Rhonda Jolliffe
Dr. Rhonda Jolliffe is a seasoned healthcare professional with over four decades of experience in nursing and functional medicine. Beginning her career in 1985 as an intensive care nurse, she progressed to serve as director of emergency and trauma services before earning her nurse practitioner degree and master’s in nursing in 1997. In 1999, she opened one of the first independent functional medicine practices in North Dakota, focusing on women’s health, bioidentical hormone replacement, and holistic care, establishing herself as a pioneer in the field.
As the founder and owner of the Jolliffe Institute of Restorative Medicine & Aesthetics, Dr. Jolliffe provides patient-centered care that combines old-school attentiveness with modern techniques, including IV nutrition, hyperbaric therapy, and functional medicine diagnostics. She emphasizes the body’s ability to heal itself when supported properly, prioritizing longevity, lifestyle-based interventions, and education to empower patients to take charge of their health. Her practice also includes a health coach and nursing team who assist with procedures, patient education, and ongoing wellness programs.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Jolliffe is a respected educator, serving as a clinical instructor in nurse practitioner programs for more than 15 years. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Mary and is certified in functional medicine through the Institute of Functional Medicine. Her professional philosophy blends rigorous medical training with holistic approaches, mentorship, and a commitment to patient-first care, making her a leader in both practice and education within the integrative healthcare community.
• Certified in Functional Medicine
• University of Mary- M.S.
• University of Mary- D.N.P.
• Medcenter One College of Nursing- B.S.N.
• Institute of Functional Medicine
• Board member of community Christian radio station
• Applying for federal Medicare grant to study the importance of lifestyle in managing chronic illness
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience and perseverance. It's been really difficult to maintain a successful private practice in the midst of the climate of healthcare, with insurance payments and not getting paid what we should. Being able to power through and have a very successful private practice clinic has been my most notable professional achievement. I've always been a caregiver from childhood, and nursing just made sense to me because I loved caring for people, taking care of people, and helping them get better and be better in their health. I believe if you take care of the patients, the money comes. That's just my philosophy, and it hasn't changed. I'm not into everything being so money-focused. I really believe the patient comes first.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is that really, you can do anything that you want. I mean, just focus, get educated if it needs the education, on what your plans are, but set goals, and know that you can make your goals. That was early on, and I've had a lot of goals, and I've met all my goals.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Believe in your abilities, stay focused, pursue the education you need, set clear goals, and work diligently to achieve them.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The climate of healthcare has changed a lot. I think through the whole COVID thing, people started realizing, you know what, they're not taking care of me as good as I'd like, and so people are taking care of themselves better now these days. People are more open and looking for my kind of work than they did 25 years ago, because we relied on doctors back then. I'm happy about that, and I want to be their mentor and guide to help them take care of themselves. It's really difficult to maintain a successful private practice with insurance payments and not getting paid what we should. But I believe that being acknowledged for my years of service, my wisdom, and my knowledge is important, especially now that there are so many more people in my field doing what I do.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I'm a grandma now, so my hobbies are my grandkids. I have three grandchildren. I like to stay active - I like to hike, I like to bike, I'm a golfer. I feel staying active and having a healthy lifestyle is really important to me. That is very important to me, staying healthy as you age. Lifestyle is really important to me - that's what I teach, that's what I love. I want to be a part of the solution in our healthcare system. I'm kind of old school with the philosophy of caring for the patient. The patient comes first. I'm not into everything being so money-focused. I really believe if you take care of the patients, the money comes. I just really believe that the body has ways to heal itself, and if you give the body what it needs, you can heal on its own without the medications that we're doing today.
Locations
Jolliffe Institute of Restorative Medicine & Anesthetics
1400 43rd Avenue Northeast, Suite 300, Bismarck, ND 58503
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