About — Abundance Wellness

Let me introduce myself…

I believe that a person’s philosophy determines their behavior. My philosophy is that God created each and every one of us with the capacity for health and healing. It should be the physician’s purpose to restore health and wellbeing to every patient.

I began my educational journey by studying Ecology and Biology. Although extremely interested in health and wellness, I did not know I wanted to become a doctor. I just wanted to help people and the environment. As I went on with my studies, however, I found that it was the dis-ease within each person that made the world unhealthy. I studied herbal medicine but it seemed too limited, whereas allopathic medicine seemed too artificial.
I simply looked at the world around me as a young adult and felt that doctors did not really help people. Of course, if you were diagnosed with some serious illness like cancer or heart disease the medication, surgical intervention, and follow up could be life saving or add precious months or years. I always maintained a fascination with science and learning. It is that interest that kept me searching.

While in Honduras for biological field research during my undergraduate years, I encountered a group of doctors on a medical mission and in need of a translator. As I am fluent in Spanish, I volunteered my day to translate for them. At the end of that day I remember leaving truly moved. I felt that a shift had occurred in the lives of each of the people the doctors had treated. I was part of that shift and that was exciting. Upon returning to the USA, I volunteered as a translator and patient advocate at the local emergency room. Once again, I felt a sense of accomplishment at the end of each day, but did not feel I had met my full calling in life.

The problem was I was working in a system that treated disease but did not work to get people well. My focus has always been on optimum health - feeling well, energetic, balanced, fully alive! That is when I found Osteopathic Medicine. The local paper published a front page article about Nova Southeastern University’s Osteopathic Medical School (NSU-COM).
Upon discovering that Doctors of Osteopathy (D.O.s) learned all the anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology and biochemisty that allopathic doctors (M.D.s) do, but diagnose and treat in a more integrative and holistic way, I was intrigued. I found out they also learn techniques called osteopathic manipulative techniques that help the body to heal.

I felt like a light had lit my path…an answer to my prayers! The more I learned about Osteopathic Medicine, the more I felt like it was what I was destined to do. After completing my residency at Palmetto General Hospital, I became board certified in Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulation. I continued my studies and received a second board certification in Clinical Nutrition.

After completing both board certifications, I practiced medicine in South Florida for three years. I enjoyed the diversity and beautiful weather I had grown up in, but as our family grew, my husband and I decided we were ready for a change. That journey led us to East Tennessee, a beautiful place with kind and warm-hearted people. I have enjoyed treating infants, children, adolescents, adults and elderly over the last 8 years in the Lakeway Area of Tennessee.
Likewise, I have enjoyed teaching medical students from Lincoln Memorial University’s Osteopathic Medical School as a member of the teaching faculty. I feel a strong commitment to open other physician’s minds to a more integrative and osteopathic healing philosophy.

In my own learning journey I have traveled throughout the country over the last two decades to study under the best integrative doctors and osteopathic physicians. I have completed intensive studies in bioidentical hormones, functional medicine, cranial osteopathic techniques (craniosacral), visceral and pelvic treatment, treatment of traumatic brain injury, osteopathic treatment of infants, myofascial release, nerve release, prolotherapy injections, neuroprolotherapy injections, prp injections, neural therapy and medical nutrition, to name a few.
I have an ongoing commitment to learn, apply the best medical science has to offer, and remain committed to my medical oath to “do no harm”. I feel that by restoring balance to the body - physically, biochemically, emotionally, spiritually, and hormonally, each person can be all they were created to be. I blend the best of pharmaceuticals, compounded medications, nutrients (nutriceuticals), nutritional recommendations, lifestyle changes, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, and physical wellbeing/osteopathic treatment to help my patients achieve their health goals.

I am committed to YOU!

My Philosophy

Today after running in the park, I was at the owl sanctuary, where I met a woman who had come by to greet the resident owl, Oliver. As we got to talking, she shared that she did not go to “doctors”. She was not aware that there are doctors, although rare, who do not jump to prescribe medications and can perform hands-on healing and nutriceutical treatments to restore and accelerate the body’s healing process.

