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New Patients, please call: (737) 637-3988
Existing Patients, please call: (737) 222-0044
You deserve to live your most vibrant life. It’s our mission to help you keep health problems, and lack of answers, from standing in the way.
Through active listening, detailed assessment, and comprehensive testing, we help you discover the root cause of your unwanted symptoms. With a focus on lifestyle changes, nutritional supplementation, integrative therapies, and at times medication, we’ll co-create a long-lasting resolution and improvements unique to you.
If you have trouble signing up and scheduling your first appointment, please give us a call at (737) 637-3988
If you have trouble signing up and scheduling your first appointment, please give us a call at (737) 637-3988
If you have trouble signing up and scheduling your first appointment, please give us a call at (737) 637-3988
If you have trouble signing up and scheduling your first appointment, please give us a call at (737) 637-3988
If you have trouble signing up and scheduling your first appointment, please give us a call at (737) 637-3988
If you have trouble signing up and scheduling your first appointment, please give us a call at (737) 637-3988
If you have trouble signing up and scheduling your first appointment, please give us a call at (737) 637-3988
If you have trouble signing up and scheduling your first appointment, please give us a call at (737) 637-3988
If you have trouble signing up and scheduling your first appointment, please give us a call at (737) 637-3988
The Optimal Health Membership is ideal for patients focused on:
Longevity
Vibrancy
Energy
Metabolic Health
Reducing Inflammation
Weight management
Balancing Hormones
Thyroid conditions
Menopause and perimenopause
High blood pressure or high cholesterol
Digestive issues
Fertility
Insomnia
Skin conditions / acne / hair growth
Severe autoimmune disease, Lyme’s disease and chronic mold or other severe toxicities are not appropriate for the Optimal Health Membership. Please see our Functional Care Packages for services to support these health conditions.
Click the link below to fill out the form or give us a call to schedule your appointment: (737) 637-3988
Click the link below to fill out the form or give us a call to schedule your appointment: (737) 637-3988
Click the link below to fill out the form or give us a call to schedule your appointment: (737) 637-3988
Click the link below to fill out the form or give us a call to schedule your appointment: (737) 637-3988
Click the link below to fill out the form or give us a call to schedule your appointment: (737) 637-3988
Join one of our weekly 60 minute group Zoom calls to learn more about the Functional Medicine Clinic offerings and next steps on your personal health care journey.
Visit with a provider to briefly review your health concerns and allow us to explain our approach to treatment. We will not be reviewing any labs or making any treatment recommendations at this consultation. This is an opportunity for you to meet with our team and make sure we are a good fit for you.
*With select providers only.
Functional medicine seeks to identify and address the root causes of disease, and views the body as one integrated system, rather than a collection of symptoms.
Make sustainable and impactful changes to your lifestyle that support your overall health goals and quality of life with the help of our providers.
Once you’ve booked your appointment, you will receive an email that confirms your appointment and reviews next steps. Please access your Patient Portal and fill out all forms and medical questionnaires at least 48 hours (2 business days) prior to your appointment. Your providers spend time reviewing your information and prepare for your appointment ahead of time. Any medical records, specifically those within the last year, should be uploaded to your portal or faxed to our office (737) 225-8927. Please make sure to include any medications or supplements you are currently taking, as well as, any allergies to medications.
We do not accept insurance and require payment at time of service. We can provide you with a super-bill to file for reimbursement with your insurance company if you choose to do so. Please call your insurance’s Customer Care line to see what out of network benefits you have. Some labs can be run through insurance and we will work with you to prioritize testing–offering insurance options when available. Please note that some insurance companies do not reimburse Telehealth visits. In that case an in-person visit should be scheduled.
Alive and Well is not set up for acute visits or routine screenings at this time. We recommend that you maintain a relationship with your PCP. We will gladly oversee your health from a functional medicine standpoint and are able to collaborate with your PCP or specialists when necessary.
We require at least 48 hours (2 business days) notice for all canceled or rescheduled appointments. There is a fee associated with no shows, cancelations or rescheduled appointments made within 48 hours of your original appointment time.
