Our Team

Meet the Staff: Ariel Lofaro, CHC, Medical Support Specialist

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To hear her tell it, Ariel Lofaro, CHC, is not a big fan of the Western medicine model, preferring instead the highly personalized and in-depth approach to good health offered by functional medicine practitioners such as those here at BioDesign Wellness Center. Ariel, who joined us in 2022 as our medical support specialist, said she understands the importance of getting to the root cause of a patient’s health issue by discovering, treating, and eradicating what got them sick in the first place. And for Ariel, this outcome is personal. Having suffered with her own health conditions and her mother’s recent diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer, she is convinced of the importance of her work at BioDesign. She said her task is to make the patients’ experience as easy and seamless as possible. Among her duties are making sure patients get their lab work scheduled and supplements delivered in a timely …

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Meet the Staff — Dr. Matt Lewis, DC, CFMP, DACBN

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We’re back with another post for our Meet the Staff series, and this time around, we’re focusing the spotlight on Dr. Matt Lewis — a BioDesign Wellness Center functional medicine practitioner who provides clinical care to women and men suffering from a variety of health concerns related to hormones, digestion, thyroid health, inflammation and more. Dr. Lewis (known as “Doctor Matt” to our patients) makes sure patients are receiving the most appropriate treatments and are responding well to our treatment plans. One of the things that make Dr. Lewis unique is that he intentionally provides a consultative approach that allows for time to get to know and understand the needs of his patients. In other words, unlike other doctors who spend 10 minutes or less with their patients, Dr. Lewis’ training and experience have shown that the more time he spends with his patients, the better their health outcomes. As …

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Meet the Staff: Cierra Gritzinger, CMA — Patient Care Coordinator

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Cierra Gritzinger joined us at BioDesign Wellness Center in the summer of 2019, intent on completing her Medical Assistant externship. After the successful competition of that important medical credential, she was invited to join the BioDesign team officially. She soon became a Certified Phlebotomist and currently serves as our Tampa functional medicine practice’s Patient Care Coordinator. In that position, Cierra works with both patients and our medical staff to ensure effective, organized, and seamless care. She sets up labs, orders tests, and makes sure our patients have a clear understanding of their plan of care. We asked Cierra to tell us a little about her career and give us some personal tidbits about her life. Here is what she had to say: BIODESIGN WELLNESS CENTER: What did you do for work before joining us at BioDesign? CIERRA GRITZINGER: I started working in Early Childhood Education while I was in high …

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Meet the Staff: BioDesign’s Physician Assistant, Steve Stiles

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Steve Stiles, PA-C, joined our medical staff in November 2019, and let’s just say that having him around the office on a daily basis is just the breath of fresh air we needed. Among his areas of focus, Steve conducts medical screenings, collaborates with our medical director on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and Erectile Dysfunction (ED) treatment plans, and assists the rest of our medical staff with a number of other patient-related essentials. A certified physician assistant since 2006, Steve began his healthcare career by working in emergency medicine and neurology after graduation from college, and then moved into HRT- and ED-focused medicine. Before joining us at BioDesign Wellness, he worked in a medical clinic 100 miles to the north of us in Ocala, Fla. Steve received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and holds dual bachelor’s and masters’ degrees in …

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Fishing for Less Toxic Sources of Omega 3 via SMASH

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In Tampa, we eat a lot of seafood, and that’s generally a healthy indulgence. After all, many fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins D and B2 (riboflavin), and minerals, including calcium, phosphorous, iron, zinc, magnesium, and potassium. In many ways, fish high in omega-3 fatty acids are brain food — essential nutrients that help the body regulate the brain’s structure and function, especially in early development, throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding, and during the aging process. Omega-3s also have anti-inflammatory properties that may help prevent and treat a host of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, and autoimmune conditions. And they may help to reduce symptoms of metabolic disorders by reducing belly fat, blood pressure, insulin resistance, and high triglycerides. Unfortunately, consuming too much fish can increase your exposure to certain toxins that tend to build up in these underwater creatures, particularly the heavy metal mercury and various fat-soluble …

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Meet the Staff: Phyllis McKinnon, BioDesign’s Office Administrator

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[ad_1] By: BioDesign Wellness Center Staff June 29, 2019 | Category: Meet The Staff Request A Call From Us One of the first smiling faces patients see when they enter our Tampa Functional Medicine practice is that of Phyllis McKinnon, BioDesign’s intake coordinator and office administrator. Phyllis is charged with ensuring that each of our patients and guests is welcomed and taken care of. In addition, this former holistic spa owner educates new patients through our protocol for treatment and wellness. Before joining our team earlier this year, Phyllis was a fulltime hospice volunteer, working with the dying and their families. Bringing comfort to these patients made her more determined than ever to become a part of a team that focuses on preventative health. She says she found that focus in the staff here at BioDesign Wellness. Beginning her career as an esthetician, where she specialized in oncology esthetics, Phyllis …

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