Kate Willis, Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner who focuses on women's health with virtual patients in North Carolina. She has been with Hormone Wellness MD since 2023, a practice that focuses on hormones and sexual wellness in women.

"For those who are willing to meet in a virtual format, it often works better for their schedules and we can accomplish really everything we need to accomplish over the telehealth platform."

Kate has always gravitated towards comforting others starting when she was a young child. She began her career in the medical field as an Oncology Nurse and found her way professionally to Functional Medicine by way of her personal journey after the birth of her second child. She didn't feel well but her labs were within normal limits. This took Kate on a journey of healing and professional awakening as she became certified in 2021 through the Institute for Functional Medicine. Typically Functional Medicine practitioners will come from a medical background as MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs, Chiropractors, or Naturopaths.

In understanding where Functional Medicine fits into the medical model, Kate says that Functional Medicine does not take the place of or compete with Allopathic Medicine and that the basic standard of care is not overlooked. She describes Allopathic Medicine as disease focused or to find a diagnosis then recommending a course of treatment. Functional Medicine looks at all fo the systems and views them as interconnected. As a Functional Medicine Practitioner, she is looking for balance and oftentimes starts in the gut. At Hormone Wellness MD, she has a focus on hormonal health but does not just focus on estrogen and progesterone but rather looks at the thyroid, adrenal system, and insulin. She focuses on finding the root cause and working on all of the systems in harmony.

"What makes the difference is the mindset; so not the disease-focused orientation but looking at the body systems as interconnected, seeing them as working together, and so understanding that the gut impacts the brain, impacts the hormones."

Kate mentions that typically her patients will come to Functional Medicine when they aren't getting answers with conventional medicine, want a different way to manage, or their symptoms from their diagnosis aren't fully managed. It may even be intense PMS symptoms or chronic constipation.

Kate loves working with women and especially those in perimenopause or menopause because of the big shifts women go through during this time. The first session with Kate is an hour long and is focused on gathering not only information on past medical issues but looking at any history of trauma or stress. She starts with lifestyle as a foundation such as nutrition, movement and exercise, stress management, relationships, and sleep. Her next session is going over labs, developing a treatment plan, and recommending medication or supplements if needed. She is always fine-tuning the foundational areas.

"Women in this stage of life are doing big things. They are running their families, they are running teams at work, they are volunteering, they are making an impact in their community. When these women are feeling better, the world runs better."

Kate's own self-care is about creating margins for herself. She likes to engage in naps, reading, time outside, and many activities that are not goal-oriented. Kate would like to Heal Charlotte as it is a joy to be a part of seeing someone heal and reengaging in life. You can find more information on her website or Instagram.