In short: An integrative doctor blends conventional medical knowledge with natural, whole-person approaches and works alongside your other doctors. Dr. Ryan Kneessi is a licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) in Maryland who practices integratively, seeing adults in person in Odenton and by secure video anywhere in the state.
Wondering whether integrative care is a good fit for you? Start with a short, free conversation.
What integrative medicine means
Integrative medicine looks at the whole person rather than a single symptom on its own. It brings together the best of conventional care, such as lab testing and coordination with your medical doctors, with natural approaches like nutrition, sleep, movement, stress support, and thoughtful use of practitioner-grade supplements. The goal is a clear, practical plan that fits your life and your other care.
Integrative care is collaborative by design. Rather than asking you to choose between “regular” medicine and natural medicine, it helps you understand how they can work together.
Who practices integrative medicine in Maryland
Many kinds of clinicians describe their work as integrative, including medical doctors, osteopathic doctors, nurse practitioners, and naturopathic doctors. Because “integrative” is a description rather than a license, it helps to look at each person’s training and license. In Maryland, the Board of Physicians licenses MDs, DOs, physician assistants, and naturopathic doctors, and its online lookup lets you check any of them.
Naturopathic doctors complete a four-year, accredited naturopathic medical program and pass national board exams, and integrative, whole-person care is at the center of that training. You can learn more on our Naturopathic Doctor in Maryland page.
Integrative, holistic, functional, naturopathic: how the words fit together
These words overlap, and people use them in different ways. Holistic describes caring for the whole person. Functional medicine focuses on how body systems connect and on looking for underlying patterns. Integrative describes combining conventional and natural approaches. Naturopathic doctor is a licensed profession that typically uses all three approaches. If you would like a deeper look, read Holistic Doctor in Maryland and Functional Medicine Doctor in Maryland.
Not sure this is the right kind of doctor? Start with what you are noticing
Many people never search for the words “integrative doctor.” Instead, they search for what they are living with, such as feeling tired all the time, hormones that feel out of balance, or a stomach that never seems settled. If that sounds like you, you are in the right place, and you do not need to know the right medical term before reaching out.
- Low energy and fatigue. We talk through your sleep, stress, nutrition, and daily routine, and we review any lab work you already have so you can see the bigger picture.
- Hormone and menopause questions. We look at how your cycle, stress, sleep, and thyroid labs fit together, and how a natural, whole-person approach can sit alongside your other care.
- Gut and digestive concerns. Bloating, irregularity, and food reactions are common reasons people reach out. We review your history, your eating patterns, and any past testing so you understand your options.
- Thyroid and “my labs are normal but I still feel off.” We walk through your results with you in plain language and talk about whether more information would be useful.
A naturopathic visit is educational and collaborative, and it works alongside your primary care doctor and specialists rather than replacing them. If you are having new, severe, or sudden symptoms, please see your primary care doctor or seek urgent care first. For a longer explanation, read What kind of doctor should I see for fatigue, hormones, or gut issues?
The easiest first step is a short, free conversation to see whether the practice is a good fit.
How to choose an integrative doctor in Maryland
- Check the license. Look the person up on the Maryland Board of Physicians website.
- Ask about training. Ask where they trained and how they stay current.
- Ask how they work with your other doctors. Good integrative care is collaborative and keeps your primary care doctor in the loop.
- Ask how visits and costs work. Ask about visit length, whether video visits are available, and whether HSA or FSA cards are accepted.
- Notice how you feel in the first conversation. You should feel listened to and never pressured.
Integrative care with Move Forward Natural Health
Dr. Kneessi earned his ND from National University of Health Sciences in 2013 and holds an active Maryland naturopathic doctor license. He sees adults who want to understand their labs, nutrition, energy, sleep, hormones, and digestion, as well as people managing ongoing health concerns alongside their medical care. Visits are educational and collaborative, and he works alongside your existing doctors rather than replacing them.
Video visits anywhere in Maryland
If you live in Baltimore, Annapolis, Columbia, Frederick, the Eastern Shore, Western Maryland, or anywhere in between, you can meet by secure video from home. In-person visits are available at the Odenton office in Anne Arundel County.
How visits work
- Free 15-minute consult. A short conversation to share what is on your mind and see whether the practice is a good fit. There is no exam and no plan at this step.
