I’m a certified Functional Nutrition Coach and Occupational Therapist. With seven years of experience in acute care and inpatient rehabilitation, I’ve treated patients with all kinds of conditions—heart disease, strokes, autoimmune disease, neurological disorders—you name it. Everyday, I see the suffering that comes with these conditions, and with one in two Americans having a chronic disease (and one in four having several), I continue to ask why. Yes, genetics and other non-modifiable factors play a significant part, but there’s also incontrovertible evidence pointing directly to modern lifestyle and diet. 

Our existing medical model is reactionary, managing disease and disability through symptom suppression, with less focus on prevention or health promotion. I see this disconnect as a call to action. There’s so much value in optimizing our health long before any disease, or breakdown in function. And even with a chronic health condition, lifestyle shifts can significantly improve quality of life.