In addition, we tailor the treatment strategy to your unique needs, based on the results of our comprehensive, individualized testing, health history evaluation, and your personal preferences.

Finally, we strive to integrate therapies in a careful and balanced way—and only when there is sufficient research or evidence to indicate that they should be effective for your particular situation. Drawing from the published medical research, we evaluate studies and organize the evidence to support those strategies we think will be most effective for your specific situation.

Our Personnel

Jeff Hickman, B.A.

Ken Hendrickson, B.A.

Andrew Caldwell

Clinical Staff

Dr. Pittman has long been dedicated to the research-based integration of alternative, complementary and conventional treatments for achieving optimal health and maximizing the natural healing capabilities of the body. Born and raised in the small South Georgia town of Tifton, Dr. Pittman is a fourth-generation physician whose great grandfather was a circuit doctor, riding a horse from one small town to another, seeing patients in the late 1800’s. His grandfather graduated from the first class at Emory University School of Medicine and his father was a graduate of the Medical College of Georgia. Together they practiced medicine for over 75 years in Tifton. Dr. Pittman began his medical experience as a hospital volunteer at age 14, then as a Nursing Assistant at age 16, and continued working part time in the hospital setting almost continually until he graduated from medical school.

He received his B.S. in biology in 1980 and completed studies for a master’s degree in biochemistry and microbiology at the University of Georgia in 1982. He received his medical degree from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia in 1986 and attended the Pediatric Residency Program at NC Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Later, while serving as Emergency Department Director at hospitals in Rocky Mount and Southport, NC, he began exploring ways to combine conventional medicine with nutrition, botanicals, and other natural therapies as an integral part of clinical medical practice.

It was then that Dr. Pittman began exploring ways to incorporate nutrition and holistic therapies into clinical medical practice. He began attending conferences and training courses in nutritional and metabolic medicine. He also began working with integrative medical experts around the country, learning many things about healthcare that were not taught in school or residency. This intensive period of study culminated in the opening of the Carolina Center in 1994. From the beginning, Dr. Pittman’s vision for the Center was to bring multiple healing modalities together in order to help patients overcome chronic degenerative illnesses. He has since intensified his training, gaining certification in chelation therapy, mercury detoxification, and oxidative medicine. Treatment programs at the Carolina Center have developed at a pace commensurate with our evolving understanding of the diverse connections between nutritional biochemistry, physiology, toxicity, and chronic disease.

Since founding the Carolina Center in 1994, Dr. Pittman has further enhanced his understanding of integrative medicine through clinical training at the Autism Research Institute, the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs, the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), and is a Certified Thermologist through the American Academy of Thermology. Dr. Pittman is certified in chelation therapy by the American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology. He is an active member in the International College of Integrative Medicine and as well as the North Carolina Integrative Medical Society, an organization that he co-founded in 2000. He has lectured frequently at the UNC School of Medicine’s Program on Integrative Medicine and has served as a member of the state’s Vector Disease Task Force and is a past president of the North Carolina Integrative Medicine Society. He is currently on the Membership Committee of ILADS. From the beginning, Dr. Pittman’s vision for the Center was to bring together multiple healing modalities in order to help patients overcome chronic degenerative illnesses and bolster their health and wellness.

Dr. Pittman is a classically trained pianist, having studied piano since age 4, double majoring in music and pre-med in college and graduate school, wining numerous piano competitions through his teens and in college. He continues to enjoy the piano, getting regular lessons from his college professor (and second mother), Dorothy Lewis Griffith, an award-winning and world-renowned pianist who continues to record and perform into her 90’s. In addition to the piano, he and his husband Younger split time between caring for their very enjoyable tract of isolated land in Cary, seeing patients in Wilmington where he enjoys spending time on the beach, and finally completely relaxing in the mountains at their second home in Linville, NC. An avid nature photographer, he enjoys historical travel and outdoor activities as well as cooking and spending time with his family, friends and their cat Mojo.

Amanda Roper is a native of North Carolina. She has always been interested in health care and knew from an early age that Physician Assistant was the career path for her. She received her BS in Biology with minor in chemistry from Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC in 2011 and continued at Methodist University PA Program, receiving her Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies in December 2013. Amanda has held various positions before finding her way to Carolina Center. She has experience in family medicine, pediatrics, and women’s health. Amanda has a passion for Integrative Medicine, seeing firsthand the issues with traditional medical practices and understanding the need for a holistic approach to healthcare and health concerns. Amanda and her husband Powell enjoy outdoor activities at their coastal river home, relaxing, spending time with friends and family, crocheting, and cuddles with her Border Collie, Jackson.

Kim was born in Raleigh, NC but was raised and grew up in sunny Scottsdale, AZ   She graduated from Arizona State University with her Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing and was recognized with honors as cum laude.  Kim has been practicing as a Registered Nurse since January of 2005.  She is passionate about her role as a nurse and believes she was always destined to care for others, both in her personal and professional life.  She returned to North Carolina in December of 2020 along with her parents, to be near her younger sister and 3 nephews whom she loves spending time with as often as possible.  Kim is a dedicated, compassionate and faithful nurse who understands the necessity for personalized care amongst her patients, respecting the whole person- mind, body and spirit.

