ABOUT
Meet Dr. Margaret Christensen
MD, FACOG, IFMCP, ABOIM, CFMHC
My work in functional medicine began over 25 years ago when I was searching for answers to my own family’s health challenges. Today, as a longtime Institute for Functional Medicine faculty member and Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach, I’m passionate about helping you uncover the root causes of your health concerns and move toward lasting wellness.
My Story
As a traditionally trained gynecologist, for 10 years I operated a very busy large practice, doing what I had been trained to do: Handing out synthetic hormones and cutting out parts that didn’t work.
Over time I became more and more frustrated with this approach as the women would return to me, continuing to complain of fatigue, multiple vague physical complaints, feeling hormonally imbalanced, and often overwhelmed.
A few of my clients brought me information about bio-identical hormones and nutritional approaches to healing. As I listened, I became intrigued and began learning things I was never taught in medical school or residency.
I found the Institute for Functional Medicine and learned a whole system’s, scientific approach to healing. There was nothing “alternative” about any of this. It was basic physiology and biochemistry, backed with a lot of nutritional science — information that most doctors don’t ever learn because they’re too busy being educated only by the pharmaceutical industry….
And it’s really very simple: what we consume and can’t get rid of, becomes us. So I started with myself, closing my old practice, taking time off to educate myself, and applying these principles to my own life.
By healing myself first I could then share my knowledge and experience; now helping my clients create health, vitality, and long-term well-being in their own lives. I also became a Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach to give me the tools to focus on what’s RIGHT with you, helping YOU not just to survive, but to thrive!
Professional Affiliations & Accomplishments
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Institute for Functional Medicine: Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (IFMCP) and longtime associate faculty
- Board-certified Ob-Gyn, Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG)
- Board certified in Integrative and Holistic Medicine, American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM)
- Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach (CFMHC)
- Co-founder, Carpathia Collaborative
EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES
- Host, Toxic Mold Summit
- Host, Hormonal Havoc: The Covid Fallout and How to Fix It Summit
- Co-educator, Mold Detox Diet courses and Learning Center
- Co-creator, Mentored Healing
Education & Professional Journey
- Rice University — graduated with honors
- Baylor College of Medicine — M.D. with honors
- Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas — residency in Ob-Gyn, completed with honors
- Ob-Gyn practice — ran a large practice that included the only nurse-midwives in private practice in Dallas, while serving 10 years as adjunct faculty for the BUMC residency teaching program
- Institute for Functional Medicine — Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (IFMCP) and associate faculty for many years, teaching physicians and health care practitioners nationally and internationally
- American Board of Integrative Medicine — board certified in Integrative and Holistic Medicine (ABOIM)
- Functional Medicine Health Coaching — Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach (CFMHC), with a strengths-based approach to long-term health goals
Books, Publications & Academic Contributions
- Chapter author, Integrative and Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy: Principles and Practices (Humana Press, 2020) — view on Springer
- Co-author, Birthing A Better Way: 12 Secrets to Natural Childbirth (award-winning)
- Author, Hormonal Havoc: The COVID Fallout and How to Fix It e-guide — learn more
- Co-author with Dr. Gail Clayton, DCN, CNS, MS, RPh, LDN, Mold Illness: Mitochondria in the Storm — Amazon
- Co-author with Dr. Gail Clayton, DCN, CNS, MS, RPh, LDN, Unmasking Mast Cells — Amazon
- Lecturer at SMU in the departments of medical anthropology and Perkins School of Theology
See all collaborative titles on the Mold Detox Diet Books & Guides page.
Beyond the White Coat
Along the way, she managed to birth, nurse and has raised four wonderful children who are her teachers — so understands firsthand the challenges of working mothers to create balance, health, and well-being in their lives. As those children have grown, 2 have had very special needs into adulthood, further stoking her passion for addressing root cause resolution early in life.
A popular lecturer and speaker both locally and nationally, she has also hosted Detoxification and Hormonal Balancing, Mother-Daughter Coming of Age workshops, Sacred Sexuality, and life-transforming retreats on Creating Health from the Inside Out. In addition, she has lectured at SMU in the departments of medical anthropology, and Perkins School of Theology, passionately combining her interests in anthropology, cross-cultural healing, quantum physics, and spirituality.
Let’s Talk About What Really Heals
Dr. Margaret Christensen has spent the last 25+ years helping patients and practitioners uncover the root causes of illness—beyond prescriptions, protocols, or quick fixes.
Whether you’re hosting a summit, workshop, or podcast, she brings clarity, compassion, and clinical wisdom to conversations about hormone health, environmental toxins, brain-body resilience, and more.
Invite her to speak and help your audience discover what’s right with them.
Let's ConnectLooking Ahead
Dr. Christensen continues her educational work in collaboration with Dr. Gail Clayton, DCN, CNS, MS, RPh, LDN through Mold Detox Diet, which offers courses, books and a free Learning Center on mold and biotoxin illness.
Together they are also creating Mentored Healing, an upcoming small-group educational mentorship and community.
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Healing is easier when you don't have to figure it out alone. Follow Dr. Margaret Christensen for educational updates, new articles and free resources, and join a supportive community of people learning to take charge of their health.
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