When people look at the polished exterior of a successful medical practice, they often don’t see the fire it took to forge it. They see the outcomes but not the adversity.
On a recent episode of the Practice Care Podcast with Carl White, I opened up about the full journey behind Carolina Integrative Medicine, one that includes heartbreak, resilience, reinvention, and ultimately, freedom.
The Spark: A Delivery Room Thanksgiving
At 11 years old, I was a babysitter. At 17, I was invited into the delivery room for the birth of a child I had helped raise.
That Thanksgiving night changed me. Watching a life begin lit a fire in me—not just to become a doctor, but to become a healer. I knew then that I wanted to support women, families, and the miracle of new life.
Med School + Motherhood: Baptism by Fire
Fast-forward to medical school in Texas. I was navigating infertility treatments when I found out, unexpectedly, I was pregnant.
It felt like the world tilted. I cried. I panicked. But I paused my studies, took a year off to raise my newborn, and came back sharper, stronger, and more focused. I went from student to mother to doctor-in-training, all at once.
By residency, I had four daughters and a schedule that required four babysitters. It wasn’t sustainable, but it taught me resilience that no textbook ever could.
💔 The 20-Year Silence I Had to Break
Behind the scenes of my growing medical career was a deeply personal struggle: a marriage marked by alcoholism.
For years, I stayed. For the kids. For appearances. For survival. But eventually, I had to choose healing over habit. Leaving that marriage was gut-wrenching, but it allowed me to reclaim my voice, protect my daughters, and start over on my terms.
Why I Left Traditional Medicine
After years in a traditional family medicine group, our practice was on the verge of selling to a hospital system. That meant less time with patients, more bureaucracy, and tighter insurance restrictions.
I knew I couldn’t deliver quality care in a model that didn’t allow time to listen.
So, in 2011, I made a leap that many physicians only dream about: I opened my own integrative medicine practice, built on the principles of time, trust, and total wellness.
Why I Abandoned Insurance for Direct Care
It didn’t take long to realize that insurance-based medicine wasn’t just broken. It was unsustainable for meaningful, root-cause healing.
Insurance wouldn’t cover hormone panels, stress testing, or the 60-minute visits I needed to provide. So I transitioned to a membership-based, direct patient care model where patients invest in their health, and I invest in them.
The pivot was bold. Out of 3,000 patients, just 174 stayed when I announced the change.
It felt like 2,800 breakups overnight.
But those 174 believed in my vision. And we grew, slowly, intentionally, and successfully.
Growing with Purpose, Not Pressure
Today, Carolina Integrative Medicine is thriving. We have an amazing team, a patient-first philosophy, and a culture of rest and renewal (we even close on Fridays, for everyone’s mental health).
We spend time with our patients. We treat root causes, not symptoms. We empower women to take control of their hormone health, energy, and longevity.
And most importantly, we’ve created a model that supports doctors and staff, not just patients.
What I’ve Learned and What I’d Tell Every Doctor
- Find Your True North.
If your daily work doesn’t align with your values, it’s time to pivot. Whether it’s hormone health, women’s wellness, or personalized care, lean into what lights you up.
- Make Your Boat Go Faster.
Every small decision should serve your larger goal. That mantra—from Dan Sullivan’s “The Gap and the Gain”—helped me stay focused during turbulent transitions.
- Choose courage over comfort.
Leaving a toxic marriage. Changing your practice model. Losing patients. Starting over. These aren’t easy decisions—but they’re the ones that set you free.
Why This Story Matters
This isn’t just about me. It’s about every doctor who’s ever felt trapped in a system that doesn’t serve them or their patients.
It’s about every woman who’s given too much for too long and finally chooses herself.
It’s about building a better way to do medicine. Not faster. Not cheaper. Just better.
Take the First Step Toward the Health You Deserve.
At Carolina Integrative Medicine, we don’t just treat symptoms. We uncover what’s driving your condition. If you’re ready to get to the root and reclaim your health, our personalized functional and lifestyle medicine program is the place to start.
✨ Start your healing journey today.
Schedule Your Discovery Call Now.