- New patient visit. The in-depth first visit, where your history, habits, and any existing labs are reviewed together.
- Follow-up visits. Shorter check-ins to review progress and adjust your plan.
The practice is cash-pay, and HSA and FSA cards are accepted. Whether a specific service is reimbursable depends on your plan, so please check with your plan administrator. You can read more about how I work.
What working with an integrative doctor in Maryland looks like
If you are searching for an integrative doctor in Maryland, it helps to know what the process looks like before you book. With Dr. Kneessi, it begins with a free 15-minute call, where you can describe what you are looking for and ask how integrative care fits alongside the doctors you already see. There is no obligation, and the call is simply a way to see whether his approach is a good fit for you.
The first full visit lasts up to 60 minutes, either in person at the Odenton office or by video from anywhere in Maryland. Dr. Kneessi goes through your health history, sleep, stress, meals, digestion, movement, medications, supplements, and any lab work you already have. He explains in plain language how those pieces may connect, and you leave with a written, educational plan built around nutrition and daily habits and, when it makes sense, botanicals or nutrients, along with the reasoning behind each suggestion.
Follow-up visits last up to 30 minutes and are a chance to talk about what has been working, adjust the plan, and decide on next steps together. Functional lab testing is optional and is suggested only when it would add useful information. Throughout, Dr. Kneessi works alongside your primary care doctor and any specialists you see, and he is glad to share his notes with them when you ask him to.
Dr. Kneessi has practiced since 2014, and he holds an active Maryland naturopathic doctor license that you can confirm on the Maryland Board of Physicians practitioner search. Integrative describes his approach rather than a separate Maryland license, which is why checking credentials matters. The page on how I work walks through each step in more detail, and the guides on finding a naturopathic doctor in Maryland and a functional medicine doctor in Maryland explain how those terms relate.
Integrative care near you in Maryland
In-person visits are at the Odenton office in Anne Arundel County. People nearby often come from Annapolis, Severna Park, Arnold, Crofton, Gambrills, Millersville, Bowie, Odenton. Video visits are available from anywhere in Maryland, including Baltimore, Columbia, Rockville, Frederick, and the Eastern Shore.
If you were comparing holistic and integrative wording, the holistic doctor in Maryland page keeps that broader explanation, while this page stays focused on integrative doctor searches.
Frequently asked questions
What is an integrative doctor?
An integrative doctor combines conventional medical knowledge with evidence-informed natural approaches such as nutrition, lifestyle, sleep, and stress support, and works alongside your other doctors. Integrative describes an approach rather than a specific license, so it is worth checking each practitioner’s credentials.
Is an integrative doctor the same as a naturopathic doctor?
Not exactly. Many types of clinicians practice integratively, including MDs, DOs, nurse practitioners, and naturopathic doctors. A naturopathic doctor (ND) is a specific licensed profession in Maryland, and integrative care is central to how NDs are trained.
Can I see an integrative doctor by video in Maryland?
Yes. Dr. Ryan Kneessi offers secure video visits to adults located anywhere in Maryland, as well as in-person visits in Odenton.
How do I check an integrative doctor’s license in Maryland?
You can search any licensed clinician on the Maryland Board of Physicians website, which licenses MDs, DOs, physician assistants, and naturopathic doctors. Dr. Kneessi’s Maryland naturopathic doctor license is listed there.
Will an integrative doctor replace my primary care doctor?
No. Dr. Kneessi works alongside your primary care doctor and specialists and encourages you to keep your existing care.
How do I get started?
Book a free 15-minute consult. It is a short conversation to ask questions and see whether the practice is a good fit, with no pressure to book anything further.
Ready to see whether integrative care is right for you?
What happens at a first visit with an integrative doctor in Maryland?
With Dr. Kneessi, the first visit lasts up to 60 minutes, in person in Odenton or by video from anywhere in Maryland. He reviews your history, routines, medications, supplements, and any recent lab work, and you leave with a written, educational plan and the reasoning behind each suggestion.
Is integrative medicine covered by insurance in Maryland?
Integrative visits with Dr. Kneessi are self-pay because Maryland naturopathic doctors cannot currently contract with insurance companies. Some people submit itemized receipts to their plan or use HSA or FSA funds, and eligibility depends on each plan, so please check with your plan administrator before you book.
