Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lauren Harper. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lauren, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

Starting my own medical practice began with a dream seed planted by my mom. I had been in the pediatric medical field for over 10 years, as a pediatric intensive care nurse and charge nurse, and a pediatric nurse practitioner in a large children’s hospital. I loved what I did, and had never thought outside of the box to do anything differently. Then, one day, when I was 5 months pregnant with my daughter, my mom mentioned to me that she thought I could practice integrative medicine on my own. My first thought was immediately, no, I’m comfortable where I am. Slowly, surely, my mindset shifted day by day, and I started to believe that I was ready, and perhaps, that was exactly the dream I wanted to chase. I began my education journey with functional medicine through one of the top functional medicine institutes in the country, to use in conjunction with my extensive background in traditional pediatric medicine.

After having our daughter, my husband and I had a whole new perspective on life, and agreed that starting an integrative medical practice for kids was exactly what the world needed for other peoples’ babies of all ages. The convenience of staying home and receiving treatment for the sick babies is so needed- they are in the comfort of their home where they are most comfortable with the least amount of anxiety, and with no additional exposure to other sick people in a waiting room. There is also more than just a quick antibiotic for relief of an acute illness – there are the supplement and lifestyle factors to prescribe along with it to really optimize the patient’s wellness and get them to feeling better as soon as possible. Functional medicine consults for patients with long standing issues is a service that many need, without near enough properly trained providers to treat them. Narrow that population down even farther to children, and pediatric functional medicine providers are hard to come by.

My biggest challenge of starting my own medical practice was learning the legal and business aspect of it. Pediatric medicine comes easy for me. I know much of it like the back of my hand. In the past, I always worked as an employee. Now, I have had to learn how to be the owner, founder, provider, secretary, assistant, manager, accountant, marketing team, and more. Each day, I’m learning, stretching, growing in some way. There is absolutely no way I could have done this without the constant encouragement and support from my husband, and excellent legal counsel.

My main piece of advice for a young professional would be this — if you do not love the circumstances you are in, you have the power to change them. If you feel a pull towards a dream, even if it is the smallest of feelings, explore that. There is a reason it has been put on your heart and on your mind. Find the boundaries you have laid out for yourself, and ask yourself why they are there in the first place. Shake down those boundaries and push past the envelope you created for yourself. Last, please never forget how short and fleeting life can be – it is too fragile to live day to day in the comfort zone.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am the owner and founder of Harper House Pediatrics, a Pediatric Integrative Medical Clinic, treating children across the entire state of Texas. We offer telemedicine, concierge, and clinic visits. I am a board certified, Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. My nursing and nurse practitioner experience include 11 years at Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, where I worked as a staff and charge nurse in the Pediatric ICU, and as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with the Hospitalist group and the ENT group. With my 11 years experience at Cook Children’s with general as well as specialized pediatric medicine, coupled with my unique education through one of the top functional medicine education institutes in the country, The Institute of Functional Medicine, I treat each patient as an individual, offering holistic care with an integrative approach through the lens of seeing each patient as a whole, as opposed to a symptom to treat.

We offer functional medicine consults for kids up to 21 years of age, for issues such as gut health concerns like dysbiosis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, leaky gut, constipation, diarrhea, eczema, fatigue, headaches, chronic allergies, frequent illnesses, and more.

Our sick visits cover the most common pediatric illnesses, such as ear infections, stomach bugs, respiratory viruses, strep throat, flu, rsv, pink eye, ear drainage, allergy symptoms, and more.

We have highly experienced pediatric RNs who travel to patient’s homes for concierge nurse visits to perform video otoscope exams which allows kids to be diagnosed with ear infections right in their homes, lab testing for strep throat, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A&B, and Covid-19.

We offer services for kids across the entire state of Texas that are not offered anywhere else in the state from an integrative medical approach.

I am most proud of my team – my amazing pediatric RNs who are most excellent with kids – Morgan, Lori, Heather, Traci, and Marlee, as well as my partner in the business, my husband, Kyle, who helps to always ensure everything runs smoothly. I could not have this practice without them.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Grit and determination. You have to stay focused, dedicated, and determined when the excitement of opening your own business wears off, and the day to day stressors settle in. As long as you stay focused and have the drive to keep going, appreciate closed doors and failures as a stepping stone to your next move, and throw out your concern of what other people think, you will have your opportunity to be successful in time.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

A leader should always be the person willing to work the hardest and be willing to do every task – no matter how trivial. Seeing the best qualities in others, learning what makes them tick, what makes them feel appreciated, and empowered, will help each team member thrive and feel appreciated.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.harperhousepediatrics.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harperhousepediatrics/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harperhousepediatrics

Image Credits
Photographer: Heather Hamrick