Tina Franco of Vitalive – Health & Wellness joins Beyond the Adjustment to talk about transforming healthcare from the inside out. After decades in critical care, she shifted to functional medicine and direct primary care to help patients truly heal by addressing root causes—deficiencies, toxicities, and mindset. This episode is full of insight on taking back control of your health.
Dr. Scott: So today I want to welcome Tina Franco to the Beyond the Adjustment podcast. Tina is with Vitalive here in Dickson, and we’ve kind of known each other for some time. As you know, Tina, this podcast is about creating more conversations around what I call the jigsaw puzzle of health. We’ve been bringing in all these different avenues and pieces that relate to overall wellness. Tell us a little about your journey and what you’re doing now.
Tina Franco: Well, I’ve been in healthcare for about 25 years now. I started off in critical care—ICU, ER, flight nursing. I did that for many years until I realized I was getting too old for the adrenaline rush. As I began to reflect, I saw that so many patients were coming in with chronic conditions—type 2 diabetes, heart failure, obesity—and had no clue how to get better. They were just waiting for the next pill or test, looking to their doctors for answers.
Dr. Scott: Right. And no judgment on doctors, but a big part of healing is teaching. Doctors are trained for acute care, and they’re great at it. But in many cases, the model has become about treating symptoms instead of empowering patients to make real lifestyle changes.
Tina Franco: Exactly. And the truth is, no pharmaceutical product comes without some form of side effect or deficiency. It’s chemical, not natural. It forces the body to do something it’s not designed to do long-term. That realization led me to shift gears.
Dr. Scott: I’ve seen that transformation in others too—medical professionals coming to that “lightbulb” moment. You realize healing isn’t just about prescriptions. It’s about taking responsibility for your health and removing the interference—whether that’s toxins, deficiencies, or habits.
Tina Franco: Absolutely. That’s why I transitioned into direct primary care. I don’t work with insurance because I want to treat patients, not codes. I offer a monthly membership—$69 a month—for unlimited visits, annual labs, and wholesale pricing on additional labs. This gives patients real access to care and lets me build a relationship with them like doctors used to.
Dr. Scott: That’s an incredible model. And with your background in functional medicine, you’re looking at the root causes, not just managing symptoms.
Tina Franco: Yes, functional medicine is all about root causes. I focus on three pillars: toxicities, deficiencies, and sensitivities. For example, instead of just giving someone a thyroid medication, we’ll explore what’s causing the imbalance and try to reverse it. I still do IV hydration therapy as well, especially for patients with absorption issues. We tailor everything based on testing and individualized care.
Dr. Scott: That’s powerful—especially when you can help someone get off medications. I’ve always said I’m not anti-pharma, I’m anti unnecessary pharma.
Tina Franco: Exactly. I recently had a patient, a 65-year-old veteran with an A1C of 9.5. We put him on a short-term medication and a strict diet and exercise plan. Within four and a half months, his A1C dropped to 7.2. Then to 5.4 after six months—with no more meds. Type 2 diabetes is a choice, and it can be reversed.
Dr. Scott: That’s life-changing. That not only affects the patient, but also their family, their community. And you’re right—when someone says “my diabetes,” they’ve made it part of their identity. It’s hard to change the story if you believe the diagnosis defines you.
Tina Franco: That’s why I spend the time. I don’t just give a handout—I help shift their mindset. Because real health starts in the mind.
Dr. Scott: Well, Tina, thank you for coming in today. It’s inspiring to hear your story and see how you’re helping reshape the healthcare experience. You’re absolutely a key piece of this jigsaw puzzle we’re talking about.
Tina Franco: Thank you. And I just want to say—I wouldn’t be where I am without your encouragement to go out on my own and pursue this. I appreciate you.
Dr. Scott: Thank you for saying that. That means a lot.
Narrator: You’ve been listening to Beyond the Adjustment, where we have conversations with other health-minded professionals to create a healthier community.