Provider Spotlight: Nan Sprouse, FNP-BC, FAAMM
by Clinical Consulting Team
Over twenty years ago, Nan Sprouse was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. She was stunned, as she had no family history and didn’t fit the preconceived notion of being at risk. In her search for answers, she delved into functional medicine conferences and eventually obtained her Fellowship Training in Anti-Aging and Restorative Medicine from the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M). Nan is also a member of the Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine (AARM) and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS).
Nan has been in the medical field as a Registered Nurse and then as a Family Nurse Practitioner since 1975. In 2008, she opened Seasons Wellness in Knoxville, Tennessee, and her passion continues to be finding the root causes for chronic disease, whether due to hormone imbalance, stress, detoxification issues, or nutrient deficiencies. She has personally overcome breast cancer, thyroid cancer, and Lyme disease. She has been through all the major stages of a woman’s life which qualifies her to guide others in this amazing journey!
DUTCH: What inspired you to become a healthcare practitioner?
Nan Sprouse: I come from a family of several generations of doctors and nurses. It never occurred to me to be anything other than a health care provider! The stories of my grandparents being medical missionaries in China as well as my parents’ and extended family’s medical careers always inspired me.
DUTCH: What is your medical training?
Nan Sprouse: I received my BSN in Nursing at the University of Tennessee and then earned my graduate degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Carson Newman University. However, my most extensive training has come from my Fellowship with A4M. I do continuing education with them as well as other organizations.
DUTCH: Describe your medical background/practice
Nan Sprouse: Seasons Wellness is a functional medicine practice. It is not an anti-aging clinic but an optimal aging clinic for all ages. We want to help heal the whole person through precision testing, personalized treatment plans, nutritional guidance, counseling, and genuine care.
DUTCH: What other functional testing do you use in your practice?
Nan Sprouse: Our broad scope of testing ranges from traditional blood work to testing for metals, toxins, pathogens, food sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, cognitive decline, detoxification issues, and hormones.
DUTCH: How have you incorporated DUTCH Testing into your practice?
Nan Sprouse: People come to Seasons to find answers for symptoms which may have been dismissed by traditional medical care. The DUTCH Test® can help explain acne, anxiety, fatigue, heavy menses, hot flashes, insomnia, low libido, weight issues, and a host of other concerns. One of the best advantages of the DUTCH Test® is the metabolic pathways for Estrogen as well as the methylation of Estrogen. This is truly a significant part of breast cancer prevention and may reveal more than just a mammogram or thermogram alone.
DUTCH: What are the changes you have seen in your patients and practice since incorporating the DUTCH Test®?
Nan Sprouse: Many patients come to Seasons just to do the DUTCH Test®. In addition to relief of symptoms, it gives them peace of mind regarding their unique hormone chemistry.
DUTCH: Where do you see functional/integrative medicine twenty years from now?
Nan Sprouse: Functional medicine is so rewarding for the patient and for the Provider. It brings hope and inspires the best in all of us. Twenty years from now, it will be the norm for healthcare!
DUTCH: What do you like to do outside of work?
Nan Sprouse: As a cancer and Lyme survivor, every day is precious to me. I love to ride bikes all through beautiful East Tennessee with my best friend and husband, Randy. We can be found unwinding on our boat, The Dawn Treader, throughout most of the summer and fall. Gardening, cooking, and reading also often fill my days outside of work. However, my favorite past time is being with family and grandchildren.
