"A wise [woman] should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by her own thought to derive benefit from her illnesses."
About Functional Medicine Physician Christine Maren, D.O., IFMCP
I am so happy you’ve found me and thank you for considering my services. Entrusting your health to someone is a big deal…especially if you’ve never met.
That’s why I’d like to share a little about my own journey to overcome disease before launching into my credentials, training, background, etc.
Even before I became a physician I was a very health-conscious person. My parents were big on nutrition and an active lifestyle, so I always ate right (or what I thought was right), practiced yoga, and did everything I thought I should to be healthy.
That commitment to health, and my own early struggles with illness, are what inspired me to become a doctor. I knew from the start that I would practice a more holistic and integrative version of medicine, and took on a lot of opportunities to learn more about this early in my career. I thought I had it all figured out…
…until I started suffering from miscarriages and pregnancy complications.
At that time in my life I felt scared, frustrated, and frankly a little defeated. How could my body be malfunctioning like this when I had always taken care of myself…and why couldn’t I (or any other expert) figure out what was wrong?
Determined to get to the bottom of things I came across functional medicine, a systems and science-based approach to identifying the root cause of illness and treating it using the best of natural and conventional medical practices.
As a physician, this style of medicine brought all aspects of my traditional and integrative medical training together and reignited my passion for medicine. As a patient, I finally got answers to my mysterious health issues and it gave me my life back.
I’d love to help you do the same. Read my full bio below and, if it seems like a fit, I look forward to hearing from you.
Ready to work together to address the root cause of your health concerns?
Bio for Dr. Christine Maren
Christine Maren, D.O., is a board-certified physician and the founder and medical director of a virtual functional medicine practice in Colorado, Michigan, and Texas. She is best known for her work in hormones, thyroid, and gut health and supports women in their reproductive/preconception years and the perimenopause/menopause transition.
Dr. Maren was introduced to functional medicine as a solution to pregnancy complications and recurrent miscarriages. This approach helped her address her own underlying health issues associated with Hashimoto’s, hypothyroidism, hormone imbalance, gut infections and environmental toxins.
Now a mother of three, she’s devoted her professional life to helping others address the root cause of symptoms to restore health, prevent disease, and get their lives back.
Medical Background
Dr. Maren was born and raised in Colorado by parents who promoted an active lifestyle and good nutrition. This upbringing inspired an interest in natural medicine at an early age, and she chose an osteopathic medical education in search of a more holistic approach.
She earned her medical degree (D.O.) at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University and later moved to San Antonio, Texas, to train at one of the nation’s premier family medicine residency programs at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital.
Her residency training spanned everything from delivering babies to admitting patients in the Emergency Department to caring for patients in the Intensive Care Unit to managing multiple medications for preventable conditions. While difficult, this experience taught her the value and necessity of balancing integrative holistic therapies with appropriate and life-saving medical care.
It was a breath of fresh air when she spent time in Tucson, Arizona, studying with Dr. Andrew Weil’s group at The University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Weil, also known as ‘The Father of Integrative Medicine,’ was a guiding figure early in her career.
When she was later introduced to functional medicine to address her own health concerns, she knew it would become the focus of her practice.
Functional Medicine Training
Dr. Maren began her training with the Institute for Functional Medicine in 2015. This journey gave her the tools she was missing in her conventional training and reignited her passion for medicine.
Since then, she has devoted countless hours to studying and mastering the functional medicine approach to diagnosis, treatment, and patient care.
Inspired by 2X NYT best-selling author and fellow functional medicine physician Dr. Amy Myers, she joined her practice at Austin UltraHealth in 2016. Dr. Myers’ books, The Autoimmune Solution and The Thyroid Connection drew complex patients from around the globe. Dr. Maren had the privilege of partnering with these patients specializing in autoimmunity, digestive health, and thyroid disorders.
In 2017, Dr. Maren completed her exams and coursework to become a Certified Practitioner with the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFMCP). She’s continued her education through the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M), the International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness (ISEAI), the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM), and others.
Dr. Maren’s Approach
Dr. Maren opened her own independent practice before relocating to Metro Detroit for her husband’s fellowship training and later returned home to Colorado to be closer to family.
Through her virtual practice, Dr. Maren offers patients her unique brand of functional medicine care with a focus on women’s health concerns such as gut health, hormones, hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune disorders, preconception prep, perimenopause and menopause.
Her approach is moderate, not extreme, science-based yet deeply holistic, and always focused on risk versus benefit for the individual’s short- and long-term well-being. Dr. Maren is also deeply considerate of the role toxins, trauma, and infection play in chronic disease and root cause healing.
If you’re looking for a bridge between holistic alternative medicine and allopathic medicine, Dr. Maren is the ideal guide.
When She’s Not Practicing…
Dr. Maren has 3 awesome kids, and is married to a fellow physician who practices as an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon in Metro Denver. In her free time, you’ll find her listening to podcasts, attending a medical conference, biohacking or doing the things that bring her balance and joy — like dancing, making ceramics, lifting weights, skiing, learning to surf, listening to live music, and enjoying the beauty of the great outdoors.
Read about Dr. Maren’s personal health story here.
Are you ready to be your own success story?
My Philosophy
My vision is to be the doctor I would want for myself, my family and my closest friends.
When I treat patients, I think of how I would want to be treated.
I won’t ask you to do something I wouldn’t do myself.
We’ll focus on prevention and early diagnosis.
I view the body as an integrated and interconnected system.
I know our bodies are intelligent, and have the innate capacity to heal under the right conditions.
I believe that food can heal and harm, and that a good diet is the foundation of good health.
I aim for progress over perfection.
We’ll look for the root cause of illness, rather than mask symptoms with medications.
I try to minimize prescription medication whenever possible, and use safer alternatives when they exist. However, I also believe prescription medications are sometimes warranted, and will recommend them when I think they are in your best interest.
I believe that a physician-patient relationship is about partnership and collaboration, because you know your body best.
I practice what I preach.
I love what I do.
Most importantly, I care about you and your health.
A little bit more about me (personally)…
I’m a Colorado native, but have lived in California, Illinois, Texas, and Michigan.
All three of my babies were born in different cities: San Antonio, Austin, and Detroit
I studied abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico and speak Spanish (“me defiendo”)
Pre-kids I traveled all over the world, and my favorite place is Croatia (Thailand is a close second)
I love music – you’ll find Sylvan Esso, Arlo Parks and Bon Iver on my Spotify playlists
I used to be a Group Fitness Instructor (now I’m obsessed with Peloton, thank you Emma, Cody, Robin and Tunde)
If I wasn’t a doctor I’d be an architect or interior designer
I also have a thing for website design (can you tell?)
My favorite artist is Julie Maren (biased, but you should check her out)
I can’t live without lemon, garlic, and olive oil
I love coffee
I hate mold…a lot
