Not currently accepting patients

Alena Guggenheim, N.D.

Not currently accepting patients

  • Naturopath
  • Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, School of Medicine

Locations and contact

I see patients at

About me

Dr. Guggenheim specializes in the care of children and adults with chronic pain and joint hypermobility disorders. She enjoys working with patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and associated complex symptoms. She likes to help patients navigate health care options and empowering them to make informed decisions.

When not seeing patients Dr. Guggenheim enjoys spending time in nature with her family and riding horses.

Languages spoken

  • English

Education and training

  • Degrees

    • B.A., 2001, Reed College
    • N.D., 2007, National College of Natural Medicine

  • Residency

    • Naturopathic Primary Care, National University of Natural Medicine, 2009

Memberships and associations:

  • Academy of Integrative Pain Management
  • Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians
Read faculty profile

Insurance

Before scheduling your appointment, we recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the OHSU Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any copayments, co–insurance, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with OHSU providers, your out of pocket liability may be higher. Visit the billing and insurance section of our site for more information.

Ratings and reviews

Overall: 4.9 out of 5 (246 Ratings, 107 Reviews)

The patient ratings score is an average of all responses to the question "How likely would you be to recommend this provider to your family and friends (on a scale of 0 to 10)" on our nationally-recognized NRC patient surveys.

  1. listens well, comes up with plan that we both agree on

  2. Excellent ..

  3. No other provider has changed the trajectory of my life for the better like Dr. Guggenheim has. Her vast knowledge combined with her expert level bedside manner makes her incomparable. It is my greatest wish that OHSU would utilize her in a greater capacity to educate other providers on topics such as dysautonomia & chronic illness.

  4. Dr. Guggenheim is always thoughtful and knowledgeable

  5. Dr. Guggenheim is one of the best doctors I have had. She is thoughtful, she explains everything well so you can understand. The best ever!

  6. Dr. Guggenheim is the most knowledgeable and helpful healthcare practitioner I have ever had. Wish she could take more clients as I know several others w suspected connective tissue issues.

  7. She is bright, competent, and caring.

  8. Always the best experience ever. She's a masterclass in sharing advanced medical expertise, championing an empathetic bedside manner, and striving to truly partnership with patients for the best possible outcomes. I cannot begin to express how grateful I am to have had her as a provider for some 5-6 years now.

  9. Dr. Guggenheim is incredibly generous with her attention and time. She is a fantastic listener and insightful medical professional. She is incredibly knowledgeable about new research and developments in immunology and the field related to my disease (RA). She magnificently balances traditional medical knowledge and experience with the insights, background and practices of a seasoned and incredibly competent naturopath. I could not ask for more from someone managing my health as I age and I am immensely grateful to be in her care.

  10. She made me feel comfortable sharing information and listened very well.

  11. I always feel heard by Dr. Guggenheim and I feel like she's on way out in front of what is happening with my specific conditions given that they are rare. She knows newest treatments, newest best protocols, newest meds and always has great advice for me and I could not be more pleased with her as a doctor.

  12. Dr Guggenheim takes time and listens and is so knowledgeable. She is the best doctor, I've ever had. So lucky to be her patient!

  13. Dr. Guggenheim is a wonderful provider. I feel that she listens to my problems. She addresses them. She addresses them in an ongoing way. She is one provider I feel truly understands and listens and is an excellent doctor.

  14. Alena Guggenheim is an exceptional individual, exuding humility, empathy, and boundless compassion. Her steadfast support for patients is remarkable, reflecting her commitment to fairness and kindness in healthcare. She stands as a beacon of hope, advocating tirelessly for equal treatment for all, making her contributions invaluable.

  15. Dr. Guggenheim is wonderful! She listens to me and makes recommendations that actually help. She is thoughtful and kind about what I am going through and I appreciate her being a part of my medical team.

  16. Dr Guggenheim is one of the most knowledgeable specialists for a condition I have, and is very supportive of the treatment approach I want to take.

  17. Fantastic. I'm always heard and understood. Dr. Guggenheim is very knowledgable and has been able to help me improve with her treatments.

  18. Great provider. Highly competent in complex medical issues and skilled in providing validating, trauma-informed care.

  19. She listens well and is very helpful

  20. She is very good, and has lots of ideas. Only issue is that I always forget I need to do the questionnaire first, and end up a little late.

  21. In spite of the ridiculous limitations put on the time of the appointment that you can have with her, Dr. Guggenheim is a phenomenal provider and is the reason why my daughter has gotten diagnosis that have literally saved her life and could only get better care if we were able to spend more time with this provider. She is thoughtful, kind, knowledgeable, critical thinker, pragmatic. She brings a wealth of information experience to a facility that otherwise does not care to a community that does not have these resources. She is one of the only reasons why we continue to come to OHSU.

  22. She's a great listener, very knowledgeable about her specialty, and a joy to work with

  23. Dr. Rubenheim is not only the most competent provider I have ever had, but I also feel the most safe with her out of any of my healthcare teams. I highly recommend her to everybody.

  24. I love Dr. G. She really listens and takes my concerns seriously.

  25. Dr. G is always kind, caring, and listens to her patients. One of only a few doctors that I find to actually be helpful, and who looks at the whole patient instead of just one issue.

