​"I have been drifting from doctor to doctor over decades trying to address chronic health issues with no clear causes.  I have made huge progress in just the first two months working with Dr. DeBell thanks to her new perspective and her availability to answer questions quickly as problems came up with the treatment plan.  I don't feel like just another chart, but part of a true collaboration -- one where we still don't have all the pieces, but we have strategies to get closer to solving the mystery."                                                                                                                                             
​Rob, 44, Bremerton

 Megan DeBell, MD
 Physician and Owner

​It's nice to meet you. I'm Megan DeBell, MD. 

In looking for answers for my own chronic pain, I quickly stumped mainstream medical professionals. As I went from practitioner to practitioner (even getting on a plane a few times) what I wanted the most has been a professional to support and guide me as I continued to look for solutions. 

I am that professional. I will accompany, guide, and support you as we work together to understand your symptoms and find solutions. I want you to feel better.  

​I consider myself a medical detective. I put together clues that might not seem connected to give you a clear picture of your health, and help you understand what you can do to care for yourself. 

My consultations in functional and integrative medicine are backed up by over fifteen years as a medical doctor. (My undergraduate degree is from Stanford University, my medical degree from the University of Arizona, and I did my residency in Family Medicine at Swedish Medical Center.) In my years of trying to care for chronic disease in a regular medical practice, I was frustrated by watching patients get sicker despite taking their medications. My curiosity drove me to seek out answers and information about the deeper causes of disease and find a different model to care for patients. 

I am proud to be board certified in integrative medicine by the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine (ABIHM). I have trained with the Institute for Functional Medicine and with Chris Kresser, MS, L.Ac. in his ADAPT clinician training program. My work includes an ancestral perspective, constantly reflecting on how humans have lived for most of our evolution (hint, it wasn't sitting all day at the computer and eating food from bags).

I also love to use mind-body medicine in my practice (ask me about my favorite meditation - shaking and dancing). I have completed advanced training with the Center for Mind Body Medicine. I enjoy facilitating mind-body medicine groups - in Seattle and at the University of Washington. 

For the last six years, I have also facilitated groups for physician colleagues and for students at the University of Washington modeled on the work of Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen. These groups help participants find meaning and inspiration in their work. I am proud to be a member of the clinical faculty in the University of Washington Department of Family Medicine.

​I volunteer to teach medical students who provide care at free clinics for immigrants, the uninsured, and the homeless. I speak Spanish and have volunteered extensively in Mexico.

I love food, cooking, and traveling. Feel free to ask me for my favorite recipe for any nutrient dense food you want to prepare. 

Kathryn Maly, MA
​Patient Liaison

I am excited to be part of the team at Shine Functional Medicine. Dr. DeBell and I began our relationship as neighbors who laced up our shoes for a weekly run. As we ran the sidewalks and park trails of Capitol Hill, I got a glimpse into Megan’s passionate pursuit of functional medicine and integrative health. Once she launched her new practice, I joined as a patient; and then became the Shine Functional Medicine Patient Liaison.

The health world is aswirl with stories of folks who have embraced radical change with great results; and indeed these stories are inspiring. But I am also interested in the experiences of people who restore their wellness gradually, through a deliberate pruning of habits that don’t serve them and a steady adoption of habits that bring them greater vitality and joy.

In my own health journey, I’ve grappled with sinus and respiratory infections, digestive challenges, and exhaustion. I left a rewarding, but energetically depleting, career as a public school teacher and created some space to heal my body with whole food, mindfulness and movement. I became curious about Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, where healing is about restoring wholeness and balance. I focused on reducing stress, rebuilding the microbiome in my gut, and learning to listen to and respect the unique energetic and nutritional needs of my body.

My goal is to help Dr. DeBell’s patients do the same. I want to support you as you adopt some of the changes proposed by Dr. DeBell and as you become the expert in what your body needs in order to feel strong and balanced.

In addition to joining people on their path toward wellness, I have a private mediation practice in which I work primarily with families and educators. I have also been a companion to dear ones in their dying process, working with family members and health care teams to support people in their end-of-life journey. While these may sound like very different lines of work, they share the common threads of grief, fear, suffering, courage, compassion, collaboration, imagination, insight, integrity and liberation. I have studied with Roshi Joan Halifax, PhD, whose “strong back, soft front” vision and leadership continue to inspire me.

When I’m not working, you’ll find me walking local beaches and trails, dancing on a hardwood floor, soaking up some vitamin D from the sun, chopping vegetables, and grounding myself under the fir, madrona and cedar trees.

​"Dr. DeBell is the first doctor I can remember who actually took the time to really get to know me and ask a lot of questions about all aspects of my life. She is quick to reply to emails, explains things so I can understand, and takes a genuine interest in my health. I can't say enough good things about her and I feel very fortunate to have found her."                                                                                         Amy, 48, Seattle

Kirsten Ramsdell, MS
Patient Liaison

I am beyond excited to be part of the Shine Functional Medicine team. I have personally experienced the healing powers of functional medicine and nutrition and this has become my professional passion. As Patient Liaison, I accompany patients as they find their way towards health and vitality.

After dealing with years of back pain, gastrointestinal imbalances, fatigue and brain fog, I found that the answer to my concerns was to become more in tune with my body and to become my body's greatest advocate. Working with a Functional Medicine practitioner helped me further heighten this self-awareness and care. I adopted lifestyle and dietary changes, fell in love with daily exercise, incorporated stress management practices, developed a passion for cooking and learned how to listen to my body. Food, movement, a strong support network and mindfulness have been my most powerful healing tools. In addition to this personal experience, I earned a Masters in Nutrition and Functional Medicine at the University of Western States. I am thrilled to share this knowledge with you. 

I am originally from Seattle and am excited to be working in my hometown. In my previous career, I was an English Teacher in South Korea. Managing 250 students each week, I learned to use effective communication, creativity, teamwork and enthusiasm. I’m now thrilled to use my interests and skills in education, functional medicine, and nutrition in my work as Patient Liaison.

Shine Functional Medicine takes the time and attention to truly listen to each patient, examine their personal root causes of dysfunction, customize treatment approaches and help educate them in restoring and sustaining health. However, healing does require patients' participation. I understand that this process can take time, demanding persistence, patience and self-love. I want to help patients embrace these lifestyle changes, discover the healing effects of food and enjoy the process of restoring their health.

In my free time, I love developing deliciously healthy recipes, traveling, hiking, spending time outdoors in the beautiful Northwest and singing in choirs.