Good Neighbor Podcast: Rochester

EP#151: Integrative Insight with Marissa Bruin

• Lisa

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What happens when conventional medicine meets functional approaches? Magic—at least that's how it feels when you finally discover the root causes behind your persistent health challenges. Marissa Brun, family nurse practitioner and owner of Integrative Insight, joins us to share how she's bridging these two worlds to transform healthcare in Rochester.

Having battled an autoimmune condition since age 19, Marissa brings rare insight to her practice. "I know how it feels to be on the receiving end and feeling hopeless or afraid, confused, and just not getting any answers," she reveals. This personal journey, combined with her background working in a Level One trauma center, showed her how many chronic conditions simply don't respond to traditional approaches alone.

Contrary to common misconceptions, integrative medicine is deeply scientific. Marissa's practice employs advanced functional lab testing—examining everything from microbiome composition to genetic factors and cellular processes—to develop truly personalized treatment plans. Whether you're struggling with autoimmune issues, hormone imbalances, fatigue, or weight management, her approach digs deeper to find the why behind your symptoms.

The most exciting news? Integrative Insight is now credentialed with Blue Cross Blue Shield and finalizing arrangements with other major insurance providers, including Medicare and Medicaid. This breakthrough makes this powerful healthcare approach accessible to many more people who need it. As Marissa puts it, "That will fulfill that dream of mine to broaden the horizon and make integrative care more accessible."

Want to learn if this approach might help with your health challenges? Visit integrativeinsightnp.com or find Integrative Insight NP on Instagram and Facebook to discover how uncovering root causes could help you feel more like yourself again.

SPEAKER_00:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Lisa Swiftney.

SPEAKER_01:

Hi, everyone, and welcome to another episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast. I'm excited to share with you our special guest today. It is Marissa Brun. And Marissa is a family nurse practitioner and an integrative nurse practitioner practitioner. That is a tongue twister. And she is the owner of Integrative Insight. Correct? They do that, right? Yes. Yes. A little bit of a tongue twister there. So, Marissa, how are you today? Good. How are you? I'm doing really well. Thank you so much for having me today. Well, um, we appreciate you being a guest today and learning more about what you do. So, with that, let's tell our audience about your business. What do you do?

SPEAKER_02:

Sure. So the name of my business is Integrative Insight. It is a functional and integrative medicine practice in Rochester. So I help people uncover the root cause of their health challenges, whether that's chronic conditions, autoimmune issues, hormone imbalances, fatigue, difficulty losing weight. I help you uncover the why behind those symptoms. And we do this by combining the best of both worlds, conventional medicine and functional medicine, hence the name integrative. We use advanced lab testing, evidence-based strategies, and we get people on a personalized treatment plan to truly get you feeling your best and more like yourself again.

SPEAKER_01:

So tell our listeners about your journey. How or why did you get started in this?

SPEAKER_02:

I would say my number one motivating factor was I have an autoimmune issue myself. I was diagnosed at the age of 19. Um, so I've battled with it about half of my life, and I know how it feels to be on the receiving end and being hopeless or feeling afraid, confused, and just not getting any answers. Um, so I was dealing with that autoimmune issue while I was in nursing school. And before I became a nurse practitioner, um, most of my career was in working in the level one trauma center in emergency rooms. So I really saw firsthand so many people with chronic conditions just not getting better with the traditional approach. And I learned just how important it is to advocate for my patients and myself. Um, so I'm that voice now, and I just feel so passionate to help people truly feel their best.

SPEAKER_01:

And you do a very good job at it too.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01:

So can you tell us about any myths or misconceptions there are in your industry?

SPEAKER_02:

I think the biggest misconception is that it's alternative or it's not evidence-based. Um, when in reality, I feel like it's it's so scientific. We use um advanced functional lab testing, things that look at the entire microbiome, um, genetic testing, um, functional testing that goes so deep to figure out your exact neurotransmitters and all these different cellular processes. So this is rooted in science and holistic strategies to develop the best personalized care approach for you.

SPEAKER_01:

So when you're not working and helping your patients, what do you like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I have twin toddler boys, they're two years old. That's fun. Yes, it is it's very wild right now. Um, but my husband and I just love going on adventures with them. Um, they're obsessed with animals right now, so we just love to take them places and it's just such a blessing to see life through through their eyes. And when I'm not spending time with family and friends, I'm a nerd at heart, so I'm always reading up on the latest research or you know, getting a different certification, um, just so I can, you know, stay on the brink of the latest and help my patients that way. That is great.

SPEAKER_01:

Can you describe one hardship or life challenge that you rose above and can now say, because of that challenge, that you are better for it andor stronger?

SPEAKER_02:

Sure. Um definitely struggling with my autoimmune issue while I was in nursing school. And then um, I had my twins prematurely. So that was also a challenge. And behind the scenes, when they were about five months old, I was working on um taking extra certification towards my business. So um again, it just taught me the importance of prioritizing your health and being your own advocate for you know my children, my family, and myself. Um, that really helped me learn resilience and um just to believe in myself and to help other people.

SPEAKER_01:

Being an advocate for yourself is another whole podcast that we should do someday.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

It is important.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, definitely.

SPEAKER_01:

So, what is one thing that you want our listeners to know about you or your business?

SPEAKER_02:

Um that if I can't figure out the answer, um, I'm a very determined person. I will research the heck out of it. And if I still can't find the answer, um I will point you in the right direction. Um, I just think that's unfair to, you know, leave people hanging or to I never want to fill people with despair or, you know, I I'm here to help people feel empowered and hopeful and give people the time that they deserve.

SPEAKER_01:

That's good. Patience and time. That's what they need, right? Yes. So our listeners are now intrigued. They want to learn more. How can they contact you?

SPEAKER_02:

Um, so you can find me at my website. It's integrativeinsight np.com, um, as well as my social media. It's integrative insight np on Instagram and Facebook. Um, another exciting announcement to add is that I just am fully credentialed with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Um, so I'll be able to take insurance and I'm I'm finalizing many other major commercial insurances as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Um, so that will fulfill that dream of mine to be more accessible to people, to you know, broaden the horizon and make integrative care more accessible. Um, it is going to be a hybrid approach. There's some things that insurance came back and said, no, we absolutely will not cover that. Um, but the majority of it will be. So I'm I'm just really excited to add that to my practice.

SPEAKER_01:

That is exciting because so many people, you know, rely on their insurance. And yes, that is that is so great. So congratulations on that.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, Marissa, thank you for your time today and telling us a little bit more about your business and what you do. I'm excited for the audience to hear this and learn more and contact you.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you so much. Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_00:

Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast Rochester. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNProchester.com. That's GNProchester.com or call 248-9884.