Dr. Kristen Poe’s journey to becoming a leader in healthcare is truly unique. At the beginning of her college years she considered a medical school path like her father but an unexpected internship with a huge pharmaceutical company changed her career focus. After earning an MBA in Marketing, she spent years working in the pharmaceutical industry and co-owning a beauty business. However, her passion to become a healthcare practitioner never left her heart.
Faced with personal hurdles featuring bad health decisions and a painful relationship she embarked on a path of life-altering transformation. Dr. Poe dedicated herself to improving her physical state along with her emotional state by embracing nutritious eating habits that led her to personal training then fitness competition levels. Through this transformative process her body evolved but her mind and soul flourished which restored her enthusiasm for healthcare practice.
Determined to make her mark in health and wellness, Dr. Poe pursued studies in Functional Medicine, nutrition, Naprapathic Medicine, and Sexology. After nearly a decade of rigorous training, she opened her practice, Poe Holistic Health, in 2019. Today, Dr. Poe, Founder and Lead Practitioner of Poe Holistic Health, leads with empathy, resilience, and a deep commitment to helping others optimize their health. Her leadership focuses on genuine commitment and passionate service while working to provide holistic wellness solutions for everyone.
Let’s delve into the interview details below!
Can you describe a pivotal moment in your career that shaped your leadership style?
A pivotal moment in my career was when I decided to leave my sales and marketing career and go back to school to pursue healthcare. Balancing coursework, clinical hours, and raising three young children was incredibly challenging, and there were days I questioned if it was worth it. Starting over and opening my own practice was terrifying, but my passion kept me going. Staying true to myself, even on the toughest days, became my mantra. The resilience I developed while building my practice taught me that the greatest leadership quality is the ability to push through adversity. As a leader, the best influence I can offer both to my team and my children is showing up, even when it feels impossible. Staying connected to my passions has been key in maintaining motivation and overcoming challenges. It’s those passions that drive me, especially when the road gets tough.
How do you balance the demands of your professional role with your personal life?
This is a tough one and always a work in progress. The hardest thing is balance! Life, motherhood, and work never seem to perfectly align! Everything I do is for my family, but health and wellness remain my top priority for myself and those I love. I’m fortunate to have a supportive husband who also prioritizes health, and together, we ensure that good nutrition, exercise, and sleep come first. I believe if you’re not healthy, everything else in life suffers. By taking care of myself, I set an example for my family and show up as the best version of myself.
Work-life balance has become more difficult as my practice has grown busier. I often find myself working late nights, weekends, and even on vacations. There’s always something to do, and I can’t always keep up with everything. However, since my practice has a large virtual component, I can take my work with me as long as there’s wifi. Still, I’ve made it a point to step away from work and be present for my kids. Emails and tasks will always be there, but the moments with my family are fleeting. I’m also working on making my practice more scalable by outsourcing administrative tasks to improve my work/life balance.
What do you consider to be the most pressing challenge facing healthcare today, and how are you addressing it in your organization?
One of the most pressing challenges in healthcare today is the overwhelming workload and burnout faced by many practitioners, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. We are fortunate to have dedicated physicians, nurses, and specialists, but the demand for care often leads to exhaustion and a shortage of healthcare professionals.
The rapid growth of the healthcare sector will always require more practitioners to keep up. On the positive side, the pandemic accelerated technological advancements in healthcare, such as telehealth services, which provide more accessible patient care.
As technology continues to evolve, I believe it will further optimize patient services and treatments. Additionally, I see a growing gap in functional medicine, which is gradually being filled. In my practice, I collaborate with Western medicine practitioners to offer complementary care, ensuring patients receive more comprehensive attention and a holistic approach to their health and wellness.
How have you leveraged technology and innovation to improve patient care or healthcare delivery in your role?
We live in a world that is constantly developing new technology and innovation. I try to stay updated on new technology and services to enhance patient care, offering virtual appointments to increase accessibility. One of my specialties is Functional Health Hair Lab technology, which allows me to support health optimization through advanced lab panels. These panels help identify areas like food sensitivities, nutrient imbalances, digestive health, metabolism, and heavy metals.
As one of the few providers specializing in this technology, I provide a comprehensive, individualized blueprint for clients to improve their wellness. Due to high demand, I created a webinar and program to offer this valuable resource to clients nationwide.
As a woman in a leadership position, what strategies have you employed to overcome gender-related obstacles in your career?
As a mom of 3 girls, this is such an important question. Women have made incredible strides in leadership, but there are still barriers to overcome. Although more women are leading organizations—23 women head companies on the Global 500 list—there remains a gap between men and women in leadership roles. Rather than focus on what’s lacking, I believe successful leadership is defined by qualities like kindness, honesty, and passion.
I also prioritize work-life balance, empathy, free thinking, multi-tasking, and flexibility while remaining humble and keeping ego in check. These traits are essential for any leader and are ones I strive to embody. I hope to set an example for my daughters and other women, showing them that they can lead with strength and grace. As Marilyn Monroe wisely said, “I don’t mind living in a man’s world, as long as I can be a woman in it.”
How do you foster diversity, equity, and inclusion within your organization and the broader healthcare industry?
In my practice, I have one rule: “Come as you are.” I welcome everyone, meeting them where they are in their journey. I take time to understand each patient’s unique needs and tailor my approach to fit their individual health history and concerns. If their needs fall outside my scope, I guide them to the right professionals and resources. I view each consultation as a team effort, where the client drives the journey and I offer guidance. No one knows their body and experiences better than they do. My goal is to foster a space of kindness, respect, and non-judgment. Inspired by my father, a primary care doctor for 40+ years, I believe in his mantra: “Everybody counts, or nobody counts.” Everyone’s concerns are valid, and their comfort and well-being are my top priority.
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to leadership roles in healthcare?
First and foremost, follow your dreams and passions, and start a business in something you feel excited and passionate about everyday. Success comes from honesty, kindness, and respect, no matter the industry. Stay open-minded and adaptable, as technology and processes evolve quickly. Lastly, seek out positive mentors and entrepreneurs who can provide valuable advice and support as you navigate the challenges of starting and growing your business.
Achieve Optimal Health with the Functional Health Hair Lab Panel
If you’re looking for more than just surface-level health assessments, Dr. Kristen Poe’s Functional Health Hair Lab Panel can offer you detailed insights into critical health factors such as food sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, digestive health, and metabolism. This innovative testing technology is in high demand and provides a deeper understanding of your health like never before.
Webinar Highlights:
- Explore the key areas of health the panel covers, including nutrient imbalances and metabolic health.
- Learn how the Hair Lab Panel gives a comprehensive view of your wellness and provides actionable steps to improve it.
- Poe will share her expertise and walk you through how this service can benefit you personally.
Join the Functional Health Hair Lab Panel Webinar to learn more and begin your journey toward personalized health optimization.
