EP#151: Integrative Insight with Marissa Bruin

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.

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Lisa Swiftney.

SPEAKER_01 (00:12):
Hi, everyone, and welcome to another episode of
the Good Neighbor Podcast.
I'm excited to share with youour special guest today.
It is Marissa Brun.
And Marissa is a family nursepractitioner and an integrative
nurse practitioner practitioner.

(00:32):
That is a tongue twister.
And she is the owner ofIntegrative Insight.
Correct?
They do that, right?
Yes.
Yes.
A little bit of a tongue twisterthere.
So, Marissa, how are you today?
Good.
How are you?
I'm doing really well.

(00:52):
Thank you so much for having metoday.
Well, um, we appreciate youbeing a guest today and learning
more about what you do.
So, with that, let's tell ouraudience about your business.
What do you do?

SPEAKER_02 (01:07):
Sure.
So the name of my business isIntegrative Insight.
It is a functional andintegrative medicine practice in
Rochester.
So I help people uncover theroot cause of their health
challenges, whether that'schronic conditions, autoimmune
issues, hormone imbalances,fatigue, difficulty losing

(01:28):
weight.
I help you uncover the whybehind those symptoms.
And we do this by combining thebest of both worlds,
conventional medicine andfunctional medicine, hence the
name integrative.
We use advanced lab testing,evidence-based strategies, and
we get people on a personalizedtreatment plan to truly get you

(01:49):
feeling your best and more likeyourself again.

SPEAKER_01 (01:54):
So tell our listeners about your journey.
How or why did you get startedin this?

SPEAKER_02 (02:02):
I would say my number one motivating factor was
I have an autoimmune issuemyself.
I was diagnosed at the age of19.
Um, so I've battled with itabout half of my life, and I
know how it feels to be on thereceiving end and being hopeless
or feeling afraid, confused, andjust not getting any answers.

(02:22):
Um, so I was dealing with thatautoimmune issue while I was in
nursing school.
And before I became a nursepractitioner, um, most of my
career was in working in thelevel one trauma center in
emergency rooms.
So I really saw firsthand somany people with chronic
conditions just not gettingbetter with the traditional
approach.
And I learned just how importantit is to advocate for my

(02:45):
patients and myself.
Um, so I'm that voice now, and Ijust feel so passionate to help
people truly feel their best.

SPEAKER_01 (02:55):
And you do a very good job at it too.

SPEAKER_02 (02:58):
Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 (03:00):
So can you tell us about any myths or
misconceptions there are in yourindustry?

SPEAKER_02 (03:08):
I think the biggest misconception is that it's
alternative or it's notevidence-based.
Um, when in reality, I feel likeit's it's so scientific.
We use um advanced functionallab testing, things that look at
the entire microbiome, um,genetic testing, um, functional
testing that goes so deep tofigure out your exact

(03:29):
neurotransmitters and all thesedifferent cellular processes.
So this is rooted in science andholistic strategies to develop
the best personalized careapproach for you.

SPEAKER_01 (03:43):
So when you're not working and helping your
patients, what do you like to dofor fun?

SPEAKER_02 (03:50):
Well, I have twin toddler boys, they're two years
old.
That's fun.
Yes, it is it's very wild rightnow.
Um, but my husband and I justlove going on adventures with
them.
Um, they're obsessed withanimals right now, so we just
love to take them places andit's just such a blessing to see
life through through their eyes.
And when I'm not spending timewith family and friends, I'm a

(04:13):
nerd at heart, so I'm alwaysreading up on the latest
research or you know, getting adifferent certification, um,
just so I can, you know, stay onthe brink of the latest and help
my patients that way.
That is great.

SPEAKER_01 (04:28):
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 andorstronger?

SPEAKER_02 (04:44):
Sure.
Um definitely struggling with myautoimmune issue while I was in
nursing school.
And then um, I had my twinsprematurely.
So that was also a challenge.
And behind the scenes, when theywere about five months old, I
was working on um taking extracertification towards my
business.
So um again, it just taught methe importance of prioritizing

(05:08):
your health and being your ownadvocate for you know my
children, my family, and myself.
Um, that really helped me learnresilience and um just to
believe in myself and to helpother people.

SPEAKER_01 (05:22):
Being an advocate for yourself is another whole
podcast that we should dosomeday.

SPEAKER_02 (05:27):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 (05:28):
It is important.

SPEAKER_02 (05:30):
Yes, definitely.

SPEAKER_01 (05:32):
So, what is one thing that you want our
listeners to know about you oryour business?

SPEAKER_02 (05:40):
Um that if I can't figure out the answer, um, I'm a
very determined person.
I will research the heck out ofit.
And if I still can't find theanswer, um I will point you in
the right direction.
Um, I just think that's unfairto, you know, leave people
hanging or to I never want tofill people with despair or, you

(06:01):
know, I I'm here to help peoplefeel empowered and hopeful and
give people the time that theydeserve.

SPEAKER_01 (06:10):
That's good.
Patience and time.
That's what they need, right?
Yes.
So our listeners are nowintrigued.
They want to learn more.
How can they contact you?

SPEAKER_02 (06:24):
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 onInstagram and Facebook.
Um, another excitingannouncement to add is that I
just am fully credentialed withBlue Cross Blue Shield.
Um, so I'll be able to takeinsurance and I'm I'm finalizing

(06:48):
many other major commercialinsurances as well as Medicare
and Medicaid.
Um, so that will fulfill thatdream of mine to be more
accessible to people, to youknow, broaden the horizon and
make integrative care moreaccessible.
Um, it is going to be a hybridapproach.
There's some things thatinsurance came back and said,
no, we absolutely will not coverthat.

(07:08):
Um, but the majority of it willbe.
So I'm I'm just really excitedto add that to my practice.

SPEAKER_01 (07:14):
That is exciting because so many people, you
know, rely on their insurance.
And yes, that is that is sogreat.
So congratulations on that.

SPEAKER_02 (07:25):
Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 (07:27):
Well, Marissa, thank you for your time today and
telling us a little bit moreabout your business and what you
do.
I'm excited for the audience tohear this and learn more and
contact you.

SPEAKER_02 (07:41):
Thank you so much.
Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_00 (07:45):
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast
Rochester.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on the
show, go to GNProchester.com.
That's GNProchester.com or call248-9884.