Dr. Brendan McCarthy

Chief Medical Officer / Founder

Accepting new patients

Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2006. In his role as Chief Medical Officer, Protea has grown and evolved into a dynamic medical center serving not only the Phoenix Valley, but also central Arizona.

Dr. McCarthy is a licensed Naturopathic Physician and the author of, Jump Off The Mood Swing, A Sane Woman’s Guide To Her Crazy Hormones. This book illustrates Dr. McCarthy’s unorthodox approach to mental/emotional wellness and its link to hormone balance in women. Through the use of blood work and clinical investigation, Dr. McCarthy gets to the bottom of possible causes for common conditions such as anxiety, PMS, depression, slow metabolism and more.

Dr. McCarthy is internationally recognized as an expert in hormone replacement therapy. He has lectured physicians and pharmacists on topics such as weight loss, infertility, hormone replacement therapy, nutritional therapy and more.
Often we look at the qualifications of a physician to help us choose a doctor, but a good doctor is more than just credentials and titles. A doctor needs to be compassionate and empathic. Dr. McCarthy has built his practice upon his dedication to each individual patient. He is passionate about his work and committed to educating his patients on their medical conditions so they can gain control of their health.

Through a growing referral network, individual patients have helped grow Protea Medical Center into the thriving practice it is today. Not through marketing programs or advertising schemes: one successful case after another has enabled Protea to achieve the position it currently holds.

Dr. McCarthy spends his free time with his wife Celeste and their three children, Liam, Aedan and Audrey. They enjoy hiking, swimming, and traveling.

Dr. Brittany Warren

Senior Physician

Accepting new patients

Dr. Brittany Warren is a licensed Naturopathic Physician in Arizona. She graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with degrees in Public Health and Biology. After graduating, Dr. Warren moved to Arizona and began working at an integrative health clinic and discovered her love for natural medicine. She continued in the healthcare field until beginning medical school where she graduated from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and earned her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. 

Dr. Warren is an integrative physician and focuses on hormonal health and optimization, thyroid and adrenal health, gastrointestinal issues, autoimmune disorders, neurotransmitter balancing, growth hormone deficiencies and peptide therapies, and aesthetics. She has advanced training in hormone replacement, IV therapy, aesthetics, and regenerative injections.  

Dr. Warren’s passion lies in inspiring her patients to find their true health. In her free time, Dr. Warren enjoys spending time with her two boys, being outdoors, cooking, being active in the gym, running, and spending time at the lake.

Dr. Michele Gliniecki

Senior Physician

Accepting new patients

Dr. Gliniecki is a licensed Naturopathic Medical Doctor. She first graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from UW-Milwaukee and then went on to obtain her medical degree from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. As a Naturopathic Physician she has received training in such modalities as nutrition, herbal medicine, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, minor surgery, and pharmacology. 

Her passion lies in using an integrative approach to treat and prevent chronic diseases like diabetes, metabolic disease, thyroid disorders, autoimmune conditions, digestive issues, and hormonal imbalances. She understands that a one-treatment-fits-all approach does not truly work for everyone. Because of this understanding, she is dedicated to listening to her patients and working with them to find an individualized plan that focuses on optimizing their diet, lifestyle, and specific metabolic needs to get them feeling their best. 

The treatment modalities that Dr. Gliniecki often likes to use include bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, various peptide therapies, vitamin injections and nutrient IVs, dietary modification and supplementation, lifestyle optimization, and aesthetic procedures like Botox, fillers, and PDO threads. As part of her integrative approach, she also understands that there is a time and a place for pharmaceutical interventions and her Naturopathic training allows her to combine this with more natural therapies to provide safe and effective protocols.

Dr. Jessica Murdoch

Senior Physician

Accepting new patients

Dr. Jessica Murdoch is a licensed Naturopathic Medical Doctor. She graduated from Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, CO where she earned a B.A. in Health Science, and participated on the Women’s Basketball team as a scholarship member.

 Dr. Murdoch’s love for nutrition led her from Colorado to Arizona where she pursued integrative medicine, earning her Doctorate degree from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. She then completed her General Medicine Residency at SCNM Medical Center in Tempe, AZ. Dr. Murdoch is trained in multiple therapies, including IV therapy, Acupuncture, Botanical Medicine, Homeopathy, pharmacology, hormone therapy and Regenerative Injections. Alongside her depth of training, Dr. Murdoch specializes in Hormone Optimization, Regenerative Medicine, Nutrition / Lifestyle Medicine, autoimmune conditions, and gastrointestinal disorders.

 Dr. Murdoch is passionate about providing her patients the best care in their pursuit of optimal individualized wellness by identifying and treating the root cause of disease and dysfunction.Dr. Murdoch finds true joy in partnering with her patients to achieve their healthiest self.

In her free time, Dr. Murdoch feeds her love for the outdoors by hiking, exploring Arizona, or snowboarding. She loves spending time with her friends, family, and her husband, Ryan, and can often be found playing a game of pick-up volleyball or basketball.

