About
Katelynn Brown, MD built Grounded Serpent Family Practice around a conviction that patients with complex, unexplained illness deserve real answers. She started medical school in 2014 and developed severe ME/CFS almost immediately. Brain fog, debilitating fatigue, and an inability to function followed her through years of medical training. She took a medical leave, needed multiple extensions, and relied on the support of her husband and her mentor, Dr. Kathleen Stienstra, a family physician specializing in functional medicine who treated her at no charge. Dr. Brown ultimately recovered through the ANS Rewire program, a nervous system rehabilitation approach developed by Dan Neuffer. She reached full remission by the end of her second year of residency in May 2021.
Dr. Brown focuses on ME/CFS, Long COVID, POTS, MCAS, hypermobility, upper cervical instability, and other complex chronic conditions. She holds memberships with the AAFP, IACFS/ME, and Outcare, and she provides gender-affirming care through a Pride Center clinic. Her clinical interests run deep into nervous system rehabilitation and root-cause medicine. She now leads the Frontline Physicians for ME/CFS movement, a national effort to train physicians in ME/CFS care, and she is writing a foundational guide for physicians who want to join that community. '
Education & Training
Medical School
Medical school started summer 2014 (institution not specified)
Residency
Residency completed May 2021 (program and institution not specified)
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Brown right for?
Dr. Brown is a strong fit for patients with ME/CFS, Long COVID, POTS, MCAS, or other complex chronic conditions. She serves patients who have gone without answers after seeing multiple specialists. Adults seeking gender-affirming primary care also find a welcoming, knowledgeable provider in her practice. Patients who need disability evaluations or FMLA support for chronic illness will find Dr. Brown well-equipped to help. Her personal experience with ME/CFS gives her a clinical perspective few physicians can offer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Brown specializes in ME/CFS, Long COVID, POTS, MCAS, hypermobility, and upper cervical instability. She also provides comprehensive family medicine and preventive care. Her clinical focus runs deep into complex chronic illness and nervous system rehabilitation.
Yes. Dr. Brown developed severe ME/CFS during medical school in 2014. She navigated years of debilitating fatigue, brain fog, and medical leaves before reaching full remission in May 2021 through the ANS Rewire program. That experience shapes her clinical approach directly.
Dr. Brown trained in family medicine and holds specialties in family medicine, functional medicine, and preventive medicine. She is a member of the AAFP, IACFS/ME, and Outcare.
Yes. Dr. Brown provides gender-affirming care and works through a Pride Center clinic. She holds membership with Outcare, an organization focused on LGBTQ+ healthcare.
Yes. Dr. Brown offers comprehensive ME/CFS disability evaluations and handles FMLA and disability paperwork. This is a core part of her practice, and she understands the clinical documentation these cases require.
Dr. Brown leads the Frontline Physicians for ME/CFS movement, a national initiative to train physicians in ME/CFS care. She is also writing a foundational guide for physicians who want to participate. Her goal is to expand access to knowledgeable ME/CFS providers across the country.
Dr. Brown holds active medical licenses in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. Patients in those states may be eligible for telehealth visits with her.
Dr. Brown takes a root-cause approach to complex chronic illness. She draws on her training in functional medicine and her personal experience recovering from ME/CFS. Nervous system rehabilitation plays a central role in how she thinks about treatment.
Doctor profile last updated March 21, 2026