WOMEN'S HEALTH
A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO WOMEN'S HEALTH Dr Shahzadi Harper, founder of The Harper Clinic, explains why she is so passionate about providing women with pioneering and holistic healthcare
What prompted you to open The Harper Clinic? I opened the clinic in October 2018 because I believed there was a real need for a specialist facility that focused not just on female health, but on the overall wellbeing of women; especially those facing significant hormonal changes. Hormones have such a huge impact on a woman’s life journey so for me it was important to create a 360-degree approach to women’s physical and emotional health. I am the eldest of six sisters and I have a daughter myself, so I have always been interested in helping women to proactively manage their health. And I am passionate about supporting my patients through the perimenopause and the menopause because for far too long the medical world has dismissed the changes women face in midlife.
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How does the clinic stand out in terms of its unique ethos and patient care? The aim of the clinic is to take a more holistic and individual approach to every element of women’s health. Overall, I wanted to create a boutique facility where a woman can feel instantly at ease. I guess my approach is conversational as I try and find out exactly what my patients are experiencing, which is why I send them questionnaires before their consultations, and I offer relaxed, unhurried 45-minute appointments. These sessions are supportive and educational, and cover everything from the physical changes a patient is experiencing right through to assessing her psychological welfare. As part of this process, we will also discuss any supplements, medications, and other treatments that might be suitable too.
