about biome functional medicineReclaim Your Health
with Clinical Nutrition & Functional Medicine
We are all made up of cells.
Trillions of them, in fact. From red blood cells delivering oxygen and white blood cells strengthening your immune system, to muscle cells powering your movements and brain cells orchestrating your thoughts and memories – every cell plays a vital role in keeping you healthy and strong. And each and every one of those cells needs specific nutrients to function properly. When your cells get the right nutrients in the right amount, they carry out their functions seamlessly. However, when these essential nutrients are missing, this harmony breaks down, and your cells become dysfunctional and unhealthy.
Unhealthy cells —> unhealthy tissues —> unhealthy organs —> chronic disease
Instead of just masking symptoms, functional medicine practitioners dig deep to find the root causes of health issues, often linked to nutritional deficiencies or imbalances (along with lifestyle factors and environmental exposures) and catch dysfunction before it becomes disease. By addressing these underlying issues and giving your body what it truly needs to thrive, functional medicine empowers you to finally take control of your health and get back to living your best life.
The Biome Approach
1. Initial Consultation
In this in-depth 75-minute consultation, we’ll dive into your health story—exploring your current challenges, family history, personal health experiences, and everyday habits. This conversation is the first step in truly understanding you—uncovering the patterns and root causes that others might miss, and laying the foundation for a personalized, evidence-based approach to health.
2. Personalized Lab Tests
My approach to lab testing goes far beyond standard medical labs. I look at more than 4x the amount of lab data typically included in a standard physical to gain a deep, comprehensive understanding of what’s really going on in your body—what’s working well and where imbalances lie. This detailed analysis allows me to pinpoint the root causes of your symptoms and offer targeted, evidence-based recommendations that are designed specifically for your healing journey. It’s about moving past guesswork and understanding what your body needs to heal and thrive.
3. Customized Health Plan
After reviewing your lab results, I create a personalized health plan tailored specifically for you. This plan includes nutrition guidance, lifestyle changes, and targeted supplements to address your unique needs and goals. The focus is on providing a clear, actionable roadmap that supports your healing today and sets the trajectory for better health long into the future.
4. Follow-Up Appointments
Unlike other functional health services that hand you a plan and send you on your way, I provide you with ongoing, face-to-face support to ensure your success. Healing isn’t linear—it evolves, and so should your plan. Through regular follow-up sessions, we adapt your strategy based on your progress and challenges. This continuous partnership ensures that your health plan stays aligned with your changing needs, empowering you to achieve lasting, transformative health.
Caitlin Abbott, MS, CNS Candidate
Hello and welcome! I'm Caitlin, and I’m so glad that you’ve found your way here. I know what it is to live with chronic illness and pain, and I know firsthand that healing is possible.
My journey to becoming a functional medicine practitioner began while I was in college. As a public health student, the more I learned about our current healthcare system, the more disheartened and frustrated I became. I didn’t want to become part of the status quo — I wanted to challenge it.
During this time, I discovered functional medicine and the concept of root cause healthcare: the idea that it is far better to identify what is causing symptoms and address that, rather than simply treating surface-level symptoms. That, along with the other core principles of functional medicine, just made so much sense to me and I knew that I had found my path forward.
Since then, I've dedicated my career to helping others achieve optimal health through personalized, evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine practices. I'm passionate about living a balanced, healthy lifestyle and believe that true health is not just about the absence of disease, but also the presence of vitality, purpose, and joy.
Let's work together to help you Feel and Function Better™!
Education & Credentials
Master of Science (MS) - Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Public Health
Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) - [In Progress]
Post-Graduate Training in Nutritional Psychiatry with Dr. James Greenblatt - [In Progress]
Frequently Asked Questions
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Functional medicine is a personalized, evidence-based approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying imbalances that may be causing or contributing to an individual's health concerns. Functional medicine practitioners seek to understand the complex interplay between an individual's genetics, environment, and lifestyle, and use nutrition and lifestyle modifications to support the body's ability to heal and achieve optimal health.
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Conventional medicine often focuses on managing symptoms and illness with medications or surgery. In contrast, functional medicine seeks to understand the root cause of health issues and uses a whole-person, systems-based approach to support the body's natural ability to heal. This approach is personalized, taking into account an individual's unique genetics, environment, and lifestyle, and focuses on empowering patients to take an active role in improving their health.
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Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) is the gold standard credential for advanced nutrition professionals. CNSs are trained to practice evidence-based personalized nutrition therapy and medical nutrition therapy to provide health care to their patients/clients. CNSs focus on identifying and correcting the root cause of health conditions and supporting their patients/clients to achieve optimal health.
To become a CNS, candidates must:
Have a master's or doctoral degree in nutrition, or a related medical field
Complete 1,000 hours of clinical experience within a supervised internship
Pass a board exam administered by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS)
To learn more, please click here.
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I offer an evidence-based, personalized approach that can address a wide range of health concerns and goals. This path is about diving deep into your unique health story, using a tailored, evidence-based strategy to improve your health, rather than offering quick fixes. It's well-suited for anyone committed to making informed, lasting changes to their health, regardless of their current condition. However, it's important to remember that there are no guarantees; it's a journey of partnership, exploration, and commitment to your health. And remember: like most things in life, you get out of this process what you put into it.