Michele Raithel, ND, still looks back in disbelief at the kinds of foods she ate as a child. “If you grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, you drank Coca-Cola and ate a lot of Fruit Roll-Ups,” she says with a laugh. After college, Raithel was applying to traditional medical schools when she discovered naturopathic medicine—a field that uses both traditional and alternative approaches to help people achieve optimal health. “It’s like bio-hacking the body to get it to repair itself,” she explains. At the time, only four schools in the country were accredited for a doctorate in naturopathic medicine, but Raithel was determined. The loss of both her parents within a few years—both due to poor health—only reinforced her desire to pursue the career path.

These days, Raithel is the owner of Revolutions Naturopathic, with offices in Folsom and Roseville. She and her husband, Justin, are also active members of the community, regularly participating in events for Rotary Club of Folsom and the Folsom Chamber of Commerce, among others. Raithel is also instrumental in organizing Healthy Halloween (folsomhealthyhalloween.org), an annual, family-friendly event—set to take place on October 28 at Quail Business Park—that features toys, games, free costumes, and healthy alternatives to traditional Halloween treats. “Some kids have food allergies or they don’t have enough money for a costume,” Raithel shares. “[This event allows] anyone to grab a costume and have a blast.”  

Q&A

What advice would you give to your younger self? 

Nothing lasts forever and that’s okay.

What comes to you naturally?
Dancing.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Making unnecessary waste that ends up in the ocean.

Are you high or low maintenance?
High. Otherwise I wouldn’t need so many employees.

Biggest life inspirations?
The “5x5” rule: If it won’t matter in five years, don’t spend more than five minutes worrying about it.

What are you most proud of?
Being in a profession where I can change people’s lives for the better.

What’s next?
Working on learning the ins and outs of Lyme disease.

Favorites

Escape

Kayaking

Guilty pleasure
Petit Verdot

Local landmark
Folsom Hotel

Movie
I’m a Harry Potter nerd

Musician/band
Rolling Heads

Place to buy a gift, locally
Sutter Street

Local nonprofit
Rotary Club of Folsom

Saying
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”—Robert F. Kennedy

By Amber Foster

Photos by Dante Fontana

Do you know someone in the community who makes a difference or is particularly interesting that we should Get to Know? Email their name, where they live, and why they should be featured to [email protected].