Marissa Fontanez, DNP, FNP, FAIHM, NCMP, Midi Clinician

Marissa realized she wanted to be a nurse during her post-college stint with the Peace Corps in Ecuador, helping to educate the community about HIV/AIDS prevention. “Going into hospitals and clinics I saw such a great need for information, especially among women. I could only do so much as a volunteer, and fell in love with medicine.”

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Wherever she’s worked in her ten-plus years of nursing, Marissa has always focused on caring for women. She is a North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner, and brings a deep understanding of hormonal health to Midi. Her personal journey pushed her to build her knowledge: “When I was diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), I felt incredibly alone—even as a provider. So I did what I do best: I dug deep and educated myself, reading every article and going to every conference I could. I had to become my own provider, and educate my clinicians as they cared for me.”

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Even now, Marissa keeps herself on a constant learning curve; she recently completed a two-year fellowship in integrative medicine and brings her expertise in naturopathic, eastern, and alternative practices to Midi. In addition to the general midlife care she provides our patients, she is specializing in POI, premature, and early menopause. “I tell my patients about the many treatment options out there, and I also let them know that I understand a bit about what they’re feeling because I’ve been there myself. That is so huge.”