Meet Our Medical Team
“To me, health is more than the absence of disease. It’s the vibrant spectrum of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects that work together like a symphony. Femmenessence allows for this whole-self integration by nourishing the endocrine system through colorful maca phenotypes. As I go through the journey of perimenopause, I am grateful to be able to bring in the innate wisdom of plants to naturally allow my own inner wisdom to express!”
– Deanna Minich, Ph.D., Nutrition Scientist
Dr. Minich is our Chief Scientific Officer. She has an M.S. in Human Nutrition and a Ph.D. in Medical Sciences. She is also a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition (FACN), a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (IFM-CP), and a registered yoga teacher (RYT). For a decade, Dr. Minich was trained in functional medicine and was part of the research team led by her mentor - the “Father of Functional Medicine” - Dr. Jeffrey Bland, and currently serves as an educator for the Institute of Functional Medicine. She is also adjunct faculty at the University of Western States and, most recently, was the past President of the American College of Nutrition and served for seven years on the Board of Directors for the American Nutrition Association. Dr. Minich is the author of six books on health and healing, including Whole Detox, The Rainbow Diet, and The Complete Handbook of Quantum Healing, and has published more than fifty scientific articles in journals such as Nutrients, Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, and Nutrition Reviews. She has taught thousands of health coaches, fitness trainers, and healthcare professionals through these roles and others. This, combined with her depth and breadth of experience looking at health from the physical, mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual perspective, makes her the ideal person to help lead our company.
“As an herbalist, I had actually given up on using maca therapeutically a long time ago as products were unreliable, and the research was minimal. When I had a chance to talk with James (Symphony’s CEO) and hear how he allows the wisdom of the plants to shine through, having learned how to cultivate them to improve their production of certain phytochemicals rather than simply adjusting the final product, I was hooked. I continue to learn more about the intricacies of maca and am thrilled to see what a difference Femmenessence is having on my patients.”
- Dr. Wendy Warner, MD
Dr. Wendy Warner is a board certified gynecologist, a certified Functional Medicine practitioner, an herbalist and a mesa carrier. She is a nationally recognized speaker and educator, and is faculty for the Institute for Functional Medicine as well as David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies. She authored a chapter in the current edition of Rakel’s Integrative Medicine textbook, and is the co-author of “Boosting Your Immunity for Dummies”. She is a Past President of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine.
“I have used Femmenessence MacaPause, MacaLife and MacaHarmony for 8 years in my women's health practice. It has become a mainstay botanical approach for my peri- and postmenopausal patients. In particular for hot flashes, night sweats, general fatigue, mood changes and even libido. I also often use Femmenessence for added heart and bone health support. I am a big advocate of Femmenessence, as it has given me a tool I didn’t have to help me, help more women.”
- Tori Hudson, Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Hudson is a nationally recognized author, speaker, educator, researcher, and clinician. She is widely regarded as the leading naturopathic doctor in women’s health and has been in private practice for more than 38 years at her clinic - A Woman’s Time, in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Hudson was the first female professor of naturopathic medicine and is currently an Adjunct Clinical Professor at Bastyr University, National University of Natural Medicine, Sonoran University of Health Sciences and the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. She is also the Program Director for the Institute of Women’s Health and Integrative Medicine, as well as the Co – Director, Naturopathic Education and Research Consortium, a Naturopathic Residency Program. Dr. Hudson is also the author of numerous medical journal publications and books, including the Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine and has been a part of Symphony’s Medical Team for over a decade.
“I have been using the Femmenessence product line, along with Herbatonin, in my clinical practice since 2013. Not only do I recommend these supplements to my clients, but I also encourage other clinicians to explore them for their clients. Simply stated, these products are “game changers” for women who suffer from a plethora of hormone-related symptoms, helping to provide relief and balance.”
– Kim Ross, Doctor in Clinical Nutrition
Dr. Ross is a Director of Scientific Communication. She is a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition, holds an MS in Applied Clinical Nutrition and a Masters in Business Administration. She is also a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) and Institute of Functional Medicine certified practitioner (IFMCP). Most recently Dr. Ross was the Division Director and Assistant Professor at Sonoran University of Health Sciences (formerly Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences). She continues to serve as an Adjunct Faculty member for the Masters in Clinical Nutrition program and Senior Clinical Supervisor for Sonoran University’s post-graduate Supervised Practice Experience Program. Dr. Ross was also part of the education team at the American Nutrition Association (ANA) and was the lead author on four published scientific articles primarily focused on addressing depression, mood and anxiety through diet, lifestyle and Supplements.
