Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner - Reversing Alzheimer's & Cognitive Decline

What if dementia patients didn't just decline? What if they actually got better? Pave Talent is hiring on behalf of our client, a pioneering cognitive health clinic in San Diego that has published peer-reviewed research showing that 74% of patients improved cognitive function through personalized interventions. This isn't about managing inevitable decline; this is about reversal.

Our client is one of only 390 organizations nationwide selected for the CMS GUIDE Model, a groundbreaking federal Medicare program transforming dementia care delivery. The founder (a New York Times bestselling author and nationally recognized Alzheimer's expert) has built a practice so effective that families say, "I got my wife back. I got my mom back. I got my husband back."

Why This Role Exists : Making Reversal Accessible

The practice currently has 3-6 month waitlists for cash-based patients. This new Nurse Practitioner position creates a Medicare pathway that makes life-changing dementia care accessible to families who couldn't otherwise afford it. You'll establish and scale an entirely new program bringing evidence-based cognitive reversal protocols to the broader San Diego community.

Your Role : Clinical Care Meets Community Leadership

As the Nurse Practitioner leading the GUIDE Program, you'll integrate comprehensive dementia treatment with essential community resources. Your days blend meaningful patient interactions with strategic program building :

Clinical Care (Average 8 Patients Daily, 4 Days / Week)

Provide dementia assessments using validated tools (Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, Functional Assessment Staging Tool)

Develop person-centered care plans addressing root causes : nutritional deficiencies, infections, toxins, vascular health, hormonal imbalances

Work within the Bredesen Protocol framework (comprehensive lifestyle medicine proven to reverse cognitive decline) - we'll train you in this approach

See Medicare-eligible patients (65+) with mild cognitive impairment through moderate dementia, typically accompanied by supportive family members

Conduct follow-ups every 6-12 weeks, building healing relationships where patients and families are genuinely grateful

Program Leadership & Community Development (Especially Heavy in First Months)

Deliver presentations at senior centers, assisted living communities, and adult day programs

Build formal partnerships with Area Agencies on Aging, respite providers, meal services, and transportation organizations

Establish CMS-approved contracts with community partners to create comprehensive support infrastructure

Oversee Care Navigators who provide 24 / 7 helpline support for patients and caregivers

Position the practice as San Diego's destination for evidence-based cognitive health

Conduct provider education and professional networking events

Contribute to peer-reviewed research and track quality metrics for CMS reporting

What Makes This Unlike Any Other NP Role

World-Class Mentorship : Receive 3 hours of weekly training from Dr. Dale Bredesen (the pioneer who created the ReCODE Protocol for reversing Alzheimer's) plus daily collaboration with the practice founder. This is the best mentorship imaginable in the dementia reversal space.

Patients Actually Improve : Published research from this practice demonstrates cognitive gains, not just slowed decline. You'll hear families express profound gratitude for getting their loved ones back. This is the fulfillment most healthcare providers went into medicine seeking but rarely experience.

Sustainable Practice Model : Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm (office closes 4pm Fridays). One full admin day weekly. Sustainable 14-16 billable hours per week, not the 18-19 patient / day burnout typical in managed care. Sustainability (for patients, practitioners, and the business) is a core organizational value. The structured schedule even allows you to maintain weekend call shifts elsewhere if desired for additional income.

Federal Innovation Platform : You'll be implementing a Medicare alternative payment model as part of an 8-year national study shaping policy for millions of Americans. This positions you as a healthcare leader at the intersection of clinical excellence, federal policy implementation, and paradigm-shifting dementia care.

Who You Are

The #1 Non-Negotiable : Genuine Love for Elderly Patients

You authentically enjoy working with elderly patients. Dementia patients repeat themselves, can be resistant to recommendations, and do pass away. You need to find them endearing, funny, and deeply worthy of your compassion and creativity. If you don't genuinely enjoy the geriatric population, this isn't the right fit.

The #2 Non-Negotiable : Excitement About Integrative Medicine

You're genuinely excited about root-cause medicine, functional approaches, nutrition, lifestyle interventions, and comprehensive testing beyond just pharmaceuticals. You don't need prior integrative medicine experience - you need openness, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn. If you come from conventional medicine but are frustrated with pharmaceutical-only approaches and eager to try something different, this could be perfect for you.

Required Qualifications :

Active California Nurse Practitioner license

Comfort with public speaking, relationship building, and community engagement - You'll be the face of this program through presentations and networking (we'll support your development in these areas)

Ability to work in-person at Encinitas clinic initially (negotiable flexibility for 1-2 remote days / week after ramp period for exceptional candidates)

Preferred (But Fully Trainable) :

Geriatrics or dementia care experience

ReCODE 2.0 Practitioner Training by Dr. Dale Bredesen (employer will pay the $2,000 training cost for qualified candidates without this certification)

Integrative / functional medicine background (IFM training, worked at integrative clinics, etc.) - but again, openness to learning is what truly matters

Bilingual Spanish / English to serve San Diego's diverse population

Marketing, outreach, or program development experience in healthcare settings

3+ years post-licensure experience (though exceptional new graduates will be considered at $115K with 3-year MD oversight available in-house)

Comprehensive Compensation Package

Base Salary : $115,000-$125,000

(Flexibility for experienced candidates who can see higher patient volume)

Benefits from Day 1 :

401(k) with tiered matching up to 4%

Health insurance up to $400 / month after 90 days (Covered California small business plan)

PTO : 40 hours after 12 months, scaling to 80 hours after 2 years

Sick time : 40 hours annually

ReCODE 2.0 Practitioner Training paid by employer for qualified candidates ($2,000 value)

Performance-based bonuses tied to SMART goals (revenue generation, patient outcomes, program growth) - quarterly or semi-annual

Why This Matters Beyond Your Patients

Conventional medicine tells families that Alzheimer's is inevitable and irreversible. This practice proves otherwise. You'll be contributing to a body of evidence that cognitive decline can be prevented and reversed through comprehensive interventions addressing root causes. You'll be part of changing how America understands and treats one of the most devastating diseases of our time.

The federal GUIDE Model runs through 2032, providing 8 years of opportunity to shape Medicare dementia care policy at national scale. Your work will generate data, case studies, and research that validates integrative approaches and influences healthcare delivery for millions.

Your Support System

You'll join a small, phenomenal team (3 full-time staff currently) including the practice founder, a fellow NP trained in this model (6-week ramp precedent), front desk staff, Latin American remote support team, and health coaches. You'll have access to :

An in-house MD for oversight if needed (California requires 3-year MD supervision for new NPs)

A Florida billing partner handling all Medicare templates and compliance (4% fee)

Ongoing collaboration with Pacific Neuroscience Institute (cutting-edge imaging and research at Providence St. John's Santa Monica)