About The Institute for Women's Metabolic Health™
Helping Women Create Health, Purpose, and Impact
At The Institute for Women's Metabolic Health™, we believe some of the most powerful health advocates aren't necessarily found in hospitals or clinics—they're women who have lived through their own health journeys and feel called to help others do the same.
Our mission is simple:
To equip women with the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to guide other women toward better health and a better quality of life.
We created this institute for women who know they are meant for something more.
Women who are passionate about health, wellness, nutrition, movement, and personal growth.
Women who want meaningful work that aligns with their values.
Women who are ready for a second act—one built on purpose, service, and impact.
More Than a Certification
The Institute for Women's Metabolic Health is more than a certification program.
It's a pathway for women who want to become trusted guides in the lives of other women.
Our students come from all walks of life. Some are healthcare professionals looking to expand their knowledge. Others are teachers, fitness instructors, corporate professionals, stay-at-home mothers, wellness enthusiasts, or women simply seeking a career change that feels meaningful and fulfilling.
What they all have in common is a desire to make a difference.
They want to understand women's health.
They want to help.
They want to feel confident.
And they want a clear roadmap that doesn't leave them overwhelmed.
That's exactly what we provide.
We Believe Learning Should Feel Empowering, Not Intimidating
Many health education programs fall into one of two extremes.
Some are overly simplistic, leaving graduates unsure of how to confidently support clients.
Others are packed with complicated science and information that feels overwhelming, making students question whether they're capable of succeeding.
We take a different approach.
We teach complex concepts in a way that is practical, approachable, and easy to understand.
Our students learn the foundations of women's metabolic health, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, behavior change, and coaching through a structured framework designed specifically for busy women.
We don't believe you need to know everything.
We believe you need to know what matters most.
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Our Philosophy
At the heart of everything we teach is a simple belief:
When women understand their bodies, they make better decisions.
And when women feel supported, encouraged, and empowered, transformation becomes possible.
That's why our curriculum focuses on helping future coaches understand the foundational drivers of health, including:
- Nutrition
- Movement
- Sleep
- Stress management
- Behavior change
- Metabolic health
- Sustainable lifestyle habits
- Women's unique health challenges throughout midlife
Our goal isn't simply to teach information.
Our goal is to develop confident women who can inspire change in others.
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Want to work with us?
NEXT STEPÂ
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Designed for Women Helping Women
We know what it feels like to be busy.
To juggle careers, families, responsibilities, and personal goals.
To wonder if it's too late to start something new.
That's why every aspect of our program is designed to be supportive, structured, and accessible.
We guide our students step-by-step, helping them build knowledge, confidence, and real-world skills without the overwhelm.
Because we believe the world needs more women helping women.
More women leading with compassion.
More women sharing what they've learned.
More women creating healthier communities.
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Meet the Team
Dr. KÂ
FOUNDER – Strong & Steady Her™
Dr. Cheryl Koelling, DC, M.Ed, B.S., B.A., known lovingly as Dr. K, is a clinician, educator, and national leader in women’s metabolic, hormonal, and musculoskeletal health. She is widely respected for her work in natural pain reduction, bone density optimization, inflammation management, and functional lifestyle medicine.
With over a decade of clinical experience and a strong academic foundation, Dr. K brings a rare blend of scientific rigor, educational clarity, and real world application to women’s wellness. She has served as a medical peer reviewer for PubMed indexed journals and spent four years as a collegiate instructor teaching advanced coursework in psychology, anatomy and physiology, and biochemistry.
Her clinical approach is evidence based and systems driven, integrating
functional nutrition
intentional, joint protective movement
corrective and rehabilitative exercise
nervous system regulation
and mindset driven lifestyle design
“I created Strong & Steady Her™ because women deserve more than symptom management and surface level fixes. They deserve care that understands physiology, builds resilience, and supports strength that lasts.”
Dr. K is especially passionate about supporting women ages 30 to 55 as they move out of survival mode and into a life of clarity, confidence, and sustainable strength. Her work centers on making bone health, hormonal support, metabolic resilience, and anti inflammatory living not only accessible, but transformational.
She is the founder and owner of
Kee Health, an integrated functional medicine clinic
Kee Health Reformer Pilates Studio
Strong & Steady Her™, a national women’s health education and certification company
In addition to patient care, Dr. K trains and mentors clinicians across the country through her competency based Functional and Lifestyle Medicine Certification. The program is designed to teach clinicians how to think clinically, interpret labs with confidence, and apply functional medicine ethically and sustainably in real practice.
Education and Credentials
Doctor of Chiropractic, Logan University
Master’s in Education, Western Governors University
MBA candidate, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Women’s Health and Obesity Medical Management, Harvard Medical School
Endocrinology Education, George Washington University School of Medicine
Perimenopause and Menopause Certification, Integrative Women’s Health Institute
Author of Girls Just Want to Have FUNctional Hormones
Biomechanics Method Corrective Exercise Specialist
Buff Bones® Bone Density Optimization Provider
Areas of expertise include hormonal health, metabolic health, obesity medicine, biomechanics, bone density, inflammation, and lifestyle medicine.
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Katie
Director of Patient Experience
I’ve always cared deeply about helping people feel comfortable, supported and valued—especially when it comes to their health. I love helping create an environment where women feel truly understood and cared for as they navigate changes in life. There’s nothing more fulfilling to me than building relationships with patients and seeing them thrive.Â
It’s no secret that very few doctors are truly focusing on women’s healthcare—especially during critical stages like perimenopause and menopause. That’s why working with Dr. K is so inspiring. Dr. K’s dedication to this underserved area of women’s health is life-changing, and I’ve seen first hand the difference that compassionate, specialized care can make. Healthy lifestyles and movement have been key to my own journey, and it’s my mission to help Dr. K reach even more women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s so they can feel empowered, balanced, and confident during this stage of life.
In my free time you can find me cooking, volunteering, walking or with my husband, son and pug on the lake boating and watching as many sports as possible!Â
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Welcome to the Institute for Women's Metabolic Health™
Whether you're looking for a meaningful career change, a deeper understanding of health, or a way to make a lasting impact in the lives of others, we're honored to be part of your journey.
Your next chapter starts here.
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