Paula Kruppstadt MD DABP FAAP IFMCP, is the Founder, CEO, and Medical Provider Team Leader for Hope for Healing. She graduated in 1990 from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and completed her pediatric internship and residency at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso in 1993. She promptly earned her Board Certification from the American Board of Pediatrics in 1993, and she is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
She served as a U.S. Army pediatrician at Ft. Hood, Texas and then relocated to The Woodlands, Texas in 1995. She has since worked as a general pediatrician in various venues, including Texas Children’s Pediatrics and Texas Children’s Urgent Care. Dr. Kruppstadt also served as a pediatric hospitalist and faculty for Baylor College of Medicine at St. Luke’s Hospital in The Woodlands, Texas.
Dr. Kruppstadt is a Certified Practitioner of Functional Medicine by The Institute for Functional Medicine—IFMCP. She is one of few board certified pediatricians in the world who are certified IFMCP.
Because she is an expert concerning PANS/PANDAS, Texas Governor Greg Abbott appointed her to be a member of the Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome Advisory Council. The Council advises the commission and the Texas legislature on research, diagnosis, treatment, and education related to pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.
Dr. Kruppstadt is the mother of four daughters, who have all worked at Hope for Healing, and she has two grandchildren. She is married to Tom Kruppstadt JD, who serves as COO/CFO and General Counsel for Hope for Healing.
At Hope for Healing, Dr. Kruppstadt offers Functional & Regenerative Medicine consultations (all ages) and Functional Approach Pediatric Primary Care (newborn through 21 years).
Lauren Carlson FNP-BC, graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of
Wyoming in 2018. Moving to Texas shortly after, she practiced as a registered nurse on cardiac-
electrophysiology and vascular surgery acute care units. Lauren received her Master of Science
in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Texas Health Science Center in May 2022 and is now a
board-certified family nurse practitioner.
While completing her MSN, she rotated with Dr. Kruppstadt and immediately resonated with
the foundations of functional medicine. Lauren has always been passionate about caring for her
patients in a holistic manner and delivering collaborative, personalized care. She has begun the
course requirements of the Institute of Functional Medicine with the aim of becoming an
Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner (IFMCP).
Lauren grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and currently lives in Magnolia with her husband and
their three-year old pug named Bugs.
At Hope for Healing, Lauren is mentored by Dr. Kruppstadt and functions as a primary care
provider for pediatric patients.
Jenny is a Board Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-PC) with an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license. She earned her Bachelor of Science (BSN) and Master of Science (MSN) Degrees in Nursing from Marquette University where she also served on the clinical faculty. She also served on the Pediatric Nursing Faculty for Regis University. She is currently enrolled in a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program at Aspen University as well as the certification program of the Institute for Functional Medicine.
Jenny has extensive clinical experience in primary care, oncology, hematology, bone marrow transplantation, emergency medicine, pediatric intensive care and neonatal intensive care.
After meeting Dr. Kruppstadt and learning about functional medicine, Jenny decided that this is the only way to go. She believes in focusing on the root cause of disease and dysfunction in order to partner with patients to optimize their health. Jenny is compassionate and caring and only wants the best for others.
Jenny is married and has seven beautiful children. She has a granddaughter that calls her “Lollie” and her husband “Pop.” She enjoys running, redecorating her house, and practicing Real Estate part-time.
At Hope for Healing, Jenny provides functional approach pediatric care (newborn to 21 years of age) focusing on early childhood development, anticipatory guidance, and wellness. Jenny is excited and honored to be working with Dr. Kruppstadt and families with children with Autism Syndrome Disorder, PANS/PANDAS, and other CIRS entities.
Erica Everett MSN FNP-BC,
is a nationally board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, functional medicine practitioner, and regenerative medicine specialist with nearly two decades of clinical experience. Her work is centered on identifying and addressing the underlying drivers of illness while helping patients restore health, resilience, energy, cognitive function, and overall quality of life. She is particularly passionate about the emerging field of neuroinflammation and its relationship to mental health, immune function, hormones, metabolism, and chronic disease.
Erica holds a Master’s degree in Kinesiology/Science, a Master of Science in Nursing, and a Doctorate in Integrative Nutrition and Functional Medicine. Her doctoral work focused on the impact of peptide therapy and immune modulation on inflammation, energy, and chronic disease. She is currently completing her Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) post-master’s certification at Texas Tech University, with anticipated completion in 2027. This additional training is expanding her ability to integrate psychiatric, neurological, hormonal, metabolic, and functional medicine perspectives into comprehensive patient care.
Currently, Erica works extensively in neuroinflammation and functional medicine within mental health practices serving patients across four states. Her clinical approach focuses on looking beyond traditional psychiatric diagnoses and investigating potential biological and physiological contributors to changes in mood, cognition, behavior, attention, sleep, and overall mental health. She works with both pediatric and adult patients, utilizing a root-cause approach to evaluate factors such as inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, metabolic dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, gut health, immune dysregulation, environmental exposures, and other contributors that may influence neurological and psychiatric health.
