Meet Megan Engbring, Dnp, Fnp-c | Doctor of Nursing Practice

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Engbring, Dnp, Fnp-c and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Flagstaff Optimal Health and Weight Management is a culmination of decades of experience helping my cardiology patients improve their health by focusing on weight loss and healthy lifestyle change. What I found working in outpatient cardiology, is that patients DO want to feel better and take less medication but they needed more than the quick diet & exercise advice or dietician referral that I was able to offer in that setting. Patients thrive when they have access to 1:1 coach support, an education system that guides one small change at a time, and a simple nutrition plan that works. When I implemented those factors in 2020, my patients started to lose weight and gain health in ways that I had never witnessed prior to that.

With the rise in popularity of GLP-1 agonists (ex. Ozempic, Wegovy) for diabetes management, weight loss, and cardiovascular risk reduction came new hope, but also new challenge. I became passionate about helping my patients reduce medication side effects like nausea & muscle loss and helping patients receive medication during a time when the demand exceeds the commercially available supply.

I’m proud to offer high quality compounded GLP-1 specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals, body composition monitoring to ensure healthy weight loss, lifestyle coaching, and simplified nutrition plans to promote sustainable results for my patients. Through Flagstaff Optimal Health & Weight Management, I am now able to offer the kind of comprehensive office visits that truly help willing individuals move toward their goals with success and support.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
It has been a long and winding road filled with challenge and heartache that led to this point in my career. With 25 years experience working in healthcare, I have witnessed a lot of sickness and suffering that spurred this passionate pursuit toward creating health for my patients. After achieving a Bachelors of Science in Nursing and working as a cardiovascular ICU nurse for many years, I decided to pursue a Master’s Degree as Family Nurse Practitioner with a desire to help people stay out of the hospital. While working in Primary Care, I realized how many people are suffering from chronic illness and obesity. I returned to school for my Doctor of Nursing Practice, implementing an intervention to address and treat childhood obesity in the primary care setting. With a newfound passion to use lifestyle change to treat chronic illnesses like heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, I returned to my love of cardiology. It wasn’t until I incorporated the Habits of Health system that I was truly able to witness the kind of predictable weight loss and health gain that is like medicine to my heart & soul.

What I’ve learned along the way is that our current healthcare system isn’t actually designed to help patients create health. However, by keeping an open mind and working with trustworthy partners, we can still have a monumental impact on health and reduce our reliance on medications. The body can heal!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Flagstaff has a plethora of things to do and I’m married to the best adventure planner in the world, so I usually let him take the lead! We love taking our more active and healthy friends out hiking, skiing, rock climbing, or paddleboarding – exploring everything from the mountain peaks to the canyon bottoms!

With older or less active family & friends, we often explore the rim of the Grand Canyon by bike or bus, take a drive through the red rocks of Sedona, sip wine by Oak Creek, or witness some amazing local history by taking a glimpse back in time at Wupatki National Monument.

No matter the advensure, we always pack picnic lunches of healthy whole food fuel for our adventures and might hit Diablo Burger, Pita Jungle, or Dara Thai for an easy meal afterwards.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband and daughter; Matt & Amelia – for supporting me through different ideas and career moves that led me here
Maria Jaten, FNP – friend & mentor always ready to advise and share her knowledge
Peak Heart & Vascular – for appreciating my desire to help our patients create health and allowing me the flexibility to do so

Website: https://www.flagstaffoptimalhealth.com

Instagram: @flagstaffoptimalhealth

Linkedin: Flagstaff Optimal Health and Weight Management

Facebook: @flagstaffoptimalhealth