I sought answers from trusted colleagues, met some new mentors along the way, and eventually learned a different way of practicing medicine. What I needed was a whole new toolbox, and that’s what I found in functional medicine. I now have a much deeper understanding of health and how to regain and maintain it. I feel better today than I ever have. I’m happier and more fulfilled. Most importantly, I feel like I can really help my patients.

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine is an evolution of the practice of medicine that better responds to the healthcare needs of the 21st century. Focused on addressing the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms, functional medicine incorporates the latest information and understanding about how environmental and lifestyle factors, genetics, nutrition, and individual physiology influence health and wellness.

Each patient is an individual with a different background, life stressors, medical history and daily symptoms. As an MD, Dr. K takes the time to learn about and partner with each patient to provide more personalized and comprehensive health care using the best of what conventional Western medicine has to offer combined with her functional and integrative medical training. 

What Can You Expect From Dr. Katherine?

•  She is an experienced, licensed, board-certified medical doctor trained and boarded in Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, and has over 15 years of experience in conventional medicine. She got her functional medicine training and certification through the Institute for Functional Medicine and has also trained in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement therapy, Peptide therapy, IV Nutrient therapy, Age Management Medicine and Balance Protocol.  She has studied with the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, the Age Management Medicine Group, the International Peptide Society, International IV Nutritional Therapy, Specialty Med Training, and many other organizations and notable individuals, and continues to actively learn and apply new ways of thinking about health.
• Her practice is small and she accepts a limited number of new patients per month in order to maintain a personalized experience and the highest quality of care. Dr. Katherine gets the best results with patients who are willing to maintain a close working relationship with her and her team, provide frequent feedback, and check in often. She works for her patients, not for the pharmaceutical industry or insurance companies.
• Dr. Katherine prefers to treat you as a whole person instead of focusing on a specific illness or disease, and takes into consideration all of the systems of the body and how they are inter-related. Your workup and treatment plan is designed to balance your body at a cellular level in order to reach and maintain your goals.

What Does Dr. Katherine Expect From You?

• Dr. Katherine asks that those interested in her functional medicine and wellness programs complete the application for consultation and book a call with her before she sees you as a patient.
• She requires that you have a primary care doctor for routine health needs. She serves as a specialty consultant and cannot take the place of your regular doctor when it comes to acute illnesses, injuries, and routine health maintenance like mammograms, pelvic exams, prostate exams, cardiac stress testing, and colonoscopies.
• She asks that you always be open, honest, and thorough in providing the required information. Dr. Katherine also asks that you be patient and willing to implement healing strategies that may take 3 to 6 months and sometimes longer for complex issues.

What Does Dr. Katherine Not Treat Specifically but Addresses
as Part of a Whole-Person Approach:

• • Mental illness and psychiatric disorders
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s, ALS, or other neurodegenerative diseases
  • Lyme disease
  • Mold toxicity
  • Cancer
  • Chronic Pain

Dr. Katherine offers her services to those interested in a more comprehensive and preventative approach to health and longevity. Please review the information below and feel free to ask questions during your consultation call. You will be contacted to schedule a call after submitting the application. Potential patients are assigned to an appointment type or program after the consult call and are given an estimate for their plan of care, including lab fees. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s an investment in your health. You’re paying for the time it takes to focus on you and your case, and any education or research that may need to be done to provide you with the best care.

“What accounts for my hourly rates? More than half my work is done when you are not even here! This is when I devote time to your specific case and interpret your labs, create a care plan for you, do extra research or reading, answer your portal messages, and concentrate on what your goals are and how we are going to achieve them, together.”

You must have a separate primary care doctor! Dr. Katherine offers specialty consultation services only. Only the Platinum and Gold concierge memberships include access to her for urgent issues, work-in appointments, and questions after hours.

Dr. Katherine does NOT do workups for potentially serious new symptoms like chest or abdominal pain, neurologic symptoms, or anything potentially life threatening that has not been formally evaluated prior to seeing her.

After you reach maintenance, you may be offered the option for ongoing care by becoming a member of the practice. Membership confers many benefits, including substantial discounts on products and services, regular and timely appointments built in to your plan, and access to the doctor when you need extra support, including urgent care services for Platinum and Gold members. Membership is limited and by invitation only, so you may be placed on a waiting list. You will be given more information about membership options after your consultation or program.

Follow-up visits for non-members are billed as follows: 60 minutes $500, 45 minutes $375, 30 minutes $250, 15 minutes $125, and prescription refills between scheduled appointments incur a $75 charge.

Appointment & Program Types:

Optimal Gut Reset Program

Designed for anyone with the following common complaints:

• Gas/bloating
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain/cramping
• Suspected food intolerances or sensitivities
• IBS
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Crohn’s disease
• Leaky Gut/Intestinal Permeability

This program is designed for the patient with primarily gut and digestive symptoms that haven’t responded to more traditional therapies. During this program we take a deeper look at dietary habits, digestive capacity, intestinal transit time, microbiome health, food sensitivities, gut inflammation, and also evaluate you for common disorders such as leaky gut and SIBO. At the first visit we go over your history in more detail and send you home with test kits to collect. At our first follow-up, we review the test results and formulate a treatment plan. Subsequent visits every 2 to 6 weeks are to check in on your progress. We estimate 3 months for most people, then you may transition to a maintenance membership or make appointments as needed.

$795 initially, monthly fee thereafter is $595 or $795 depending on services needed, minimum 3 month commitment, does not include specialty labs.

Sexual Wellness Consultation (Procedure Focused)

Dr. Katherine offers procedural options for women and men interested in improving sexual functioning and response. You will fill out a set of detailed online questionnaires before meeting with her, and have labs drawn at our downtown office. Your consultation will focus on determining the cause of your concerns and the best course of action for resolution. This is not for those seeking hormone therapy. If you are looking for a hormone evaluation, you would be better served by coming in for a Hormone Consultation, where we can also cover procedural options.

$295, includes initial labs, call or email office@optimalselfmd.com for appointment.