MEET TEAM WAVE
Dianne DeFusco MD, CFMP
Dianne DeFusco MD
Photocredit: Kristina Foreman
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Dianne DeFusco, MD has been in the practice of conventional primary adult care for over twenty years. After relocating to Connecticut in 2005 and seeing patients struggle with symptoms of tick-borne illness, she credits a young female patient with opening her mind to the complexity of these infections. She sought answers with the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS). In attending annual ILADS conferences, Dr. DeFusco gradually accepted the paradigm shift that regards complex chronic conditions as an imbalance in interconnected systems rather than the reductionist view of a single diagnosis with an standard “one size fits all” algorithm for medication prescription.
In this lens, she adopted the philosophy of Functional Medicine - a growing approach to care intended to reverse causes of chronic conditions by restoring order to physiology, rather than simply “managing symptoms”. She enjoys Functional Medicine framework not as an alternative methodology, but as a means to determine root causes of illness and as an opportunity to intervene in a personalized manner and change health outcomes. She embraces the ancient view of Hippocrates that “all health begins in the gut” and now advocates that the digestive system is the gateway to many chronic conditions, including strong relationships with autoimmunity. |
Dr. DeFusco joins Wave Integrative Medical Center as an opportunity to use the functional physiology-based approach to health to unravel conditions including chronic inflammatory conditions, autoimmunity, hypothyroidism, metabolic syndromes, fatigue - among others. Her primary goal is to empower each patient to understand factors affecting their health and manage their lifestyle to sustain wellness and reduce dependence on symptom-managing medication.
Dianne is passionate about this approach to health care, and has been studying with the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM), Cogence Immunology, courses on SIBO, and is completing training with Functional Medicine University (FMU). She attends ILADs conferences annually, as well as several scientific conferences presented by Lyme Disease Association. She remains Board Certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine.
She and her husband raised their two daughters in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Ohio and Connecticut, where they have resided since 2004. Dianne enjoys time with her now grown daughters, her family in RI, and hiking in National Parks and the southwest.
Accepting new patients.
Dianne DeFusco does not provide Primary Care, but can collaborate with your PCP to ensure your care needs are met.
Dianne is passionate about this approach to health care, and has been studying with the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM), Cogence Immunology, courses on SIBO, and is completing training with Functional Medicine University (FMU). She attends ILADs conferences annually, as well as several scientific conferences presented by Lyme Disease Association. She remains Board Certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine.
She and her husband raised their two daughters in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Ohio and Connecticut, where they have resided since 2004. Dianne enjoys time with her now grown daughters, her family in RI, and hiking in National Parks and the southwest.
Accepting new patients.
Dianne DeFusco does not provide Primary Care, but can collaborate with your PCP to ensure your care needs are met.
Cortney Katz PA-C, CFMP
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Background
Cortney Katz became interested in Functional Medicine during a specialty rotation as a student of the University of Bridgeport, which helped her decide to continue post-graduate education to certify as a Functional Medicine Practitioner and join Wave Integrative Medical’s team in 2019. Her practice focuses on the “root cause” of inflammation including inflammatory and autoimmune pain syndromes, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, as well as Women’s Health and Hormones with special interest in Hypothyroidism, Estrogen Dominance, and Type II Diabetes. Her training also focused on specialized treatments for persistent illness from local, endemic tick-borne infections, and included training in integrative medical therapies for Lyme & related infections in 2014. She has CME credits from the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS.org) and specialized training in PANDAS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Disease Associated with Streptococcus) and PANS, including CMEs from the Medical Association of Pediatric Special Needs. Most recently she has completed her practitioner partnership certification in the Shoemaker Protocol for CIRS and Biotoxin Illness, such as from mold environmental exposure. |
Cortney Katz, CFMP Photocredit Kristina Foreman
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Programs & Specialty Services
Functional Medicine Evaluation
Full survey of health and body systems, with aim of enhancing function of overall physiology; designed for any chronic inflammatory condition or wellness goal for people who would like to avoid "symptom management" forever and get to the root cause of their condition
Women’s Health including Gynecological Visits
Functional Medicine work-up for a personalized protocol to support hormonal cycles, estrogen dominance, menopause, chronic bacterial vaginitis, low energy, mood imbalance, PCOS (poly-cystic ovarian syndrome) and weight loss
Thyroid Support
Functional Medicine work-up for a personalized protocol to support thyroid function, weight and energy balance
Fatigue Syndrome / Adrenal Fatigue
Functional Medicine work-up for a personalized protocol to support energy metabolism
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus & Pre-Diabetes Reversal
Functional Medicine work-up for a personalized therapy to lower A1C, reduce insulin resistance and support glucose metabolism, weight loss
Gastrointestinal Health / Leaky Gut / Digestion Concerns
Functional Medicine work-up to address bloating, indigestion, acid reflux, irritable bowel/ constipation/ diarrhea, food sensitivities, autoimmunity, skin conditions - for a personalized therapy
Sleep Success Program
Functional Medicine work-up to address insomnia, fractionated sleep, poor quality sleep, low energy - for a personalized therapy
Biotoxin Illness/ Mold Sickness/ CIRS
Shoemaker Protocol certification to support Assessment, Diagnosis, Detoxification and Treatment of patients suffering from “Sick Building” or Biotoxin Illness; includes Genomic evaluation of Phase I and Phase II detoxification, as well as HLA profiles
Tick-Borne Disease
ILADS Standard of Care for Evaluation, Diagnosis & Treatment of stealth infections using Integrative Medical Therapies
Mast Cell Activation Disorder
Evaluation, Diagnosis and Functional Medicine Treatments, staggered with precaution, to reduce mast cell triggers and examine “root cause” of MCAD, including histamine genomics and environmental factors
Integrative Fertility Support
Functional Medicine work-up for a comprehensive evaluation of fertility, with tools to restore order to fertility physiology to avoid expensive artificial tools
Cortney Katz does not provide Primary Care, but can collaborate with your PCP to ensure your care needs are met.
Functional Medicine Evaluation
Full survey of health and body systems, with aim of enhancing function of overall physiology; designed for any chronic inflammatory condition or wellness goal for people who would like to avoid "symptom management" forever and get to the root cause of their condition
Women’s Health including Gynecological Visits
Functional Medicine work-up for a personalized protocol to support hormonal cycles, estrogen dominance, menopause, chronic bacterial vaginitis, low energy, mood imbalance, PCOS (poly-cystic ovarian syndrome) and weight loss
Thyroid Support
Functional Medicine work-up for a personalized protocol to support thyroid function, weight and energy balance
Fatigue Syndrome / Adrenal Fatigue
Functional Medicine work-up for a personalized protocol to support energy metabolism
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus & Pre-Diabetes Reversal
Functional Medicine work-up for a personalized therapy to lower A1C, reduce insulin resistance and support glucose metabolism, weight loss
Gastrointestinal Health / Leaky Gut / Digestion Concerns
Functional Medicine work-up to address bloating, indigestion, acid reflux, irritable bowel/ constipation/ diarrhea, food sensitivities, autoimmunity, skin conditions - for a personalized therapy
Sleep Success Program
Functional Medicine work-up to address insomnia, fractionated sleep, poor quality sleep, low energy - for a personalized therapy
Biotoxin Illness/ Mold Sickness/ CIRS
Shoemaker Protocol certification to support Assessment, Diagnosis, Detoxification and Treatment of patients suffering from “Sick Building” or Biotoxin Illness; includes Genomic evaluation of Phase I and Phase II detoxification, as well as HLA profiles
Tick-Borne Disease
ILADS Standard of Care for Evaluation, Diagnosis & Treatment of stealth infections using Integrative Medical Therapies
Mast Cell Activation Disorder
Evaluation, Diagnosis and Functional Medicine Treatments, staggered with precaution, to reduce mast cell triggers and examine “root cause” of MCAD, including histamine genomics and environmental factors
Integrative Fertility Support
Functional Medicine work-up for a comprehensive evaluation of fertility, with tools to restore order to fertility physiology to avoid expensive artificial tools
Cortney Katz does not provide Primary Care, but can collaborate with your PCP to ensure your care needs are met.
Meet Parimal Patel, LLPA
Parimal Patel, PA-C
Photocredit Kristina Foreman |
Parimal ("Pari") Patel was raised in Kenya, India and Britain before moving to the United States in 1990. He holds a Bachelor of Accounting from Sahajanand College and a Bachelor of Law Degree from L.A. Shah College in India. After moving to the United States, he decided to make the switch to Emergency Medicine and became a Physician Assistant at the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (now Philadelphia University). Since then he has worked mostly with Internal Medicine and Urgent Care services in Connecticut and fifteen years ago began being mentored in a Fairfield office where, in addition to his supervising physician, a colleague established a practice to treat severe cases of neurologic Lyme disease. During that time he saw the need for innovative treatments (such as Intravenous Immunoglobulin, aka IVIg) to relieve patients of painful, persistent migraines, or to help them walk, but noted just about every body system could be affected. He saw these patients improve, but on a different time course than most medical training deemed necessary. That was a turning point in his perspective on Tick Borne Infections, and he began formal training.
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Despite treating Lyme and other vector-borne disease for 15 years, he continues train in order to help his patients recover. He attends annual meetings as a member of the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS.org), as well as specialized training in Pediatric Acute onset Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus (PANS/PANDAS) and is a member of the PANDAS Physician Network (PPN). He holds the importance of the clinical history in high esteem, which is why patients have often remarked that they "feel heard for the first time". The clinical history is also a powerful tool that allows for a stronger clinical assessment when a patient feels unwell, despite unremarkable blood work (which has left many patients to feel it was "all in my head" before turning to integrative care).
In addition to his love of learning, Pari has held adjunct faculty positions with Quinnipiac University and the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.
Despite the early focus on Lyme Disease and Tick Borne Infections (such as babesiosis), Pari Patel's practice has grown to treat the "whole person", addressing food sensitivities and digestive problems, to mold and mycotoxins, to anxiety, to thyroid disorders and adrenal fatigue, to detoxification issues (such as DHFR, MTHFR, CBS and DAO). Most of his practice seeks help to help general inflammatory ailments, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia or migraines.
For CME he regularly attends 2-3 national or international training meetings per year including the Forum for Integrative Medicine, the Integrative Healthcare Symposium, CIRS training, and the Restorative Medicine Conference. He is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine, PPN, and ILADS.
Pari Patel's integrative medical practice aims to optimize healing while reducing side effects by using pharmaceutical-grade botanicals and scientific wellness supports, combined with conventional medicine to create personalized treatment for his patients.
Pari Patel does not provide Primary Care, but can collaborate with your PCP to ensure your care needs are met.
In addition to his love of learning, Pari has held adjunct faculty positions with Quinnipiac University and the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.
Despite the early focus on Lyme Disease and Tick Borne Infections (such as babesiosis), Pari Patel's practice has grown to treat the "whole person", addressing food sensitivities and digestive problems, to mold and mycotoxins, to anxiety, to thyroid disorders and adrenal fatigue, to detoxification issues (such as DHFR, MTHFR, CBS and DAO). Most of his practice seeks help to help general inflammatory ailments, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia or migraines.
For CME he regularly attends 2-3 national or international training meetings per year including the Forum for Integrative Medicine, the Integrative Healthcare Symposium, CIRS training, and the Restorative Medicine Conference. He is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine, PPN, and ILADS.
Pari Patel's integrative medical practice aims to optimize healing while reducing side effects by using pharmaceutical-grade botanicals and scientific wellness supports, combined with conventional medicine to create personalized treatment for his patients.
Pari Patel does not provide Primary Care, but can collaborate with your PCP to ensure your care needs are met.
Meet Krista Hewlett Keegan, Functional Health Coach & Patient Navigator
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Education & Background
Krista is a published neuroscientist and biochemist who gained an appreciation for Functional Medicine when she became disabled during her MD-PhD program. After a 6 year health journey which left no answers through top-specialists in conventional care, she discovered the strategic tools of integrative and functional medicine to restore health from multi-system inflammatory and autoimmune disease. Krista recovered from disability due to NeuroLyme, which led her to co-develop Wave’s Integrative Medical Program for Tick Borne Infections in 2015. As a scientist-patient, and having attended annual international medical and scientific conferences on these topics, she has a thorough understanding of Lyme Disease and co-infections, & has helped to coordinate complex cases for more than 500 clients dealing with tick-borne illnesses. She was selected for Duke Integrative Medicine's Leadership in Integrative Healthcare program in 2017. Topics of her academic research background include neuroinflammation, neuroplasticity, recovery of function after stroke, stem cells, vascular dementia, psychoneuroendocrinology, and metabolic syndrome / dietary modulation of brain aging. |
Photocredit Kristina Foreman
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Services
Functional Health Coaching
Genomics Detoxification Support
Reiki for Stress Relief
Patient Navigator for clients with neurodegenerative disease, NeuroLyme, & other complex disease
"I assist clients in reaching their health goals, such as reducing brain fog, increasing physical/mental energy, or improving digestive health. I review a lengthy and targeted health history along side wellness goals and work to “untangle” their symptoms. Health Coaching is more affordable than seeing a Lyme Literate clinician while still being able to guide people through a similar process.
The approach at Wave Integrative Medical Center is individualized for client goals discussed during an initial consultation. For physical goals, I assist with botanical and powerful nutritional recommendations and/or genomic analysis to support natural detoxification. For people struggling to reduce anxiety and stress I offer Reiki and Meditations. Many clients have reported that connecting with someone who has recovered from NeuroLyme like myself has help them gain hope, and a clearer understanding of the health journey ahead.
Functional Health Coaching
Genomics Detoxification Support
Reiki for Stress Relief
Patient Navigator for clients with neurodegenerative disease, NeuroLyme, & other complex disease
"I assist clients in reaching their health goals, such as reducing brain fog, increasing physical/mental energy, or improving digestive health. I review a lengthy and targeted health history along side wellness goals and work to “untangle” their symptoms. Health Coaching is more affordable than seeing a Lyme Literate clinician while still being able to guide people through a similar process.
The approach at Wave Integrative Medical Center is individualized for client goals discussed during an initial consultation. For physical goals, I assist with botanical and powerful nutritional recommendations and/or genomic analysis to support natural detoxification. For people struggling to reduce anxiety and stress I offer Reiki and Meditations. Many clients have reported that connecting with someone who has recovered from NeuroLyme like myself has help them gain hope, and a clearer understanding of the health journey ahead.