An NP Excelling in Functional Medicine Shares Her Wisdom | E32

Functional medicine becomes far more powerful when it slows down, listens closely, and focuses on simple changes that help patients reclaim trust in their own ability to heal.   In this episode, Tracy Harrison speaks with nurse practitioner Lisa Vasile about what functional medicine looks like when it is practiced with restraint, clarity, and real-world perspective. Lisa reflects on her journey through conventional nursing, women’s health, education, and her own celiac diagnosis, and how those experiences exposed the limits of symptom-based care. Rather than chasing answers through endless testing, she explains why understanding the person, setting expectations, and addressing foundational habits often leads to the most meaningful change.   The conversation challenges common assumptions in both conventional and functional medicine. Are patients truly unwilling to change, or have they simply never been given context and support? What happens when practitioners slow down and stop trying to fix everything at once? Through clinical stories and hard-earned insight, Lisa makes a case for simpler interventions, thoughtful timelines, and partnerships that help patients build confidence in their body’s ability to heal. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction to Functional Medicine and Real-World Impact 01:31 Lisa Vasile’s Journey from Conventional Nursing to Functional Medicine 11:51 How Celiac Disease Changed Lisa’s Approach to Healing 16:11 Choosing and Building Sustainable Functional Medicine Practice Models 27:52 Patient-Centered Care and the Power of Listening 31:07 Common Pitfalls in Functional Medicine and When Less Is More 54:24 A Transformative Patient Story That Redefined Healing Connect with Lisa Vasile: Email: [email protected] Visit 4betterhealthmedicine.com Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn Follow 4 Better Health on Instagram 4 Better Health's Facebook Page SAFM Links: Take SAFM’s 10 CME course - The Essential Gut Deep Dive Get weekly Clinical Tips in your inbox  Learn more about SAFM’s practitioner training Subscribe to our YouTube channel Access daily quick tips on Facebook  Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm