Chronic Illness Management
You may look fine on the outside, but symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, bloating, and mood swings can chip away at your energy, relationships, and confidence. You’re not alone. Over 60% of Americans are living with a chronic disease, and 40% are managing more than one. Too often, traditional medicine focuses on symptom suppression, not solutions. At Ascension Longevity and Wellness, we take a different approach. We use advanced lab testing, DNA analysis, and root-cause evaluation to understand exactly what's happening inside your body and then build a personalized plan to help you heal from the inside out.
This isn’t maintenance. It’s transformation.
Led by Dr. Jennifer Ward, a board-certified internist with over 19 years of clinical experience and her own story of overcoming burnout and chronic symptoms, this is care that’s proactive, precise, and personal. If you’re tired of simply managing your chronic symptoms, we’re here to help. Learn more about our personalized functional medicine approach below, or schedule your personal wellness consultation with Dr. Ward today.
In-depth consultations and advanced lab testing to understand your history, lifestyle, and underlying imbalances
Individualized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs and goals
Comprehensive treatments may include nutritional support, movement coaching, hormone optimization, targeted IV therapy, stress management, or other modalities
Personalized, research-backed care to help you live a longer, healthier life
Receive care virtually from the comfort of your own home
Chronic illness can interfere with daily life, making it harder to feel present, focused, or well. Symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, pain, and digestive issues are often tied to deeper imbalances—such as autoimmune disorders, hormone shifts, or gut dysfunction—that affect both your current quality of life and long-term health.
At Ascension, we take a systems-based approach. Each care plan is tailored through advanced lab testing and in-depth consultation, addressing the root causes of your symptoms. Treatments may include hormone optimization, personalized nutrition and movement, stress support, IV therapy, and medically guided weight management. The goal: less guesswork, more clarity, and the support you need to feel better, day-to-day and long term.
Conventional medicine often addresses symptoms without exploring their underlying causes. Functional medicine takes a deeper look—examining the broader patterns that contribute to fatigue, pain, low energy, mobility challenges, and other chronic concerns. By identifying how different systems in the body are connected, we uncover the root drivers of imbalance and create more effective, personalized solutions.
Your experience starts with a complimentary 15-minute consultation. This one-on-one conversation gives Dr. Ward a chance to understand your symptoms, health concerns, and goals, and gives you a chance to explore whether a functional medicine approach aligns with your needs.
If you decide to move forward, Dr. Ward will design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your biology and lifestyle. Your plan may include:
Routine bloodwork can miss subtle but significant imbalances. We go deeper, using expanded diagnostic tools to uncover what’s really driving your symptoms:
Every protocol is built around your unique biochemistry, symptoms, and goals. Your plan may combine:
This approach ensures you get care that’s not only precise—but sustainable.
We work with clients experiencing a wide range of symptoms and diagnoses, many of which overlap or have gone undiagnosed for years. Conditions we commonly support include:
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to start this process. If you’ve been told “everything looks fine” but still feel off, we’re here to help.
Focus on Root Causes - Rather than masking symptoms with medication, our approach investigates underlying imbalances related to gut health, hormones, detoxification, inflammation, or nutrient deficiencies.
Whole-Person Care - We consider the whole person, including your physical symptoms, emotional wellness, and lifestyle. Forming a complete picture of your health is key to managing complex, long-term illnesses.
Personalized Treatment Plans - Your treatment plan is designed around your unique biology and health history.
Advanced Testing - We start with DNA analysis to gain a picture of how your body operates. Hormone panels, gut biome tests, food sensitivity tests, or other advanced metrics help us detect subtle imbalances affecting your overall health.
Empowerment and Education - We empower you to be an active participant in your health journey by prioritizing patient education and helping you make sustainable choices.
Lifestyle-Centered Approach - Functional medicine emphasizes prevention and healing through foundational pillars like nutrition, sleep, stress management, movement, and meaningful relationships.
At Ascension, we can help you move past masking symptoms and lay the foundation for better wellness and quality of life. Many of our patients are able to reduce or eliminate their reliance on medications by addressing the root causes of symptoms that have persisted for years or decades. Proper treatment and management can help you live with renewed energy, mental clarity, and a more positive outlook.
Our goal is to help you reengage with activities and relationships that your chronic illness has limited. With good adherence to their personalized treatment plans, most patients see significant improvements in symptoms and can embrace a fuller, more gratifying life.
Dr. Jennifer Ward founded Ascension Longevity and Wellness to offer the kind of care patients rarely find in traditional settings: personalized, preventative, and rooted in whole-body wellness. With over 20 years of clinical experience across internal medicine, women’s health, hospital care, rehabilitation, hospice, and long-term care, Dr. Ward brings a broad perspective to patient care. Her time in these diverse roles revealed both the strengths and limitations of conventional medicine—and inspired her to build a practice that fills in the gaps.
If you’re ready to shift from symptom management to proactive wellness, we’re here to support you. Schedule your complimentary consultation with Dr. Jennifer Ward and take the first step toward personalized care that puts your long-term health first.
Absolutely. Functional medicine complements traditional healthcare. We’re happy to collaborate with your current providers or simply provide an additional layer of personalized support.
Yes, all of our visits are virtual. From your initial intake to lab review to biweekly check-ins, we offer the convenience of fully virtual care you can access from home. Lab kits are mailed to you or arranged locally, and you’ll always have access to support between sessions.
Yes. Our functional medicine model is especially helpful for people already living with conditions like autoimmune disease, diabetes, thyroid issues, or metabolic syndrome. It doesn't replace your existing care but works alongside it to reduce inflammation, optimize function, and support long-term healing.
Your DNA can reveal a treasure trove of information about how your body processes nutrients, manages inflammation, detoxifies, and responds to stress. At Ascension, we begin with DNA testing so that every aspect of your treatment plan is personalized to your unique genetic profile.
Not at all. Supplements are used when needed, but they’re only one piece of the puzzle. We meet you where you are and develop a comprehensive plan that may include support for nutrition, movement, mindset, sleep, environment, stress resilience, and medications when needed. Our approach focuses on building better health from every angle.
