When I first got into healthcare, my focus was simple—take care of people. Over time, I realized that “taking care” meant a lot more than writing prescriptions or treating symptoms. It meant understanding the full person sitting across from me—their mental health, lifestyle, relationships, stress levels, and more. That’s what led me to holistic medicine, and ultimately to starting my own practice where I could bring it all together: mind, body, and business.

Today, as a family nurse practitioner and business owner, I believe that holistic care isn’t a buzzword or trend. It’s the future of modern primary care. And it’s what more patients are looking for, whether they say it outright or not.

Understanding the Whole Patient

Holistic medicine, to me, means looking at each patient as a whole person—not just a diagnosis or a set of symptoms. It means asking deeper questions. Not just, “Where does it hurt?” but “What’s going on in your life right now?” Sometimes it means helping someone manage their blood pressure, and sometimes it means just listening when no one else is.

In primary care, we often become the first and most consistent point of contact in someone’s health journey. That gives us a unique opportunity to really get to know people and look for root causes—not just treat problems as they pop up. Traditional medicine often focuses on what’s measurable. But we can’t ignore the unmeasurable—stress, trauma, loneliness, purpose. These things are just as real and just as powerful as blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

By practicing holistically, we can support healing in a deeper, more meaningful way. We can help patients build lives that promote wellness, not just avoid illness.

A More Human Approach

One of the reasons I started Holistic Medical Services was because I wanted to create a space where healthcare didn’t feel rushed or cold. I wanted patients to feel seen and heard, not processed like numbers. I also wanted providers to feel like they had the time and space to care—not just to check boxes.

We live in a fast-paced world. Insurance companies, time constraints, and productivity metrics can make healthcare feel mechanical. But health is deeply personal. When you take the time to connect, you build trust—and when you build trust, outcomes improve. Patients become more engaged in their health. They open up. They follow through. They feel empowered.

That’s the heart of holistic care. It’s not about replacing science with guesswork. It’s about combining evidence-based medicine with genuine human connection. You can still prescribe a statin when someone needs it. But maybe you also talk to them about sleep, diet, family stress, or grief. That’s where healing really begins.

Mind, Body—and Business

Running a holistic medical practice also means being intentional on the business side. Healthcare is a calling, but it’s also a business, and those two things don’t have to be at odds. In fact, when done well, they support each other.

I’ve learned that you can’t provide great care if your business is falling apart behind the scenes. So I’ve had to build a practice model that makes room for longer appointments, individualized care, and mental health support—all while staying financially healthy. That hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been worth it.

Holistic care requires a team approach. At our clinic, we work closely with therapists, wellness coaches, and other providers to make sure our patients are supported in every area of life. That takes coordination, communication, and a business model that values collaboration over competition. It also means investing in people—hiring staff who share the same values and treating them with respect and support so they can show up fully for our patients.

To me, building a successful healthcare business isn’t just about growth or numbers. It’s about sustainability. It’s about creating a system that supports both patients and providers long-term. That’s what holistic leadership looks like.

Moving Toward the Future

More and more people are waking up to the reality that true wellness goes beyond medication. They want care that honors their mind, body, and spirit. They want providers who listen, not just lecture. And they want healthcare environments that feel safe, respectful, and human.

That’s the direction I see primary care moving in, and I’m proud to be part of that shift. I’m not saying holistic medicine has all the answers—no approach is perfect. But I believe it’s closer to the truth of what healthcare is supposed to be.

We need more practices that blend clinical excellence with real compassion. We need more leaders who are willing to challenge the status quo and create businesses that put people first. And we need more conversations about what health really means—not just the absence of disease, but the presence of purpose, connection, and balance.

A Personal Calling

For me, holistic medicine isn’t just a professional choice. It’s personal. I’ve seen how stress, trauma, and disconnection affect people over time. I’ve seen how simply being heard can shift someone’s whole outlook. And I’ve felt the weight of what happens when we treat the body but ignore the person.

That’s why I do what I do. That’s why I’ll keep showing up, both as a nurse practitioner and as a business owner, to push for a more compassionate, whole-person approach to care. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about running a clinic. It’s about building something that matters—something that helps people live better, fuller lives.

And to me, that’s what real healthcare is all about.