About
What is it about Shift that makes us so different? We practiced conventional medicine for years. Nothing is more disheartening than seeing a patient continue to struggle, despite doing everything we were taught in traditional medical training. Learn about Shift Functional Medicine by learning who we are, our training and areas of expertise.
Meet Our Practitioners
Dr. Marie Agnew DNP, FNP-C, IFMCP
Marie spent years searching for answers to her own health struggles, only to be met with the same one-size-fits-all approach- pills to mask symptoms. The answers she was given did not resonate with her, propelling her onto a journey of exploration including years of extensive training in Ayurveda, Mindfulness Meditation, Nutritional Therapy, Yoga Therapy, Allopathic Medicine and Functional Medicine.
In 2007, she began her formal medical training at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon and became a critical care RN. In 2010, she returned to OHSU where she obtained a Masters of Science degree and became certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. A few years later, while practicing as a FNP in a busy rural Oregon practice, she completed her dissertation at OHSU on meditation and mindfulness for the treatment of chronic pain. That same year, she published her work in a medical journal, and obtained a Doctorate in Nursing Practice.
She has since honed her allopathic and integrative medical knowledge through advanced studies (including earning her functional certification) from the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM). In addition, she served as a key consultant in developing a functional medicine practice and lifestyle program in Portland, OR. Angew also has experience from many years of practicing in urgent medicine, integrative medicine, and primary care. Marie is a firm believer in the foundations of health- sound sleep, hormone optimization, personalized nutrition, healthy relationships, and realistic strategies to decrease stress and toxic burden on the body.
To have time and the ability to truly address these foundations of health, Marie launched SHIFT Functional Medicine and is now thrilled to have a team of excellent providers that she has since brought into her practice.
When Marie is not in the clinic she enjoys practicing yoga, exploring trails, experimenting with new recipes, and spending time with her husband and two children.
Laura Evans MSN, FNP-C
Laura is a family nurse practitioner passionate about working with patients to find root causes of disease instead of symptom-based treatment. Laura graduated summa cum laude from the University of Wyoming and has practiced as an FNP for ten years.
About four years ago, she realized that we are only treating symptoms of deeper problems at a broad worldly level— and that the medicine that she was practicing fell under the same umbrella. It was at this time that Laura found the Institute for Functional Medicine and began taking courses. Her love for medicine was revitalized in these courses and began to shift how she interacted with her patients, herself, and society. She currently balances working in clinics focused on allopathic care and functional medicine.
Laura grew up in Alaska and is an avid hiker and backpacker with her dog, Ollie. She has traveled extensively and has walked the Camino de Santiago across Spain twice. Evans is also a certified yoga teacher and reiki practitioner. Laura believes the healthier our communities and we are, the more our lives are vibrant and fulfilling.
Jennifer Nelson MSN FNP-C
Jennifer’s interest in functional medicine came long before becoming a medical provider. She spent years battling chronic pain and going from doctor to doctor trying to uncover her auto-immune disorder. Unfortunately, her options included unnecessary surgical intervention and medications riddled with adverse side effects–or she was misdiagnosed entirely.
Through years of steadfast resolve to find alternative care, she found functional medicine, and her quality of life flourished. This was when Jennifer knew she wanted to help patients in this same way—improving the quality of life of her patients’ lives through finding the root cause of their illnesses, not just treating the symptoms.
Jennifer’s nursing education began in 2005 at Seattle University in Seattle, Washington. She started as a school nurse for five years in the Redmond School District before going back to school in 2014 for her master’s degree.
She attended Frontier Nursing University to become a Family Nurse Practitioner to move into functional medicine after training in allopathic care. She spent four wonderful years working at Weeks Family Medicine, caring for acute and chronic illnesses families. While she loved her time in this clinic, she knew her passion was functional medicine.
She is excited to bring her expertise and experience with functional medicine to the SHIFT Functional Medicine team. She hopes to help others find treatment and relief through a personalized and collaborative approach to functional medicine. Her specific areas of interest include postpartum health, assisting families to be healthier together, managing chronic illness, longevity, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Jennifer is a Bend native, and when she is not reading new books on the microbiome or listening to podcasts, you’ll find her at the park with her two amazing young boys. She can also be spotted on the hiking or cross-country ski trails with her husband or meeting friends at food carts.
James Southam MSN, FNP-C
James was fortunate to spend his first career as a Cross Country ski racer and represented the US in two Olympics, three World Championships, and as a 5-time National Champion. He was initially exposed to Functional Medicine while trying to figure out why he was getting sick so frequently during his skiing career. James needed to be in tune with his body’s systems to perform as an athlete. Through Functional Medicine, he addressed the underlying causes of his illness, even creating his recovery drink to meet his nutritional demands. As a result, he saw a resurgence in his performance culminating in the 2010 Olympics.
After skiing, he studied at Oregon Health and Science University to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. James is keen on helping people optimize their health, including helping athletes of any level strive to reach their goals through a foundation of health. He takes a personal approach to help patients achieve their health, function, and performance goals.
James still loves snow, outside the clinic, spending time on the trails and in the mountains, playing tennis (not on snow), and exploring the West with his wife and two children. He has stayed involved in skiing since his retirement through board positions with the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, US Ski and Snowboard, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s Athlete Advisory Council.
Annelise Bunch, Nutritionist
Annelise has been working behind the scenes at SHIFT for the past 1+ year, helping with various functions while finishing her master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition and Integrative Health. She is currently a CNS candidate (Certified Nutrition Specialist), the most advanced certification for personalized nutrition practitioners and science-based customized nutrition therapy.
Annelise firmly believes that nutrition is one of the key determinants of health, and she takes an individualized integrative approach to understand a client’s overall health. From there, Annelise caters to their bio-individuality to craft personalized nutrition plans that are evidence-based to optimize lifestyle, health, energy, sleep, stress, and movement.
Before becoming a nutritionist, Annelise spent over a decade in eCommerce management and consulting. A true Oregonian, Annelise loves to spend her spare time skiing, hiking, and camping with her Mini Aussie, Arthur, and husband, Donald. She looks forward to meeting you!
Amanda Fitt, Certified Health Coach, Nutritionist
Amanda is a CNS candidate, Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and is finishing up her Master’s in Applied Clinical Nutrition from Northeast College of Health Sciences. With a background in dance and yoga, Amanda has always been drawn to the health and wellness world. As a lover of all things food, cooking, and holistic practices, nutrition felt like a natural fit. As she progressed through her studies, it became increasingly apparent how food and nourishment intersect virtually all areas of medicine. Amanda strives to use food as medicine to help people feel better, so they can show up as their best selves in all aspects of their lives.
In her free time, Amanda loves to be outdoors: as an avid rock climber, mountain biker, and trail runner, she understands how adequate nutrition is essential for being able to engage in the activities you love for years to come. When she’s not playing outside, you’ll likely find Amanda baking up some tasty goodies and spending time with her partner, Josh.