Meet Our Functional MD Led Team

Dr. Eric Potter, IFM Certified MD

Founder, Physician

Dr. Eric Potter graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School and then went on to specialize in internal medicine (adult) and pediatric care, spending significant time and effort in growing his medical understanding while caring for patients from all walks of life. In recent years, he devoted countless hours to obtaining the Institute for Functional Medicine Certification.  This certification places him within a small group of regional practitioners who have completed the entire program.  At Sanctuary you will find the best of the conventional medical field combined with the best of Functional Medicine.

Beyond the science, Dr. Potter has personally experienced healthcare crises from both sides of care–as a physician and as a family member to patients. Working within our broken healthcare system and taking his family members through that same system inspired him to look for new ways to deliver the quality of healthcare he envisioned.  Stepping out of the insurance-based model of medicine allows him to provide whole person care in longer visits.  Providing wholesale pricing on lab tests and supplements removes the profit motive for these services, allowing patients to trust his recommendations.  Practicing Functional Medicine allows him to treat root causes rather than superficial symptoms. He endeavors to be the patient’s trusted advocate with the goal of restoring a healthier more abundant life.

Besides serving as a physician, he is married to an amazing wife and has six beautiful children. Their family has been shaped by the providential occurrences in their lives, including the beauty of adoption.

Dr. Potter also enjoys running, reading, hiking, and spending time with his family.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not man.” – Colossians 3:23

Continuing Medical Training And Certifications

  • Institute of Functional Medicine – Certified Practitioner
    • Advanced Practice Modules (APM): Cardiometabolic, Detox, GI, Hormone, Energy, Immune, Applying FM in Clinical Practice
    • Advanced Clinical Training: Pediatrics
  • Mold Toxicity Training
    • Shoemaker Surviving Mold 2019 Conference Attendance
    • International Society of Environmentally Acquired Illnesses 2019 Conference Attendance
  • Internal Medicine Board Certified
  • American Academy of Pediatrics Board Certified
  • Ben Lynch, Seeking Health Institute
    • 13 MTHFR and Nutrigenomics Courses
    • SHEICON 2015, 2016, 2017 Yearly Conferences
      • Member of Mastermind group at SHEICON2016 strategizing on advancing this approach to patient care.
  • Methylation and Bio-individualized Medicine
      • January 2015 Epigenetic Course
  • Extensive Self-Directed Research into the Methylation Cycle as it applies to all areas of health
    • William Walsh MD, Amy Yasko, and others
  • Audio Digest
    • Internal Medicine, Family Practice, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine

 

More Information:

 

 

Jeremy Paluch

Certified Nurse Practitioner

Jeremy Paluch, APRN, FNP-C Received his Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University. Jeremy’s interest in Functional Medicine began with his sister’s unfortunate Diagnosis of metastatic melanoma in 2009. This began what became a never-ending journey of research using diet and exercise to maintain and restore health. This eventually led to a clinical exercise science degree from Central Michigan University to show people the power of an appropriate diet and exercise routine for preventative and rehabilitative purposes.

His past and continued researched opened his eyes to a whole new world of practicing medicine by finding the root cause. Once his eyes were opened, there was no closing them. This guided his next decision to become a Nurse Practitioner with his sights set on functional medicine in order to help people to the best of his ability. Jeremy feels his path has been unconventional but knows God has guided his decisions every step of the way. He believes that the path to wellness is not always an easy one, but finding the root cause of illness is a journey worth traveling for true health and true happiness.

In his free time Jeremy enjoys listening to educational podcasts, reading, playing piano, exercising, spending time with family, and traveling with his wife.

Continuing Medical Training And Certifications

  • ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist

Tiffany Balin

Certified Nurse Practitioner

Tiffany Balin, APRN, NP-C received her Master of Science in Nursing from University of South Alabama. She has always had an interest in health and wellness which initially led her to her first bachelor’s degree in Exercise Sport Science from Wayne State University, then this led into her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Belmont University. She is completing her Advanced Fellowship through the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) in Anti-Aging, Metabolic and Functional Medicine and will sit for her national certification in the Fall of 2023.  

Her interest in functional medicine developed after being introduced to it by a former colleague, while working in integrative oncology. From then on, she became very passionate about finding the root cause of illness and not just treating symptoms. She believes digging deeper into an individual’s health journey leads to true healing. Tiffany feels God led her to Sanctuary and feels very blessed to be apart of the team and the patients we serve.  

In her free time Tiffany enjoys spending time with her two children and husband, exercising, reading and listening to educational podcasts related to functional medicine.

Continuing Medical Training And Certifications

  • Academy of Anti-Aging Medication in Anti-Aging Advanced practice module: Endocrinology, GI, Metabolic Dysfunction and Integrative Cancer Therapies, Triads
  • School of Applied Functional Medicine: Master class gut dysfunction.
  • Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine: Integrative Oncology, Breast Cancer: An Integrative Approach, Nutrition & Cancer.
  • Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association: Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse Practitioner
  • American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Board Certified

Sunny Austin

Certified Nurse Practitioner

Sunny Austin graduated from Vanderbilt with a Master of Science in Nursing in 2014. She then worked in primary care and urgent care as an FNP. She is passionate about caring for patients holistically and addressing root causes of chronic disease. She loves to hear patients’ stories of their health journeys and help them live healthier lives. She is thankful that God led her to Sanctuary Functional Medicine.

Continuing Medical Training And Certifications

  • Coming Soon