Our Values
Speak & Seek Truth
To speak truth even if it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. To seek truth amidst the noise in the health and wellness space.
Maximize Our Service
Make every consult and learning experience the most it can be for our clients. Build relationships, listen to the stories, connect the dots, and make personalized action plans.
Root Cause Approach
To provide care that considers the uniqueness of our clients and their specific needs.
Provide a model of care that works with those we care for to find and address the root causes of their symptoms instead of solely focusing on diagnoses and pill-for-ill mentality.
Relentlessly Pursue Knowledge
Root cause care requires lifelong learning. Seek out learning opportunities. Regularly review approach to care to ensure the highest standards.
Ownership of Health
We believe that clients must take complete ownership of their health in order to be empowered to heal.
Foundation of Lifestyle Factors
Regardless of case complexity, we believe that all humans need the basics to be truly well: nourishing food, healthy movement, effective stress mitigation, restorative sleep, meaningful relationships, and spiritual practice.
Nourish with Real Food
Nourishing with real food raised in an ethical and mindful manner, prepared mostly at home, and consistent with healthy traditions and wisdom is a cornerstone of wellness.
Foster Community
Foster community locally and from afar with bookclubs, focus groups, and meet-ups
Bio-individual Care
Dr. Meredith Rusthoven
Founder, DNP, CNM, IFMCP
Meredith has had a passion for health and medicine from an early age. After getting a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Rhodes College, she completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at The University of Colorado, graduating summa cum laude. She then went on to complete her Master of Science in Nursing, specializing in Nurse Midwifery followed by her Doctor of Nursing Practice at CU. Meredith’s doctoral work focused on decreasing non-medical formula supplementation of exclusively breastfed babies in the hospital after birth.
After catching (“delivering”) babies and providing obstetric and gynecologic care to women for several years in many settings (private practice, hospital-based practice, and public health), Meredith kept seeing the same outcomes: patients with several problems or diagnoses, none being managed optimally, that never really felt well. These same patients typically had only a few minutes with their provider and did not feel heard, only to leave with a diagnosis and corresponding prescription. Most patients weren’t feeling better and many were adding more prescriptions to their list. This couldn’t be the answer.
Meredith was very grateful to leave the broken system in 2017 when she founded Ritual Functional Medicine. She was finally able to focus on the root causes of her patients’ chronic health concerns and guide them on their path to healing. Meredith worked with her patients through a combination of lifestyle changes, functional lab testing, targeted supplements, and medications when appropriate.
In 2022, Meredith officially transitioned to the role of Medical Director at RFM. She now focuses on leading the Clinical Team to optimize patient outcomes and experiences. Even though she somehow seems to work even more now than when she was seeing patients, this is her passion. RFM continues to grow, caring for an increasing number of patients on their journeys towards wellness.
When Meredith isn’t working and geeking out about functional medicine, she can be found enjoying life with her husband, family, and friends. Her regular activities include fly fishing, Bible study, hiking, farmer’s markets, and knitting. She has a passion for nutrient dense eating and loves discovering local farmers and raw milk.
Candice Tabacchi
Functional Health Coach, BS, MEd, CHC
I have always had an interest in community and education! For years, I built community within education. Little did I know, my life’s path would lead me straight to a passion for combining that with wellness and whole health!
After receiving my Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Colorado State University, I went on to complete a K-6 teaching licensure program and ultimately earn a Master’s in Elementary Education from Regis University. My undergraduate studies provided opportunities to examine human’s physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development across the lifespan in relation to families, schools, communities, and culture. As a natural next step for me, I was anxious to fulfill my life-long dream of becoming an elementary school teacher. Upon earning my Master’s, I set out on a ten year teaching career which included teaching various primary and intermediate grade levels, serving as the instructional computer resource teacher and webmaster, creating online curriculum studies, opening a new school, mentoring student teachers, and representing the district in teacher education opportunities. After taking a break to start a family, I re-entered the education field as Elementary Coordinator at a private school. This role provided me with additional leadership experience and an understanding of private education while launching opportunities as an educational consultant. Most recently, I’ve taken on the role of full-time educator to my own children as we enjoy homeschooling!
I was fortunate enough to find Functional Medicine as a patient in 2017. After years of health challenges and dead ends in conventional medicine, I was introduced to Dr. Mark Hyman’s work and the Functional Medicine approach. Thankfully, I found Dr. Meredith Rusthoven shortly after that and began healing! Healing has required relearning, digging, questioning, researching, undoing, letting go, trusting, and courage. It hasn’t always been easy, but every bit of it has been worth it as I’ve learned to create health for myself and my family! I believe this life transformation will impact generations in my family and allow us to share what we’ve learned with others in hopes of whole health and wellness! In 2021, I completed a health coach program and officially became a Certified Family Health Coach - I am thrilled for each and every opportunity I get to work with individuals, groups, and families!
As a family, we love exploring, playing, and learning together! While we’ve got our noses in books each and every day, we can also be found traveling, hiking, biking, fishing, cooking, playing lacrosse, dancing, cheering on our lil’ gymnast, and enjoying time with friends. Caring for my family, creating a home, preparing nourishing meals, keeping things clean, teaching my kids, spending time outdoors, loving my husband, offering to help others, worshipping, praying, reading, researching, moving my body, laughing with friends, and letting the sun soak into my skin are my greatest joys, gifts, and pleasures! This is the life God created me to lead and I am so grateful!