Bethany Summers, DNP, FNP-BC
Meet Bethany Summers, DNP, FNP-BC
Board certified in family practice, Dr. Bethany Summers leads with both expertise and heart. She tailors her care to each individual patient, taking the time to truly listen, understand their goals, and walk alongside them on their journey to better health. Seeing her patients achieve those goals is her greatest reward.
Dr. Summers grounds her practice in science-backed research and trusted clinical literature, but she brings something equally important to every appointment: a genuine personal investment in the people she serves. “We truly live and breathe what we do,” she affirms. “Many of us came into this field because of personal health challenges that weren’t resolved by conventional medicine, or having witnessed loved ones struggle with care that never addressed the actual problem. At thriveMD, we know there are so many more, and better, ways to help people — and that’s why we practice what we preach, checking the science and the technology and putting that knowledge to use for every patient.”
This commitment to purposeful, evidence-informed care is evident in every aspect of her work. “Everything we do here at thriveMD, there’s a reason for it. It’s based on reputable clinical studies and literature.” For Dr. Summers, that means every recommendation has intention behind it, and every patient can trust that their care plan was built specifically for them.
Dr. Summers’ Specialties Include
- Acute Patient Management
- Age Management
- Bioidentical Hormone Replacement
- Clinical Research
- Concierge Longevity Medicine
- Erectile Dysfunction & Sexual Health
- Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy
- IV Nutrients
- Medication Management
- Regenerative Medicine
- Therapeutic Plasma Exchang
While Dr. Summers excels across the thriveMD care spectrum, she is especially passionate about hormone replacement therapy and longevity medicine, a practice she considered to be unique in the realm of medicine, in part due to its lack of insurance coverage. “Longevity medicine has really taken off over the course of the last decade, and we’re starting to see it in even more conventional practices,” she says. “This is such an exciting time in medicine. Whereas before we were focused on how to treat a disease, now we’re able to go even further to figure out how prevent it from developing in the first place, in addition to treating it if and when it does.”
Dr. Summers’ Approach to Care
Dr. Summers views her patient relationships as individualized partnerships built on trust, education, and shared decision-making. She meets patients where they are, offering a gentler approach for those who may need a little extra support or a more clinical line for patients who want to dig into the data and understand the numbers. No matter the style, she takes time to listen first, to understand what each patient is going through before making recommendations and to ensure they understand every aspect of their care plan and how it will help them achieve their goals.
“I love seeing my patients’ growth and evolution,” she reflects. “Patients come to see me feeling tired, with no energy, who feel like they’re missing out on life because they work so hard yet can’t enjoy it because they feel bad. Seeing their progression over the course of our appointments, adjusting care as needed, and helping them reach that endpoint of getting to be who they want to become, is so rewarding.”
Rather than presenting a single solution, Dr. Summers lays out multiple pathways so patients can make informed choices that align with their lives and personal health goals. She considers full history, age, health risks, and prior treatments to build a care plan that is truly comprehensive, not a blanket approach or one dictated by what insurance allows. After all, she believes, there’s no reason why people shouldn’t be getting blood scans to check for hundreds of cancers or heart scans to determine serious concerns.
“At the end of the day, my job is to educate and guide you, but it’s your path, life, and health. I’ll walk hand in hand with you along your journey and give you the knowledge and tools to make the best decision for yourself.”
It’s an approach that resonates deeply with her patients, many of whom tell her, “I can’t believe I waited so long to do this.”
Education
Dr. Summers holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and earned her doctorate in 2017. She’s been part of the medical field in some capacity since the age of 18, beginning her professional career as a nurse and building a broad clinical foundation across more than 25 years of practice. Her experience spans pain management, primary care and internal medicine, women’s health, men’s health, hormone management, oncology, allergy and immunology, and emergency medicine – giving her a uniquely well-rounded perspective when caring for complex patients.
She currently serves as Clinical Director of thriveMD. “I discovered my passion for longevity medicine along the way,” Dr. Summers says of her multi-faceted career path. Her move to thriveMD allowed her to use this wide range of expertise, from conventional patient care to specialty focuses in hormone therapy and HBOT. “It’s important to be comfortable stepping outside the box of what we’re taught,” she adds, “while knowing there’s a place for both conventional and non-conventional medicine.”
At her core, Dr. Summers is driven by a profound sense of purpose. She entered medicine to serve, to be a steady guide for those who are struggling or who simply don’t yet have the knowledge to help themselves. That calling continues to shape everything she does.
Personal Interests
Outside the office, Dr. Summers is kept happily on her toes by her daughter, and enjoys every minute she gets to spend with her family. She also finds balance and restoration in the outdoors, whether hiking through nature trails or soaking up the sun on a beach. In fact, she makes it a personal goal to see a palm tree at least once a year!