"Femmenessence has been an integral part of my practice for years. As a physician focused on restoring balance and then optimizing my patient's health, Femmenessence provides a unique botanical profile that affects not only female hormones but aids in supporting the heart and the chronic stress that so many of my patients are facing daily."
- Mona Fahoum, Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Fahoum is a Naturopathic Doctor and has been in private practice at Meridian Medicine in Seattle for over 17 years. She is the Director of Clinical Services at Bastyr University and most recently the past-president of the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians (WANP). Dr. Fahoum specializes in women's health, gut health, sports medicine and nutrition.
"For men, I use Revolution Macalibrium a highly concentrated (up to 10 times what is found in raw maca) and bioavailable proprietary combination of specific phenotypes of the herb maca for men."
– Corey Schuler, Nurse Practitioner and Nutritionist
Dr. Corey B. Schuler is a medical affairs professional in the dietary supplement industry. He is a family nurse practitioner, certified nutrition specialist, and licensed nutritionist. He received his chiropractic doctorate from Northwestern Health Sciences University, Master of Science in human nutrition from the University of Bridgeport, and master of science in nursing at Graceland University. He has additionally earned an executive MBA and an undergraduate degree in chemistry. Schuler authored a chapter in the textbook Integrative Medical Nutrition Therapy (Springer, 2020) and serves as an adjunct professor at Sonoran University of Health Sciences and Northeast College of Health Sciences. Schuler practices holistic primary care at Synergy Family Physicians in White Bear Lake, MN.
“Health is my passion - from healthy babies to healthy aging and everything in between. So finding the best products that get results for me and my patients is key. At 68, my hairdresser constantly comments on my healthy skin and hair and a recent comprehensive wellness assessment puts my biological age at 50. That's due to Femmenessence.”
- Jan Roberts, Pharmacist & Clinical Nutritionist
Jan Roberts is a Pharmacist and Clinical Nutritionist. She has been in the field of health for over 50 years, during which time she has published six books including the Better Baby book series on preconception health, fertility, pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. Jan was also the Australian Representative of the world leading preconception and fertility research and education group Foresight (based in the UK) and has been speaking about these topics and epigenetics for nearly 20 years at universities, health professional education events and to the general public. Jan has been on Symphony Natural Health’s Medical Team since 2006 empowering women around preconception, fertility and through her own peri and post menopause journey. In fact, Jan is our longest Femmenessence advocate, having used Femmenessence since 2006 (over a year before it was on the market!)
“For the last 8 years I have been using Femmenessence at my Reproductive Wellness Practice, and it has become part of my foundational protocol. It is the only form of maca I allow my female patients to take because it gives the results I want and my patients need. It works!”
- Marc Sklar, LAc, FABORM
Marc Sklar is a Doctor of Acupuncture, Board Certified Herbalist, Oriental Medicine Practitioner, and President of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM). He is the founder and Clinical Director of the Reproductive Wellness Clinic in San Diego, California. He has extensive experience and expertise in treating and resolving the causes of infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss with classical Acupuncture and Chinese Medicines and key nutraceuticals such as Femmenessence HARMONY and Revolution. Marc also delves deeply into the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of conception, pregnancy and birth, having studied world religions and ancient healing techniques, combined with extensive world travel. His clinic website is: ReproductiveWellness.com.
“Sleep and circadian rhythms are integral to our health, and can be challenged when we’re out of sync with the natural light-dark cycle. Supplementing with low-dose Herbatonin as part of their nightly ritual keeps my patients’ melatonin at the level needed not only for sleep, but for optimal overall health. I feel good about plant-based melatonin with the additional benefits of phytonutrients, and without chemical contaminants.”
- Catherine Darley, Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Darley is a Naturopathic Doctor with over 30 years of experience in the area of sleep. She founded The Institute of Naturopathic Sleep Medicine, dedicated to patient care and education around sleep health, as well as programs specifically for high-risk populations such as first responders. Dr. Darley has served as adjunct faculty at Bastyr University and National University of Natural Medicine and regularly writes articles and speaks for professional audiences on the topic of sleep disorders and darkness deficiency.
“Researching plants and how they can heal the body has been my passion for over 40 years. Little did I know that my trip to Peru in 1998 to investigate maca would result in one of the biggest breakthroughs of my career - Femmenessence, proudly, the only natural product to demonstrate, in clinical trials, statistically significant effects on hormones in peri- and postmenopausal women.”
- Henry Meissner, PhD, Nutritional Biochemist