Stephanie Cortner

Stephanie Cortner is a functionally trained Eastern medicine practitioner. She combines functional lab testing with herbal medicine formulas to focus on hormone balancing, fertility, autoimmune disease and GI health for a more comprehensive look at her clients’ health goals. Stephanie is also an acupuncturist for local sports teams. She is supported by a team of practitioners with a wide range of skill sets within Root&Branch Wellness, which she founded in 2014.

Tell us about your business and the services you offer.

I offer functional lab testing to get a comprehensive look at the root of each individual’s disharmony and support their path to healing with lifestyle modifications, nutrition, targeted herbal formulas and medicine-grade supplements. Some of the tests I run look at the microbiome or digestive health through GI mapping. Another test I run frequently is a comprehensive hormone test that will identify hormone imbalances by measuring sex and adrenal hormones, melatonin and their metabolites. My primary focus at Root&Branch is on women’s health with a lens on how to support gynecological disorders, including PCOS, painful periods, endometriosis, fertility, and the transition from perimenopause to menopause. 

My other love is acupuncture, which is a great addition to hormone balancing. I have found that complementing my treatments with functional labs allows us to get to our goal that much faster. While I do focus on women’s health, I also love to treat pain and athletes through a technique of acupuncture called dry needling. 

What inspired you to pursue this career?

Our medical system is lacking in treating the root cause of health issues. I initially started my education with the vision of receiving a medical degree in conventional medicine, but after a mentorship working in a hospital, I realized I wanted to treat patients with a different approach. I feel truly grateful that research has advanced in a way that allows practitioners to treat the patient as a whole. It is my lifelong goal to support and advocate for more comprehensive health care options. 

In what ways do you stand out? 

Boutique health care gives the practitioner time to sit with the patient and listen in a way that larger or corporate structures are not able to. I also have a unique background in mixing traditional medicine with Western practices, allowing me to understand which route of healing would be best suited for the patient. I discuss with each patient what they are capable of, and together we come up with a protocol that is manageable to make sure their health goals are obtained. 

What are the latest trends in your industry?

Support for perimenopause. Too many women find themselves going through this second puberty without support. There is more and more research surfacing around the ups and downs of hormones through this 10-year transition and its inflammatory cascade—the crucial role of neuroprotective progesterone in the immune system and the effects on our motivation and overall health in testosterone decline. Let’s keep our hormones nourished and support ourselves with self-care!

Describe your dream client.

Someone who is invested in their healing journey. Consistency is key to a more natural approach to healing. There are typically lifestyle modifications—nutrition, sleep, exercise, mindfulness—that come with the protocol, and it takes flexibility, showing up for yourself and having an open mind to truly transform your health. 

How important is community to your business?

Community is everything, and the South Bay has such a wonderful one. I have built my practice on word of mouth, and I am beyond grateful for my patients and referral partners and how supportive they have been. Research shows how a connected community nourishes our adrenals and, in turn, our emotional and physical health. My patients have become my family, so they are supporting my health as well!

How is your company leading the way with women in positions of authority?

It was always my dream to open a multidisciplinary wellness center. After growing Root&Branch, I wanted to expand our team to support women’s health. I now co-own Her Integrated Wellness, which consists of many female-owned practitioners collectively supporting women in their healing journey.

Do you work remotely?

My functional medicine consultations are mostly via telehealth (in-person is also available at the wellness center). I have consulted with patients in Canada and as far away as Spain and Australia. It’s so nice to have that flexibility for me and my patients.

Tell us about your family.

My family consists of my husband, Jeff, my 2-year-old son, Jun, and my sweet Aussie collie, Roodi. We have one active household! We like to get out into nature as much as possible. We all recalibrate best in the woods or swimming in natural bodies of water. This winter we are looking forward to putting Jun on a snowboard for the first time! Photographed by Shane O’Donnell