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VITALITY PROVIDERS
Dr. Melissa McRae, DO, FOUNDER
Vitality Natural Wellness founder Dr. Melissa McRae is a Board Certified Family Physician specializing in Integrative Medicine, Functional Medicine, and Non-Surgical Aesthetic Medicine in and around Columbus, Ohio. She graduated from both Ohio University and Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine summa cum laude.
Upon graduation from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. McRae was presented with the highest all-around award: the Dean’s Award. During her final year of residency, she served as Chief Resident at Doctors Hospital in Stark County, Ohio. Dr. McRae also received several awards, including the Most Outstanding Family Practice Doctor in her residency program as well as the Ohio Academy of Family Medicine’s Most Outstanding Family Practice Resident in the State of Ohio. She has continued her education by participating in coursework at the American Academy of Anti Aging Medicine (A4M) and the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM). Dr. McRae has been a speaker at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s national conference. She continues to serve her profession by training family medicine students, Nurse Practitioner students, nursing students, and medical residents in her office.
Since beginning her private practice, Dr. McRae has had a strong focus on patient preventative health care. She had a traditional Family Practice for 12 years before committing to a Wellness-based practice in Mansfield, Ohio. The practice continues to rapidly grow and offers patients comprehensive functional medicine and integrative medicine health care. Dr. McRae has a strong focus on patient preventative care for optimal health with the use of bioidentical hormones, gut therapy, diet and lifestyle changes, and advanced testing. Vitality Natural Wellness was a finalist for the Small Business of the Year award for 2016. She has offices in Mansfield, Delaware, and Powell, Ohio.
Dr. McRae speaks locally and nationally on topics of lifestyle medicine and wellness. She was a featured speaker at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine in Washington D.C. discussing a system she developed that allowed medical wellness and nutrition to get covered through insurance companies.
Dr. McRae knew she wanted to be a doctor when she was 3 years old and says that some of her favorite years were in medical school, learning every day. Not only did she learn a lot in medical school, she experienced a lot too! She spent a month in Africa doing medical mission work, backpacked through Europe, and hike the Inca Trail in Peru!
Dr. McRae continues to play a very active role in her community and profession. Her participation includes:
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American Academy of Family Physicians
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American Osteopathic Association
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Ohio Osteopathic Association
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American Medical Association
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International Peptide Society
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International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine
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Powell Chamber of Commerce
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Delaware Chamber of Commerce
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Richland County Chamber of Commerce
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National Association of Women Business Owners
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Women's Small Business Association
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Crossroads Community Church
Purpose/Passion of Vitality Natural Wellness: Provide life-changing, patient-centered medical care using innovative medical treatments.
Christy LaRoche, MSN, FNP-BC
Christy LaRoche, FNP-BC is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner with an acute ability to empathize with and care for her patients. She has worked in many different fields within medicine - giving her a unique perspective of patient care. Christy’s love of functional medicine comes from her grandparents. Watching them practice the fundamentals of functional medicine while aging gracefully has greatly impacted her decision to be a part of healthcare that changes lives for the better.
Christy’s desire to help others feel good about themselves combined with her natural aesthetic skills, makes Christy an excellent aesthetic injector. From Botox to fillers, Christy has a unique ability to bring her patient’s dreams to life.
Christy loves to travel and explore new places abroad. Her travels have spilled into her desire to cook complex dishes from all over the world. She even has ventured into making her own wine. In her free time, Christy cares for her farm which hosts beef cows and Australian Shepherds.
Lana Hetzel, CNP
Lana Hetzel is a Board Certified Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner who brings over 20 years of healthcare experience to Vitality. With a background that spans various facets of healthcare, her journey has been defined by a relentless commitment to helping people heal and achieve optimal well-being. Lana began her career as a Clinical Social Worker and massage therapist and eventually returned to school to pursue nursing, ultimately focusing on Advanced Practice Nursing. Before joining Vitality, she served as a provider and the center director for the Low T Center in Dublin, Ohio, specializing in hormone replacement therapy and primary care.
“All of my career has been focused on helping people to heal. It started with mental health and resourcing, massage for emotional, mental, and physical wellness. After a hand injury, I was no longer able to massage and decided to return to school to pursue nursing, specifically Advanced Practice nursing. My daughter was studying to become a nurse at the same time. We studied in different schools but enjoyed sharing our learning experiences. Dr. McRae and Sheree reached out to me to see if I would be interested in Vitality Natural Wellness as they were familiar with my journey with wellness. I was drawn to Vitality because it aligns with my ideology of health and healing.”
Lana is passionate about expanding her knowledge in functional medicine, particularly in the areas of hormone health and aesthetics. She firmly believes in the importance of treating the root causes of disease at the cellular level, backed by scientific principles.
Outside of her work, Lana enjoys spending quality time with her family and indulging in her love for travel. She finds solace in outdoor activities, particularly kayaking, and is always eager to explore new adventures.
Lana derives immense satisfaction from helping her patients heal from the cellular level and create solutions that address the root causes of their health issues. Her primary goal is to make her patients feel hopeful and heard during their visits. The best part of her job is the opportunity to practice what she preaches and collaborate with a strong, like-minded team of women at Vitality Natural Wellness.
Nicole Schneider, AGPCNP
Nicole Schneider is a licensed, board-certified nurse practitioner with over a decade of experience in the field of adult gerontology and anti-aging medicine. Her educational journey began at the University of Maryland, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Gerontology and Aging Services, laying the foundation for a profound understanding of the unique healthcare needs of older adults, particularly those facing cognitive challenges.
