Our Vision

Creating health to reveal meaning and ultimate purpose

Our Mission

It is the mission of Telos Functional and Integrative Medicine to provide customized and personalized care for each of our clients. We accomplish this by applying a Systems Biology approach to our practice of medicine.

In alliance with our clients, we succeed by leveraging leading-edge science to decipher the complex interaction of our clients' genomes and their unique epigenetic responses to exposures over time.

What is Telos?

The term "telos" holds a deep significance in the journey we undertake together. In ancient Greek philosophy, telos refers to an ultimate purpose, a guiding aim that shapes our actions and desires—a destination not merely of place but of purpose and fulfillment. In the context of healing, telos represents something far greater than the absence of illness; it is the pursuit of wholeness, a return to our natural balance, and an alignment with what is deeply meaningful to each of us.

At Telos Functional and Integrative Medicine, this sense of purpose is woven into our approach. We recognize that health is not a static goal but a living, evolving journey. Our aim is not simply to alleviate symptoms but to explore and support the unique needs of each individual on their path to well-being. In honoring this purpose, telos serves as a reminder that our work together is guided by more than just clinical outcomes; it is shaped by the pursuit of an authentic, whole, and balanced life.

Dr. Cheng Her

Meet Dr. Her

I’m Dr. Cheng Her, and my journey into Functional and Integrative Medicine has been a path of both revelation and humility. Life, in its enigmatic and mysterious way, sometimes brings us to the edges of what we know, showing us that wisdom often lies beyond the familiar borders of traditional knowledge.

My early years in medicine—gaining my MD from the University of Minnesota, completing my Family Medicine residency and my MS degree in Population Health at the University of Wisconsin, and guiding students, residents, and fellows as a Clinical Associate Professor while practicing full scope Family Medicine—were fulfilling, yet this only hinted at the depths that true healing could require.

It wasn’t until my late wife, Dr. Stacy Her, whom I loved deeply, faced an intense and formidable health struggle that I encountered the humbling awareness of medicine’s limitations. Watching her endure with courage and hope in the face of seemingly catastrophic odds ignited within me an overwhelming sense of urgency and despair. I felt, for the first time, what it meant to truly grasp for understanding, to yearn for a way to mend what seemed unfixable. This personal experience, though profoundly painful, revealed the gap between treating illness and healing the person. It showed me that, to heal, we must look not just at symptoms but at the whole, interwoven story within each individual.

In my search for a more complete approach, I found myself drawn to Functional and Integrative Medicine, an approach to the practice of medicine and healing rooted in honoring each person’s inner landscape. My certification with the Institute for Functional Medicine in 2018 was less of a destination and more of a doorway—a way to connect ancient wisdom with modern science, to ask questions that invite each individual to discover their own path toward balance and vitality.

Through Telos Functional and Integrative Medicine, I approach each individual with this sense of reverence and inquiry, understanding that health is not a single destination but an ever-changing journey. If you’re here, you, too, are seeking something beyond a cure—you’re seeking a return to wholeness.

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey toward your telos. It is a privilege to walk alongside you as we explore the depths of health and purpose, step by step, moving closer to a state of wellness that feels complete and true. Let’s get to it.

Meet Samantha

Hi!

I’m Samantha Kabat, the Functional Medicine Health Coach here at Telos. Over the last several years, I have completed the training for and achieved certification as both a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and as a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach (FMCHC). I obtained these certifications to provide you with the best coaching services possible based on the National Standard of Health and Wellness Coaching guidelines. In addition, and informed particularly by my FMCHC certification, my coaching style is infused with information and resources supported by the functional medicine approach. Two main paths have led me to this position: my professional experience in the healthcare field and a strong personal desire to understand health and wellness.

The first path began with my career, involving my roles in the conventional healthcare system. I started my career as a Certified Nursing Assistant and ended as a Medical Social Worker. Over a span of 15+ years, I learned a lot about chronic disease and the physical and mental toll it takes on one’s life and the lives of their loved ones. I also learned that the conventional setting is not where I belong. My heart ached for something more.