Dr. Bronwyn Carlblom

 Senior Physician

Accepting new patients

Dr. Bronwyn Carlblom, NMD is a graduate of the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine where she also completed a two-year post-doctoral residency in general family medicine. Her practice has an emphasis in gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic disease, hormone health, depression, and anxiety.

 Dr. Carlblom takes an integrative approach to medicine that combines the best practices from natural and conventional therapies. In order to provide her patients with effective and personalized care, she utilizes an array of modalities including:

•     Nutrition
•     Herbal Medicine
•     Acupuncture
•     IV Therapy
•     Bio-Identical Hormones
•     Pharmaceuticals

 Prior to medical school, Dr. Carlblom studied and worked as a classical musician. She attended the University of Southern California and received her bachelor’s degree in classical music performance. As a physician, her practice of medicine is founded on the core skills she developed as a musician: empathy, collaboration, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence.

 Outside of work, Dr. Carlblom loves good food, music, traveling, and quality time with her family. She maintains an active lifestyle running, swimming, and hiking, and enjoys being outdoors whenever possible.

Dr. Daniel Berzins

 Physician

Accepting new patients

Dr. Daniel Berzins is a licensed Naturopathic Physician in Arizona. He graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ, earning his Bachelor of University Studies degree in Biology and Chemistry. After graduating from NAU, Dr. Berzins began medical school at Sonoran University (formerly Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine).

Dr. Berzins is passionate about finding and treating root causes to chronic illness while also providing foundational knowledge and curated information for his patients. He fully embraces the naturopathic principle of docere (doctor as teacher) in his practice. Education is a key part of his approach and he takes the time needed for his patients to be well-informed participants in their treatment plan and overall health goals. Some of the main areas of focus for Dr. Berzins are:

•    Hormone Replacement Therapy
•    Weight loss
•    Thyroid disorders
•    Peptide therapies
•    Nutrition
•    Diabetes/pre-diabetes
•    Metabolic disorders
•    Men’s health

Dr. Berzins has received advanced training in hormone replacement therapy, regenerative injections (interventional pain management) and IV therapy.

Outside of work, Dr. Berzins loves spending time with his wife and 2 young children. He’s passionate about living his life in alignment with his core values which center around his faith, family and his overall health and well-being. He lives what he teaches with his own lifestyle so you will often find him challenging himself with new goals in all areas of life including staying active at the gym with weight lifting, experimenting in the kitchen with a new recipe with his wife, trying to read a set number of books/pages per day, or just enjoying life while fishing, bowling, golfing, swimming with his kids, and keeping a focus on a positive work/life balance.

Dr. Melissa Clark

Physician

Accepting new patients

Dr. Melissa Clark is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who graduated top of her class from Sonoran University of Health Sciences (formerly Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine) after earning her Bachelor’s in Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Clark has also completed a postdoctoral residency in endocrinology, and has received advanced training in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. She believes in making the science of longevity and hormone optimization digestible so patients can learn how to take actionable steps towards optimal wellness.

Dr. Clark’s promise to her patients is to always listen with intention so that together you can create a treatment plan that will address your unique root cause and health goals. She always goes out of her way to ensure that you leave each visit with a new and deeper understanding of your health. She is passionate about working with patients who are battling symptoms of thyroid disease, low testosterone, PCOS, perimenopause, menopause, diabetes, infertility, IBS/IBD, and more! Dr. Clark has expertise in the utilization of hormone replacement therapy, IV therapy, peptide injections, pharmaceuticals, nutrition and lifestyle medicine.

In her free time, Dr. Clark enjoys staying active through road cycling, running, and weight training with her husband. She’s also an enthusiastic animal lover who will always welcome the chance to view pictures of your beloved pets!

Dr. Shay Herndon

Physician

Accepting new patients

Dr. Shay Herndon is a licensed naturopathic medical doctor and earned her doctorate degree from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. Upon graduation, she completed a one year postdoctoral residency in general medicine and continued to work in family practice managing and treating a variety of acute and chronic diseases.

Her practice has an emphasis in hormone optimization, thyroid and adrenal health, fertility, metabolic conditions, and longevity.

Dr. Herndon is dedicated to getting to know each patient on a personal level and takes time listening to her patients and ensuring they are heard.

She strives to investigate the root causes in order to achieve optimal health. In clinical practice, she has learned that root causes to concerns often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. She believes in treating each person individually based on their unique signs and symptoms.

Dr. Herndon believes in prevention and takes a whole person approach when creating treatment plans and options. Treatments she commonly uses include targeted and therapeutic supplemental support, diet and lifestyle approaches, IV therapy, hormone replacement therapy, botanical medicine, and pharmacological interventions when appropriate. She tries to incorporate a natural approach before or in conjunction with pharmacological interventions when safe and indicated.

Dr. Herndon describes herself as extremely compassionate and loves the reward of being a part of people’s health every single day. She has a true desire to educate her patients and make information easier to understand for better health outcomes. When she isn’t practicing medicine, she enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, yoga, and spending time with her dog and husband.

