Meet Our Team.

Kathleen Russo

Kathleen Russo

MD

Dr. Russo is Carolina HealthSpan’s Chief Medical Officer, Owner, as well as a Board Certified Physician. She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania. She completed her residency training at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Dr. Russo completed a two-year Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona under the direction of Dr. Andrew Weil, a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine. With over 20 years of healthcare experience, Dr. Russo has made it her goal to find the root of the problem and fix it, rather than simply alleviate symptoms. She has consistently evolved over her career to meet the needs of her patients and maintain her medical advantage with proven effective technologies, therapies and procedures. She has expertise in Hormone Optimization, Anti-Aging & Longevity, Sexual Wellness, and in optimal health. Dr. Russo prides herself on spending extensive one-on-one time with each individual which allows her to build an optimization program focused on each patient’s root causes, needs and goals rather than a cookie cutter treatment plan.

Dr. Russo shows true compassion for each and every patient as well as the community. She has started organizations to promote and extend life and healthspan as far as Zambia, Africa and as close as Rowan County, North Carolina. She is an avid runner, completing 12 Boston Marathons and multiple ultra marathons, and has helped thousands of individuals find renewed energy and enjoy life again.

Ronda Gilliard

Ronda Gilliard

Nurse Injector-RN

Ronda is our registered aesthetic nurse injector here at Carolina HealthSpan Institute. She is a native of the Charlotte area and has over 27 years of experience in emergency medicine, wellness and fitness, surgical services and oncology. Ronda enjoys building client relationships by making each individual feel beautiful, confident and achieve their aesthetic goals. She achieves this goal by her experience, creativity and artistry while using her clinical judgement.

Carly Heins

Carly Heins

Communications Coordinator

Carly Heins is the Communications Coordinator at Carolina Healthspan Institute. She enjoys talking to patients and giving them support. Carly Heins has earned a Health Systems Management degree and minor in Gerontology. In her spare time, Carly enjoys spending time with her family, friends and enjoys traveling.

Amanda Corriher

Amanda Corriher

Medical Assistant

Amanda has been a medical assistant for Carolina Healthspan Institute since 2011. She has a special ability to communicate and connect with patients that is unmatched. She is certified in MA and Phlebotomy and runs our Huntersville location with ease. In her free time, you can catch her heading to the beach with her little ones. Oh, and trust us when we say you will never meet someone who is a bigger fan of Christmas than her!

Lauren Ammar

Lauren Ammar

PA-C

Lauren has always been immensely passionate about preventative healthcare and wellness. It began when she attended the University of Georgia for her Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion, part of the college of Public Health in 2010. She then went on to earn her Master in Physician Assistant Studies in 2014. Prior to transitioning to a full time career in Integrative Health in 2020, she was caring for patients with orthopedic concerns and performing orthopedic surgery in Detroit, Michigan for several years. Although she loved her work and her patients, she found she desired to work with patients looking to optimize their health through an integrative and holistic approach.

Lauren is overjoyed to work alongside Carolina HealthSpan Institute’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kathleen Russo, and in partnership with Dr. Mary Crowder. She is a member of The Institute for Functional Medicine and a certified practitioner through BioTe Medical, which has provided her with in depth knowledge and skill in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Lauren has a passion for partnering with men and women of all stages of life to work toward their individual health optimization goals. Her particular areas of interest are bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, nutrition, weight loss, gut health, thyroid balancing, mood and sleep concerns, and longevity and anti-aging medicine.

Outside of Carolina HealthSpan Institute, Lauren is active in all things fitness from weightlifting to hiking to hot yoga. She enjoys instilling her core values of wellness, nutrition, and staying active in others and looks forward to helping you find your personalized integrative path to optimal wellness.

Giovanna Moreira

Giovanna Moreira

Client Relations Manager

Giovanna is the Client Relations Manager here at Carolina Healthspan Institute. She is focused on building relationships with our patients to ensure that their needs are met and are satisfied with the services and/or products provided by our company and any challenges are overcome. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2021 with a major in Psychology and minor in Business Administration. In her free time, she enjoys trying different restaurants around the Queen City with her boyfriend and spending time outdoors.

Amber Pondo

Amber Pondo

Operations Manager

Amber is the operations manager here at CHI. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Health System Management. Amber enjoys mini vacations or trips to the beach, along with spending time with family, friends, and her cat Gracie. She also enjoys doing weekly yoga and going to concerts on the weekend.

Tammy Chubirko

Tammy Chubirko

Registered Nurse

Tammy Chubirko is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Carolinas College of Health Sciences with an Associate of Science in Nursing and has been a registered nurse for the past 17 years. Prior to joining Carolina Healthspan Institute, she worked at CMC/Atrium Health Main in a variety of areas, including pre-surgery holding, hospice, progressive care, and intensive care. When she is not working, Tammy enjoys exploring and traveling with her husband to various warm, tropical locations.

Mary T. Crowder

Mary T. Crowder

MD

Mary T. Crowder, MD, is a magna cum laude graduate of Duke University and earned her medical degree at the University of Virginia. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC before moving to Charlotte, NC in 1990.
• Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Expertise in Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy
• Women’s health & optimization
• Available to see new patients!
Dr. Crowder has been interested in wellness since medical school and has been involved in complimentary medicine education for over 20 years. She was involved in a medical exchange to China in 2004 and joined the Carolina HealthSpan team in 2007 to further expand her practice of preventive and functional medicine. Since then, Dr. Crowder’s focus has been to help women through Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy and has truly impacted hundreds of women’s lives by increasing energy and libido while decreasing stress and depression levels. Dr. Crowder also specializes in optimizing both thyroid and adrenal function as well as women’s general health.

Lynda Evans

Lynda Evans

Medical Assistant

Lynda has worked in the healthcare field since the early 1980’s and has been with CHI since they opened in 2004. She has a real passion for helping others. When not at work she enjoys watching sports with her husband and gardening. And spending as much time as she can with her 4 grandchildren.

Shane Vanhoose

Shane Vanhoose

Office Coordinator

Shane is a nice reminder to all our male patients that the treatments we offer aren’t just for women. With his charismatic charm, he makes you feel right at home even if it’s the first time you meet him. As our office coordinator, he is committed to your patient experience. When he is not committing his time to Carolina Healthspan Insitute, you can find Shane training and competing in races/triathlons all over the country. He is committed to his health as much as yours!

Samantha Kurtz

Samantha Kurtz

Executive Director & New Patient Call Expert

Samantha is the Executive Director and New Patient Expert here at Carolina Healthspan Institute. She has undergone extensive training with the doctors here at Carolina Healthspan Institute to provide the best help and knowledge on all new patient calls. Her true compassion for ALL creates the unique one on one patient experience you’ve been missing in healthcare. Samantha is a Chapel Hill, NC native and loves cheering on any UNC team playing. She also loves anything outdoors and traveling with her husband.

Know Our Values.

Our Mission

We use an integrative medicine approach focused on guiding individuals toward root cause resolution and achievement of sustainable, optimal health.

Our Team

Our team is conscientious, loyal, dependable, empathetic, empowering, and holds the highest level of integrity for our mission, our team and our patients.

Our Mindset

We will always walk the walk, have a sense of humor, strive to create relationships with whom we come in contact and maintain the idea that excellence is a moving target.

Our Experience

Our patients will remain at the center of care and the hero of their own journey. Our team will help guide them toward the results they desire through cause resolution & preventive education.

Our Future

Growth, innovation and life-long learning will forever remain at the center of our mission. We understand that without knowledge, action is useless, and knowledge without action is futile.

Let's Talk

Our goal is to safely and effectively optimize your health in the most efficient manner using trusted and advanced solutions. Your outstanding experience at Carolina Healthspan Institute is at the center of our healthcare model. Experience the benefits that 30 minutes or more with a physician can mean for your health.

Our Locations

423C South Sharon Amity Rd.
Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

9601 Holly Point Drive Suite 200
Huntersville, North Carolina 28078

Contact

Charlotte: (704) 333-4817

Huntersville: (704) 727-5360

Get in Touch

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Let's Talk

Our Locations

423C South Sharon Amity Rd.
Charlotte, North Carolina 28211 

9601 Holly Point Drive Suite 200
Huntersville, North Carolina 28078

Contact

Charlotte: (704) 333-4817

Huntersville: (704) 727-5360

Get in Touch

Use the form below to schedule a free consultation with our team of integrative medicine experts.

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