After years as a family nurse practitioner in a local health care organization, Bethany Stough felt the growing desire to provide care that addressed the whole person by combining integrative and conventional treatment modalities. Motivated by her passion for holistic health, she enrolled in specialized training with certification through the Institute of Functional Medicine and completion of a Doctor of Nursing Practice program. This advanced training laid the foundation for Synergy Integrative Wellness, a State College practice with telemedicine offered statewide, dedicated to providing personalized integrative functional medicine including metabolic health, weight management, gut and digestive balancing, and hormonal regulation.

Transitioning from traditional healthcare to entrepreneurship was not easy. Despite her extensive clinical expertise, Bethany faced the challenge of building a business from the ground up. She struggled to translate her knowledge into a viable business model and felt overwhelmed by the countless decisions required to launch. Uncertainty stalled her progress until she sought guidance.

Through word of mouth, Bethany discovered the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and began working one-on-one with business consultant, Chelsea Blair. Over eight months, the SBDC provided structure and accountability, helping her define service offerings, establish pricing, identify target customers and competitors, develop partnerships, create marketing strategies, and even leverage AI tools for operations. This support gave her the clarity and confidence to move forward.

Since launching Synergy Integrative Wellness in October, Bethany’s business has begun serving multiple clients and now operates as part of a larger collective wellness group in State College. Self-funded and innovative, her practice offers a unique combination of functional medicine consultations, personalized health plans, advanced diagnostic testing, and professional-grade nutraceutical supplements, providing services that were previously unavailable in the local area.

For Bethany, Synergy Integrative Wellness represents the fulfillment of a long-held vision: helping individuals beyond the boundaries of traditional medicine while building a sustainable enterprise. She credits the Penn State SBDC as a vital partner in transforming her expertise into a thriving business and believes their guidance was essential to making her dream a reality.