At the heart of wellness lies the simple truth: without health, little else in life can thrive. This philosophy drives Dr. Kristen Poe, Founder and CEO of POE Holistic Health, who believes in a proactive, patient-centered approach to care. Through her work, she advocates for functional health practices that move beyond temporary fixes to address the root causes of illness. She envisions a world where personalized care, holistic nutrition, and lifestyle medicine become the standard, not the exception.

Embracing a New Direction

Kristen’s path to functional health wasn’t a straight one. Initially planning to follow in her father’s footsteps as a physician, her trajectory changed after taking a role with a major pharmaceutical company during college. That experience, combined with her business acumen from earning an MBA in marketing and co-owning a beauty business, gave her a unique vantage point. This blend of science and entrepreneurship proved to be a powerful foundation when she decided to open her own wellness practice.

Though she looks back wishing she had made the transition earlier, she believes the timing and experiences were crucial. Her journey serves as proof that it’s never too late to realign with your purpose.

From Corporate Success to Personal Transformation

While Kristen’s career in the pharmaceutical industry brought accolades and fast-paced success, her personal health challenges led her to question her lifestyle. By adopting a clean, whole-food diet and committing to regular training, she underwent a powerful transformation, both physically and mentally. This shift sparked a passion for functional health and inspired her to formally study nutrition, naprapathy, and holistic care.

After nearly a decade of training and with unwavering support from her family, Kristen launched POE Holistic Health in 2019, turning her personal passion into a professional mission.

The POE Holistic Health Approach

Located in Massachusetts, POE Holistic Health offers customized health plans focused on healing the whole person. Services include nutritional therapy, natural pain support through naprapathy and Graston Technique, immune system strengthening, gut health support, and lab testing for nutritional deficiencies and environmental intolerances. The practice aims to guide individuals toward optimal wellness through non-invasive, integrative solutions.

Standing Out Through Service

Kristen acknowledges that competition exists in every industry, but she believes that true success comes from authenticity, collaboration, and consistent service excellence. By maintaining strong partnerships with other providers and staying up to date with technology and education, she ensures her patients receive comprehensive care tailored to their needs.

From streamlined online scheduling to responsive communication across platforms, Kristen prioritizes accessibility and experience. She also insists on integrity in care: “I would never recommend anything to a patient that I wouldn’t do myself or offer to my family.”

Values That Define the Practice

At the core of POE Holistic Health are three foundational values: kindness, honesty, and respect. While simple, Kristen believes these principles are powerful in building trust and delivering effective care. Flexibility, humility, and transparency are also key. If a patient’s needs exceed what her practice offers, she’s quick to refer them to the right provider.

Adapting in a Post-Pandemic World

The pandemic reshaped the healthcare landscape, and Kristen witnessed firsthand the pressures on both providers and patients. While grateful for the advances and dedication within Western medicine, she sees the growing need for more practitioners to support the changing demands of modern care. In her view, telehealth, digital services, and enhanced access will continue to shape the future of healthcare delivery.

A Leader Committed to Learning and Growth

As the sole practitioner and leader of her fast-growing practice, Kristen wears many hats—from overseeing patient care to managing daily operations. Recently, she has begun building a support team to manage operations so she can devote more energy to clinical care and innovation. Her goal is to stay focused on continuous learning and delivering forward-thinking services.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Women Leaders

Kristen is passionate about empowering women to lead with confidence, empathy, and authenticity. While strides have been made, she recognizes that leadership opportunities for women still lag behind. Her advice: focus less on comparisons and more on developing qualities that matter, resilience, communication, adaptability, and humility. She strives to model these values for her daughters and the wider community.

The Vision for Tomorrow

Kristen’s long-term vision is to expand her practice both locally and globally through virtual consultations, digital wellness programs, and product lines that support functional health. From webinars to supplements and advanced lab testing services, she is building a platform that evolves with her patients’ needs.

Her commitment to listening and adapting ensures that POE Holistic Health will continue to meet people where they are, and guide them toward where they want to be in their wellness journey.