Kirsten P FitzGerald, DNP, FNP-BC Joins New Frontiers Clinic

We are delighted to announce that Kirsten FitzGerald*, DNP, FNP-BC, has joined the clinical team at the New Frontiers Functional Medicine Clinic. With a strong background in functional and integrative medicine, Kirsten brings a thoughtful, science-backed approach to healing that perfectly aligns with our clinic’s mission: to provide personalized, root-cause care that empowers patients to take charge of their health.

*Please note: Kirsten FitzGerald and Dr. Kara Fitzgerald are not related. The similarity in their last names is purely coincidental.

Bringing a Collaborative, Systems-Based Lens to Patient Care

Kirsten is board-certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and licensed by the State of Connecticut as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Her training and experience uniquely position her to address a wide range of complex, chronic conditions with a comprehensive and collaborative approach.

In her practice, Kirsten integrates advanced diagnostic testing, evidence-informed therapies, and deep listening to help patients uncover the root causes of dysfunction. While she is currently completing her functional medicine training, she brings a strong clinical foundation and is actively shadowing Dr. Espinal and Dr. Litwin as part of her onboarding at the clinic.

Her areas of clinical focus include:

Women’s health and hormone balance
Autoimmune conditions
Gut and digestive health
Thyroid and metabolic support
Mood, sleep, and stress regulation
Chronic fatigue and inflammation

Whether you’re navigating perimenopause, struggling with autoimmune flare-ups, or searching for answers after years of unexplained symptoms, Kirsten offers compassionate, precise, and data-driven care designed to help you feel better—and stay better.

Root-Cause Care with Kirsten

Functional medicine is gaining attention for its ability to offer solutions where conventional care often falls short, particularly for patients dealing with complex, multi-system health issues. Kirsten ’s arrival reflects our continued commitment to delivering cutting-edge, individualized functional medicine that gets to the why behind symptoms, rather than just treating the what.

Her work emphasizes:

A systems biology approach to identify interconnected imbalances
Lifestyle medicine principles that prioritize nutrition, sleep, movement, and stress management
Patient education and empowerment as a core part of care
An appreciation for the mind-body connection in chronic disease prevention and reversal
Advanced training in the specialty of Lyme and tick-borne diseases

A Natural Fit for Our Functional Medicine Team

At our clinic, we believe that true healing happens when science and compassion intersect. Kirsten brings both in abundance. She’s a skilled clinician, a thoughtful listener, and a passionate advocate for whole-person health.

Her collaborative style and personalized care philosophy make her a seamless addition to our clinical team. We are confident that our patients will benefit immensely from her experience, insight, and dedication to root-cause healing.

Ready to Work With Kirsten?

Kirsten is now accepting new patients. Whether you’re just beginning your journey with functional medicine or looking to go deeper into your current care plan, she’s here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

Learn more about our services and schedule an appointment here: Our Clinic Services »

Bio for Kirsten FitzGerald

Kirsten FitzGerald is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over 25 years of experience working with adults and children. Kirsten earned her doctorate in nursing from Fairfield University’s Egan School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences and is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She received advanced training and experience in the specialties of General Surgery, Ear, Nose, and Throat, Sinus and Allergy, Dermatology, Psychiatry, and Tick-Borne Diseases.

Known for her exceptional professionalism and warm, pragmatic style, Kirsten blends traditional medicine with a natural, whole-body approach. A chief motivator in shifting her practice to Functional Medicine, was witnessing first-hand the impact of Covid-19 on her patients and today’s health care system. After much success in treating patients with acute and long Covid symptoms using alternative therapies, she recognized the need for a full spectrum of care and an integrated approach that combines advanced testing and alternative treatments to manage not just Covid -19 but a variety of chronic and acute health conditions. She has completed advanced training in the specialty of Lyme and tick-borne diseases and is currently pursuing her certification in Functional Medicine.

Kirsten is a past recipient of the Newtown Connecticut Visiting Nurse Association Scholarship, a graduate of the prestigious Greenwich Hospital Perioperative Nurse Training Program, received the Fairfield University Student Achievement Award, and is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She is an active member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, The Institute of Functional Medicine, and The Menopause Society.

