I am a Physician Assistant/Associate who started working in the field of functional/integrative medicine in 2003, but grew up receiving care from an integrative doctor (who I eventually worked for prior to becoming a PA-C).  I have training from over 15 organizations in this “specialty”, and am an IFM Certified Practitioner.

Like many in functional/integrative medicine, I have had my own health challenges that mainstream medicine couldn’t address well, including thyroid autoimmunity, women’s health challenges, GI issues, and environmental illnesses.  However, I do not attribute supplements or dietary changes as what have been the game changers in improving my health, and it is a continued journey to find ways to address stress (my biggest flare-trigger), support sleep, and address other factors that impact health.

I currently practice functional medicine through Alive & Well.   As a PA-C, I’ve worked with various clinics in the health and wellness space, including:

• One that focused on pre-diabetes, metabolic syndrome, lifestyle medicine, and corporate wellness
• An established functional medicine clinic in Austin, TX that was concierge-like and focused on using handfuls of supplements and lots of expensive tests to evaluate health (but with few improvements in patient health)
• A corporate wellness start-up that worked with insurance companies to provide education on nutrition and wellness, particularly for those that had limited resources
• Part time work at IV nutrient-based businesses
• A few years of co-owning my own practice, to provide cost-effective care in the functional medicine space in Austin, TX (but it grew too fast and without enough support, so I quickly got burned out)
• A large lower-cost membership-based organization, which utilized insurance in a few states.  At this time, this practice is more of a hybrid of virtual primary care with functional medicine.

I can address most symptoms/conditions, but I particularly enjoy focusing on what I call the G.A.M.E. changers (Gut, Autoimmunity, Mitochondria, Environmental), helping those with unrelenting fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, gut issues, and “brain fog”.  When I’m not seeing patients, I’m expanding my knowledge in functional and integrative medicine, educational entrepreneurship for my colleagues, managing a private Facebook group exclusively for PAs and NPs (PAs and NPs in Functional/Integrative Medicine), learning carpentry and gardening, and taking walks with my dog Lu.

I want to make a difference in the world of medicine, and I do this by inspiring and educating people on how to thrive.  I hope my work in the clinic and outside of the clinic is contributing to the development of a world where everyone can understand that attaining great health is more than pills and procedures.  Being healthy involves effort – health is a journey, not a destination.  My wish is that everyone can experience great health and happiness.