Meet Dr. Kourtney
Functional Medicine Physician | Board-Certified OB-GYN | Menopause Specialist | Obesity Medicine Physician
I'm Dr. Kourtney Sims, a board-certified OB-GYN, obesity medicine physician, menopause specialist, and functional medicine physician. For more than a decade, I've worked with women navigating everything from hormonal and metabolic concerns to complex women's health issues. My approach brings together conventional medicine with functional, integrative, nutritional, and complementary approaches to help women better understand what may be driving their symptoms—not just what diagnosis or medication might apply to them.
I believe optimal health is about more than treating individual symptoms. It's about understanding how hormones, metabolism, nutrition, gut health, lifestyle, stress, and the different systems of the body influence one another. That is the perspective I bring to my work with women and to everything we create through The Holistic Collaborative.
I have worked with thousands of women for over a decade from across the globe helping them to get to the root cause of their health issues and empowering them with integrated plans to help them not only heal but thrive. I found my way to the holistic integrative path because like you I have had my own health challenges. Over my life I have dealt with various health issues that weren’t fully treated by the traditional medical model. I know what it is like first hand to not be able to get out of bed and to feel trapped and helpless by your own body. I know from experience that when you adopt holistic principles and take the time to get to the root cause of your issues then the path to true wellness becomes crystal clear. To learn more about my story click here.
my areas of expertise
My work sits at the intersection of women's health, hormones, metabolism, and functional and integrative medicine. As a board-certified OB-GYN, obesity medicine physician, menopause specialist, and functional medicine physician, I bring these disciplines together to help women better understand how the different pieces of their health may be connected.
My areas of focus include perimenopause and menopause, hormonal health, metabolic health and obesity, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS- formally polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS), endometriosis, fibroids, thyroid health, gut and microbiome health, nutrition, and functional laboratory evaluation. I also incorporate evidence-informed complementary approaches including lifestyle medicine, botanical medicine, mind-body practices, and other integrative therapies when appropriate. This combination allows me to look at women's health through more than one lens and bring together conventional medicine with functional, integrative, nutritional, and complementary approaches.
My integrative approach draws from modern medicine and diagnostics alongside evidence-informed nutrition, lifestyle medicine, botanical medicine, mind-body practices, Ayurveda and other traditional healing systems. The goal isn't to choose between conventional and holistic medicine, but to thoughtfully use the approaches that can best support the whole person.
what is your main focus?
I am a true proponent of unlocking the true power of the body to allow it to heal. I describe true wellness as living a life that optimizes the best of ancient holistic traditions including those from the Ayurvedic, Eastern, and Herbal medical traditions as well as Western medical principles and knowledge. It is from this place that I believe that health is truly optimized. It is here that I have found that even some of the most challenging chronic disease states will respond. I work best with clients who are looking to balance their health and hormones holistically as well as those willing to do the work to get down the root causes of their health issues.
how did you get interested in health?
I found my way to the holistic integrative path because like you I have had my own health challenges. Over my life I have dealt with various health issues that weren’t fully treated by the traditional medical model like:
Extreme eczema through my childhood and teenage years
Auto-immunity battles from chronic urticaria to lung disease
Hormones and mood completely out of whack with worsening cycles
Fibroids
Digestive Absorption Issues and Nutrient Deficiencies
Chronic gut issues with extreme bloating and water retention
I know what it is like first hand to not be able to get out of bed and to feel trapped and helpless by your own body. And I know from experience that when you adopt holistic principles and take the time to get to the root cause of your issues then the path to true wellness becomes crystal clear.
what was one of the biggest health changes you’ve made?
As I tell many of my clients unfortunately most of us just do not grow up with the knowledge that we need for true wellness. Most of us are raised to do good in school so we can go to work…..and work……and work some more! Ironically at the same time that I was doing additional studies after residency that I was diagnosed with another chronic auto immune disease—this time in my lungs! I realized in that moment how much of an advantage that I had in my own knowledge of holistic techniques of breathwork, meditation, energy medicine and plant based medicine to augment my treatment plan. It has been this combination of my own experiences in holistic care as well as the care that I been able to provide my patients based in my integrative training that lead me to drop 70 pounds, regulate my cycles, gain control of my eczema and become a daily meditator and yogi. These changes for my were so powerful that I became even more committed to design a program with everything that I have learned
what do you think most people should do differently to be more healthy?
Putting your body back in balance is part art, part science. While I am all for traditional medications in the appropriate circumstances we as a population have really dug ourselves in a hole with our “get it quick” attitude. The body’s optimal state of wellness is like water carving a rock slowly over time. It take consistent practice of the correct habits specific to your blueprint that will optimize it’s function—it’s as simple as that. Of course no one is perfect but you have to not just know what’s good for you but actually make the space within your life to make yourself important enough to do what’s good for you.
what are some books you recommend?
Battlefield of The Mind, The 4 Hour Workweek, The Discovery of Witches Compilation
on a personal note
When I'm not working, I'm love to read, cook, can, sometimes just Netflix and chill. I love learning more about new herbal recipes as well as have a huge interest currently in the history of herbs and yoga. I also really enjoy spending time with my family and our family dogs Liza, Kofi and Rolo.
what is your favorite kind of workout?
Definitely lifting weights, yoga, spinning and dancing. I try really hard to make it to the mat at least once a day as I find that it really does center my energy and just makes life easier overall in every aspect.