We offer a virtual appointment option for anyone living in the state of Texas. Our practitioners prefer to see their patients at least once yearly in person.
Acupuncture is a type of traditional Chinese medicine that’s been around for about 2,500 years. It’s used to support wellness and improve overall mental and physical well-being. The acupuncturist places needles into specific points on the skin to help activate an energy in the body, called qi. According to traditional Chinese medicine, qi is the lifeforce energy in the body — it helps regulate and move things in the body to keep us well. Stress, environmental factors, lifestyle behaviors, and genetics are some of the things that can block qi in the body. The needles help to unblock or move qi to other areas in the body to help support wellness.
Acupuncture needles are solid, stainless steel needles that are usually not much larger than a strand of hair. Acupuncture needles are placed at a very shallow depth and go between tissues, making them less painful than a typical injection.
You might be more sensitive in certain areas, but acupuncture shouldn’t hurt. If you feel pain, tell your acupuncturist. They’ll adjust the needles or choose other points. Their goal is not to make you feel pain. They do a lot of work to position you properly and make sure you feel comfortable.
Indeed you can do acupuncture or massage while pregnant. It is safe and our practitioners are very well versed in how to treat pregnant women. Please let us know when you book a treatment if you are pregnant and how far along you are.
Dr. Pero was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Coming from a long lineage of accomplished and well-respected physicians in her family, she naturally gravitated towards the field of medicine. Being surrounded and supported by fierce women in her life, her affection for women’s healthcare blossomed as she entered the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
She had always been taught in Western Medicine that “if it runs in your family…” so she assumed, as she came from a large family, that starting her own family would be effortless.
As she and her husband started on their infertility journey, she was diagnosed with Endometriosis, Uterine Fibroids, Hormone Imbalance, and Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura- none of which “ran in her family”. This is when an unfolding in her personal life and in her professional career began, as she began to see the disadvantages of the sole reliance on Western Medicine narratives and the advantages of Integrative, Lifestyle, and Functional Medicine.
Once she became aware of the benefits of nutrition, supplements, and acupuncture as augmentative and facilitative to modern fertility treatments, she was able to conceive. Her and her husband went on to have three biological children and recently adopted their fourth child. Since ascribing to a Functional Medicine lifestyle herself, through a personally tailored nutrition and supplement plan as well as regular exercise, sleep/stress optimization, and the many other important pillars of whole body/spirit health, she has been symptom free from Endometriosis and Uterine Fibroids without needing surgical intervention or hormones.
In her “spare” time, she loves live music, competitive exercise, and reading. Her life is full with her 4 children, husband of 14 years, and sweet pup but also her intense love of her craft in medical care, especially in Functional Medicine. She has been able to realize that, through her health journey and struggles, she is able to relate and provide hope to her clients.
She is excited to help you realize your full health potential and start living your best life yet!
Since the beginning of her medical career, Dr. Dina Pavilonis, M.D. continually asked questions about health, longevity, and healing that conventional medicine didn’t answer. Seeking those answers, she began studying Functional Medicine to complement her traditional medical studies.
Utilizing this multi-disciplinary approach, Dr. Pavilonis has been at the forefront of Integrative Medicine, devoting her career to treating patients in a highly personalized manner that focuses as much on overall health and wellness as it does on specific issues and diagnoses.
Functional and Integrative Medicine
Obesity Medicine
Metabolic
Endocrinology
Family Medicine
Specialties:
Completed her residency training at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, then worked as a primary care doctor for six years before choosing to focus on Bariatric and Functional Medicine.
She is a member of The Institute of Functional Medicine, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, Obesity Medicine Association and the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.
Lauren dedicates her career to facilitating wellness and empowering her patients to take an active role in their health. She has a particular interest in helping her patients get to the root-cause of their health problems by listening, asking detailed questions and understanding that most health problems stem from past experiences. Through guidance and patient education, Lauren gives her patients the tools they need to heal, stay well and thrive.