When I meet people like her, I wish I could download into her hard drive the completely different encounter she would have if she came to Abundance Wellness Center. I see my role as completely different from the regular physician experience. I am the advocate for your health. My goal is to get you to your highest health by utilizing a wide variety of techniques, nutritional supplements, and natural procedures to get you living your best life!

Unlike many physicians and mid-level providers who have jumped into functional medicine after a few courses, I have been practicing bioidentical hormonal balancing, advanced nutritional testing, food allergy testing, holistic medicine, osteopathic manipulation, and healing injections like prolotherapy, PRP, neuroprolotherapy, steroid-free nerve blocks and trigger point injection therapies for twenty years.

Over the last few years, the growing pressure from insurance companies to give more and more medications and take less and less time with patients made it clear I could no longer operate in this system and give top-quality healthcare. My patient’s health was too important to comply with insurance rules. When Blue Cross and Blue Shield actually audited me for giving healing solutions instead of steroids in joint and tendon injections and declared that patients had to have steroids to be paid by insurance, my path was clear. The insurance companies were in bed with big Pharma, and someone had to stand up for what was right for patients!

God wants healing for those who seek it. It is my job to facilitate that healing in whatever manner is needed. I am tired of the fake science that Big Pharma has created to build its financial empire on the suffering of millions. The government and insurance companies can play “god,” but I’m not playing! I take my orders from the One True God alone, and I am here for you. I have seen many patients over the years that have gone to multiple specialist, Mayo Clinic, Vanderbilt and other centers looking for answers to their medical questions.

If that still, small voice tells you not to give up hope but to look in a new direction, I would love to partner with you. I see my role as a facilitator of God’s goodness. Health is more complex than many realize. There are intricate and detailed dynamics of your physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, hormonal balance, and mind-body-spirit interface that I have been specifically trained to treat. I am joyful that the Lord has given me so many healing modalities to use to help you restore your spirit, soul, and body health.

System Based Care

V. Diagnosis Based Care

System-based care looks at how all body systems work together to function optimally. When one body system is stressed or weakened, it affects all of the other body systems. True health and wellness cannot be found by looking at each body system individually.

Diagnosis-based care seeks only to label the symptoms of illness and treat the symptoms. It does not address the root cause of disease. This type of care usually medicates to create a false sense of wellness, while actually causing that body system and others to degenerate further due to side effects of medications.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Putting money into a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) can be a smart financial move for several reasons. FSAs allow individuals to set aside pre-tax dollars from their paychecks to cover qualified medical expenses, such as copayments, deductibles, and certain over-the-counter medications. By contributing to an FSA, individuals can lower their taxable income, potentially reducing their overall tax liability. Additionally, FSAs offer the advantage of saving money on healthcare costs, as the funds deposited into the account are not subject to income or payroll taxes. This means that for every dollar contributed to an FSA, individuals can save a percentage equal to their marginal tax rate. Furthermore, FSAs typically operate on a "use it or lose it" basis, encouraging participants to plan and budget for healthcare expenses effectively. Overall, taking advantage of an FSA can provide both immediate tax savings and long-term financial benefits.

Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are both financial tools designed to help individuals manage healthcare expenses, but they differ in several key aspects. FSAs are offered by employers and allow employees to set aside pre-tax dollars from their paycheck to cover eligible medical expenses such as copayments, deductibles, and certain over-the-counter medications. However, funds in an FSA must be used within the plan year or a grace period, or else they are forfeited, known as the "use it or lose it" rule. On the other hand, HSAs are available to individuals enrolled in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) and offer a triple tax advantage: contributions are tax-deductible, earnings grow tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free. Unlike FSAs, funds in an HSA roll over from year to year and can be invested for potential growth, making them a valuable long-term savings tool for healthcare expenses, including in retirement. Additionally, HSAs are owned by the individual, providing portability even if they change jobs or health plans.