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Dr. Tara
My passion is to inspire and empower others to experience the joy and richness of life. I embrace a holistic definition of health and wellness—one that integrates lifestyle, nourishment, movement, rest, and connection. Time and again, I have witnessed the profound impact that nutritious food, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, and positive social and environmental connections can have on overall well-being.
Dr. Tara’s Sunshine—my website and coaching platform—is the culmination of my unique and diverse training and life experiences. I bring to this work nearly two decades of experience as a medical physician and psychotherapist, combined with my lifelong interests in fitness, cooking, and travel. I deeply understand our human need for supportive community and recognize the importance of nourishing both body and mind to meet the demands of modern life.
Raised in a small town in Southwestern Ontario, I attended Queen’s University, where I completed concurrent BA (Psychology) and BScH (Life Sciences) degrees, receiving multiple honours and awards. An early interest in nutrition and preventive health inspired me to take courses such as Leadership in Health Agencies and Nutrition & Health Promotion.
After Queen’s, I attended the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, where I was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and received the Gladwin Ridings Memorial Scholarship for excellence in academic performance, practicality, modesty, sensitivity, and reverence for human life. I graduated at the top of my Class of 2000 as the Governor General’s Gold Medalist.
I began residency training in internal medicine, later transitioning into family practice to focus on preventive care, psychotherapy, and the mind–body–gut connection. In 2020, I took a leave from traditional medical practice to pursue broader wellness work, including nutrition, recipe development, and health education. This led me to complete the Foundations of Professional Coaching program through Adler/OISE and to begin formal studies in nutrition through the Institute of Holistic Nutrition. I am on track to complete certification in early 2026, which will allow me to provide an even more integrative and meaningful scope of care.
My professional interests include:
• Midlife women’s health, with a focus on perimenopause and menopause—supporting physical, mental, emotional, and sexual well-being through evidence-based menopause hormone therapy (MHT), lifestyle medicine, and individualized care;
• Nutrition, metabolic health, and weight management, using a biopsychosocial approach that integrates food, movement, sleep, stress, psychological health, and medications when appropriate;
• Gut and microbiome health and its role in systemic vitality;
• Healthspan optimization, addressing modifiable risk factors such as lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammation, blood pressure, sleep quality, stress resilience, cognitive function, emotional regulation, social connection, and sense of purpose—integrating biomedical and behavioural science to support not only longevity, but quality of life.
I am an active member of The Menopause Society and remain committed to ongoing professional development through conferences, seminars, podcasts, and clinical education.
Through my website and social media (@drtarasunshine), I share accessible, evidence-informed insights on healthy living and simple, nourishing food. As a content creator and recipe developer, I have collaborated with several Canadian and U.S. brands and organizations, including Del Monte, Nuzest, Lakanto, Eaton Hemp, GoMacro, Rawcology, Good Food For Good, Further Food, and The Women’s Brain Health Initiative.
Beginning January 2026, I will be accepting new patients by referral for OHIP-covered perimenopausal and menopausal care and weight management, blending medical expertise with holistic, lifestyle-based strategies. I will also be offering advanced non-OHIP nutrition and coaching services (by self-referral).
Most importantly, I am the proud mother of three remarkable teenagers and currently reside in Toronto, Canada.