From Burnout to Breakthrough: A Nurse’s Journey into Functional Medicine

In this episode of the Fieldnotes Podcast, Dr. Rob Downey welcomes Heather Moon, a family nurse practitioner and the newest addition to Seaworthy Functional Medicine. Their conversation explores Heather’s journey from conventional medicine to discovering functional medicine through transformative patient experiences. They dive into the power of deeper testing, patient-centered care, and the importance of time-based visits to uncover root causes of chronic conditions. Heather shares insights from her training with the Institute for Functional Medicine, her passion for addressing fatigue, thyroid, and hormone health, and her excitement to join a practice built on integrity, collaboration, and holistic care.

(02:44) Discovers Seaworthy through patient referral
(04:16) Impressed by deep, detailed testing
(06:37) 80% of diagnosis in history
(11:28) Sees functional medicine as new toolbox
(30:57) Inspired to practice what she preaches

Heather Moon

AGPCNP-BC, MSN, BSN, RN

Heather Moon is an Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner in Soldotna, Alaska and has been a resident of Alaska since 1991. Heather started her educational path at UAF where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She later attended Kenai Peninsula College and earned her Associate’s Degree in Nursing. Heather worked for 11 years as a registered nurse and served as a Breast Cancer patient navigator prior to achieving her Bachelor’s and Masters of Science in Nursing, after which she became board certified in Adult/Gerontology Primary Care and began a primary care career in Soldotna, Alaska. Heather developed an interest in Functional Medicine when she saw consistently improved patient outcomes from her referrals to a Functional Medicine provider, where traditional medicine practices had not produced desired patient outcomes.  She recently completed a course in Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice through the Institute for Functional Medicine and will be offering patient care in Homer, Alaska at Seaworthy Functional Medicine. She is passionate about patient education, preventative care, and health promotion, including wellness across the lifespan, mental health, and eating disorders.

Seaworthy Functional Medicine is a department of: