About Me
My Personal Story
As a traditionally trained gynecologist, for 10 years I operated a very busy large practice, doing what I had been trained to do: Handing out synthetic hormones and cutting out parts that didn’t work. Over time I became more and more frustrated with this approach as the women would return to me, continuing to complain of fatigue, multiple vague physical complaints, feeling hormonally imbalanced, and often overwhelmed.
I was one of them. Too much stress, not enough sleep, a poor diet, and a pill couldn’t fix it all.
A few of my clients brought me information about bio-identical hormones and nutritional approaches to healing. As I listened, I became intrigued and began learning things I was never taught in medical school or residency. I found the Institute of Functional Medicine and learned a whole system’s, scientific approach to healing. There was nothing “alternative” about any of this. It was basic physiology and biochemistry, backed with a lot of nutritional science -- information that most doctors don’t ever learn because they’re too busy being educated only by the pharmaceutical industry....
And it’s really very simple: what we consume and can’t get rid of, becomes us. So I started with myself, closing my old practice, taking time off to educate myself, and applying these principles to my own life. By healing myself first I could then share my knowledge and experience; now helping my clients create health, vitality, and long-term well-being in their own lives. Recently, I became a Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach to give me the tools to focus on what’s RIGHT with you, helping YOU not just to survive, but to thrive!
Well Known For...
Dr. Margaret is the host of the ongoing popular Toxic Mold Summit, reaching thousands of viewers with expert information on the consequences of Biotoxin illness. In addition, she is sought out for multiple other health summits, speaking and educating throughout the year by sharing her experience, strength, and hope in a compassionate and engaging style.
Of particular interest are the intersection of neuropsychiatric illness, brain health, and hormonal health with environmental illness. Dr. Christensen authored a chapter for the textbook Integrative and Functional Medicine Nutrition Therapy published in 2020 by Humana Press.
A popular lecturer and speaker both locally and nationally, she has also hosted Detoxification and Hormonal Balancing, Mother-Daughter Coming of Age workshops, Sacred Sexuality, and life-transforming retreats on Creating Health from the Inside Out. In addition, she has lectured at SMU in the departments of medical anthropology, and Perkins School of Theology, passionately combining her interests in anthropology, cross-cultural healing, quantum physics, and spirituality.
Dr. Christensen served as adjunct faculty for the BUMC residency teaching program for 10 years, while running a large Ob-Gyn practice that included the only nurse-midwives in private practice in Dallas. She is the co-author of the award-winning Birthing A Better Way: 12 Secrets to Natural Childbirth book.
Along the way, she managed to birth, nurse and has raised four wonderful children who are her teachers — so understands firsthand the challenges of working mothers to create balance, health, and well-being in their lives. As those children have grown, 2 have had very special needs into adulthood, further stoking her passion for addressing root cause resolution early in life.
My Education
As a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (IFMCP), Dr.Margaret has served as an associate faculty member for the Institute for Functional Medicine (FunctionalMedicine.org) for many years, teaching physicians and health care practitioners nationally and internationally on the role of environmental toxicants, epigenetics, nutrition, and lifestyle exposures on hormonal health and chronic complex disease.
Now her interest has turned toward the realm of Certified Functional Medicine Health Coaching (CFMHC). Focusing on a person’s strengths, values, and what is “right” with them helps them achieve their long-term health goals. (We all know what we’re supposed to do… it’s the HOW that coaching can help you with when you’re overwhelmed!)
Dr.Christensen is board certified in Integrative and Holistic Medicine through the American College of Physicians and Surgeons. (ABOIM) From her previous life, as a board-certified Ob-Gyn (FACOG), Dr. Margaret has had a long-standing interest in the myriad factors affecting hormonal imbalances and how to safely treat hormone-related illnesses from a whole systems standpoint.
Dr. Christensen graduated with honors from Rice University, received her M.D. with honors from Baylor College of Medicine, and subsequently completed her residency at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas (BUMC), with honors