About Us
Mara Women’s Health was founded to provide women with evidence-based, compassionate care during the seasons of life when their bodies begin to change — often without clear answers or support.
Led by a Nurse Practitioners, Mara Women’s Health specializes in hormonal transitions, including perimenopause and menopause, with a focus on sleep disruption, mood changes, anxiety, brain fog, metabolic shifts, and overall well-being.
Care at Mara Women’s is rooted in education, shared decision-making, and respect for each woman’s lived experience. Symptoms are never dismissed as “just stress” or “normal aging.” Instead, visits are designed to understand what is happening in your body, explain your options clearly, and support you in choosing the path that feels right for you.
Mara Women’s Health is a virtual practice, allowing women to access thoughtful, unrushed care from the comfort of home. When concerns require in-person evaluation, we help guide and coordinate next steps with local providers.
Meet the Team
Excellent care, backed by clinical expertise
Ann Nzeruem
Nurse Practitioner & Founder
Ann Nzeruem is the Founder of Mara Women’s Health and a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner with over 12 years of clinical experience. She established Mara Women’s Health to improve access to timely, evidence-based women’s care and to create a space where patients feel heard, supported, and empowered in their health decisions.
Her clinical background spans primary care, emergency medicine, and gynecology, with a practice grounded in whole-person, collaborative care.
Ann provides comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for a wide range of women’s health concerns, including contraception, perimenopause/menopause care, PCOS, pelvic pain, STI care, hormone therapy, sexual and vaginal health, and thyroid and iron-related conditions.
Ann holds a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Manitoba and completed her graduate training at Athabasca University in the Family Nurse Practitioner stream.
She offers both virtual and in-person care through Mara Women’s Health and leads Mara Home and Health Inc., supporting accessible care through flexible service models.
Laura Dueck
Nurse Practitioner, FAAMFM
Laura Dueck is a Nurse Practitioner passionate about supporting women through pivotal life transitions. She has over 12 years of clinical experience, and has studied perimenopausal and postmenopausal evidence-based medicine for over 5 years, including co-authoring a published academic paper on this topic in 2022.
She is aware that menopause not only affects women physically, but also emotionally, mentally, and oftentimes spiritually. Affirming women’s experiences in this huge midlife change is paramount, as it not only brings on uncomfortable symptoms, it can also impact relationships, careers, and quality of life. Laura’s whole-person approach makes space for clients to feel seen, empowered and advocated for.
Laura’s clinical focus is currently on menopausal care and postpartum care. She has special education in Matriatrics, the study of women becoming mothers, and a particular interest in supporting women through pregnancy, postpartum, and the significant transformation to motherhood. Laura is a mother of two, and understands first-hand the complete shift that occurs psychologically, physiologically, socially and beyond. As a nurse practitioner, Laura seeks to empower and educate women through this important life transition, hoping to reduce isolation.
Laura holds a Bachelor of Nursing, and a Master’s of Nursing in the Nurse Practitioner stream, both completed at the University of Manitoba.
Chinwe Asagwara
Registered Dietitian
Chinwe is a Registered Dietitian with 15 years of experience and a focus in women’s health. Born and raised in a Nigerian household in Southern Manitoba, Chinwe has developed a diverse perspective on food, nutrition and wellness. Chinwe supports her clients in achieving their desired health goals, through non-diet nutrition education, rooted in building a positive relationship with food. Chinwe believes that every person deserves to be supported in their health journey in a way that feels encouraging, positive and fits their personal lifestyle.
Chinwe is best suited to help those who are seeking support with menopause related health concerns, prediabetes, diabetes, iron deficiency anemia, exercise nutrition and hydration, blood pressure, cholesterol and heart disease concerns, questions about grocery shopping, meal planning and meal preparation support, and anyone navigating emotional eating and their relationship with food.
Wing Sze Chu
Physiotherapist
Wing Sze Chu is a Registered Physiotherapist with over 20 years of clinical experience. She has extensive experience supporting adults and older adults with neurological, orthopedic, post-surgical, and mobility-related conditions. Her clinical experience includes rehabilitation following stroke, brain and spinal cord injuries, joint replacement and other orthopedic surgeries, as well as mobility and fall-prevention programs.
Wing takes a patient-centred approach to physiotherapy, focusing on understanding each individual's needs, goals, and functional challenges. She is passionate about helping patients improve their mobility, strength, confidence, and independence in their daily lives.
As a Physiotherapist with Mara Home & Health Services, Wing provides individualized physiotherapy care in the home and community setting, helping patients achieve meaningful and practical improvements in their function and quality of life.
Alyssa Bietz
Adult Sleep Consultant & Kinesiologist
Alyssa is an Adult Sleep Consultant and Kinesiologist who specializes in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). She works with adults who struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake feeling tired, helping them understand why their sleep is off and how to get it back on track.
Her approach focuses on uncovering the root causes of sleep challenges and guiding clients through a structured, evidence-based process that feels clear, supportive, and realistic to implement.
Alyssa understands that behaviour change can be hard, especially when you are already exhausted. She is passionate about helping clients create simple, sustainable changes and systems that fit into real life, so improvements in sleep actually last. Her perspective on sleep has been shaped by both her professional background and her personal experience. Years spent training in rowing taught her the importance of recovery, routine, and consistency.
These lessons took on a whole new meaning when she became a new mom and experienced severe sleep deprivation firsthand. Now a mom of three, she deeply understands how much sleep impacts your energy, mood, and ability to show up in daily life.
She believes that ongoing sleep struggles do not have to be the norm, and that with the right support and strategy, better sleep is absolutely possible.
Tara Latimer
Clinical Mental Health Therapist
Tara brings over two decades of experience supporting children, youth, and adults through life’s most challenging seasons. With a Bachelor of Recreation Studies (2000) and a Bachelor of Social Work (2004), she blends practical, strengths-based support with a deep understanding of how trauma and lived experience shape our wellbeing.
Her style is warm, non-judgmental, and deeply client-centred. Tara works through a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive lens, meeting clients exactly where they are and moving at a pace that feels safe and empowering. She is committed to creating a space where clients feel respected, supported, and genuinely understood—so meaningful change can happen.
Barbara Balshaw-Dow
Clinical Mental Health Therapist
Barbara Balshaw-Dow is a dedicated counsellor and Mental Health Therapist with over 30 years of experience and a Master of Social Work. Barbara specializes in helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life's challenges.
Her treatment approach uses techniques like asking focus questions, helping you change negative thought patterns and guiding you through calming exercises to process difficult emotions.
Barbara creates a non-judgmental, supportive space to help people manage difficult feelings, recognize unhelpful patterns, and work towards positive change.
Uche Nwagu
Administrative Manager
Uche Nwagu is the Administrative Manager at Mara Women’s Health, bringing over four years of clinical administrative experience supporting patient care and the day-to-day operations of a busy clinical setting. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from Youngstown State University (Ohio, USA).
Uche works alongside our practitioners to ensure each patient experience is smooth, organized, and supportive; from initial inquiries and booking to appointment coordination and follow-up communication. With a calm, detail-oriented approach, she helps keep processes running efficiently so patients feel informed, respected, and cared for at every step.