We were lucky to catch up with Kerri Howerton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kerri, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?

As a female in a male dominated profession you learn really fast how much you are unlike males. Working in a traditional chiropractic office and having small children I understood my feminine desires much more strongly. As women we sometimes want to be more like men and and think we need to work like them to be more strong & respected. This was far from my inner truth and divine feminine power. This time taught me that embracing my feminine power and doing more of what filled up cup was my true superpower. We need a good balance between the two energies and when you let one take over it’s not supportive to the inner power. Having children and taking time to nurture their growth was my superpower, not how many patients I could see in the day. Accepting this truth lead me to my current profession that allows me time for me and lots of time for my boys to not miss a moment.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

As a ex military medic I have seen many sides of the health care system over my 20 years being in the profession in one way or another. I new in watching the system it was not getting humanity well and many times was impairing our mission at the Air Force base. As with many wellness practitioners you want to make a bigger impact and bring people to a new perspective in their health. To be clear if I break my leg or get in a wreck I will be going to the ER and not applying an essential oil and hoping for healing. However, 7/10 deaths in America are from chronic disease such as heart disease and cancer. This is where alternative modalities shines! In my work I say: “I help women poop well”. I know as women we don’t like to talk poop but this is at the foundation of our health. Hippocrates the father of medicine said some time ago, “All disease, begins in the gut”. If you think about it we have a super highway of the outside world running through the middle of us. We know 80% of the immune system is in our gut for a reason. If you want to build a better immune system build a better gut.
Many patients that I see are coming to me because they have been to multiple doctors, multiple tests and told “everything is normal” and they feel like complete S*&$! No pun intended. All the testing is great but in reality is only looking to discover disease so a medication or surgery can be performed. These patients know they aren’t functioning optimally and just want to be heard and not judged. In my practice I take into account both lab testing and the patients story. What were they before and how are they now. What areas of their life have changed and how do we support new habits, support a new path for them to live their best healthy life.
I am only a vessel for their growth. I want them to become their own “doctor” and best health advocate. I tell my patients everyday my degree doesn’t give me the knowledge that they have about their body. They are the only one who gets to live in their body everyday. If they feel “off” then they know that well before any lab will show. Listening has become a lost art in the medical profession but is a foundation in my practice. My first appointment with patients is 1 hour long and I will tell you there is many tears shed during this time. We all want to be heard and that in itself is therapeutic.
Beyond these sessions I utilize laboratory blood testing, functional lab testing such as stool analysis and extensive patient intake forms to get to the root of why their body isn’t performing optimally. Our body isn’t dysfunctional just to be mean, it’s giving us clues to investigate. This is what I help with my patients do to solve their health puzzle to get them doing all the things they love.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

If I could go back and tell my younger self to become a functional medicine doctor right now it would be a mistake. In lives path we encounter moments that build upon one another that create the person we are today. As with my patient’s their is no quick fix or path. We have to go through it to grow from it. I am thankful for all the lessons that my hero’s journey has allowed. Without these I would not be able to bring my full experience and self to my patients healing.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Over the years I have taken more trainings and courses than I like to admit. I of course have to keep these training for my license but I also recognize the things change yearly in my field. It is called the “practice” of medicine for a reason. If you run into a doctor or professional that has all the answers I would say RUN. In my field the most important thing I have learned is even with all my training and education I am merely only a guide to patients. I can not do the work for them nor can I want it more than them. That is why I really try to get patients in touch with their “why”. Why do they want to feel well, move well, stress well etc…. We all want to look good naked but what more. Is it to be able to not be on medication, to avoid cancer, play on the floor with grandbabies or just avoid the traditional medical system. We all have that one big thing that carries us through the hard. This is how the real healing happens and their is no training that could trump this important piece for my patient’s healing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.modernhealthkc.com
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Image Credits
@coreybrownphoto Corey Brown