Top Doc, March 2022
Living Magazine interview with Dr. Jennifer Bontreger, co-owner of Southern Horizon Healthcare
BY MEREDITH KNIGHT
Jennifer Bontreger designed her boutique practice, Southern Horizon Healthcare, on the premise that no two patients are exactly the same. “Each is unique with their own personality, medical history, lifestyle, stresses, health concerns, opinions, preferences, and health goals,” she said. Dr. Bontreger carefully crafted an atmosphere where services are designed around each unique patient’s needs, staff is hand-selected for their patient-first philosophy, and patients never feel rushed or like their voice isn’t heard.
“People are frustrated with no end to COVID insight,” she said. “They’re having job disruptions, relationship problems, and experiencing weight gain. They need a doctor who’ll slow down and really listen to them. When they have a question, there’s a staff member available to address it, and I try to promptly respond to emails. This practice exists for the patient, designed around their convenience, and to respond to what they’re experiencing.”
Dr. Bontreger treats patients 13 and older with a range of orthopedic conditions and sports-related injuries. She also manages health issues including diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, offers joint aspirations and corticosteroid injections, ankle-brachial index testing, and blood draw and testing. She also offers IV vitamin supplement to deliver specially formulated cocktails of nutrients, vitamins, electrolytes, and antioxidants to help replenish, restore, and detoxify the body, hormone-replacement therapy for men and women, and Nutrafol, an all-natural hair supplement.
Because many patients requested it, Dr. Bontreger offers concierge care and a cash-pay plan. “Whether we’re filing insurance or not, I always try to be transparent about costs upfront,” she said. “No one should worry about finances when it comes to their health.” With dual certification in internal and sports medicine, Dr. Bontreger also serves as medical director at Integrated Medicine of North Texas and assistant professor of medicine at TCU. An avid athlete herself, she works to get patients back to the activities they love, as quickly and safely as possible. As her patients have requested, Dr. Bontreger has added aesthetic services, including chemical peels, Botox, laser hair removal, Xeomin anti-aging injections, and QWO to treat cellulite on the buttocks. She also sells ZO and PCA skincare products.
When not on the job, she’s a wife and mother. “My husband, Robert, is an ER doctor and we’ve both worked throughout the pandemic,” she said. “Our daughter, Alyssa, is busy with swimming and dance and we’re enjoying these years we know will pass too fast.” Dr. Bontreger enjoys running, working out, painting, drawing, and traveling. She serves as team physician at Lewisville High, offers concussion management to other area schools, and sponsors local Little League teams.
“I’ve been building up an extensive home gym and enjoying my daughter joining me in working out,” she said. “If I’m going to counsel my patients about their lifestyle, I want to practice what I preach by eating right, exercising, and managing my own stress.” She’s currently training for a half marathon.