FMCA Community Impact Scholarship Recipients For March 2025 Announced

Functional Medicine Coaching Academy, in partnership with the Institute for Functional Medicine, is proud to introduce the winners of our FMCA Community Impact Scholarships. Thanks in part to a generous grant from VoLo Foundation, we are able to offer scholarship funding to cover the cost of tuition for four individuals to join our March 2025 Health Coach Certification Program class.

As we reviewed the 450+ applications we received, we were inspired by all the creative ways people use their strengths to uplift their communities. In the end, we selected four individuals to receive scholarships, and now we are thrilled to introduce these inspiring professionals to the FMCA community. Each of them is already doing important work to expand access to health and well-being to communities in need, and with their Functional Medicine Health Coach training in coaching techniques, mind-body medicine, nutrition, and more, they’ll be able to make an ever greater impact.

We believe all communities stand to benefit from functional medicine and health coaching, but today, not all communities are able to access these benefits. If we really want to revolutionize healthcare, we need everyone to be part of our revolution. These four scholarship recipients are leading the way, breaking down barriers and bringing sustainable healthy lifestyle change to new populations. We’re thrilled to welcome them to our program and can’t wait to get going in March.

Learn about each of our scholarship recipients below.

Cori Durall

Cori Durall is a 2007 graduate of the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy and has been serving her hometown community at Key Rexall Pharmacy in Salina, KS, since 2012. With two wonderful children and a supportive husband, her family keeps her constantly on the move. Over two decades in the pharmacy industry, combined with her own personal struggles and observations, have led her to feel a growing concern about what she sees as a missing element in healthcare—a disconnect in truly optimizing overall health and wellness. She has witnessed how often symptoms are addressed with temporary solutions rather than addressing root causes.

Originally drawn to healthcare to contribute to a system aimed at making people well, Cori now realizes that while the system supports survival, it may not always promote thriving. She believes thriving should be a goal for everyone and feels a deep responsibility to inspire this standard in her community. Positioned as a highly accessible resource in the community, her role as a pharmacist has equipped her with knowledge of standards of care and the medications suited to various ailments. However, she finds that what’s often missing in her conversations with patients is guidance on how to take back control of their health and feel their best. Many people want to make health-conscious choices but struggle to know where to begin or how to prioritize and implement lifestyle changes.

Motivated to fill this gap, Cori began her journey into functional medicine and enrolled in the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy program to gain the tools to make a greater impact. She is thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to enhance her ability to support her patients and empower them on their wellness journeys.

Cori’s Community Impact:

Cori’s commitment to her community in Salina, Kansas, is evident in her dedication to bridging healthcare gaps. In a town with limited providers serving both local and surrounding rural areas, residents often face long wait times for medical care. As a pharmacist, Cori steps in as an accessible, trusted resource, offering reassurance and practical health tips to those who seek immediate support. By pursuing Functional Medicine Health Coach Certification, Cori aims to enhance her impact, equipping herself with deeper insights to provide meaningful, empowering conversations that help her community thrive amidst healthcare challenges.

Dayana Harrison

Dayana Harrison is a Hispanic student from Colombia in her final year of midwifery school, working toward certification as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) while simultaneously studying functional medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine. As a military spouse, she has dedicated the past eight years to serving and supporting women overseas, offering essential care and advocacy for women’s health across various settings.

Currently, she volunteers as a doula for families with deployed partners and is completing an unpaid midwifery internship at clinics in South Korea and the Philippines. These roles have allowed her to refine her clinical skills, gain a profound understanding of diverse healthcare needs, and solidify her commitment to providing compassionate, comprehensive, and functional care. Her long-term goal is to serve underserved communities, addressing health disparities and enhancing women’s health both locally and globally by making functional care accessible to those who need it most.

Dayana’s Community Impact:

Dayana is dedicated to serving communities facing barriers to healthcare and financial stability. She primarily supports military families stationed overseas, where local laws often prevent spouses from working, adding to financial and healthcare challenges. Through functional health coaching, she offers holistic solutions tailored to their unique needs.

