Meet Parsley’s First Nurse Practitioner: Jamie Kyei-Frimpong

Parsley Health NYC is excited to welcome Jamie Kyei-Frimpong, MS, FNP-BC, a board-certified family nurse practitioner to the care team.

Jamie received her nursing degree from Columbia University, with extensive clinical training throughout the city, including NYU, Mount Sinai, and Columbia. She is also a 2020 Doctorate in Nursing Practice candidate at Duke University.

As Parsley’s first nurse practitioner, Jamie’s training and experience in primary care and functional medicine allows her to examine medical histories, perform physical exams, diagnose illnesses, provide a care plan, prescribe medication and supplements , order diagnostic tests or imaging, and refer to specialists.

Q: Why did you become a nurse practitioner?

For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to help people. It started with wanting to be a neurosurgeon when I was in 3rd grade. By the time I was in college, I switched to wanting to be a nurse practitioner. Why? Because I valued the relationship that I developed with the nurse practitioner in my primary care doctor’s office. She wasn’t rushed to get to the next patient the way the doctor was, she spent time with me and listened to my concerns. That was the kind of experience I wanted to provide, the kind of relationship I wanted to develop with patients.

Q: What are the conditions you see most often?

I see a lot of issues regarding gut health , autoimmune conditions, adrenal issues, and hypothyroid.

Q: Why did you decide to join Parsley Health?

Parsley is taking the best of primary care, plus the best of functional medicine, and bringing them together in a third model that is the way forward for healthcare. Parsley not only aligns with my values as a practitioner, but has created an affordable and sustainable model, one that increases the access of functional medicine to a broader population. After having the opportunity to practice within both conventional and functional medicine models, I am very passionate about combining the two. I strongly feel that uncovering the root-cause of illness brings the greatest benefit to patients, allowing them to truly thrive. Yet, I still believe in the power of conventional medicine.

Q: What’s the best part of your job?

Beyond the relationship I have with my patients, what I love about working at Parsley is that I have the opportunity to work with such a dynamic team. We are all constantly evolving to be our best selves. Working with practitioners from all different backgrounds provides the unique opportunity of collaboration and learning to perpetuate growth.

Q: What areas of interest do you have as a nurse practitioner?

I really enjoy working with athletes, helping them to optimize their health and enhance performance. I find, as a practitioner, that we are often interested in an area that we have personally experienced. Adrenal and gut issues, which hindered my own performance as a competitive endurance athlete is what brought me to begin studying functional medicine. From there, I learned all the areas I could have improved in order to prevent the worsening of my symptoms. This allows me to bring, not only my knowledge as a practitioner, but also my experience as an athlete and patient.

Q: What is your experience of the current healthcare system and where would you like to see changes?

Healthcare should be more focused on health promotion and disease prevention. Instead we are focused on disease treatment, ruled by the pharmaceutical industry. There are natural remedies with fewer side effects that are both evidence-based and cost effective, yet insurance won’t pay for them. In fact, insurance won’t pay for more time to establish an effective patient-practitioner relationship. We need to move away from this model. We need a healthcare system that values the patient-practitioner relationship, the individuality of each patient, and the life improving aspects of taking a natural approach to treatment.

Q: How would you describe your relationship with your patients?

I see the patient-practitioner relationship as a partnership, one that is based on mutual trust and connection. My aim is to provide all my patients with this relationship and individualized connection, allowing me to set them up for success as they progress through the steps of our treatment plan.

Q: What are three things you do every day that are non-negotiable?

Smiling. Snuggles with my dog, Barley. Movement, whether a training session at the gym or a leisurely walk.

Q: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

The mountains and lakes of Colorado have become my favorite place of respite from the concrete jungle (NYC). I grew up in Vermont so I have an affinity for being in nature. True story though, I don’t ski…

Q: Favorite food?

Cauliflower gnocchi with dairy free spinach pesto and spicy chicken sausage.

Q: Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

“You can do anything you set your mind to.” My mom told me this as a child and it has always driven me in my pursuit of accomplishing my goals, whether in sports, academics, or my career.