Arlene is a Registered Nurse with diverse experiences. She began her tenure in healthcare directly after high school when she worked in the Dietary Department at Bristol Hospital. Arlene earned her Associate Degree in Respiratory Care to expand on her contributions at Bristol Hospital. She worked there for several years before returning to school to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the age of 40. Upon returning to Bristol Hospital, she became a Magnet nursing committee member when the hospital was awarded the prestigious designation as a magnet facility in 2015.

Her nursing experience spans over 20 years. With experience in critical care, hospice, and behavioral health, Arlene has many skill sets she brings to HHC+. Arlene was introduced to functional medicine by her daughter, Dr. Meg. When she began seeing positive results, she was eager to learn more.

As a Registered Nurse, Arlene wears many hats at hhc+. What started with clinic renovations turned into administrative assistance with clinic procedures and client communication. Arlene is now the Lead Nurse for HHC+. She provides infusions, injections, and lab draws for HHC+ clients while training new nurses in the practice. Arlene is transitioning into a nurse consultant role within the practice.

In her free time, she enjoys flying in her Cessna airplane with her husband, Patrick, and spending time with her two daughters and grandchildren.

Credentials, Education & Achievements:

• Associate Degree in Respiratory Care, Manchester Community College

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Sacred Heart University

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Megan is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and board certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She is licensed to practice advanced nursing in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Florida and California.

Her nursing background is varied; completing a medical-surgical residency at Yale New Haven Hospital followed by training in critical care. After being met with her own health challenges, Megan found holistic health coaching and functional medicine.

Realizing the limitations of our current healthcare system, Megan founded Holistic Health Code and started coaching women and families online. Through her doctorate training, Megan continued to explore how health coaching can help improve blood sugar management in patients with insulin resistance.

As a Family Nurse Practitioner, Megan continues to evolve her practice to help people get the holistic care they need. Her clinical areas of interest are PMS and PMDD, preconception and postpartum care, infertility, menopause, autoimmune disease, digestive conditions, medical marijuana and intravenous nutrient therapy.

In her free time Megan is most likely making a smoothie or oatmeal pancakes, shaking in a Pilates class, or hanging out with her friends and family.

Credentials, Education & Achievements:

• Doctorate of Nursing Practice, University of Massachusetts

• Licensed by the State of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Florida, and California Advanced Practice Nursing

• Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, American Nursing Credentialing Center

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Ronak Patel, ND, is a board certified and licensed Naturopathic Physician. He grew up in Connecticut and went to pharmacy school in Albany, NY where he received a bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

As a graduate from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, Dr. Patel received the prestigious Daphne Blayden Award for his “commitment to naturopathic medicine, academic excellence, compassion, perseverance, a loving sense of humor and a positive, supportive outlook." 

He believes in an integrative approach, using the best of both worlds of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical interventions. His personal areas of interest are men’s and women’s hormones, thyroid conditions, digestive concerns and autoimmune disease. Dr. Patel prides himself in using a root cause and systems based approach to individualize his patient’s care plan. 

In his time away from the office, he enjoys hiking, cooking, traveling and spending quality time with his friends and family.

Credentials, Education & Achievements:

• Bachelors in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy

• Naturopathic Doctorate, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine

• Board Certified by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners

• Licensed by the State of Connecticut Naturopathic Medicine Committee

• Member, American Association of Naturopathic Physicians

• Member, Institute of Functional Medicine

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Cait Strong is a Connecticut board certified and licensed Naturopathic Doctor. 

After graduating from UConn, and inspired by a whole person, root-cause approach to medicine, Cait graduated with her doctorate from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2015. 

While she is committed to improving health in many areas, her passion lies in fertility. Cait believes there are too many couples suffering with infertility, especially when answers and solutions exist. She's deeply invested in helping individuals and couples navigate their fertility journey, offering tailored strategies to enhance reproductive health by getting to the root cause of their infertility, boosting their fertility naturally, and getting pregnant with more ease. She also believes strongly in patient empowerment and that the journey to becoming parents can be full of joy and hope again. 

When considering infertility or any condition, Cait takes a very whole person, mind-body-soul approach. She was awarded Top Naturopathic Doctor in Connecticut by readers of Natural Nutmeg Magazine in 2017.

In her free time, Cait enjoys being with her husband, two children, family and friends. She also loves spending time outdoors, exercising, cooking, and reading. 

Credentials, Education & Achievements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, The University of Connecticut 

• Naturopathic Doctorate, Sonoran University of Health Sciences (formerly Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences)

• Board Certified by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners

• Licensed by the State of Connecticut Naturopathic Medicine Committee

• Top Naturopathic Doctor in Connecticut by readers of the Natural Nutmeg magazine in 2017

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Tamra is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and certified Functional Medicine Practitioner. She is licensed in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida and Idaho.

Her journey into health care began as she navigated the nuances of her own health - fatigue, digestive issues, and further alignment. She found Integrative and Functional medicine and never looked back.

Her nursing background is varied, completing her three month residency in the Emergency Department at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Massachusetts, and an Ortho-Neuro residency at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise, ID.

Her healthcare background is unique combining studies in health promotion + disease prevention, integrative nutrition, and nursing. She completed fellowships at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts and in Functional Medicine at Functional Medicine of Idaho.  She completed additional trainings with Aviva Romm in her Integrative Women's Health Practitioner Training program, Dr. James Greenblatt in Functional and Integrative Psychiatry, and is currently completing a certification in Functional Fertility through A4M.

As a Family Nurse Practitioner, Tamra’s passion is in delivering comprehensive, root-cause, holistic care. Her clinical areas of interest are hormone balancing, preconception planning, postpartum care, peri/menopause, autoimmune disease, digestive health, and mind + mood balance. As a practitioner, she works collaboratively with her patients and team to promote balance and vitality by focusing on the fundamental factors that influence every individual’s experience of health and disease. At hhc+, our work together will create space, facilitate healing and help you achieve your optimal health.

Tamra is a mom, partner and lover of all things outdoors. She can be found traveling with her son and husband or hanging around with her chickens and dogs. In her free time Tamra loves cooking and hanging with her friends.

Credentials, Education & Achievements:

• Masters in Exercise Science, Springfield College

• Masters in Nursing, Frontier Nursing University

• Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Licensed by the State of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida and Idaho

• Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner

• Institute of Integrative Nutrition Certified Holistic Health Coach

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Kirby is a Registered Nurse with a focus on mother and baby. She began her experience in healthcare as a Sterile Processing Technician at Danbury Hospital. After attending the Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing, she became a Surgical Technician. Kirby worked as a Surgical Technician at Danbury and Waterbury Hospital for eight years, focusing on orthopedics, neurology, gynecology, and general surgery.

After her oldest daughter spent two weeks in the NICU, Kirby realized her passion for nursing. She attended Goodwin University, where she obtained her Associate Degree in Nursing. Kirby works as a labor and delivery nurse, striving to provide her patients the same care she received as a new mother.

Kirby found her passion for functional medicine during motherhood. Following her second pregnancy, she experienced several symptoms. For each symptom, her doctor prescribed a new medication. Kirby sought to understand the root cause. Once these were identified, she was able to find healing.

As a Registered Nurse, Kirby provides infusions, injections, and lab draws for our members. She wants her patients to know she is empathetic, sympathetic, and eager to help them feel better.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, weight training, and spending time with her husband, Greg, and three children.

Credentials, Education & Achievements:

• Surgical Technician Diploma, Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing

• Associate Degree in Nursing, Goodwin University

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