I am Erika (my friends call me Riki) Montgomery and I am the registered nurse that administers major autohemotherapy and nutritional I.V.s at Big Sky Osteopathy. I encourage clients to tune in to their bodies to optimize personal wellness. I believe that listening to what your body is telling you is a key to health and longevity.
I was born and raised in Vermont and graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Biochemistry and Certified Athletic Training. Immediately after graduating, I packed up my Toyota truck and moved west for a job with the Colorado Altitude Research Institute in Vail, CO. When that job ended, I landed in Crested Butte, Colorado and worked, played, and raised a wonderful daughter over the course of 18 years. A ski bum with a working problem, I worked several jobs, often at the same time. I was the head athletic trainer and traveling science tutor for the Crested Butte Ski Academy, worked in the local high schools as an athletic trainer, and worked in a physical therapy clinic doing end stage knee rehabilitation. I also volunteered on the local ambulance service as an EMT, which is where I got my start with placing intravenous (IV) catheters. After several years of juggling several jobs, I decided to go back to school for nursing and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and became a Registered Nurse in 2004.
My love of helping people in need took me away from my beloved mountains to work in a Level II Trauma Center in Denver CO. I learned a lot and loved the fast-paced environment, but I did not thrive in the city and after 4 years left for a travel position at the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Wolf Point, Montana. I spent many of my days off visiting my daughter who was living in Bozeman and fell in love with Bridger Bowl, Gallatin Canyon, and the community. When my travel assignment ended, I was hired at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital in the Emergency Department and have been growing roots here ever since.
After working in traditional western medicine for 20 years, I have realized I want to take a holistic approach to nursing and made the leap away from being a hospital-based RN. I went through the ozone therapy certification class and started working with Dr. Bhat at BSO. In March 2024, I was accepted to the Institute for Functional Medicine certification program and hope to complete it in the next 2 years. My passion for addressing the root cause of illness and disease and promoting wellness is being actualized on my current path.
I have a small homestead on the edge of town where I live with my 2 dogs, two horses, 2 donkeys, 2 cats, and 10 chickens. My good friend Ali (from Vermont college days) also lives with me and helps with all the heartbeats and plants. I am still a ski bum with a working problem, and I thrive on multiday adventures into the mountains with my herd of animals. I am excited to join the clients at BSO on their path to wellness, happiness, and growth!