Meet Our Team

Dr. Stephanie Canestraro’s (DC, IFMCP, FMUCP) journey into Functional Medicine was sparked by her own health battles in 2010. While completing chiropractic college, she was confronted with mysterious symptoms that doctors tentatively labelled as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), alongside a diagnosis of Celiac disease, and was essentially given a “watch-and-wait” diagnosis. 

Her symptoms persisted, leading Dr. Stephanie to take her health into her own hands and began delving into Functional Medicine, embarking on a journey of dietary changes and parasite cleansing, which eventually alleviated her symptoms.

Starting her chiropractic career, Dr. Stephanie gained valuable insights from her own pain, honing her skills in manual treatment. As she worked with athletes and celebrities, she shared her story and aspirations to uncover the root causes of symptoms and eventually merged Functional Medicine into her practice, along with manual chiropractic techniques and lymphatic work. 

Driven by her own experiences, Dr. Stephanie was compelled to establish The Vagus Clinic, recognizing the crucial connection between gut health and neurological well-being. Despite setbacks, including a resurgence of Lyme disease in 2021, she remains dedicated to helping others overcome similar health challenges through biohacking, toxin elimination, and advanced testing.

Dr. Stephanie's journey has been marked by resilience and discovery, and she continues to empower patients with her expertise and firsthand understanding of overcoming health obstacles.

Amelia is a certified Integrative Health Practitioner through the Integrative Health Practitioner Institute. She currently has her Level 1 Certification and is working on her Level 2.

Amelia’s journey into the field of Functional Medicine began in January 2018 when she began to present worrying symptoms. Within a few short months, her symptoms and health began to deteriorate rapidly, and after months of countless specialist appointments and many tests, Amelia ended up defeated and discouraged with no answers or diagnosis.

Amelia quickly began to realize that a Western approach was not the means to help heal her symptoms, so she took matters into her own hands. By doing her own research, she realized that finding the root cause of her symptoms through a Functional Medicine approach was going to be the way she could find healing and holistic solutions to her symptoms.

Through a referral, she began working with Dr. Stephanie Canestraro at the Vagus Clinic as a client. With Dr. Canestraro’s testing, supplement and diet protocols, advice, ongoing education, and support, Amelia was ultimately able to find the root causes of her symptoms and began her healing journey. She put a lot of focus, time, and patience into rebuilding and reclaiming her health, and ultimately became very passionate about helping others who have gone through a similar journey as herself.

In June 2020, Amelia began to work as a Health Coach at Vagus Clinic, and it is her mission to help others find the root causes of their symptoms, identify roadblocks that may be in the way of healing, and provide health education and empowerment so clients can take action in their own health journeys, and learn to live in optimal health even after their program is complete.

Farah is a dedicated professional in the field of Functional Medicine and Holistic Nutrition. Her passion for this area of expertise was ignited when she personally experienced the effects of making small lifestyle changes on her overall well-being. Through her studies in Holistic Nutrition, this opened her mind up to learning more about healing people through the Functional medicine lens.

Farah started dealing with her own health issues and led her to seek help from various practitioners and undergo numerous tests, even traveling to different countries in search of answers. However, it was her encounter with Dr. Stephanie at the Vagus Clinic that truly made a difference. Driven by a relentless determination to find the underlying issues affecting Farah’s health, Dr. Stephanie’s approach stood out among the rest. Eventually, it was revealed that Farah had Lyme disease, and the journey towards recovery began.

‍Having personally experienced the frustration of feeling unwell and being unsure of the next steps, Farah understands the importance of finding answers and not settling for a life of persistent symptoms. This personal journey is what motivates Farah to continue working alongside Dr. Stephanie at the Vagus Clinic, helping others who are battling their own health challenges.

Farah’s key advice to individuals facing health issues is to never give up. Our bodies and minds are not meant to feel unwell, and there is a solution to your symptoms. Farah assures that Dr. Stephanie’s expertise will not only uncover the answers but also guide patients towards overcoming it. At the Vagus Clinic, Farah and the team provide comprehensive care to patients, ensuring not only their recovery but also their long-term well-being. Farah believes that waking up every day feeling healthy is the greatest gift life has to offer.

Teri personifies a fusion of hospitality expertise, educational acumen, and entrepreneurial spirit. Her journey started with an MBA from IMI University in Switzerland, then created a pathway through the Niagara Region, where she lent her expertise to esteemed establishments like Vintage Hotels and Niagara College.

While navigating full-time employment, Teri’s entrepreneurial spirit grew into several ‘side hustles’ that nurtured her passion for innovation and business growth. Her multifaceted interests span the realms of social media, marketing magic, and the transformative landscape of integrative health.

In her personal life, Teri thrives as the cornerstone of her family’s health and happiness. A devoted hockey, gymnastics, and flag football mama, she orchestrates the bustling symphony of family life, while also honing in on her love for animals with their beloved family dog, Raya. Amidst the whirlwind of activity, Teri remains steadfast in her commitment to enjoying life’s precious moments, finding solace and joy in the simplest of pleasures.

Her tenure with the extraordinary team at Vagus Clinic has been transformative and has illuminated a path toward a low-toxic lifestyle. Teri’s journey is a testament to the boundless possibilities that arise when passion, purpose, and perseverance unite on the grand stage of life.

Played professional hockey for 7 years in North American (AHL),  and Europe (Norway and Denmark). Received a scholarship to play NCAA Men's hockey at Robert Morris University. Upon graduation several years later I was inducted into the schools Hall of Fame. I graduated with a degree in Sports Management. 

After retiring from professional hockey, I started my own hockey business in Toronto. Coaching youth hockey has been a great gift for me, keeping me in the game that I’ve loved for so long. I enjoy giving back what I learned and experienced through my years of hockey to these players. 

Staying in the game for that length of time a player must make sure they are taking care of their body. Nutrition and wellness plays a huge role in the longevity of ones career. Some are lucky to find themselves without injury their entire career but some like me end up with a shorter then once predicted. I've always loved cooking and baking - trying new foods and new recipes. Stephanie has been the one to try a lot of the meals I’ve made over the years and has been my worst and best critic.

I've been lucky enough to make meals for some of the players she works with in the summers, making sure they stay on top of their game on and off the ice.

Emma, a registered nurse, began her journey into functional medicine in January 2023 after suffering from a range of debilitating and distressing symptoms. Despite numerous specialist appointments and extensive testing, she was left feeling hopeless with no clear answers or a concrete diagnosis. As the months passed, her health continued to decline as she struggled with increasingly alarming symptoms. Frustrated by the lack of progress through conventional medicine, Emma knew she had to seek a different approach. That’s when she gratefully found Dr. Stephanie Canestraro, and everything changed.

Dr. Canestraro's approach to healing was nothing short of transformative. Her deep understanding of functional medicine, combined with her compassionate care, helped Emma get to the root causes of her health issues. Emma discovered that she was struggling with Lyme disease, mold toxicity, and several other co-infections. Through a tailored treatment plan, Emma began to see significant physical and mental improvements for the first time in what felt like years.

Emma’s passion for functional medicine only grew once working with Dr. Canestraro. She saw firsthand how this approach empowers patients to take control of their health, addressing the root cause to their distress,  rather than just focusing on isolated symptoms. Thanks to Dr. Canestraro, Emma has regained her health, energy, and sense of well-being. She is now more confident and motivated than ever to share her knowledge of functional medicine with others, giving them hope during a time that feels hopeless.