In addition to her work with New Frontiers, Kirsten serves as a clinical preceptor for Fairfield University training the next generation of Nurse Practitioners. She also enjoys working in a School Based Health Center for a local Community Health Organization caring for children and families. When not in clinic, Kirsten relishes spending quality time with family and friends. For fun she enjoys being outdoors tending gardens, hiking, casting a line, sailing with her son, or running with her dogs.

Author: Kara Fitzgerald, ND

https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/

Kara Fitzgerald, ND, received her doctor of naturopathic medicine degree from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She completed the first Counsel on Naturopathic Medicine-accredited post-doctorate position in nutritional biochemistry and laboratory science at Metametrix Clinical Laboratory under the direction of Richard Lord, PhD. Her residency was completed at Progressive Medical Center, a large, integrative medical practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Fitzgerald is the lead author and editor of Case Studies in Integrative and Functional Medicine and is a contributing author to Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine and the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)’s Textbook for Functional Medicine. With the Helfgott Research Institute, Dr. Fitzgerald is actively engaged in clinical research on the DNA methylome using a diet and lifestyle intervention developed in her practice. The first publication from the study focuses on reversal of biological aging and was published 04-12-2021 in the journal Aging. She has published a consumer book titled Younger You as well as a companion cookbook, Better Broths and Healing Tonics and has an application-based Younger You Program, based on the study. Dr. Fitzgerald is on the faculty at IFM, is an IFM Certified Practitioner and lectures globally on functional medicine. She runs a Functional Nutrition Residency program, and maintains a podcast series, New Frontiers in Functional Medicine and an active blog on her website, www.drkarafitzgerald.com. Her clinical practice is in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Additional publications

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Dr. Fitzgerald’s book is an extraordinary integration of a vast amount of diverse information that makes practical sense of the complex interplay between our genes, the folate/vitamin B12 cycle, homocysteine, and the clinical importance of methylation.

Jeffrey Bland, PHDPresident PLMI

I was thrilled to see the principles of a methylation food plan. This helped to confirm my teaching principles.

Kylene Bogden, MS, RDN, CSSD, LDNCleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine

The nutrition methylation webinar has fabulous information on methylation and specific nutrients that are required to support the process. I think I can speak for our team of dietitian nutritionists in saying that it is valuable to connect the science and biochemistry from Dr. Fitzgerald’s point of view with the nutrition and implementation from Romilly. They are a knowledgeable team! I love that this is a food-first approach with an emphasis on food and dietary intervention for sustainable long-term nutritional support. Food is not just medicine, it’s information for methylation and you can’t supplement your way out of a bad diet!

Brigid Titgemeier, MS, RDN, LDCleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine

I enjoyed the presentation and really appreciated the food first approach. There were many talking points to help solidify this concept with patients, particularly those that don’t “buy in” to the food first approach or simply want to take a supplement.

Lindsay Malone, MS, RD, CSO, LDCleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine

Dr. Kara Fitzgerald always produces clinically relevant and compelling cutting-edge content in her blogs, PodCasts and newsletters and I try to never miss one. Her dept of knowledge in the functional medicine paradigm and its relevance to modifying the course of the chronic disease epidemic is not only valuable, but inspiring. She is a respected colleague and I always appreciate the effort she puts into keeping up the important dialogue between integrative and functional medicine clinicians, as well as her clear desire to educate the health care consumer in the process. Dr. David M. Brady (University of Bridgeport, Designs for Health, Inc., Diagnostic Solutions Labs, LLC, and DrDavidBrady.com)

David BradyDoctor

I want to drop you a note to tell you how much I enjoy your newsletter-Your newsletter is no doubt the best newsletter I receive. It’s not too long, not too short, yet chock full of great info, and, most importantly for the reader, enjoyable to read because your playfulness comes through. All of this separates your newsletter from the pack. You are doing a superb job, and it’s a pleasure to read! Keep it up!

