Functional medicine is root-cause medicine. Rather than treating a diagnosis or managing a symptom, the goal is to understand why that symptom exists in the first place.

Most symptoms — fatigue, hormone imbalance, digestive problems, fertility challenges, mood issues — have underlying drivers: gut dysfunction, nutrient depletion, hormonal imbalances, chronic inflammation, or immune dysregulation. Standard medicine often treats the symptom. Functional medicine investigates and addresses the cause.

The result is care that actually changes how you feel — not just care that manages how you feel.

There is meaningful overlap between functional medicine, naturopathic medicine, and integrative medicine — all three focus on the whole person rather than isolated symptoms. The differences are in training, scope, and approach.

As a Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Midwife with certification through the Institute for Functional Medicine, I bring a specific combination that is uncommon: clinical medical training with full prescribing authority, deep expertise in women's reproductive health, and a structured functional medicine framework for identifying root causes.

Not all providers who use the term "functional medicine" have gone through formal training in it. IFM certification requires completing a structured curriculum, clinical application work, and a certification exam — it is the standard of care in the field. If you have seen other providers without satisfying results, the depth and structure of this approach may be what has been missing.

Your first visit is a New Patient Consultation and lasts up to 90 minutes. This is not a quick intake — it is a deep dive.

We will go through your full health history, your current symptoms, your timeline, your diet, your lifestyle, and your goals. I will ask about things most providers have never asked you before, because the connections between systems — gut, hormones, immune function, stress response — matter enormously to understanding what is driving your symptoms.

You will leave with:

- A clear explanation of what I think is happening and what we need to investigate

- Initial nutrition and lifestyle recommendations to begin right away

- A personalized lab order based on your specific presentation

- A plan for what comes next

Most patients describe the first appointment as the most thorough medical conversation they have ever had.

After your New Patient Consultation, the general arc looks like this:

Your lab results come back over the following 2–3 weeks. We then meet for a Review & Planning Visit — up to 60 minutes — where we go through every result together, line by line. You will understand what each value means and how it connects to how you have been feeling. We build your personalized protocol at this visit: diet, lifestyle, supplements, and any additional recommendations, all tied directly to your data.

About two weeks later, we have a shorter Progress Check-In to see how your body is responding and make any refinements.

Two to three months after that, we repeat labs and meet again for another full review. This is where we measure progress, optimize the plan, and assess where you are in the healing process.

Most patients move through this arc over 6–12 months before transitioning to annual maintenance visits. The goal is always the same: help you heal, then help you maintain it independently.

It depends on what we are addressing and how long the underlying imbalances have been present. Most patients begin to notice meaningful changes within 6–12 weeks of starting their protocol. More complex or long-standing conditions may take longer to shift.

What I can tell you is this: the goal is never to keep you in care indefinitely. I work with patients intensively for 6–12 months, then transition them to annual maintenance. The aim is to get your health to a place where you understand your body well enough to maintain it on your own.

Yes, when appropriate. As a licensed Family Nurse Practitioner, I have full prescribing authority.

That said, the goal of functional medicine is to address the root cause of a problem — which usually means the primary tools are dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, and targeted supplementation. Pharmaceuticals are used when they are genuinely the right tool, not as a first resort.

Many patients come to me already on medications and are hoping to reduce or eliminate them over time. That is a realistic goal for many people — though it depends entirely on the individual, the condition, and the progress made. Any changes to existing medications are always made carefully, collaboratively, and in communication with your other providers if relevant.

Yes — and I want to be clear about this. Functional medicine is not a replacement for conventional care. It is a layer that goes deeper.

I do not replace your primary care physician, your OB-GYN, or any specialist you are currently working with. I work alongside your existing care team and will communicate with other providers when relevant and with your permission. What I offer is the time, the testing, and the framework to investigate what conventional appointments often do not have space to address.

If you do not have a primary care provider, I can help with general health monitoring, but I encourage all patients to maintain a relationship with a conventional provider for acute care, emergency needs, and routine screening.

Lab testing is ordered based on your specific history and symptoms — not a standard panel applied to everyone. What we test for you may be very different from what we test for another patient.

Some testing can be run through your insurance if you have it, though functional medicine visits themselves are not covered. Certain specialized functional tests — gut microbiome testing, comprehensive hormone panels, micronutrient testing — are typically out-of-pocket and vary in cost. We will discuss exactly what I am recommending, why, and what to expect in terms of cost at your New Patient Consultation before anything is ordered.

There are no surprises. Nothing is ordered without your understanding and agreement.

Infertility

PCOS

Endometriosis

Hormone imbalances

Autoimmune diseases

Chronic fatigue

Obesity and metabolic dysfunction

Asthma

ADHD

Anxiety and depression

High blood pressure

Diabetes
Adrenal fatigue

Tick borne illness

Fatigue
SIBO
Yeast overgrowth

Anyone who wants to understand the why behind their symptoms — not just manage them. Functional medicine is especially valuable for women dealing with hormone imbalances, fertility challenges, gut issues, chronic fatigue, autoimmune conditions, or metabolic concerns who feel like conventional medicine has not given them complete answers.

It is also a strong fit for women who feel generally "off" but have been told their labs are normal. That is often where the most meaningful work happens.

Patients of all ages are welcome. A particular focus is placed on women ages 15–45, including teen girls experiencing hormonal symptoms such as painful periods, irregular cycles, acne, or mood changes. Early intervention in adolescence can prevent years of unnecessary suffering and set a strong foundation for lifelong hormonal health.

Well child visits and physicals for school or sports are available, but note that we do not administer vaccines in our office.

Yes. Telemedicine appointments are available for patients in Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.

In-person care is also available at our Melbourne, Florida office. Many patients begin with telemedicine and transition to in-person care once the Melbourne location is convenient for them, while others do their entire care journey virtually.

The experience is the same either way — the same depth of intake, the same thoroughness of lab review, and the same personalized plan.

No. Functional medicine is not covered by insurance, and that is by design.

Insurance-based medicine places limits on how long visits can last, what tests can be ordered, and what treatments can be recommended. Operating outside of that system means visits can be as long as they need to be, testing can be as comprehensive as your situation requires, and your plan is built entirely around your biology — not around what a payer will approve.

HSA and FSA funds are accepted. Many patients also find that investing in root-cause care reduces long-term costs by addressing issues before they require more significant medical intervention.

This is the most common story I hear — and it is exactly the patient I am designed to help.

If you have been to multiple doctors, been told your results are normal, and still do not feel well, it usually means one of two things: either the right questions have not been asked, or the right tests have not been run. Standard medicine operates within time and system constraints that make comprehensive investigation difficult. That is not a criticism — it is simply the reality of how conventional care is structured.

What I offer is the time and the tools to look more thoroughly. Most of my patients have a history of being dismissed or told to manage their symptoms. Finding out that there was actually something going on — and that it can be addressed — is one of the most common outcomes of this work.

It is a brief phone or video call — no cost, no commitment — for you to ask questions, share what you are dealing with, and get a sense of whether this is the right fit.

I will give you an honest answer. If I think functional medicine and working with me specifically is a good match for your situation, I will tell you. If I think your needs are better served somewhere else, I will tell you that too.

There is no pressure and no sales pitch. It is simply a conversation.