Meet Erin Allen | Family Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care Provider

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erin Allen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erin, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Working in healthcare over the past 20 years has been both rewarding and discouraging. The longer I worked within the conventional insurance based system, the less I felt like I was actually helping patients. I felt that the only way to so things in a way that I though would be most beneficial for my patients was to branch out on my own. Outside of the troublesome systems that keep patients from getting the time and care that they need.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Cura Personalis (which is latin for “cure the whole person”) Integrative Health is a functional medicine and holistic based direct primary care practice. We look at the whole person to address prevention, mental, emotional, and physical wellness, and symptom management in chronic conditions. I am so proud to be offering an alternative to traditional five minute primary care visits where your provider doesn’t know you, your stresses, your issues, or your concerns.

Starting the practice was not easy. To be honest, nothing about the process went smoothly and everything cost more and took more time than I had initially anticipated. I have been blessed with very supportive family and friends who keep me from getting discouraged and always encourage me to do what’s in my heart, and this is definitely a calling for me.

I’ve learned a lot about myself along the way, the main thing has been that I don’t know everything. Asking for help and advice along the way is not weakness, it is giving someone else the chance to share their knowledge and expertise with you. I have found that most people are more than willing to share what they know and are more than happy to help a fellow business owner. We all want to succeed. It’s not a competition. Don’t be afraid to reach out for the help you need whether in business or in life.

I would like people to start thinking out their PCP differently. Are they your advocate, your go to person about your health and wellness, your healthcare cheerleader? Do they support your mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health? Can you be completely open and honest with them about stresses and aspects of your life that may have an effect on your health without feeling judged? If not, it’s time to find someone new and I’d love to help.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Visiting Denver I would say that we would need to have breakfast at Morning Story in Glendale at least once. This time of year visit the capital and see the lights, visit the Denver Christkindl Market, have a burger at the Cherry Cricket, and see an Avalanche game. I love our local museums and seeing shows at the Buell Theater. When it’s sunny take a walk around Washington Park. The mountains are beautiful, but don’t discount checking out our beautiful city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First, I’d like to shoutout to other providers that have paved the way and shown me that this is a worthwhile and effective business model. Deanna Tolman, DNP, Robin Dickenson, MD, Jennifer Novotny, FNP, Benjamin Toh, DPT. In addition, the Essential Wellness Society of Colorado Springs and their director Sarah Grant have been extremely helpful in encouraging me, mentoring me, and helping me network to grow my practice.

Website: www.CuraPersonalisIH.com

Instagram: @CuraPersonalisIH

Facebook: facebook.com/CuraPersonalisIH