpowerMed. My role in the healthcare field started out as a Registered Nurse practicing in a variety of settings. In 2017, I obtained my master’s degree in nursing and became a Nurse Practitioner (NP). The functionality and responsibilities that are attached to the NP role have provided me with a greater perception to the many unmet needs of the female population. Often, these women do not feel their concerns are being heard or understood. It is my pleasure to collaborate with other female health care professionals, to provide such services that are unique and in demand.

In the last few years, I have worked diligently on broadening my knowledge by studying via the Institute for Functional Medicine (2018), Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Training Academy (2023), and many other integrative and holistic approaches to best support individuals. I have a special interest in getting to the root cause of symptoms, both female and male hormone health, and overall providing a comfortable and genuine environment for clients.

Outside of my career, I enjoy catching up with friends over a coffee, listening to podcasts, running, and memorizing NHL player names for when my son quizzes me. My husband, Scott, and I enjoy living just outside of Medicine Hat with our two young sons. We look forward to having them teach us new things about parenthood each day.

Currently, I am working towards completing my certificate as a Functional Medicine Practitioner with the Wisdom Medicine Institute out of Portland, Oregon, by February 2024. I am also in the process of completing certification through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, with a target completion date of May 2024. I am absolutely honored for the opportunity to bring forward my knowledge and skills to the community of Medicine Hat – I look forward to meeting you very soon!

If you would like to reach out to me specifically, feel free to send an email to colleen@empowermed.ca

Hi! My name is Colleen Sherven, and I am the medical director and one of the co-founders of Empow... Read More

Hello. My name is Tanya Van Dam, and I am extremely excited to be joining the co-founders of EmpowerMed. I am honored that Empowermed has chosen me to be a part of their team.

I was born and raised in Medicine Hat. My post secondary education started at the Medicine Hat College and then took me to the University of Calgary, and University of Alberta. I started out on the career path to become a doctor and then I switched focus to physiotherapy. I graduated from the University of Alberta in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy. I have worked in Medicine Hat my entire career.

In 2012 I started additional training to become a pelvic floor physical therapist. I now have my Level 1 Physical Therapy Approach to Female Urinary Incontinence, Level 2 Physical Therapy Approach to Dyspareunia and Male Urinary Incontinence, and Level 3 Physiotherapy for Ano-Rectal disorders and Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy in Paediatrics. I also have training in prolapse/pessary fitting, hypopressive breathing, acupuncture, and functional dry needling.

I still treat orthopedic conditions however my passion is in pelvic floor physiotherapy. I love helping pre and post partum moms. Men suffering with urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction after prostate surgery may also benefit from pelvic floor physiotherapy.

Outside of work I am a busy mom of 2 very active kids. You can often see me cheering on my kids at volleyball, basketball, badminton and track and field. My husband Jason and I travel the province with our children camping, mountain biking, skiing, hiking and racing BMX.

I look forward to working with this powerhouse of ladies to bring a unique women’s health experience to our amazing community.

If you would like to reach out to me specifically, feel free to send an email to tanya@empowermed.ca

Hello. My name is Tanya Van Dam, and I am extremely excited to be joining the co-founders of Empo... Read More

Hi there! I’m Anna, a Registered Nurse, one of the co-founders of EmpowerMed and small town Saskatchewan girl. Moving to the sunny south in 2003 for Nursing School, I have lived and immersed myself in all that this community has to offer - making Medicine Hat “home”. I am tremendously passionate about women’s health advocacy and want to truly inspire women to be engaged, empowered and involved in their care and wellbeing.

I graduated in 2007 from Medicine Hat College with a Bachelors degree in Nursing from University of Calgary. For the past 16 years in healthcare, I have been given the opportunity to gain experience while working in a variety of settings including a rural hospital, medical-cardiac unit, emergency department, and Intensive Care Unit (ICU). I’ve assisted public health with vaccination programs as well having the privilege of being a mentor to future professionals as a clinical instructor for the nursing program at MHC. My most recent role is working as a Clinical Nurse Educator for the ICU. Working as a bedside nurse, I strive to be an advocate for my patients and as a clinical educator I have assisted in the development of policies that improve patient care and staff safety.

My motivation for women’s healthcare improvements evolved not only from my years as a nursing professional, but also out of my own health journey, from fertility treatments in 2020 through 2021 and most recently with a battle against breast cancer. Through these experiences, I’ve learnt first-hand how important it is to advocate for yourself and how having the right team behind you can make all the difference in the world. I want to be able to share my acquired insight and understanding through these experiences to others who are struggling with similar situations.

In my free time, I enjoy a round of golf, shared laughs over coffee with friends, a good meal and night out, the occasional spin or CrossFit class, exploring the beautiful Rockies and spending time with my partner, Ryan, and our daughter.

Currently, I’m working behind the scenes at EmpowerMed while I focus on my recovery. In the coming year, I hope to complete further education and start serving the community through EmpowerMed. I encourage you to reach out on how I can better serve you and help address the unique needs of women.

If you would like to reach out to me specifically, feel free to send an email to anna@empowermed.ca

Hi there! I’m Anna, a Registered Nurse, one of the co-founders of EmpowerMed and small town Saska... Read More