Throughout her career, Erica has developed extensive expertise in hormone optimization and individualized functional medicine care for both men and women. She has experience addressing hormone deficiencies, perimenopause, menopause, andropause, thyroid dysfunction, metabolic disorders, cognitive concerns, fatigue, and age-related changes. Her approach combines conventional medical knowledge with evidence-informed functional and integrative strategies designed to address the individual rather than simply manage symptoms.
As a regenerative medicine specialist, Erica has also worked extensively with peptide therapies, biologic therapies, and regenerative approaches for musculoskeletal injuries, chronic inflammation, autoimmune conditions, neurological concerns, and age-related decline for over 7 years. She has performed regenerative procedures and collaborated with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to develop individualized treatment strategies focused on supporting healing, recovery, mobility, and functional restoration.
In addition to direct patient care, Erica has developed clinical protocols, treatment pathways, and educational resources for healthcare providers, pharmacies, and wellness organizations across the country. She is passionate about translating emerging science into responsible, evidence-informed clinical applications and educating both patients and healthcare professionals about functional medicine, neuroinflammation, regenerative medicine, hormone optimization, peptide therapies, and longevity.
Erica’s personal experiences with complex health challenges have further shaped her commitment to helping patients navigate chronic illness and pursue meaningful improvements in function and quality of life. These experiences have reinforced her belief that effective healthcare requires listening carefully to each patient, investigating the underlying contributors to illness, and developing individualized strategies that address the whole person.
Her ultimate goal is to create a center of excellence where children and adults can receive comprehensive, personalized care designed to optimize brain health, mental wellness, physical health, longevity, and quality of life. By combining conventional medical expertise with functional, regenerative, psychiatric, and emerging therapeutic approaches, Erica hopes to build a model of healthcare that is proactive, innovative, evidence-informed, and centered on helping patients achieve their highest level of health and potential.
Debora Skaliks, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, is a doctorally prepared, board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with more than 15 years of nursing experience across family medicine, pediatrics, neonatal intensive care, and wellness. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Midwestern State University in Texas and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Southern Mississippi, graduating summa cum laude. Debora is passionate about providing compassionate, holistic care that emphasizes integrity, patient education, and individualized treatment strategies to support long-term health and well-being.
Debora’s clinical experience includes primary care for patients of varying ages, management of acute and chronic conditions, preventive care, and weight management. Her approach emphasizes helping patients understand their health and feel empowered to make informed decisions about their care.
Throughout her nursing career, Debora has also cared for medically complex pediatric patients in home health settings and infants in Level III neonatal intensive care units. These experiences have strengthened her commitment to attentive, patient-centered care and the importance of understanding each individual’s unique needs. In addition to her clinical background, Debora has worked in wellness settings supporting individuals with chronic and advanced illnesses, where she helped coordinate evidence-based treatments and educate patients on the role of nutrition and lifestyle in health. She has also contributed to nursing leadership and quality improvement initiatives focused on patient satisfaction, communication, and effective care delivery.
Debora is trilingual in English, Portuguese, and Spanish and values clear communication, compassion, and collaboration in building meaningful relationships with patients. Her diverse clinical background and commitment to evidence-based practice show her approach to helping individuals and families navigate their healthcare needs. At Hope for Healing, Debora brings together her experience in primary care, pediatrics, and wellness to provide thoughtful, individualized care focused on supporting each patient’s health and quality of life.
For Andy Lowery, practicing functional medicine is a calling rooted in service, empathy, and respect for every individual. Her goal is simple: to partner with children and families from all cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds so they can experience genuine health, energy, and purpose.
Her career in nursing spans more than 25 years, culminating in her Master's degree as a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner from UT Arlington. Caring for children of all ages has been the heartbeat of her career—from nearly a decade as a CCRN-certified Pediatric ICU Charge Nurse and Transport Specialist at North Central Baptist Hospital to her specialized work today. Her extensive experience across acute and community settings has given her a deep appreciation for diverse family dynamics and cultural perspectives. At Hope for Healing, Andy focuses primarily on pediatric functional medicine, providing comprehensive, compassionate care tailored to each unique child.
Her passion for root-cause healing hit close to home early in life when her mother successfully healed from thyroid cancer through dietary changes guided by multiple homeopathic books. After years of seeing so many sick children in critical care and scratching the surface of hormone and peptide therapies in outpatient settings, Andy felt called to dive fully into pediatric functional medicine, and is currently pursuing her certification through the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM).
Guided by a personal faith that emphasizes love, kindness, and unconditional care for all people, Andy strives to ensure every patient feels safe, respected, and truly cared for. At home in the Two Step Farm community near The Woodlands, Andy is a proud wife and mother of four (with two still at home). A country girl at heart with a deep love for nature, she thrives outdoors—whether running outside, fishing, or traveling with family. In her free time, Andy loves cooking and baking, hobbies she has enjoyed since childhood.
Autism or Mold Toxicity? Getting to the Root Cause
