Functional Medicine of North Idaho, The Root Cause Clinic
Provider
Jessie LaPlante, FNP-C, ABAAHP-FAAMFM, CFMP owner/founder
Jessie is a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Practitioner.
She completed her Bachelors and Masters of Science in Nursing through Washington State University and she has been certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners since 2012. Her functional medicine training began with a certification through Functional Medicine University in 2017. She completed a Diplomate Certification through the American Board of Anti-Aging Practitioners (A4M) in 2019 and a fellowship program through the Medical Metabolic Institute in 2020. She completed a Functional Fertility Certification in 2023. She has been under the mentorship of Dr. Niel Nathan (author of the book "Toxic") , Dr. Jill Crista (author of "Break the Mold") and Dr Steve Harris of Gordon Medical.
She loves getting to know her patients, hearing their unique stories and combining conventional and alternative therapies to create the most comprehensive treatment plan. She has experienced the benefits of functional medicine in her own life and she loves to help others heal and flourish on their journey. All of the providers at Functional Medicine of North Idaho specialize in optimizing hormones and thyroid, reducing toxic burden, gut health and metabolic regulation.
Jessie grew up in North Idaho and is proud to call the Inland Northwest home. She graduated from Lakeland High School in Rathdrum and played collegiate softball at Spokane Falls and Whitworth University. She enjoys spending her time outdoors with her husband, friends and family. Her interests include triathlons and obstacle course races (Ironman CDA 2014, 2015 finisher and Spartan World Championship 2019 qualifier/finisher), yoga, snowboarding, water skiing, softball, disc golf, hiking and camping. She loves international travel and has been to 6 continents and over 20 countries. She is also passionate about international medicine and has volunteered in Peru, Guatemala and Panama. She is a mother to two young children.
Provider
Arrian Culjak, FNP-C, ABAAHP-FAAMM
Arrian is a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Practitioner.
She completed her Masters of Science and Family Nurse Practitioner degree from California Baptist University and has been certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners since 2018. She completed a Diplomate Certification through the American Board of Anti-Aging Practitioners (A4M) in 2024.
Arrian is passionate about helping her patients restore balance in their body and environment. She educates and empowers them while guiding them to address the root cause(s) of their health issues. All of the providers at Functional Medicine of North Idaho specialize in optimizing hormones and thyroid, reducing toxic burden, gut health and metabolic regulation.
In 2018, she married her husband, Levi, in Iceland. The two of them enjoy traveling and exploring different foods and restaurants. When Arrian is not in the clinic, she loves lifting weights, kayaking, hiking, spending time with friends and family, live music, cooking, and gardening. Arrian grew up playing many sports including track, swim, volleyball, and collegiate basketball. She also spent many years training in martial arts and self-defense.
Provider
Valerie Nelson, FNP-C
Valerie is a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Provider.
She completed her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Gonzaga University in 2006 and her Masters of Science in Nursing through Seattle Pacific University in 2012. Valerie has been certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center since 2012. She did her integrative and functional medicine training through the American Board of Anti-Aging Practitioners (A4M).
She loves utilizing functional medicine principals in her personal life as well as with her patients. She enjoys partnering with them to achieve their optimal health. All of the providers at Functional Medicine of North Idaho specialize in optimizing hormones and thyroid, reducing toxic burden, gut health and metabolic regulation.
Valerie was raised in Western Washington. In 2021 she relocated with her family to North Idaho. In her free time, Valerie enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys, traveling, working out, swimming, hiking and exploring all the beauty North Idaho has to offer.
Provider
Savannah Plath, FNP-C
Savannah is a Family Nurse Practitioner and Functional Medicine Provider.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Florida and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of St. Augustine, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. She is certified with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. With experience as a registered nurse in a Level One emergency and trauma department in Jacksonville, Florida, Savannah has developed a strong foundation in acute care. She later transitioned to working in urgent care as a Nurse Practitioner, where she continued to refine her clinical skills. She is now following her passions and practicing as a functional medicine provider. She did her integrative and functional medicine training through the American Board of Anti-Aging Practitioners (A4M).