Furthering her commitment to excellence, Nicole pursued and successfully completed her Master of Science in Nursing at Ohio State University. An active member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, as well as the American Academy of Anti Aging Medicine and the Academy of Preventive and Innovative Medicine, Nicole is dedicated to continuing to learn and grow for the benefit of her patients..
Boasting over 13 years of diverse experience, Nicole brings a wealth of knowledge to her role at Vitality Natural Wellness. Her journey spans long-term care, home health care, and acute care, with a specialization in acute care surgical trauma. In recent years, her focus has shifted to functional medicine, particularly in male hormone replacement therapy.
Nicole's personal journey, navigating her husband's testicular cancer diagnosis, fueled a passion for addressing root causes of diseases and promoting overall well-being. This transformative experience led her to Vitality Natural Wellness, where we believe in treating the whole person, beginning with the root cause. The commitment to specialized services, personalized care, and a detailed evaluation of health resonates with her deeply. Nicole is thrilled to be part of a team that empowers patients to actively engage in their healthcare journey, working towards optimal health and well-being.
Beyond her career, Nicole finds her greatest joy in her family. Their unwavering support fortifies her journey, and she cherishes every shared experience, from exploring new destinations to preparing feasts and savoring new wines. Grounding hobbies like reading, woodworking, and traveling to explore diverse cultures and cuisines round out her personal interests.
Fueling Nicole's passion for nursing is the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people's well-being. Every day, she creates an environment where patients feel heard, inspired, and hopeful about their health journey. Nicole believes that optimal health is attainable for everyone, and it is her privilege to provide personalized care that comprehensively addresses individual needs. At Vitality Natural Wellness, she and the team are committed to helping individuals live their best lives, every step of the way.
Kylie Eulett, MA
Kylie loves that working at Vitality allows her to do so many things that she loves. With a background in permanent makeup, Kylie absolutely loves making her patients feel beautiful. Kylie holds advanced certifications in ZO's Skinhealth skincare line. Kylie is the go-to for all questions regarding building a routine and getting results with your skincare. She absolutely loves helping patients build a daily skincare routine that will create lasting change. She knows that the best results come from a combination of in-office treatments and a firm foundation of at-home care.
Kylie loves to combine treatments for maximum results. She loves chemical peel season (fall and winter) the best and thinks everyone should try the DiamondGlow facial at least once!
Katie Nuzzi, Esthetiican
Katie is a board-certified Esthetician in the state of Ohio. She has had a passion for the beauty industry from a young age. After graduating from high school in 2008, she moved from Youngstown, Ohio, to Columbus to attend The Ohio State School of Cosmetology. In 2009, she completed her certification in Esthetics and focused her career on full body waxing. Eventually, she ventured into entrepreneurship and opened her own business.
When the opportunity arose, she decided to utilize her knowledge of skincare and joined the amazing team at Vitality, where she works in medical Esthetics. As a long-time user of ZO skincare products, she is well aware of the incredible results it can bring to your skin. She is passionate about educating more people about the benefits of medical-grade skincare while providing a soothing and relaxing experience for her clients.
Katie is particularly enthusiastic about performing Dermaplane facials, as she finds joy in the transformative effects they have on her clients' skin. Through this specialized treatment, she skillfully brightens, tightens, and smoothes out the skin, leaving her clients with a radiant and refreshed complexion.
VITALITY SUPPORT STAFF
Kristin Kipp, Marketing Director
Kristin joined Vitality Natural Wellness in August of 2017 as Director of Marketing. She loves that her marketing skills can be used for a cause she believes in. Being a non-medical member of the team, she enjoys hearing the stories of lives changed for the better at Vitality Natural Wellness. Responsible for everything from social media posts to forms and flyers, product displays, and our website you might not see her in the exam room, but she is an integral part of the team. Kristin believes in education and uses her position to provide as much information as she can to our patients and anyone interested in learning more about Vitality - in as many channels as possible. Her work is also used internally to continually train staff with our own training videos.
If you love your results and would like to be part of Vitality's Portfolio, just let the staff know and Kristin will listen to your story and even take your photo if you like. Our patients love hearing how Vitality has helped others. Your testimonial could help change someone's life.
Kristin often assists Dr. McRae at speaking engagements throughout Ohio and she sets up hosting events with other local businesses. You’re likely to see Kristin in our Mansfield, Delaware and Powell, Ohio, offices - or out and about at community events.
Sheree Young, RN, BSN, MBA
Sheree joined Vitality Natural Wellness in September 2015 as the Practice Manager. She currently manages the Mansfield, Delaware, and Powell, Ohio, offices. Sheree really enjoys spending time with Corey, her husband of 27 years, and their three children.
As a graduate of Ohio University, Sheree loves using her MBA daily to manage a business that enriches so many lives. Responsible for hiring and training staff, ordering supplies, and more, Sheree gets to use her beloved spreadsheets and create streamlined processes. At other times, she gets to put on her Registered Nurse hat and help start IVs or do lab draws and weight loss visits for a patient. She is happy to have found a position that utilizes her unique skill set.
With over 20 years of healthcare experience, Sheree understands the challenges facing this industry. Sheree thinks the best part about working at Vitality is being part of the solution. "Dr. McRae created this opportunity to treat patients the way we know we should be treating them. It's a privilege to do so and to support our staff as they do so."