Our Doctors

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At Hotze Health & Wellness Center, we have assembled a renowned medical team of alternative functional medicine doctors, specialists and nurses who are at the forefront of their craft. Their only desire is to help patients on their journey down a life-long path of health and wellness.

Each of our doctors has undergone a rigorous training program and countless hours of continuing education to ensure that your needs and concerns are addressed in the most sensitive and professional manner possible and that you receive the most up-to-date information and state-of-the-art care.

Our philosophy is simple: the more strides we make in helping you achieve optimal health, the more time you’ll have to enjoy it.

Led by noted author, radio host and founder, Steven F. Hotze, M.D., our physicians have over 60 years combined medical experience backed by a staff of 80 caring professionals who provide an environment of hope and well-being for each of our guests.

Steven F. Hotze, M.D., is the founder and CEO of the Hotze Health & Wellness Center, Physicians Preference Vitamins and Physicians Preference Pharmacy International, LLC.

Dr. Hotze received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston in 1976.  He completed a surgical internship at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Houston, and then entered the practice of emergency medicine.

In 1981, Dr. Hotze opened his Family and Occupational Medical practice in North Houston. In 1989, he established the Hotze Health & Wellness Center in the Katy area.

The mission of the Hotze Health & Wellness Center is to enable its patients, who are considered guests, to enjoy a better quality of life by helping them obtain and maintain health and wellness naturally, without pharmaceutical drugs. This goal is accomplished by strengthening their immune systems and increasing their energy levels.

The Hotze Health & Wellness Center considers itself to be in the hospitality industry first, and within that context, to provide medical care to its guests. The professional staff at the Hotze Health & Wellness Center partners with the guests to coach them on a path of health and wellness, naturally, so that as they mature, they are brimming with energy, vitality and enthusiasm for life.

Dr. Hotze developed an 8-Point Treatment Regimen that has helped over 32,000 individuals get on a path of health and wellness, and enjoy a better quality of life in an environment of extraordinary hospitality and guest service.

Dr. Hotze is the best-selling author of four books, 1.) Hormones, Health, and Happiness, 2.) Hypothyroidism, Health & Happiness, 3.) Do A 180, and 4.) Proven Prescription.

In his opus work, Hormones, Health, and Happiness, Dr. Hotze describes his journey from conventional medicine, which used surgery and pharmaceutical drugs, to actively listening to his patients and treating the root cause of their symptoms through natural approaches.

“For an acute illness, the drug approach may be appropriate. However, patients with chronic ailments never really get well by taking drugs. How can they? Chronic illness and disease are not caused by deficiencies of prescription drugs.”

In his book, Hypothyroidism, Health & Happiness, Dr. Hotze reveals how commonly hypothyroidism is overlooked, misdiagnosed, and mistreated in women and men.

In his book, Do A 180, Dr. Hotze reveals how you can take charge of your health. He discusses the importance of optimal hormone levels, healthy eating, vitamin and mineral supplementation, and exercise.

Finally, in his book Proven Prescription, Dr. Hotze describes how the systems and procedures that he has developed since 1989 can be adopted by other physicians, enabling them to improve the quality of their patients’ lives, naturally.

Suzanne Somers dedicated an entire chapter to Dr. Hotze in her New York Times best seller, Breakthrough. “This Texas doctor is going to steal your heart,” writes Somers. “He has so much energy he can’t wait to get to his office each day. He has built up a practice that is the envy of doctors everywhere.”

Dr. Hotze has appeared on hundreds of television and radio shows across the nation, including ABC, NBC, CBS, NEWSMAX and FOX affiliates, CBS’ The Morning Show and The Biography Channel. He has been a regular guest on the KHOU Channel 11 morning program, Great Day Houston and the WFAA morning program, Good Morning Texas.

Dr. Hotze hosted daily Health & Wellness Solutions radio show on KSEV 700 AM and Dr. Hotze’s Wellness Revolution radio show on KPRC AM 950 and iHeart radio between 2001-2017. He currently hosts Dr. Hotze’s Wellness Revolution podcasts, which features expert guests and patient testimonials.

Dr. Hotze is a member of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, and is a member and former president of the Pan American Allergy Society. Dr. Hotze is also a member of The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M).

Dr. Ellsworth graduated from Vanderbilt University with high honors with a B.S. degree in Molecular Biology and Engineering Science. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine with Honors in 1986 and went on to complete a residency in Family Medicine at Richland Memorial Hospital in 1989. Following his medical training, he served in the United States Air Force as a Medical Officer at Tinker, Oklahoma for four years. He then joined the teaching faculty at the Saints Family Medicine Residency in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1993 where he enjoyed teaching medical students and residents in a broad range of medical conditions as well as running the obstetrical clinic. Dr. Ellworth is also certified with The Institute for Functional Medicine®.

Dr. Ellsworth and his wife Sylvia had long shared a mutual interest in serving overseas by doing medical ministry. In 1994, Dr. Ellsworth moved with his family to the newly independent country of Uzbekistan where he served as the Medical Director of a non-profit organization. During this time he recognized the need for the public to have basic information to help prevent disease and promote wellness. He also saw the need to equip both the public and the medical community with practical ways to treat illnesses using locally available resources. He spent several years studying, researching and working with a team to write the first home medical textbook in the Uzbek language. He also led a team which produced the first school health program. The school health programs and “A Health Handbook for Everyone” are still in use to this day. He also spearheaded initiatives such as an anemic awareness and treatment program for young women and children as well as a hypothyroidism prevention and treatment program using locally available iodine. Dr. Ellsworth also lectured on a wide array of health issues to the community.

