Who we are
Lexie Stevens, FNP-C, FMACP
My name is Lexie Stevens, and from a young age, I’ve been passionate about a career in healthcare. I began my journey in the ER and transitioned to primary care after earning my Nurse Practitioner license in 2018. With over 17 years of healthcare experience, including the last six years focused on pediatrics and family medicine, I genuinely love what I do and the opportunity to care for others. However, I am deeply concerned about the current state of our healthcare system. I aim to return to the core values of healthcare: prioritizing patient care over insurance companies and promoting holistic health through comprehensive approaches, rather than solely relying on medications or specialist referrals. This commitment led me to pursue certification in Functional Medicine.
I have a particular interest in children with behavioral conditions, fueled by my own experiences as a parent. My son has faced behavioral challenges since early childhood. We explored cognitive behavioral therapy, limited screen time, adjusted our diet, and employed various parenting strategies. When he was just three, we were advised to seek a formal diagnosis for medication. I knew there had to be alternative options for such a young child. Through my research, I discovered Functional Medicine approaches that address difficult behaviors in children and restore hope for parents seeking a brighter future for their kids.
I am also passionate about helping women dealing with hormonal imbalances, having navigated similar challenges myself. After the birth of my twin girls, I struggled with weight gain, fatigue, hair loss, and gastrointestinal issues. When I sought help, my doctor dismissed my concerns with a simple, “Welcome to motherhood,” providing no guidance or solutions. I wish I had known then what I understand now about Functional Medicine: that even if lab results appear “normal,” optimal health is still within reach.
Outside of my professional life, I’m married and a proud mother of four. We run a farm and homeschool our children, and we are actively involved in our church. Our family enjoys travel—especially trips to the beach—along with outdoor adventures and sharing meals accompanied by live music.
Dr. Chris Herald, MD
Dr. Herald earned his Bachelor of Science degree in physiology from Michigan State University and his Medical Degree from the MSU College of Human Medicine. He is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine, a Fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Physicians and has been practicing emergency medicine for 20 years. He has served in various roles within his health system, such as Emergency Department Medical Director, Chief of Staff, Director of Physician Performance and Lead Physician for Community Hospitals. Outside his health system he has served as the Medical Director for the county ambulance services, as a flight physician for emergency helicopter transport, and on numerous committees focused on improving health care quality, physician performance and patient outcomes. In 2020, he was selected by his peers as the Physician of the Year for the health system. He has been married for 26 years, has four sons and a granddaughter. He enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, woodworking, music festivals and MSU athletics, but primarily spending time with his family.
Throughout his career, Dr. Herald has observed an increased prevalence of chronic metabolic disease, and a decreased effectiveness of modern pharmaceutical treatments alone in curing that disease. He is motivated to discover the root cause of suboptimal health, rather than mere symptomatic treatment. He believes that functional medicine, in conjunction with necessary pharmaceutical and surgical treatments, can be instrumental in improving the health and lives of his patients. He is currently furthering his education ato become a Certified Physician of the Institute of Functional Medicine.
