Charm City Natural Health was born out of both passion and persistence. In 2011, before the state of Maryland licensed naturopathic doctors, Dr. Paddock and Dr. Runde joined a small team of NDs, lobbyists, and legislators who spent years advocating for a licensure law. When the legislation passed in 2014, CCNH opened its doors in Baltimore. Drs. Paddock and Runde became some of the first licensed naturopathic doctors in the state. Over a decade later, their practice has grown into a trusted team that now includes integrative psychology. Charm City Natural Health is grounded in the same vision that inspired Drs. Paddock and Runde from the start: to bridge conventional and natural medicine, serve their community, and help patients discover lasting health.
A native Bostonian, Dr. Kristaps Paddock co-founded Charm City Natural Health out of a deep commitment to bringing highly trained naturopathic medicine to Baltimore, after previously practicing in Berkeley, CA, and Washington, D.C.
Dr. Paddock studied American Studies as an undergrad at Tufts University with plans for an academic career, but witnessing family members struggle with chronic illness led him to pursue a career in medicine.
In 2010, Dr. Paddock earned his Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine at Bastyr University in Seattle, where he developed strong clinical skills and a compassionate approach to patient care. Dr. Paddock believes every patient is more than a diagnosis and works to understand the full person in front of him.
In addition to his naturopathic training, Dr. Paddock has advanced expertise in classical homeopathy through years of study with the New England School of Homeopathy. He is sought out nationally for his knowledge in this field.
Dr. Paddock has held leadership roles as President and Legislative Chair of the Maryland Naturopathic Doctors Association, working tirelessly to expand access to naturopathic healthcare in Maryland. He also served on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Currently, Dr. Paddock serves on the Naturopathic Medicine Advisory Committee under the Maryland Board of Physicians and remains an active member of both the Maryland Naturopathic Doctors Association and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
Outside the clinic, he enjoys cooking, running, traveling, cheering for the Seattle Sounders and Tottenham Hotspur, and spending time with his family.
Dr. Carrie Runde is a co-founder of Charm City Natural Health and a native Baltimorean.
Her journey began at the University of Pennsylvania as a pre-med student with an interest in practicing medicine differently: she wanted nutrition and preventive care to be at the heart of her clinical work. She worked in research at Penn’s medical and nursing schools, volunteered at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and The Shepherd’s Clinic in Baltimore, and conducted clinical research in infectious disease at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. These experiences gave Dr. Runde respect for, and an understanding of, the medical system. They also solidified her interest seeking out a medical education that included integrative medicine and nutrition.
In 2011, Dr. Runde earned her naturopathic doctor degree from Bastyr University in Seattle. She subsequently completed an accredited naturopathic medicine residency at the GW Center for Integrative Medicine in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Runde is a respected advocate for naturopathic medicine at both the state and national levels. She served five years on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and played a key role in securing licensure for NDs in Maryland through her work with the Maryland Naturopathic Doctors Association. Additionally, she served eight years on the Naturopathic Medicine Advisory Committee under the Maryland Board of Physicians. Dr. Runde is currently an active member of the Maryland Naturopathic Doctors Association, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, and the Gastroenterology Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
Outside of the office, Dr. Runde enjoys spending time with her family, figure skating, traveling, art history, and cheering for the Baltimore Orioles.
Samantha Apel, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with specialized training in forensics, health psychology, and functional medicine. She is passionate about helping patients take control of their mental health by addressing the whole person, mind, body, and lifestyle.
Dr. Apel earned her master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland. Licensed since 2007, she has practiced across a variety of settings, including community mental health, inpatient and emergency care, outpatient therapy, and as an adjunct instructor. Dr. Apel also served for 11 years with the Department of Veterans Affairs as a treating psychologist, clinical supervisor, evaluator, and health educator. She is a current member of the American Psychological Association.
Motivated by a desire to help patients achieve lasting improvements beyond what conventional treatments often provide, Dr. Apel pursued training in functional medicine to integrate nutrition, lifestyle, and stress management into her therapeutic work. She believes there is no one-size-fits-all approach to wellness, and collaborates closely with patients to shape a path to healing that reflects their individual needs, goals, and lived experiences.
At Charm City Natural Health, Dr. Apel enjoys collaborating with Drs. Paddock and Runde, integrating her functional psychology background with naturopathic medicine to provide truly integrative care to individuals navigating the emotional challenges that can accompany life changes, whether it’s adapting to a medical diagnosis, living with loss, healing from trauma, or managing anxiety and learning to cope in a world full of stress. Her approach is grounded in compassion and curiosity, creating space for people to make sense of their experiences and move toward greater meaning and purpose.
Outside the clinic, Dr. Apel likes to spend time with family, travel, volunteer, and be outdoors. She’s happiest in the kitchen or learning how to keep her growing plant collection happy and (mostly) alive.
“I am so impressed with this clinic! Dr. Runde provides incredible care and is easy to communicate with. The clinic is committed to finding the root cause of your health concerns and supporting true long-term healing. The best!”
– Grace C.
“Dr. Runde is one of the most knowledgeable, thorough, professional, and caring doctors I have had the privilege to work with. You can tell she definitely knows what she is talking about and that instills confidence in patients. Above all, she always goes the extra mile for patients and truly cares about their outcomes – which is a rarity these days.”
– Andrew W.
“Dr. Runde is knowledgeable and caring. I appreciate her deep listening, support and partnership in finding natural solutions that help to improve my health. The office is beautiful and relaxing. Everyone on the staff is friendly and helpful.”
– Melissa C.
“Dr Runde is a compassionate, considerate, and all-around excellent doctor. Over the course of 2 years she helped me to navigate a critical health issue and regain my sense of well-being. She listens and looks at the body holistically. I cannot recommend her enough. She gave me back my life!”
– Clara C.
“Dr. Runde is by far the best doctor I have ever seen. She truly cares about her patients’ well-being and finding the truth as well as the solutions to the issues. When no other [many] doctors helped me figure out what was wrong for many years, I am glad I had a family friend refer me to her because she has changed my quality of life, and I finally feel hope again!”
– Kelly I.
“I found Dr. Runde to be caring and legitimately concerned about the things I was going through. She was very helpful in finding remedies to each of my ailments. She was thorough with each diagnosis as well as the interpretation of each test result and the recommended approach to treatment.”
– Amy H.
“Dr. Paddock really took the time to listen to my problems and treat me fully. He understood where I was coming from and was genuinely interested in improving my health. All of his treatments and prescriptions have been extremely effective and have significantly improved my quality of life.”
– Sam T.
“My doctor is Dr. Paddock and he has been thoroughly helpful to me on a number of occasions when I have had some big issues. Also, he has helped me with a lifelong issue of excruciating menstrual cramps and miserable cycles. But thanks to his naturopathic training, his knowledge has done for me what the traditional medical world could not.”
– Jennifer
“Dr. Paddock and Dr. Runde excel as doctors of holistic health! They are knowledgeable, passionate, and attentive practitioners who support the health journey on every step and for every family member!”
– Angela G.