The eight years of ministry were almost cut in half when his wife became ill with chronic fatigue, allergies and weakness. One year later, conventional treatments had failed to explain or resolve her health issues. Providentially, Dr. Ellsworth ran across Dr. Crook’s book The Yeast Connection and found to his amazement that her health returned once the yeast was treated. Later, they discovered that natural thyroid and progesterone provided a natural solution to the miscarriages they had experienced and thankfully culminated in the healthy birth of their 4th child. After eight years, the Ellsworth family returned from overseas to Dr. Ellsworth’s native home of Houston.

His research led him to attend the Pan American Allergy Society medical conference to learn more about treating allergies and natural medicine. There he met Dr. Sheridan and Dr. Hotze who shared with him the Wellness Center’s method of treatment. Dr. Ellsworth’s personal journey and his background in natural medicine made him a perfect fit for the Wellness Center and consequently he joined our staff at the Hotze Health & Wellness Center in 2003. Dr. Ellsworth dedicates himself to helping our guests gain and maintain health and wellness naturally. Dr. Ellsworth is always abreast of the latest medical research.

Click here to get to know Dr. Ellsworth and watch Dr. Hotze interview him about his credentials, expertise, and how he helps our guests obtain health and wellness naturally.

Debbie Janak began her educational journey at Texas A&M University, her love of animals leading her to obtain an undergraduate degree in Animal Science. Prior to pursuing a career in the medical field, Debbie and her husband raised their two children while maintaining the Janak farm, a working farm that raises cattle, sheep, horses, blood hounds, and peacocks. Raised in a household that held to the belief in Vitamin C to cure the common cold and juiced carrots before juicing was a fad, Debbie fell right into the pursuit of health naturally. At one time, The Janaks had 15 acres certified “organic” by the State of Texas and raised various vegetables and melons that were sold to Whole Foods in Houston.

With a passion for human biology and health, Debbie obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with honors in 1995 and went on to pursue her Master of Science in Nursing specializing in the Family Nurse Practitioner track in 2005. Debbie has over twelve years’ experience as a Registered Nurse and has a background in Operating Room and Emergency Medicine. Upon obtaining her license as Nurse Practitioner, Debbie joined our team at the Hotze Health & Wellness Center in 2007 with a passion for learning and a desire to treat patients from a natural perspective. We are privileged to have Debbie as a valued member of our team! Debbie and Mack have been married for 27 years and continue to maintain their farm. Her absolute joy is in spending time with her family and with her history, it comes as no surprise that Debbie is an avid gardener and views working in her garden as “therapy for her soul”. For fun, Debbie also enjoys traveling and often ends up in the tropics where she spends time snorkeling.

Click here to meet Debbie!

For as long as he can remember, Jason wanted to be a detective. While serving as an Army medic, he realized that medicine combined detective work with his other love, science. So, as a member of the Texas Army National Guard, he attended the U.S. Army Physician Assistant Program at Fort Sam Houston – graduating summa cum laude in 1996. He later went on to obtain his master’s degree in physician assistant studies through the University of Texas.

During his more than 26 years in clinical practice, he has had a wide variety of experience in military medicine, family practice, emergency medicine, neurotology (a hearing and balance subspecialty of ENT), and surgical critical care.

In 2006, he suffered his own health challenges for which his conventional medical training and experience provided few treatment options and no cures. He began to investigate alternative, integrative, and functional (root cause) medicine. It was there that he found the answers that he needed. With dietary and lifestyle modification, his issues resolved. He was hooked, obtaining more formal training through the Institute of Functional Medicine and eventually, board certification through the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.

Jason’s passion is researching alternative/integrative/functional medicine and implementing the best findings into his personal and medical practice. His other hobbies include hiking, biking and being outside enjoying God’s creation with his beautiful wife, Val.

Ronald Parker, P.A., is a provider who specializes in allergy and will be providing one-on-one care and customized treatment for Hotze Health & Wellness Center’s expanding allergy practice. He attended the U.S. Navy Medical Corpsman School and graduated from the Navy Field Medical School in 1967. In 1973, he graduated from the Baylor College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program.

Parker worked at the Barnett Allergy Clinic from 1983-1988, then at Rosewood ENT from 1988 to 2017. He worked at Texas ENT from January to April of 2017 and then joined the team at HHWC. Parker is a member of the Pan American Allergy Society and on faculty for training on allergy testing. He is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. A native Houstonian, Parker has been married to his wife Patti for twenty-two years. He is proud of his new 4-month-old grandson. He is a car enthusiast who enjoys working on cars and he also likes to cook.

Dr. Mark Barlow, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, joined the Aesthetics Department at the Hotze Health & Wellness Center in 2021, providing the following services: Botox, injectable fillers and in office procedures.

Dr. Barlow received his plastic surgery training at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. In addition to the thousands of cases at UTMB, this integrated plastic surgery program also included rotations in Miami with a focus on aesthetic surgery with noted experts specializing in rhytidectomy (facelift), blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), and cosmetic breast surgery (augmentations and lifts) as well as detailed training in the application of injectables (Botox, dermal fillers, etc.).

Dr. Barlow also trained at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas where he learned advanced reconstructive techniques. Dr. Barlow’s plastic surgery training has equipped him to build a successful practice that includes both aesthetic (cosmetic) and reconstructive procedures of all types.