Meet Mila McManus MD

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mila McManus MD and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mila, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
I’ve been practicing functional medicine for 20 years and the industry can come a long way, but it surprises me how many people still no little to nothing about it. And I think that, in line with that statement, that most people are unaware that functional medicine exists and that it is, indeed, evidence based medicine.

What should our readers know about your business?
My clinic, The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness, was born out of a desperate need for hope and healing for myself and others. I spent the first 30 years of my life as a sickly person, with health issues piling on over the years, and no help or answers in sight. That led me to go to medical school and figure out how to heal myself. Unfortunately, most of what I learned in medical training had nothing to do with nutrition or finding and addressing underlying causes of illness and disease; rather, we learned pharmaceuticals, formulas, and surgery. By the time I completed residency, I was taking at least 12 prescription medications and had never felt worse in my life. Approximately 6 months into my 1st year practicing family medicine as a sole proprietor, I was invited to a presentation about functional medicine and it changed my life forever. It made so much more sense, and I very quickly jumped all in, left conventional medicine behind, and never looked back. Within 6 months of practicing functional medicine on myself, I was off all of my medications and had never felt better in my entire life. I feel like I get to pay it forward every day, helping patients achieve similar results. What sets The Woodlands Institute apart from others in the industry are several things. One, I’ve lived it, so I can empathize with patients, and have the passion for what I do, which drives me to continually raise awareness about holistic healing. Along the way, I’ve learned many lessons, not the least of which is that you can’t force people to do what you offer. But when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Something else that sets us apart is our work family culture. When the team members are close and supportive of each other, it translates to patient care. And thirdly, what sets us apart, is that we offer so many modalities for healing. We never stop learning. We are constantly looking for the most cutting edge therapies to help our patients. Whatever ails a person, we can help.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had the pleasure of entertaining a friend, I would schedule some time at The Houstonian resort and spa. We would sit by the fire, go to lunch, perhaps play some pickle ball, and end with some spa services. Another day I would take her to Serenity Sips Bar and Wellness Emporium for a turmeric almond milk latte, shop their wellness retail products, and then spend hours using their numerous wellness and Serenity treatments. For dinner, we would go to Trulucks for shrimp cocktail and fresh crab claws. And of course we would go shopping all over the place, such as Market Street in the Woodlands, and estate sales, and thrift shopping. I love finding unique antiques. And we would walk and walk all over The Woodlands walking/biking trails. Some evenings we would hang out by the fire at my house and talk and read books.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow, there are so many people to thank, and so many books that were integral to my growth. First, I’d like to thank Dr. Steven Hotze for being an amazing mentor, changing my life both personally and professionally. Secondly, I’d like to thank Celeste Potter for supporting my clinic and me, and greatly contributing to our growth and success.

Website: https://WoodlandsWellnessMD.com

Other: There are links for all the social media pages on our website.