Robert Hedaya, MDClinical Professor of Psychiatry

I’ve had the opportunity to review Dr. Kara Fitzgerald’s blogs. She is a well-recognized leader of functional, integrative medicine. Her blogs effervesce with her enthusiasm for her subject matter and convey her genuine warmth and compassion for her patients. She writes in an engaging style while conveying significant and meaningful information about the varied topics she has covered. They are simply fun to read and easy to learn from her wealth of experience.

Shalesh Kaushal, MD PhD

Dr. Kara’s blogs are current, scientifically sound, and relevant to clinical care. Her case studies and reviews are focused on how to improve clinical thinking and outcomes using a systems biology and functional medicine approach. They are one of my favorite learning tools and I look forward to her insights and interviews monthly!

Sarah Lobisco, NDND, IFM-CP

Dr. Fitzgerald is what you get when you merge a brilliant clinical brain with a powerful loving heart. Her ability to incorporate seemingly disparate details into a mosaic of meaning that can improve patient care is extraordinary. The opportunity to learn from her should never be missed without great reason.

David H. Haase, MDIFM-CP, FABFM, DABIHM, CNS, BCN

Kara and I have co-authored case studies for peer-reviewed articles and textbooks over the years. I love reading her blog, while evidenced-based and geared towards the professional, the casual style makes for fun reading!

Dr. Mark Hyman, MD9 Time NY Times Best Selling Author

I thoroughly enjoy reading your blog and recommend it to the medical students. It is interesting, informative and up to date as well as an excellent supplement to their text.

Albert E. Dahlberg, MD, PhDProfessor, Brown University

Dr. Kara Fitzgerald’s writing style is clear, concise, well-translated from scientific gobbledygook to understandable every language. And most importantly, it’s accurate.

Dr. Tom O’BryanFounder: The Gluten Summit

Of the myriad blogs I receive in my inbox, Kara’s is one that I actually read! It’s funny, clinically relevant and smart.

Sara Szal, MDNYT Best Selling Author, Clinician

I am a regular reader of Dr Fitzgerald’s blog/newsletter. I read it because it is useful. Dr. Fitzgerald, stimulated by a recent article, looks into the bulk of the literature and synthesizes the relevant takeaways. Dr Fitzgerald is brilliant and always delivers clinical pearls.

Tom Sult, MDIFM Faculty, Author, Clinician

Wading through emails is not an ideal part of my day. For this reason, I’m very particular about who’s information I want coming into my inbox. When I see an email come in from Dr Fitzgerald, I stop what I am doing and I read it fully right then so I don’t miss it. Her content is always interesting, clinically relevant, cutting edge and many times entertaining as well. I only wish one thing: that she’d write more!

Ben Lynch, NDExpert on MTHFR & Epigenetics

Dr. Fitzgerald has her finger on what’s happening in holistic and integrative health and medicine. I love reading her blog! It’s always right on the mark!

Liz Lipski, PhD, CCN, CNS, CHNAuthor, Lecturer, Educator

I love reading Dr Fitzgerald newsletter! It is both funny and relevant and offers great info for my patients and colleagues.

Susan Blum, MD, MPHNYT Best Selling Author

Dr. Kara Fitzgerald is a clear, brilliant, and insightful clinician. She always seems to unwrap the story of the patient so well, then identifies the pertinent imbalances and together with the patient initiates the therapeutic plan with successful treatment. She is rare in the education and clinical circles. I always learn from her blogs, conversations, case studies, and lectures. She is an outstanding educator and functional medicine physician.

P. Michael Stone, M.D., M.SCertified Functional Medicine Clinician

I am so happy to have found Dr. Fitzgerald, Romilly and Rhonda who all care about my well being. My life has changed for the better and I will continue whatever staff recommends so I can enjoy my family and feel great.

Victoria O

I wanted to find the root cause for my health concerns, to treat the primary cause and not the symptoms. Dr. Fitzgerald’s approach is radically different. She is tuned in to me. She responds to me within 24 hours. The intimacy of working with Dr. K is different than the yearly physical.

John J

Joining New Frontiers Clinic: Kirsten P. FitzGerald, DNP, FNP-BC & Functional Medicine Practitioner