P R O V I D E R
Kara Dobelis ARNP, FNP-BC
CEO & Cofounder
Kara wore a number of medical hats throughout her career. She practiced as a Critical Care and Surgery nurse, and also worked in Healthcare Administration as a Director for large healthcare organizations. It was at this point in her career as an administrator where she became ethically and morally conflicted with the state of healthcare. She and Sarah met for coffee one day and the idea of Integrative Family Medicine was born. Frankly, the rest is history.
She has a Master's degree in clinical informatics and earned her second Master’s degree as a Nurse Practitioner. Des Moines is home for her. Having grown up in Iowa, she always knew she would return to live here. Now that she has, she’s ready not only to work, but to give back. Her own health journey led her to this place. After traditional medicine held no answers and she faced undiagnosed symptoms and ineffective treatments, she found her own answer in integrative medicine that included lifestyle changes and a multi-pronged approach to total healthcare that not only changes health, but that changes lives. After discovering the number of people who had stories similar to her own, she found herself in a unique position to do something about it. Not only did the integrative model open up treatment opportunities not available in traditional medicine, but it also allows her, as a provider, to become independent of healthcare systems that prioritize revenue over patient care. At Integrative Family Medicine, she assures clients that they will be heard and their symptoms validated. In this community, the client has an opportunity to do the same as she did; to access everything they need to attain health and healing. |
More About Kara
Specialty: Family Practice
Typical Patient: Newborns-middle age adults
Men/Women/both: All genders
Education/My Certifications:
Conditions I treat:
I enjoy chronic cases, where patients haven’t had an answer for years and their lab results never give an answer. I have experience with chronic fatigue, Lyme’s disease, EBV, and many other long standing viral illnesses that depress the immune system.
I also perform preventative care visits, well child visits, sick visits, physicals, well woman care and exams, laboratory testing, and more!
Services I offer:
Professional Approach to the Integrative Medical Model:
My approach to the integrative care model is to start with a trauma-informed patient visit, where my main purpose is to establish mutual trust between you as the patient and me as your provider. Your new patient visit will be about 30 minutes where I complete a thorough history and physical exam and offer a diagnostic workup typical of a conventional medical model so that we rule out any red flag issues.
Beyond the initial visit, we will meet to discuss treatment options which can include mental health therapy, IV infusions, oral supplements, nutritional changes, chiropractic care, and more to achieve the results you want for your health. After that, I see you on a regular basis to monitor your progress.
Other personal insight:
I have been sick myself. My journey the past decade along with my professional experiences lead me to start IFM.
My self-care includes a daily spiritual and meditative practice, balance nutrition (gotta get those macros!) some oral supplements, IV therapies when needed, chiropractic work and muscle work (cranial sacral therapy and cupping), and my own self work for healing past wounds from this life and past lives. I've worked hard to reset my nervous system to attain regulation after significant trauma and illness in my life.
In my pre-child life, I traveled extensively, ate lots of exotic food, and tasted the local wine whenever I could.
I can’t wait to get to know you!
Typical Patient: Newborns-middle age adults
Men/Women/both: All genders
Education/My Certifications:
- Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner FNP-BC.
Conditions I treat:
I enjoy chronic cases, where patients haven’t had an answer for years and their lab results never give an answer. I have experience with chronic fatigue, Lyme’s disease, EBV, and many other long standing viral illnesses that depress the immune system.
I also perform preventative care visits, well child visits, sick visits, physicals, well woman care and exams, laboratory testing, and more!
Services I offer:
- Advanced IV therapies beyond our typical infusions you see on the website. I work with a lot of chronically ill and immunocompromised patients who wish to use alternative therapies as their main course of treatment.
- NAD IV infusion therapy, typically best for neuro-inflammatory conditions such as post-Covid and issues with cognitive decline.
- Supplement recommendations, herbal tinctures, and homeopathic drops to use as part of your regular daily lifestyle.
Professional Approach to the Integrative Medical Model:
My approach to the integrative care model is to start with a trauma-informed patient visit, where my main purpose is to establish mutual trust between you as the patient and me as your provider. Your new patient visit will be about 30 minutes where I complete a thorough history and physical exam and offer a diagnostic workup typical of a conventional medical model so that we rule out any red flag issues.
Beyond the initial visit, we will meet to discuss treatment options which can include mental health therapy, IV infusions, oral supplements, nutritional changes, chiropractic care, and more to achieve the results you want for your health. After that, I see you on a regular basis to monitor your progress.
Other personal insight:
I have been sick myself. My journey the past decade along with my professional experiences lead me to start IFM.
My self-care includes a daily spiritual and meditative practice, balance nutrition (gotta get those macros!) some oral supplements, IV therapies when needed, chiropractic work and muscle work (cranial sacral therapy and cupping), and my own self work for healing past wounds from this life and past lives. I've worked hard to reset my nervous system to attain regulation after significant trauma and illness in my life.
In my pre-child life, I traveled extensively, ate lots of exotic food, and tasted the local wine whenever I could.
I can’t wait to get to know you!