Aspen Medical Health and Wellness
wellness • bioidentical hormones
Aspen Medical’s Story
Aspen Medical (formerly Freedom Healthcare) was founded in 2010 by Dr. Jeffrey S. Nelson with a clear mission: to provide a preventive, personalized approach to healthcare that truly puts patients first. Prior to founding Aspen Medical, Dr. Nelson practiced family medicine in Germany, where he was first introduced to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). He attended his first evidence-based education series on bioidentical hormones in 2008 under Dr. Neal Rouzier, where he discovered a remarkable volume of scientific evidence that had never been taught in medical school or residency. He transitioned his patients from synthetic to bioidentical hormones — and the results spoke for themselves.
At Aspen Medical, we are guided by science, not trends. Our approach is rooted in rigorous, peer-reviewed evidence. We are committed to therapies that are well-supported by science but have long been underutilized in conventional primary care. We believe in treating the whole person, not just the symptoms — identifying and addressing the root causes of aging’s common challenges so every patient can feel genuinely well and thrive.
As patients experienced life-changing outcomes, Aspen Medical grew, attracting providers who shared Dr. Nelson’s commitment to innovative, evidence-based care. A cornerstone of that growth has been the partnership with Gavin Woods, FNP-C, who has worked alongside Dr. Nelson for over five years to expand their services and reach. Together, the team brings over 30 years of combined BHRT experience — a depth of expertise that is rare in today’s evolving functional healthcare landscape.
Get to know the team
Meet the Team
Jeffery S. Nelson
DO Utah’s Wellness Doctor
Dr. Jeffrey Nelson’s path to founding Aspen Medical (formally Freedom Healthcare) is rooted in curiosity, service, and an unwavering commitment to getting medicine right. He earned his B.S. in Human Biology from Brigham Young University, his D.O. from Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2001, and completed his residency in Family Medicine at St. Louis University Hospital and Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, IL.
Dr. Nelson went on to serve the United States Air Force, practicing family and aerospace medicine in Germany from 2004 to 2010 — including managing the NASA space shuttle emergency medical response team in Europe. It was during this time that he was first introduced to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, ultimately inspiring the founding of Freedom Healthcare.
Board certified in Family Medicine, Dr. Nelson has dedicated his career to evidence-based, preventive, and anti-aging medicine — treating the root causes of how patients feel rather than simply managing symptoms. Outside the clinic, he is a devoted husband and father of five, and enjoys skiing and hiking in his spare time — and the family makes a point of visiting his wife Inga’s home country of Denmark every summer.
Gavin Woods
Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C)
Gavin Woods brings a rich and diverse clinical background to our practice, with experience spanning physical therapy, nursing at Primary Children’s Hospital, critical care at the University of Utah Hospital, orthopedic nursing at TOSH, and volunteer work at the Hope Clinic. His education placed a strong emphasis on evidence-based, holistic traditional medicine — a philosophy that has guided every step of his career.
Over five years of working alongside Dr. Nelson, Gavin has developed deep expertise in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) and remains committed to ongoing education in both BHRT and therapeutic peptides. Hearing patients share how hormone optimization has transformed their energy, mood, and overall quality of life never gets old — and that patient feedback continues to fuel his passion for this work every day.
Gavin believes in seeing the whole picture of each patient rather than focusing on a single area of concern. His goal is to work side by side with every patient to help them achieve immediate health improvement and long-term disease prevention using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). He’s committed to ensuring patients not only feel treated but also heard and educated throughout their journey.
Anika Van Boerum
Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C)
Anika Van Boerum earned her Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Westminster University and is trained in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) under two of the field’s leading experts, Dr. Neal Rouzier and Dr. Heather Hirsch. It was during her work in psychiatry that she witnessed firsthand how profoundly hormone optimization can impact mental health, energy, and overall quality of life — and that experience became the foundation of her passion for this work.
Anika brings a rich and diverse clinical background to our practice, including pediatric critical care at Primary Children’s Hospital, clinical research nursing, pulmonary hypertension specialty care, psychiatric medicine, and aesthetic medicine.
She is deeply passionate about partnering with patients on their wellness journey, offering care that is thoughtful, individualized, and rooted in evidence-based medicine.
Emily Lailhengue
Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C)
Emily Lailhengue is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner whose clinical journey has given her a deep and well-rounded foundation in complex patient care. She spent six years as an ICU nurse before transitioning to urology, where she further developed her expertise in hormonal health and individualized treatment.
Emily has a special passion for walking alongside women through the challenges of hormone imbalances, perimenopause, and overall wellness optimization. She understands that these transitions can feel overwhelming, and she is committed to making sure every patient feels truly heard, supported, and empowered every step of the way.
Her approach blends evidence-based medicine with genuine compassion and a collaborative spirit — helping patients feel confident, in control, and excited about their path to optimal health.