Heather Maddox, MD

Heather’s Journey

What I love most about being a physician is connecting with patients. I have learned that patients will tell you what is wrong if you take the time to listen.

I have worked in a conventional medicine setting since 2003 and have found our current western medical system often rewards quantity over quality. Unfortunately, this makes it difficult for a provider to listen to a patient’s story, form a therapeutic relationship, and properly understand why someone is battling disease. 

After struggling for years with these shortcomings, I was determined to find an approach that allowed me to be a more effective physician. I also wanted more tools than just prescription medication to help heal people with increasingly complex medical problems. 

In 2017 I was introduced to functional medicine, a system-oriented approach to understanding and treating chronic disease that better fits my practice ideals. Rather than matching symptoms to the diagnosis to medications, I was looking to understand and treat the root cause of why a person was chronically ill. When I found functional medicine, I knew instantly that this was the direction I wanted to go with my medical career.

I also have a personal stake in learning more about functional medicine. Unfortunately my health declined suddenly in August 2023, and I was diagnosed with Grave’s disease. This was a shock as I thought I was doing all of the things I was supposed to. However, I learned that exposure to mold was playing a role, and I wasn’t managing stress as well as I needed to. It was a wake up call to take a deeper dive into my health and well being. This has given me unique insight into caring for patients dealing with autoimmune disease along with mold toxicity which can be a roller coaster with highs and lows. Ultimately it has made me a better person and provider. This is a lifelong process that requires commitment and dedication, and I am always honored when I am given the opportunity to work with people on their health journey.