I look forward to working with you to help you Healthfully Flourish in this crazy world and be the best you possible!!

This is my Story

Hello and welcome. I am a health and wellness consultant for women struggling with hormone imbalances and fatigue. I am a functional medicine Physician Assistant. I received a master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA in 2006. I have worked as a physician assistant in primary care since 2007. In 2018, I earned a master’s degree in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine from the University of Western States in Portland, OR. I am a member of the Institute for Functional Medicine. I am also a mother of three crazy wonderful children. I enjoy the outdoors, cycling, gardening, music, and art.

I started Healthfully Flourish LLC after years of observing that the conventional medical model of care was not effectively preventing or reversing chronic diseases. Conventional medicine has done wonders for diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses and emergencies, no doubt. However, in the conventional medical model,  provider training in nutrition and lifestyle and their roles in the development of chronic disease is lacking. In addition, there is not enough time allotted for nutritional/lifestyle counseling to effectively prevent or address the root causes of chronic diseases. I know this both from personal experience and from working many years directly in primary care as a physician assistant.

I have personally struggled with hormone imbalances, acne, painful and heavy periods, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and anxiety. None of these conditions for me was effectively treated with medications. I specifically suffered from acne from the time I started my periods at age 10 (much too young to start periods!!) clear into my early 30’s. I had tried over the counter topical treatments, oral and topical antibiotics, and topical retinoids. I continued to have severe and humiliating breakouts. My self-confidence was nonexistent. It wasn’t until I discovered and studied functional medicine that I realized my acne was not an external issue but an internal one and connected not only to hormone imbalance but also poor nutrition, impaired digestion, intestinal dysbiosis, impaired detoxification pathways, and chronic stress. Once I focused on optimizing nutrition and lifestyle with targeted supplements, I was able to resolve my acne permanently, improve my periods and moods, and resolve my IBS symptoms.

I have also come to be particularly interested in energy medicine. I have discovered over the past few years that I am a highly sensitive person with heightened senses. This discovery was crucial for me. It explained my lifelong tendency to become overwhelmed and overstimulated very easily.  Energy work has been crucial to my overall health and wellbeing since my discovery. About 20% of the population are highly sensitive and more women than men are highly sensitive. Our world today with its loud noise, fast pace, impossible schedules, pressure to do all and be all, violence, bullies, and discouragement of and lack of rest and down time for fun and peaceful relaxation is not ideal for the highly sensitive woman and can easily lead to burnout. I help women identify if they are highly sensitive and teach them techniques to protect their energy and thrive.

I look forward to working with you to help you Healthfully Flourish in this crazy world and be the best you possible!!