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Dr. Kara Nakisbendi

Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, OBGYN

Dr. Kara Nakisbendi is a board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist and Certified Functional Medicine Provider. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Temple University and her Medical Degree from Temple University School of Medicine where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Dr. Nakisbendi completed her residency and was named chief resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. She practiced Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Main Line Health Systems in Pennsylvania where she delivered babies and performed major gynecologic surgeries.


In 2003, Dr. Nakisbendi established her own practice, Nakisbendi and Associates in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, treating patients with complex gynecologic disorders. She specialized in adolescent gynecology and menopausal disorders. Dr. Nakisbendi has always been passionate about finding the root cause of illness even when she was practicing routine gynecology. In 2007, she became severely ill from a near fatal postoperative infection. That hospitalization transformed how she practiced medicine. She went on to become certified in Functional Medicine through the Institute of Functional Medicine and began addressing the underlying causes of her patient’s illnesses.  She began treating her patients and their families utilizing lifestyle changes and nutritional therapy.


Raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Nakisbendi realized tick borne diseases had affected several family members including herself. This experience sparked her journey to find answers in the world of naturopathic medicine, energy medicine, homeopathy, and multiple other modalities. Dr. Nakisbendi moved to the Seattle area in 2017 to practice medicine at an integrative medical clinic in Woodinville, WA where she treated chronically ill patients utilizing such techniques as Autonomic Response Testing (ART) and neural therapy. She continued to work alongside Naturopathic Physicians at another clinic in Bellevue learning more holistic ways to approaching healing. She also developed their SOT (Super Oligo nucleotide therapy) and LDI (Low Dose Immunotherapy) program which she continues to utilize currently with her patients.


Dr. Nakisbendi believes true healing happens when you integrate all the gifts given to us in medicine utilizing the best evidence based medicine available at the time. She has found when you polarize care into just one area (allopathic vs naturopathic) you significantly limit your body’s ability to heal especially when you are dealing with chronic illnesses. In addition to addressing gynecologic issues related to chronic illnesses, she treats, Long Haul COVID,  neurodegenerative diseases, vector borne illnesses, adolescent PANDAs/PANS, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, and autoimmune diseases utilizing an integrative functional medicine approach. She also treats men and women with hormone imbalances. She is a Sottopelle Therapy Certified Physician.

Dr. Nakisbendi can also provide extensive medical consultations for patients with unclear diagnoses or symptoms that don’t resolve. She thoroughly reviews patients’ medical records, takes an extensive history and orders appropriate testing to gain insight into their illnesses. She then helps identify missing pieces in their care. Dr. Nakisbendi then provides “case management” where she oversees their care, acting as their “quarterback.” Dr. Nakisbendi strongly believes in the team approach to patient care.


Dr. Nakisbendi co-authored a book with Susan Magee, “The Pregnancy Countdown Book: Nine Months of Practical Tips, Useful Advice and Uncensored Truths.” She is a contributing author on the following paper, “Normal estrogen, but low dehydroepiandrosterone levels, in women with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex. A preliminary study” Joshua Danley, Rebecca Kwait, Donald D Peterson, Jocelyn Sendecki, Beverly Vaughn, Kara Nakisbendi, Janet Sawicki, Leah Lande.


When she is not taking care of patients, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She loves exploring the Pacific Northwest, writing, playing cello and classical guitar. She is grateful for her Peloton bike for getting her through the pandemic, an ACL repair and life’s ups and downs.

Dr. Kara Nakisbendi
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