Makayla Downs, MSN, FNP

Makayla Downs is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who has experience in primary care, specifically with a focus on women’s health.

Makayla has a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville along with a master’s degree in nursing from the University of St. Francis-Joliet.

Throughout her career as a nurse and Nurse Practitioner, she has worked with veterans and active-duty service members on a Medical-Surgical unit serving as charge nurse, done pediatric and adult telephone triage, and treated women in a GYN/primary care clinic that did clinical research as well. She brings her GYN background to LMC and is able to offer hormone testing to her female patients but also to her male patients (hello cortisol, I’m thinking of you!). She specifically helps women understand how hormones work in the body and the changes their body may be going through, particularly during the perimenopause and menopause years.

Makayla has a passion for finding the root cause to a health concern and working with her patients where they are at in their health journey. She believes in non-judgmental, mindful care and can provide accountability and support for her patients. Her goal is to help make lifestyle recommendations that are sustainable and individualized. She believes that the care she provides at Lifestyle Medical Center is not only about considering nutrition but also sleep, mental health, activity, family, etc. and with her work and life experience she is able to help patients meet their goals.

In her spare time, Makayla is the mother to 4 young children and enjoys volunteering in the local community, trying new restaurants, and listening podcasts and audiobooks.