Savannah’s dedication to functional medicine began after her own search for answers beyond conventional medicine led to first hand healing through lifestyle changes and targeted supplementation. This personal journey sparked her zeal for helping patients uncover the root causes of their health issues, collaborate on solutions, and implement interventions that enhance both quality of life and longevity. All of the providers at Functional Medicine of North Idaho specialize in optimizing hormones and thyroid, reducing toxic burden, gut health and metabolic regulation.
Raised in Northeast Florida, Savannah grew up enjoying activities like water sports, longboarding, shark tooth hunting, and line dancing. In her free time, Savannah enjoys homesteading, foraging for medicinal plants, working out, cooking, as well as hiking with her husband, Evan and Beagle mix Jasper. She is deeply committed to integrating functional medicine principles into both her personal and professional life, working with patients to guide them on their wellness journey.
Provider
Gillian Maples , FNP-BC
Gillian is a Family Nurse Practitioner and Functional Medicine Provider.
She completed her Masters of Science and Family Nurse Practitioner degrees from Cox College in Missouri and is Board Certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She did her integrative and functional medicine training through the American Board of Anti-Aging Practitioners (A4M).
Her early work in rural Missouri laid the foundation for a career rooted in whole-body wellness, which she expanded in San Diego through diverse roles in federal, military, and performance-based medicine. With her husband’s military career based in San Diego, Gillian found meaningful purpose in serving the military community, federal employees, and their families. She has held impactful roles with the Department of Defense, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and in family medicine settings. Her clinical background is both broad and deep, spanning integrative and functional medicine, family practice, urgent care, dermatology, and occupational health.
She takes a comprehensive approach to health and is dedicated to partnering with patients to create personalized care plans that align with their unique goals and lifestyles and to support long-term wellness and optimal performance.All of the providers at Functional Medicine of North Idaho specialize in optimizing hormones and thyroid, reducing toxic burden, gut health and metabolic regulation.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Gillian enjoys exploring the natural beauty of the outdoors with her husband and daughter while engaging in activities that promote wellness and balance.
Certified Nutrition Specialist/Physical Therapist
Karin Michalk, MS, PT, CN, CNS
Karin is a Physical Therapist and Certified Nutrition Specialist®.
As a PT, I have worked with patients of all ages and in a variety of settings. I first became aware of Functional Medicine in 2013 while at a course to obtain Continuing Education. I was intrigued by the physician in front of me who knew so much about nutrition and the concept of food as medicine. Little did I know I would need to rely on the power of food as medicine shortly after that course in order to overcome an inflammatory condition that I was told “was my new normal and to accept it.” I knew there was a better way than acceptance of poor health and reliance on medication. That better way was to follow a Functional Medicine approach led by a local integrative physician. Diet was a critical piece for me.
Armed with this new perspective and knowledge, I knew I was limited in providing the kind of care I knew my chronically ill patients needed. I had to get more education and refine my career path. I enrolled in The University of Western States’ Master of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine program. I completed that program with distinction and entered into a yearlong Functional Nutrition Residency Program with Dr. Kara Fitzgerald’s Sandy Hook Clinic. I worked with a multidisciplinary team treating the most difficult patients for whom conventional medicine had no answers. I also worked on several book and research projects that are now published. I then took the board exam required to earn the Certified Nutrition Specialist® credential.
I use the Functional Medicine paradigm to inform my decision making and to help bring the body back to a state of health and vitality. I see the body as a whole with its web of interconnections. I use therapeutic diets, nutraceuticals, lifestyle modifications, biometrics, electrotherapeutic modalities, and more in my work. Most interestingly, I use a manual therapy called Visceral Manipulation when indicated to restore motion to organs so they can function properly.
At home, I am a wife to Aaron and a mom to Alyssa and Colby, who are beginning their young-adult lives. I have the sweetest golden doodle named Libby. I love our summers here and the lovely flowers that I can grow. I also consider myself a foodie and enjoy making gourmet suppers for my family.
Office Manager/Registered Nurse/Muscle Response Technician
Sheryl Greco, RN
Sheryl is a Registered Nurse, Administrative Assistant and Functional Medicine Enthusiast at Functional Medicine of North Idaho.
