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At Dragonfly Menopause Care, I see a wide range of women—from those in their late 30s beginning to notice subtle perimenopausal changes, to women in their 60s and beyond who wonder if they’ve “missed the boat” on hormone therapy but still want to feel better. Wherever you are in your menopause journey, you are not too early, too late, or too complex for care. You are welcome here.

When we talk about metabolic health, insulin often gets a bad reputation. We hear phrases like “insulin resistance” and assume insulin itself is the problem.

When we talk about metabolic health, insulin often gets a bad reputation. We hear phrases like “insulin resistance” and assume insulin itself is the problem.

When we talk about metabolic health, insulin often gets a bad reputation. We hear phrases like “insulin resistance” and assume insulin itself is the problem.

For years we believed more HDL meant more protection, but newer research shows that isn’t always true. Some women with very high HDL actually have dysfunctional HDL. Let’s break down what that means — in simple, clear terms.

If I had to choose one intervention to protect a woman’s cardiovascular system in midlife, my top choice is hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Most women are told their cholesterol is “high” and immediately fear heart disease. But in functional medicine, we ask a different question: Why is cholesterol elevated?

GLP-1 medications are everywhere right now, but before jumping to prescriptions, I want women to understand one important thing: You already make your own GLP-1. 🙌 And we can often support it naturally before turning to medication.

If you’ve been in my clinic, you’ve probably noticed that I reach for Biest cream often. Not because it’s fancy or complicated — but because it more closely mirrors human physiology and offers a level of balance, customization, and reassurance that many women deeply appreciate.

If you’ve been in my clinic recently, you’ve probably heard me say this: vaginal estrogen is one of the most underrated, safest, and most effective treatments I offer. And nothing highlights this more than the women I saw just yesterday—two separate patients whose years of recurrent UTIs completely disappeared once they started vaginal estrogen. This happens all the time in my practice, and honestly… it still blows me away. But before we dive in, let’s talk about what’s rea

If you had told me two years ago that the most meaningful part of my 16-year medical career would unfold inside a tiny one-room clinic in Chanhassen, I never would’ve believed you. Back then, I was balancing busy emergency medicine shifts, raising kids, training for certification after certification…and unknowingly entering my own perimenopause. What started as a “side gig” has become the most fulfilling work of my life — and a place where women finally feel seen, heard, and

One of the most surprising things I’ve learned in my functional medicine training is how important amino acids are for how women feel — especially in midlife.

If you’ve ever felt “off” even when your labs look normal, you’re not imagining it. As part of my personalized functional medicine coursework through one of the top five medical schools in the country, I’ve been diving deep into how neurotransmitters and amino acids impact mood, sleep, energy, cognition, and overall well-being — and it has been eye-opening.

L-theanine is an amino acid found almost exclusively in green tea leaves. It’s what gives green tea its smooth, slightly sweet taste — and much of its calming effect. When taken as a supplement, L-theanine can cross the blood–brain barrier and directly support neurotransmitters involved in relaxation, mood, attention, and sleep.

One year ago, I opened the doors to Dragonfly Menopause Care and saw my very first three patients. At that time, I truly had no idea what this practice would become. I remember telling my emergency medicine group that this was “just a side gig”—and I meant it!

What Is Pregnenolone? Pregnenolone is made primarily in the adrenal glands and brain from cholesterol. It’s often called the “mother hormone” because it’s the building block for nearly every other hormone your body produces.

After three painstaking days of learning what feels like every study in the world about hormones— and how they work, how to test them, and how to replace them— (thank you, Dr. Pam Smith at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine!), I am ready to up my hormone game for my patients in ways I could not have previously imagined.

The thyroid is a small but mighty gland at the base of your neck, and it produces three hormones: T4, T3, and calcitonin. These hormones affect nearly every cell in your body — influencing metabolism, energy, weight, brain function, mood, and even cholesterol levels.

You’re not imagining it. Our bodies truly handle alcohol differently in our 40s, 50s, and beyond. It’s not that you suddenly “can’t drink anymore” — it’s that your hormones, metabolism, and stress response have changed. And alcohol doesn’t play as nicely with that mix as it once did.

Every so often, I meet a woman who has a history of stroke and wonders whether hormone therapy could ever be safe for her. This isn’t a common question, but it’s an important one—and it deserves careful discussion. For these women, the decision often feels especially complex and deeply personal.