As a daughter of a neuroscientist and a nurse, Lauren has always been interested in science and medicine. However, she quickly learned that laboratory based research was not well suited for her–she loves connecting and talking with people too much!
She first earned her undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis. Afterwards, she achieved her Nursing Degree, Masters in Public Health Nursing, and Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Texas, Austin. She is now a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner with prescriptive authority in the state of Texas. Lauren is also certified by the Institute of Functional Medicine. Even with her plethora of knowledge, Lauren still devotes time to continuing her education in functional and integrative medicine; as well as continuing to stay up to date on current medical research and best practices.
Lauren lives in Austin, Texas with her husband Sam, and their three children: Hazel (7), Harrison (3) and Holland (1). She loves anything outdoors– hiking in the mountains, around Austin, or at the beach. Lauren also adores live music, cooking nourishing food, and dancing two-step with her husband.
Megan (Meg) McElroy is a board-certified Physician Assistant with more than a decade of experience in functional and integrative medicine. She began her journey in functional medicine as a patient with chronic health issues. She believes there are 2 general approaches to the practice of functional medicine: lots of testing/treatments all at once (i.e. the most expensive approach), and the more methodical approach (the approach she currently utilizes).
‘’After over 12 years of experience in Functional Medicine, I have learned that simple steps are often most effective at improving health. We are intended to thrive, but we don’t have to have “perfect,” strict diets and a long list of supplements to do so! There is so much information at our fingertips—I see my role as being able to filter out the “noise” and simplify the overwhelm. It may take time and patience, but I never give up on finding ways to help my patients feel better.”
Clinical expertise: Thyroid health, autoimmune conditions, gastrointestinal health, cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, health optimization and longevity, fertility and hormone optimization
Daniel Chege, a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, brings a wealth of experience in integrative medicine to his practice. With a background in computer and mechanical engineering, his journey into healthcare was sparked by a passion for finding lasting solutions to health challenges. Originally from Kenya, Daniel pursued a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Mountain State University in West Virginia upon relocating to the USA in 2008.
After gaining invaluable experience in critical care within the surgical ICU, Daniel continued his education, earning a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner from Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio in 2013. He further solidified his expertise by obtaining certification through the ANCC.
During his tenure at UPMC Pinnacle, where he initially worked in urgent care before transitioning to family practice, Daniel developed a keen interest in integrative approaches to medicine. He has dedicated himself to integrative medicine, focusing on personalized treatment plans that incorporate nutraceuticals, essential oils, peptides and IV therapies. His gentle bedside manner coupled with his high success rates in managing hormones, Thyroid dysfunction, PCOS and adrenal fatigue, explain his large and loyal female patient base.
ALL LOCATIONS
AUSTIN AND DALLAS ONLY
BOULDER ONLY
AUSTIN AND DALLAS ONLY
DALLAS ONLY
DALLAS ONLY
Get a FREE Large Area package (8 sessions, $1,700 value) with purchase of an Extra Large Area package
or
FREE Medium Area package (8 sessions, $1,360 value) with a Large Area package.
DALLAS ONLY
Book four sessions of 24ml PRP scalp injections and get four Fotona Hair Restoration Laser Treatments for FREE! (1,200 value!)
Cindy Nilson is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Full Mesa Carrier, Reiki Master and Intuitive advisor. Utilizing acupuncture, energy-infused acupressure massage therapy and body psychology, she integrates teachings from eastern medicine, shamanism, energy/chakra healing and archetypal patterns to provide a unique diagnostic perspective and treatment experience. Specializing in how stress, our thoughts and emotions affect the physical body, and resourcing from the 10,000 hours spent honing her work, Cindy creates new and exciting collaboratives to her foundations in acupuncture therapy. She believes joining Alive + Well is the joyous culmination of her work and is excited to share this beautiful environment and healing space with her clients.
Cindy holds a B.A. from Texas A&M University and a Masters degree from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine. In 1999 she received her Doctor of Oriental Medicine from the New Mexico State Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. A native of Central Texas, she has been in private practice in Lakeway, where she lives happily married, raising kids.