Celeste McCarthy

Nutritionist / Founder

Celeste McCarthy co-founded Protea with the mission to offer an integrative approach to healthcare. Recognizing the essential role good administration plays in the delivery of meaningful care, she helped develop the patient-centered coordinated care that has set Protea apart from other clinics in the field.

Celeste has her MA in Literary Studies as well as a Holistic Health Coach certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She works at the clinic as a practicing Holistic Nutritionist. She believes that with enough guidance and support, each patient can become an advocate for his or her own best health.

Celeste understands that bodies are complex systems, constantly sending signals when something is out of balance. Once we learn to decode these signals, optimal wellness can be restored and maintained.

Working with our team of physicians, Celeste employs the most advanced diagnostic tools available including the InBody scale, respiratory metabolic testing, and physician directed labs to determine what nutrition plan is best suited for each patient. 

From specific dietary guidelines to reduce inflammation to safe weight loss programs to elimination diet protocols, she guides patients towards a way of eating for life rather than for a season. Her specialty is connecting with patients and supporting them as they create healthier habits and lives.

Foods we eat are only one part of optimal holistic nutrition. Primary foods includes social, spiritual, vocational, emotional and mental health, and Celeste coaches patients to create balance in all areas of life.

Celeste is a certified yoga teacher YT-500 with a 100-Hour Certificate of Excellence in Yoga Nidra. She has been teaching in several studios throughout the valley since 2014. She believes that yoga complements and enhances whole body and emotional health, and can be an integral part of your wellness arsenal.

In her free time Celeste enjoys practicing and teaching yoga, hiking, running, sailing, reading, writing and traveling, riding her Peloton, and spending time with her husband, three teenagers and two dogs.

April Cole

Nutritionist 

April is a dedicated, compassionate professional with a wealth of experience in the holistic health and wellness field. April’s journey began in the medical field as a Medical Assistant, and later earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University in 2011.

April’s own battle with chronic illness and burnout led her to seek more holistic approaches to her health.  She explored various avenues, from medications to strict diets. However, transformation came when she discovered the importance of self-care with a focus on holistic health and well-being practices.

Through yoga, meditation, Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Eastern medicine approaches, and a whole foods diet, April experienced tangible improvements in her health. Her journey underscored the importance of addressing health on multiple levels – mind, body, and spirit.

Recognizing the transformative potential of holistic health, April embarked on a mission to blend her personal experience, passion, and nearly two decades of medical knowledge. She joined the first cohort of the Health and Wellness Coaching program at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in 2021, and in June 2022, she achieved National Board Certification as a Health and Wellness Coach through the National Board of Medical Examiners.

April understands that it’s not just about diets; it involves creating holistic habits that truly stick. April’s dedication to her personal holistic healing reflects her commitment to helping others thrive. She specializes in guiding patients towards sustainable weight loss, stress reduction, and enhanced overall health and well-being. Her coaching approach is grounded in empowering clients to make lasting lifestyle changes that lead to enduring health improvements.

Beyond her professional commitments, April values quality time spent with her husband and cherished dog. Self-care is a top priority, embracing meditation, MBSR techniques (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction), Clinical EFT, Qigong, yoga, breathwork, and energy psychology techniques in her daily life.

Lexilyn Elliott

Nutritionist 

Lexilyn is on a mission to empower individuals to achieve their optimal health through evidence-based nutrition and wellness practices. Her approach is rooted in science, focusing on educated lifestyle changes for long-term health benefits. 

 Lexilyn is continuing studies at the University of Cincinnati, earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health, while simultaneously gaining a certification as a Health Education Specialist. Beginning studies at Cincinnati State Community College, she earned a Dietary Management Certification. During this time, she gained extensive knowledge of special dietary requirements and therapeutic diets for clients to achieve their health objectives. Lexilyn is a dedicated Certified Nutrition Coach by the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She is committed to making healthy choices easy and attainable!

 With the belief that a holistic approach to nutrition is key to sustainable and transformative lifestyle changes, her goal is to demystify nutrition, making it accessible and enjoyable for all patients. Through data-driven education, motivation, and ongoing support, she empowers individuals to make informed choices that align with their aspirations for a healthier, more vibrant life. 

 Lexilyn cherishes her free time taking weight training classes, long walks, and dancing to her favorite music. She loves spending time on the water with her paddleboard, reading personal empowerment books, and spending quality time with her loved ones and two cats, George and Sam.

Janessa Asher

Director of Operations

Janessa Asher has over 15 years of managerial experience. She has extensive knowledge in the medical field and has a strong commitment to supporting her providers, team and patients.

Janessa holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and an MBA with a concentration in Organizational Development and Psychology. She has a natural ability in finding solutions and honing in on a team’s unique talents and turning them into benefits for the business.

Her common motivation is providing exceptional patient care, and she has searched for the perfect fit for that innate desire. This makes her a great leader for Protea and our growing team so that we can deliver the most modern medical solutions for our patients to live their best life. In her spare time, Janessa enjoys traveling and spending time with her toy yorkie, Hope.