Ashley Atkins, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

A foundation in whole-person care: "I became a nurse in 2012, spending much of my early career traveling across critical care settings, from trauma and neurological units to cardio thoracic surgery. Those experiences taught me how to think quickly and care for patients in complex, high-stakes moments. In 2022, I became a nurse practitioner and expanded into urgent care, hospice, women’s health, family medicine, and functional medicine. I’ve also completed additional education in strength and fitness, which deepens my ability to connect movement and overall health."

Seeing the gap: "Working in hormone therapy and weight management, I began to notice how many midlife women were struggling with symptoms that weren’t fully addressed, or were dismissed altogether. As I enter into my forties, that realization has become personal. I wanted to better understand this phase of life and offer care that is both evidence-based and deeply validating."

Listening as a turning point: "I think often about a patient who came in for fatigue and weight gain but was really experiencing perimenopause. She had seen multiple providers and felt brushed off. Sitting with her, asking deeper questions, and truly listening changed everything. That moment reinforced how powerful it is to slow down and create space for women to feel heard."

Care that feels realistic and supportive: "Day to day, I focus on meeting patients where they are and building plans that feel realistic and sustainable. I balance evidence-based care with an individualized approach, looking at sleep, stress, nutrition, and movement alongside medical options. I set clear expectations about what progress can look like and adjust along the way. My goal is for patients to feel involved, supported, and steadily moving toward feeling like themselves again."