The second path started with my own personal journey and exploration of what health and wellness means to me. As for many, the major shift in my health came after the birth of my first child. Becoming a mother was a swift awakening to the fact that my choices no longer impact my health alone. With the new responsibility of being a major influence on my family’s wellbeing, I set forth on an exploration to find health and wellness for myself and my family. During this time, I discovered that there are many ways to gain a fulfilling and healthy life, and I began to explore all of these amazing avenues to approaching health and wellbeing. I merged these two paths and all of my experiences into a passion, and a career, which is where I am today.

Here at Telos, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to walk alongside others on their own journey to health and wellness. I walk without judgment, keeping an open heart and mind, reflecting your authentic self which is full of power and knowledge. Through the structure of coaching, I evoke your power within to help you recognize and illuminate a path to wellness. You could be looking to support your health through transformations in areas such as exercise, nutrition, stress management or your relationships with yourself and others. Maybe you have tried multiple avenues to improve your health that have all felt like dead ends. Through the lens of functional medicine, we can work together to create attainable and sustainable changes. You may know exactly what you want or need to do but haven’t quite found the way to get there. Together we can dive into what the barriers have been, and what strengths can get you moving on your way. Maybe you have no idea where you want to go. We can explore your hopes and dreams, aligning them with your health and wellness goals.

Health and wellness are lifelong journeys, and I am honored to travel with you on this part of your path.

Samantha's Photo for Telos Website_edite

Photo by: Studio D Media

Samantha Kabat

Shannon Howard

Meet Shannon

My name is Shannon Howard, and I am the Clinic Manager and PEMF Practitioner here at Telos. I am the person you talk to when you call and typically the first face you see when you visit our office. I grew up in Houston, Minnesota, a small town in bluff country, just a short drive from La Crosse. I attended Western Technical College right out of high school and earned an Associate’s Degree in Dental Assisting. I later went on to earn my Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, all while working full time in a family dental clinic. After 24 years in the dental field, I got a call from Dr. Her to come join Telos. With hesitation at first, not knowing what skillset I had to offer, I accepted, and this has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

My relationship with Dr. Her began many years ago when he first joined Family Medicine at Gundersen Health System and became my doctor. He later became our family doctor to my husband of 17 years, Clint, and our two children, Ava and William. He quickly became one of our family’s greatest blessings and still is. I am honored to work side-by-side with Dr. Her and our Telos Team.

I enjoy working with everyone that comes through our doors. Each person has their own journey in life, and I am extremely grateful to be a part of it. I live each day with the intention of becoming the best version of myself that I can be, and I love helping others to do the same.

Meet Dacoda

Hello. My name is Dacoda Murphy, and I am the Lab Specialist and Certified Medical Assistant here at Telos. Caring about others has always been a part of my nature. I began my healthcare career right out of high school as a Certified Nursing Assistant, working with the elderly for 5+ years. I loved that job, but I knew there was something more I was supposed to do. In 2012, I graduated with an Associate’s Degree as a Medical Assistant and spent many years working in internal medicine. My search for purpose continued as I decided to give back to my country and join the United States Army Reserve. I received training as a 68W Healthcare Specialist and spent 8 years doing monthly battle assembly with an Army Reserve unit out of Duluth, MN before leaving the military in 2020.

It was also in 2020 when my journey in functional medicine began. I landed a medical assistant position working at a functional medicine clinic in Chippewa Falls without really understanding what functional medicine was. It was here that my mind was opened to a whole new realm of healthcare that I never knew existed. I felt as though there was finally hope for those with chronic conditions, myself included. Wanting to know more, and experience this for myself, I began to do some of the functional medicine testing and follow the treatment plans provided. I began to notice huge improvements in my own health that my previous medical specialists and medications were not able to help with. It was this personal life changing experience that made me a firm believer in functional and integrative medicine. I had finally found my true passion and calling!

In 2022 I got married to a wonderful man and moved back to the Coulee Region. I grew up in Trempealeau and love the river, bluffs, and all this area has to offer! I was excited to learn that functional medicine also found its way to the area, and I knew I had to be a part of it. Having the experience with functional medicine lab testing, I joined the Telos team that summer and began developing our lab department. You will meet with me when you come to your New Client Intake appointment where we discuss any lab tests we might recommend for your specific needs. I also provide phlebotomy services and am your go-to person for lab questions.

I look forward to meeting you and being a part of your health story.