  26. Dr. Guggenheim was most helpful, especially in discussing how to get enough medication in light of current shortages, and how best to use the medication when I got it.

  27. Alena is thorough and friendly. She listens to all my concerns and is always very prepared for our appointments.

  28. Dr. Guggenheim is invaluable. I don't know what I would do without her managing my mast cell disorder.

  29. She's one of the top EDS and comorbidity doctors on the west coast. She's brilliant, caring, efficient, kind, super knowledgeable and the best doctor I have.

  30. Dr. Guggenheim is simply amazing. Seriously amazing to her patients, listens, and is the best doctor that I've ever had.

  31. She is such a blessing in my life.

  32. Always through knowledgeable and helpful and kind and professional.

  33. Dr Guggenheim is a fantastic and knowledgeable provider

  34. Dr. G is very personable and supportive.

  35. Absolutely amazing, one of the most proactive providers I have ever had. Very knowledgeable and thorough.

  36. Always a delight to meet with her! She sets the bar for empathy, collaboration, and being incredibly well-versed in an impressive number of areas. Very, very lucky to be under her expert care for so many years now!

  37. Dr. G takes such good care of my son. She listens patiently (he stutters, so it can be tricky to listen) and she always has new ideas for things we can try. She also collaborates well with my son's primary doctor. As a parent of a complex medical needs child, I am grateful for her consistent care.

  38. Alena Guggenheim is very informed, sensitive, calm, caring, respectful, responsive and empathetic. She's reassuring, comforting and inspiring. She's been a good advocate for me. She's been a good educator for me. She's been a good diagnostician and a good guest in my life.

  39. She was helpful and listened to my concerns and ordered appropriate tests.

  40. Dr. Guggenheim is the most brilliant and responsive physician. She has provided me with solutions to my pain when no other doctor knows what to do with me. She really listens and is an amazing creative problem solver.

  41. Dr. Guggenheim is the best provider I have EVER seen! She is trauma informed, knowledgeable, thorough with my health, and makes me feel better about life long chronic conditions. I would be lost without her. OHSU is lucky to have such an amazing expert in their employ!

  42. She's an incredible provider and also human being.

  43. Compassionate and competent

  44. Dr Guggenheim is the best doctor I have had!

  45. Dr. Guggenheim is extremely knowledgeable and very concerned and caring

  46. I've been a regular patient of Dr. Guggenheim for 5 years. She specializes in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and other illnesses that come clumped together with it (me).This is a rare genetic disease, & a doctor like Dr. Guggenheim is even more rare. Since I've been with her for 5 years, I have seen her many times. Every appointment she has new things to share, new ideas, and new research coming up. Between her intellect, compassion, and her drive to help, she is an excellent provider that I am lucky and glad to have.

  47. Listens well, collaborative and knowledgable.

  48. Love Dr. Guggenheim!

  49. She's just so incredibly bright and gets right to the heart of matters. I'm so grateful for her help.

  50. listens to me and provides good feedback and insight

  51. Great provider who listens to her patients

  52. Dr. G is amazing all around! She truly cares about her patients! I appreciate her more than words can express!

  53. She's by far the most knowledgeable provider I've had for my specific chronic diseases. Specifically she's able to connect dots between symptoms to understand the full ecosystem and big picture causes and needs.

  54. Listened well and seemed to actually care about patients

  55. She is the best doctor for me that I have ever experienced. I firmly believe that the possibility of health for me is so much higher because of her partnership. I am so lucky to have found her.

  56. She actually spent time with me and listened and asked questions and actually read my extensive file beforehand. I felt listened to not like I was on a conveyor belt.

  57. Dr. Guggenheim is always the most amazing provider I've ever met with. She is excellent at making me feel validated and heard, and like my symptoms matter and are worth treating.

  58. Dr. Guggenheim is consistently wonderful. Easy to talk to, straightforward while kind and friendly. Believes what I am saying while asking questions if clarifications are needed. Is out in front of our emerging health issues and advocates for our care.

  59. Great outside the box thinker

  60. Always a pleasure to visit with Dr. Guggenheim, and very grateful to have her in my corner!

  61. She's always very helpful at making me not feel anxious, being a very anxious person, this is everything! She explains everything very well so I understand my condition better.

  62. Alena always does her best to provide me with qualified care.

  63. Dr. G is very empathetic and always seeking how to improve my symptoms. She is one of the best practitioners I have ever seen and I am always impressed at how on top of current research she stays for her areas of interest that affects her patients. She is truly an exceptional provider.

  64. Dr. G is the best doctor I have ever worked with. She is so knowledgeable about EDS, she is caring, actually wants to get to the bottom of issues and is sooooo extremely helpful. I dont know where I'd be without her.

  65. She is very knowledgeable about some very rare conditions that I have and is also very kind and a good listener.

  66. Dr. Guggenheim always takes time to listen, examines thoroughly, responds to concerns, and offers treatment options. Our family is so glad she's part of the care team for our complex son.

  67. She is an amazing listener and thinks outside the box.I always walk away with a plan and how/when I should come back.

  68. Dr. Guggenheim's care is the main reason I can function at all. When I first saw her I had been severely chronically ill for years with no Dx's and no relevant care. Now I am still disabled but feel substantially better, and actually understand what's going on. I'd recommend her to anyone.