She began her professional career at the age of 20, working in the Emergency Department as a Unit Secretary and then Certified Emergency Medical Technician. Graduating from nursing school at the top of her class, she followed in her mother's footsteps and began a 10 year career in the Emergency Department, which included working at Level 1 Trauma and Pediatric Emergency Centers. When she got married and had her two children, she put her career on hold to be a stay-at-home mom.
When her children were very young, she was diagnosed with a devastating and potentially debilitating autoimmune disorder. The grueling treatments, which were providing no relief of her symptoms or improvement in prognosis, led her to explore another way of healing; functional medicine. Guidance and treatment under the direction of a Functional Medicine Practitioner encouraged her to pursue her own research and determination to implement natural treatments and lifestyle changes. This experience has made her an advocate for healthy living and non-traditional approaches to healing.
With her children now in school, Sheryl chose to return to nursing, but in the area of Functional Medicine. Health and wellness are now her lifestyle, which made Functional Medicine of North Idaho the perfect fit.
This past year Sheryl expanded her role at the clinc and completed the level 1 & 2 hands-on Muscle Response Testing workshop with the highly respected company Cellcore. She learned how to assess the electrical energy in the body as it responds to certain stressors and supplements. Functional Medicine of North Idaho uses these consultations with Sheryl to assist the providers in guiding your treatment plans.
On her days off, she enjoys exploring North Idaho with family, being with friends and perfecting her domestic goddess skills. Sheryl feels truly proud, grateful, and blessed to be a part of this clinic and to get to interact and assist in healing the community.
Office Assistant
Raechel Clever
Raechel is a Receptionist, Administrative Assistant and Functional Medicine Enthusiast at Functional Medicine of North Idaho.
When Raechel was three months old, her parents purchased a health food store and restaurant. From a very young age, she was surrounded by a natural and holistic lifestyle. Taking supplements/herbs, eating organic, and using clean products were a norm growing up. This instilled in her the importance of a health conscious lifestyle for which she feels forever grateful. It has made her passionate about promoting overall wellness in her life and lives of others. This experience and knowledge make her a natural fit at Functional Medicine of North Idaho!
Raechel was born and raised in California. She started work at the age of 15, and has worked many rewarding jobs before joining the FMNI team. Her hobbies include traveling, paddle boarding, swimming, and going to concerts with her family.
Medical Assistant
Ashley Bernard
Ashley is a Medical Assistant, Administrative Assistant and Functional Medicine Enthusiast at Functional Medicine of North Idaho.
Ashley brings over 14 years of healthcare experience as a dedicated Medical Assistant to Functional Medicine of North Idaho. With a decade of expertise in dermatology and two years in family practice, Ashley combines skill, compassion, and attention to detail in every aspect of patient care.
She believes in creating a supportive and uplifting experience that helps each person feel confident and cared for and is eager to expand her knowledge in the field of Functional Medicine.
Outside of work, Ashley enjoys spending time in the outdoors, where she loves hiking, fishing, camping, and bird-watching. She resides in Hayden Lake with her husband and was born and raised in Spokane Washington. She is blessed to call this beautiful area home.
Billing Manager
Lauren Sickmond, Billing Manager
Lauren is the Billing Manager at Functional Medicine of North Idaho.
She was born and raised in New York, but after college she immediately headed west and hasn't looked back since! After a great deal of moving and searching, she and her husband Jake settled down in northern Colorado and are loving life there. She can't get enough of the mountains and the endless sunshine. She loves to spend as much time as possible hiking, camping, and going on road trips with her pup, Larix.
"I love being a part of the FMNI team, albeit from afar, and am so excited to continue to grow with the practice!"
Virtual Assistant
Medwin Rodas, VA
Medwin Rodas is the virtual assistant at Functional Medicine of North Idaho.
Medwin has a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and graduated from Pines City Colleges in the Philippines. He completed the intensive Healthcare Virtual Assistant training with HelloRache and a HIPAA compliance certification. He works virtual from the Philippines for the clinic. He is very passionate about our patient’s health and well-being.
He lives in Baguio City, the “Summer Capital of the Philippines”. Medwin is an outdoor person who loves hiking, trekking and spending time in nature.
“I am so blessed and thankful to be working with the FMNI Team!"