Meet Sandra Plybon of Fort Collins

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Plybon.

Hi Sandra, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a board-certified family medicine doctor and have spent over a decade practicing traditional family medicine. After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and becoming increasingly dissatisfied with conventional medical approaches, I became determined to find better solutions for treating chronic health problems like my own.
I began exploring alternative approaches to address my health issues and found what I had been searching for in functional medicine, which challenges traditional medical practices and offers effective alternatives. Through functional medicine, I found inspiration and discovered a new way to improve both my own health and the health of my patients.
Lately, I have been very interested in perimenopause and menopause care, as there is a significant need in our community and limited options available. This interest led me to pursue certification through the North American Menopause Society.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This journey hasn’t been a smooth or straightforward road. As a physician who spent years working in the corporate medical world, stepping out to develop my own practice and become an entrepreneur was a major transition. It required me to rethink how I approached my work, my time, and even my identity as a clinician.
Building something from the ground up has challenged me in ways I never expected. I feel like I am learning new things every single day; not only in the evolving world of medicine, but in the world of business as well. From understanding the logistics of running a practice to developing systems, connecting with patients in new ways, and navigating the realities of entrepreneurship, this experience has pushed me to grow both personally and professionally.
Despite the challenges, this journey has been incredibly rewarding. It has allowed me to create a practice that truly aligns with my values and gives me the freedom to care for patients in a more meaningful and individualized way.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What really sets my work apart is that it’s rooted in both professional expertise and personal experience. I’m a Certified Menopause and Functional Medicine Practitioner, but my journey into this field began long before the certifications—when I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder myself. After more than a decade in traditional family medicine, I realized that the standard prescription-based approach wasn’t giving me the answers I needed, either as a doctor or as a patient. That pushed me to look deeper, and that’s when I discovered the transformative power of functional medicine.
Through that process, I gained a much deeper understanding of how diet, gut health, inflammation, and lifestyle choices play a critical role in overall wellbeing. It changed my life, and it changed the way I practice medicine.

What I’m most proud of is the way I now get to empower patients to reclaim their health naturally, without relying on medications as the only solution. Whether someone is navigating menopause, dealing with hormonal imbalances, or struggling with chronic health concerns, I bring together my training and my personal journey to offer care that’s personalized, holistic, and truly patient-centered. Helping people feel their best at every stage of life is not only my work, it’s my passion.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
When I think about risk-taking, I see it as a balance between stepping into the unknown and trusting your purpose. The biggest risk I’ve taken was leaving the traditional medical establishment to start my own practice. For more than a decade, I worked within a familiar, structured system, one that felt secure but also limiting. Walking away from that stability to create something entirely my own was both exciting and terrifying.
Starting my own practice meant taking on new responsibilities, learning the business side of medicine, and building everything from the ground up. There were moments of uncertainty, but I believed strongly in the kind of care I wanted to provide and the impact I could make. Looking back, it was absolutely worth it. That risk allowed me to practice medicine in a way that aligns with my values and gives patients the time, attention, and holistic approach they deserve.

Contact Info:

• Website: nurturemdhealth.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurturemdhealth

Image Credits
Pauline Eye Photography