Our Team

Ann Auburn, DO, Founder

Dr. Auburn completed her residency in Family Practice at E.W. Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan in 1995, going on to complete a second residency in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) at MSU, then staying on faculty for 3 years as an Assistant Professor at the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Auburn currently maintains her Adjunct Clinical Faculty position through MSUCOM, teaching students and residents in her office. She maintains board certification in both Integrative and Holistic Medicine and OMM. Dr. Auburn has enjoyed two tenures as the President of the Kent County Osteopathic Association as well as an appointment as a Professional Member on the Michigan Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery and served as the Chairman of that board from 2007 to 2008.

She is also proficient in osteopathic manipulation, including craniosacral manipulation, as well as many injection techniques, including Prolotherapy and Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP), which she has been utilizing in practice for over 16 years.

Dr. Auburn spent more than 8 years independently training in various areas of natural and complementary health care with many physicians and mentors from all over the United States, fueled by her passion to find the best techniques to harness health and wellness in her patients. Using the body's innate ability to heal, along with diet, nutritional supplements, detoxification, movement and a positive, hopeful attitude, her purpose is to truly restore health with a holistic approach to each individual's maximum potential.

This is the basis of the Natural Health Improvement Center. The NHIC is a welcoming place of healing and new beginnings, where practitioners take the time to listen, look for the root causes of your issues, prepare programs and guide you through your journey to health improvement.

Dr. Auburn's goal is to continue to innovate and bring to patients the best options, integrating traditional and holistic medicine techniques and practices, helping them on their path to healing, as naturally as possible.

Gregory Flynn, OMD, L.Ac

Dr. Flynn graduated from Emperor’s College in Santa Monica, California with top honors. His doctorate was completed at SAMRA University of Oriental Medicine in Los Angeles and Dr. Flynn has now been practicing acuuncture pfor over 20 years.
Dr. Flynn teaches techniques that can be used at home to enhance and speed up healing and well-being.
Dr. Flynn treats patients of all ages and uses many techniques including muscle response testing, allergy elimination technique, touch for health, and nutritional counseling and is licensed in California to practice: Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Nutrition, Qi Gong (inner energy training), and has extensive training in parasitology and allergies.
Linda Huizenga, PA-C

Linda Huizenga, PA-C has been an integral part of our practice since 2009. As a Physician Assistant, she is particularly well versed in hormones and is our coordinator for First Line Therapy, a lifestyle change program. Some of Linda’s specialties are Women’s & Men’s Health, Lyme Disease, Hormone Implant Procedures, General Medicine, Allergies, and much more.
When you see Linda, you will find that her years of experience have given her a wealth of knowledge and caring manner.
Mary VanderWal, FNP, PhD

Mary Vander Wal, FNP, PhD has had a passion for integrative health since seeing the benefits in two of her children. Her passion led her to return to school at Grand Valley State University and after graduating with her MSN in 2002, she became certified as a nurse practitioner.
Realizing the need to have research validation for integrative therapies, she returned to school again and obtained her PhD in Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology in 2018 with a focus on clinical research. She is excited to once again be practicing in an integrative health practice after returning to the West Michigan area.
Kristen Taylor, PA-C

Kristen Taylor, PA-C graduated with her Bachelor's from Grand Valley State University and graduated from the University of Toledo with her Master's in Physician Assistant Studies in 2014. She began practicing in a substance abuse facility in Michigan and it was here that she started to pursue alternatives to conventional medicine. In the substance abuse setting, she worked with many patients who had difficulties with traditional medications and she became inspired to use alternative and holistic medicine to improve the life of her patients.
Leslie TenBrink, MSN, APRN-BC, FNP

As a Family Nurse Practitioner, Leslie has been in primary care, women’s health, and, most recently, cosmetic medicine. She is eager to be fully immersed in functional and integrative medicine and is passionate about working alongside patients, helping them find answers, creating space for them to learn about their wellness, cheering them on as they incorporate wellness strategies, and partnering with them as they are empowered to continue to seek lifelong health. She has helped patients from the outside-in and now wants to help patients from the inside-out.
Sarah Stevens, APRN, CNP

Sarah Stevens, APRN-CNP is a graduate of Cedarville University where she obtained her Master of Science in nursing. She obtained her undergraduate degrees from Wright State University with a Bachelor of Science in psychology and Bachelor of Science in nursing. Sarah has worked in primary care for the past 7 years, working in Ohio and Texas. She is passionate about preventive care and working with patients to understand how to live healthy lives. To her, health is more than the absence of disease, it is living to your full potential to be able to achieve goals and dreams.