Bio Coming Soon

Karla received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with High Distinction from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1996 and was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.  In the early years of her nursing career, she worked in geriatrics and was intrigued by the aging & disease process and began to study about wellness & disease prevention. Karla struggled with headaches from the time she was a child, and as she learned more about health issues and holistic health care, she discovered that food allergies and toxins were the root causes, and she was able to restore her health with the help of an integrative clinical nutritionist.  Karla has been working in Integrative and Functional Medicine for over 15 years, assisting others to learn what we put into our bodies’ matters, and that with the right resources, our bodies can journey towards healing.  Karla is certified in heavy metal toxicology and chelation therapy from International IV Nutritional Therapy Global Physician Education and performs IV infusion therapy for the Carolina Center as well as our affiliated practice, Restore Health & Wellness. 

Administrative Team

Sharon joined the staff of the Carolina Center in May 2008. As a staff member, she performs the tasks of Accounts Receivables Clerk, Medical Biller, Thermography Technician, and serves as our Front Office Supervisor. She has over 20 years of experience in Accounts Receivables and is a certified Medical Biller. She also has two years experience as a thermography technician. Sharon received a Bachelors degree in Psychology from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC (minoring in Composite Science). In addition, she completed Harvard University’s Health Careers Program and the Medical Billers Program at Allied Schools, Laguna Hills, CA. She enjoys singing (First Soprano with the Saint Francis UMC Chancel Choir), music (Chopin to ZZ Top), cooking, dancing and family time. Sharon also serves as the primary Thermascan Technician for Carolina Thermascan where she oversees the entire thermascan process from performing the scans, documenting the process, insuring that they get to the physician to read the scans, and notifying the patients of the results in a timely manner.

Younger serves as our Administrative Assistant in the Wilmington office. A native of North Carolina with a degree in Business Administration, Younger has worked in the health care field all his life, operating a pediatric coloring book company for 14 years before joining the Carolina Center staff in 1996.   An Eagle Scout, he tries to do one good turn daily or more. Younger enjoys swimming and spending time in the mountains of North Carolina.

Andrea was born and raised in Ocala, Florida. She moved to Raleigh, NC in 2012 with her beautiful daughter.    She graduated from Miller-Motte College in Sept. 2016 with an Associates Degree In Applied Science, joining the Carolina Center staff shortly after graduating. She has been in the healthcare industry for over 20 yrs. and enjoys getting to know our patients, working as their health care advocate. With her caring demeanor she strives to make The Carolina Center a welcoming environment. In her free time, she enjoys mediation, relaxation, taking care of the elderly and spending time with family.

Originally from Asheville, now living in Raleigh since 2012, Kelly comes with 10+ years of social work and education experience working with populations with special needs, chronic disability, and rehabilitation service coordination. Her personal experience with a connective tissue disorder, co-infections of Lyme Disease and lymphedema have led to a natural holistic mindset to health and wellness, with a passion for educating others about the benefits of lymphatic awareness and massage. Kelly Dansby is a local Certified Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage Therapist offering Vodder Method Full body and Multi-day Manual Lymphatic Massage.

Coming Soon.

Denise was born in Canada and spent most of her childhood in Detroit.  In 1992, she moved to the Triangle where she was a patient at the Carolina Center in the late 90’s.  As an excellent cook, she has always been interested in health and healthy eating.  A True Mermaid, she moved to the NC Coast in 2006.  The Carolina Center Wilmington location provided her with the opportunity to join Total Health and Carolina Center as their Wilmington Meridian Stress Assessment Technician and Administrative Assistant.  As a Certified Technician, she works with outside clients, as well as Carolina Center Patients.  Since starting her role with MSA, she continued her studies and is Certified as a Health and Detox Coach as well as a Certified Functional Nutritionist.   Denise continues to study health and nutrition and is available to assist you in your Path to Health.

Our Employees at Total Health Nutrition Center

Jeff is our Product Manager & Buyer for Total Health Nutrition Center. He graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of New Mexico. He researches all of the supplements we sell to make sure you are getting the best quality supplement for your money. His over seventeen years of investigation has built an extensive supplement database that he can use to assist clients in finding the best supplements for their needs. In addition, Jeff was one of the first participants in Total Health’s HCG diet program. He lost 33 pounds and has been able to maintain it for over a year. As our resident HCG guru, he can answer any questions you may have about the diet.

Jeff and his wife, Jenice, live in Apex, and he enjoys building “yard art” and furniture, along with assisting in their extensive gardens. He has been an employee of REI for nearly 25 years and still works part time at REI in Cary. When Jeff says ‘he’s going Coastal’, they are off to their place on the White Oak River. He was employed with REI for over 26 years and ‘retired’ with the esteemed Heritage Card in 2013. Come see Jeff at Total Health Nutrition Center for all your supplement needs.

Ken grew up in Tennessee amongst many of the country music stars just outside of Nashville, earning a B.A. at the University of Tennessee in Biology with minors in Psychology and Literature. He spent 25 years working throughout North America in the Petroleum Industry, where he was a V.P. for a national management company out of Dallas, then started his own company in partnership with Amoco Oil Company in Fort Wayne, IN. Later on, Ken sold his business and moved to NC with his wife, Patti, to be closer to her parents. That’s when Ken’s environmental side took over and he started working at REI, where he met Jeff, and has been with REI for the last 15 years. As an avid outdoorsman, Ken loves to mountain climb, go hiking and climbing in the European Alps, the South American Andes and of course our own Rockies and Cascades. For more than a decade he has led trips to help teach others to Ice Climb in the New Hampshire White Mountains. For the last five years Ken and his wife have been doing all of their vacations via motorcycle touring and teaching classes on motorcycle camping. They also spend time each summer building houses in El Salvador. Ken also is a pilot with a Commercial license and used to love to fly aerobatics. Between Ken and his wife, they have four sons, five granddaughters and one great-granddaughter. After 15 years with REI, Jeff is also the reason that Ken joined THNC.