She also serves the Hispanic and Latino communities, addressing health disparities tied to financial and systemic obstacles. As a Hispanic health coach, Dayana is passionate about providing accessible, culturally attuned care that empowers her clients to improve their health.

Additionally, Dayana volunteers on midwifery trips to rural areas in the Philippines, offering essential maternal care to underserved women. Her experiences reinforce her commitment to bringing functional medicine to communities in need, helping them overcome barriers to health and thrive.

Melanie Mambo

Melanie Mambo is a health entrepreneur with a background in International Business and a deep passion for alternative wellness. Over the past seven years, she has pioneered impactful wellness ventures, from establishing a holistic health and beauty platform to launching an innovative indigenous foods brand in Kenya. Inspired by her personal success in reversing a Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis, Melanie is dedicated to helping women overcome chronic health conditions through nutritional, spiritual, and behavioral approaches to healing. She envisions the widespread adoption of Functional Medicine across Africa and is committed to advocating for culturally competent healthcare solutions.

Melanie’s Community Impact:

Melanie is dedicated to supporting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) women aged 18 to 50 who face reproductive and chronic health challenges. Recognizing that women in BIPOC communities often lead health and dietary decisions within their households, Melanie sees a unique opportunity to positively influence entire families’ well-being through empowering mothers with knowledge and alternative approaches to nutrition and health. Her mission is to prevent the transference of health issues—such as toxin load and nutritional deficiencies—to future generations, promoting healthier births and reducing generational health complications.

As traditional lifestyles give way to modern conveniences, diseases like heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, and cancer have disproportionately affected BIPOC communities. Melanie advocates for a dedicated, culturally sensitive approach to healing, where solutions come from within these communities themselves. Through thought leadership and actionable health solutions, she strives to raise awareness, educate, and empower individuals to address root causes of health issues, breaking the cycle of chronic illness for a healthier future.

Evangelia Zarogianni

Evangelia Zarogianni, originally from Greece, is a Military Doctor serving in the Hellenic Air Force as a Family Medicine Physician with a subspecialty in Aviation Medicine. As a Flight Surgeon attached to Squadrons, she works closely with Fighter Jet Pilots, providing medical support both at the Base’s Medical Center and her private practice. Evangelia collaborates extensively with experienced nutritionists and is a Master Practitioner in Eating Disorders, offering specialized care for individuals facing these challenges. She also teaches Aviation Medicine, Human Performance, and Human Physiology at the Hellenic Air Force Academy and other aviation-related institutions.

Evangelia’s Community Impact:

Evangelia’s work is centered around the military community, specifically supporting Fighter Jet Pilots who prioritize optimal health and aim to manage chronic symptoms that may impact their performance and quality of life. She also extends her care to their families—parents, children, and spouses—as well as the local community through her private practice, reaching individuals of all ages. Additionally, Evangelia serves patients from across Greece via online appointments, conducting comprehensive assessments of their medical history, lifestyle, symptoms, and lab results. Her goal is to provide guidance that empowers each patient to enhance their health and overall quality of life. online services such as telehealth and online educational and economic opportunities.

The March 2025 Class Is Growing

We are thrilled to welcome Cori, Dayana, Melanie and Evangelia to FMCA’s growing student body. As they complete our Health Coach Certification Program and become FMCA Alumni, their impact on the health and wellness of their communities will only increase.

If you’re wondering if now’s the time to start making an impact with functional medicine and health coaching, let this be your invitation to join us. The March 2025 class is waiting for you—let’s break down barriers to accessible functional medicine health coaching together. Who knows, you might even see one of our five scholarship recipients in your Live Training Sessions each week…

Join The March 2025 Class

About VoLo Foundation

VoLo Foundation is a private nonprofit organization with a mission “to accelerate change and global impact by supporting science-based climate solutions, enhancing education, and improving health” and a vision for a “planet where all beings are ensured access to a sustainable and clean environment, health services, and education.”

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