Functional Medicine in Practice
Our Functional Medicine approach to health and wellness begins with nourishing the root causes of imbalance. Functional Medicine is a patient-centered, integrative, and science based healthcare. Learn more about Functional Medicine and how to work with a FM practitioner. These educational materials are provided by The Institute for Functional Medicine.
“Functional Medicine seeks to identify and address the root causes of disease, and views the body as one integrated system, not a collection of independent organs divided up by medical specialties. It treats the whole system, not just the symptoms.”
About Michelle McCasin APRN
Michelle McCaslin earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Clarkson College in Omaha, Nebraska. Following graduation, she provided nursing care at Lakeside Alegent hospital in a variety of areas: medical/surgical care, post-intensive care, and telemetry. Later she worked for Dr. William Ingram at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, while pursuing her Master's degree in nursing at Clarkson.
Dr. Ingram is a board certified ENT (ear, nose, and throat) physician, a head and neck surgeon, as well as the current president of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine. Under his guidance, Michelle began to experience and learn about the importance of environmental influences on health and nutrition and diet as an adjunct/alternative to prescriptions in the practice of medicine.
In 2009, Michelle began work with Dr. Patricia Ryan, the founder of Alternatives: A Center for Conscious Health. Michelle worked for Dr. Ryan first as a nurse, and then subsequently as a nurse practitioner seeing her own patients. In February 2015, Dr. Ryan took a sabbatical from Alternatives, and Michelle was appointed Medical Director. Alternatives was re-branded as Whole Health Omaha and eventually sold as a practice to Kholl's EPC in Fall of 2015.
Heartland Functional Medicine is located in Papillion, NE, and shares clinic space within Heartland Women's Healthcare, the practice of Kristi Peterson MD, OB/GYN. Dr. Peterson recognized the growing demand in the surrounding community for comprehensive and medically sound healthcare options like Functional Medicine Practitioners. In sharing her available office space, as well as her staff's knowledge and expertise of managing a growing practice, Dr. Peterson continues a tradition of kindness and service to the community which her mentor taught her by helping her build her own practice after graduation from medical school.
Michelle has had her own journey in learning proper nutrition and functional medicine, and has personally benefited by keeping eczema and asthma at bay without the use of inhalers or medication such as steroids that she was previously inundated with most of her life. The well established Center for Functional Medicine at Cleveland Clinic is a great example of the effectiveness and demand for this comprehensive approach to medicine. Michelle is a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner through the Institute of Functional Medicine, and a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. With these certifications and continuous learning Michelle continues helping both women and men achieve optimal health by educating and supporting them with proper nutrition, lifestyle changes, and prescriptions when needed.
Advanced Laboratory Testing
We recommend functional medicine lab testing to assist in creating a comprehensive plan that is unique to your body. Many labs are covered by insurance and can be done at our clinic, at home, or somewhere more convenient to you. Examples include blood, urine, saliva, and stool analysis to look at your hormones, nutrition levels, digestion, and even genetic disposition.
Nutritional Support
Food is medicine. After determining your nutritional requirements through functional medicine lab testing, we help nourish you through dietary recommendations, supplements, prescriptions and nutritional IVs (when needed). Your custom plan is uploaded to our store(s) online, so you can easily reorder and as well as have up to date dosage instructions specific to you. You do not have to be a patient to order.
Hormonal Balancing
For women and men of all ages. Are you experiencing symptoms of Menopause, Low Testosterone, Thyroid Imbalance, or Adrenal Stress? We offer Bio-identical hormone replacement for Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, Thyroid, and others.