Katherine A. Thurer, MD, FACOG

Dr. Katherine Thurer knew she wanted to be a doctor after breaking her arm while playing on a jungle gym when she was 8 years old. It was this experience that ignited her interest in exploring and participating in the process of healing. After graduating from Northwestern University, she delayed medical school for a year and worked on a research project involving HIV/AIDS education for IV drug users in Los Angeles. A friend gave Dr. Thurer a visit with an acupuncturist as a going away present. This acupuncture session exposed her to the new world of integrative medicine before pursuing her degree in medicine. Throughout her studies, Dr. Thurer has continued to nurture her true passion for the intuitive nature of integrative medicine.

The ability to treat the person as a whole is what draws Dr. Thurer to the field of integrative medicine. She feels that western medical practice often solely focuses on the disease and doesn’t allow for a more personable and holistic approach. Acupuncture views health and the body as a metaphor, realizing the intricate and important connection of the body to it’s surroundings, from society to the natural world. Dr. Thurer has always found herself drawn toward this way of practicing medicine.

Dr. Thurer graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1999, after which she completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. AltaMed Health Services Corporation hired Dr. Thurer in 2003 to create a comprehensive women’s health care program for it’s community health centers in underserved areas of Los Angeles. This experience opened her eyes to the inequality of health care and furthered her passion to provide quality health care for the uninsured and underinsured.

In 2005 she moved to Chicago and continued to work in the field of community health. Dr. Thurer works with Erie Family Health Center while practicing at the Raby Institute, solidifying her dedication to both integrative medicine and community health. She has privileges at Prentice Women’s Hospital and is active in the education of medical students and OB/GYN residents at Northwestern University. In 2007 she completed a course in Medical Acupuncture at Helms Medical Institute at UCLA, where she logged more than 300 hours of continuing medical education (CME) over nine months. She is trained in Functional Medicine, and also certified in Integrative Medicine.

Dr. Thurer is a Diplomat of the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a fellow in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She is also a Diplomat of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine.

Learn more about Dr. Thurer’s accepted insurances (Click here for PDF).

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Katherine Thurer online or call (312) 276-1212.