Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Sophia Clark.
Dr. Sophia , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in rural Oklahoma on a small family farm, surrounded by a small rural community. My grandmother was my very first introduction to natural healing; she grew herbs in parts of her orchard and garden, teaching us from a young age about the power of plant medicine. Even then, I knew I wanted to make a profound, positive impact on whatever community I ended up in, and a big part of me always dreamed of becoming a doctor.
However, as I grew older, I started noticing a glaring flaw in our modern medical system: it was almost entirely focused on masking surface-level symptoms rather than uncovering root causes. I inherently felt there had to be a better way.
The turning point came when I was in middle school. My mother began working with a holistic practitioner, and the transformation was incredible. At that point in her life, she was the healthiest she had ever been. It planted a seed in me that was much more impactful than I even realized at the time.
Funnily enough, by the time I hit college, I decided to pursue entrepreneurship. That business foundation took me on a journey all across the country. I lived in Hawaii, Texas, Tennessee, and back to Oklahoma off and on. But my calling to healthcare never left me.
The ultimate alignment of my business mind and my healer’s heart happened when I was pregnant with my first son. During that time, I was finishing up my certification as a holistic healthcare professional and began pursuing my PhD in Functional Medicine. I chose to work with midwives for that pregnancy, and they completely opened my eyes to what healthcare could be. They showed me that I could redefine healthcare, blending true clinical excellence with deep compassion.
For a long time, I served my community under the name Clark’s Holistic Care. But today, we are stepping into our full, evolved vision by rebranding to Waya Wellness | Functional Medicine Studio.
The name Waya (pronounced Wah-yah) holds immense personal significance. I lost my father at a very young age, and the one thing he was able to pass down to me was my Cherokee heritage. Something I am deeply proud of. In Cherokee, Waya means “Wolf,” and the Wolf Clan was one of the most prominent clans of the Cherokee people. They represent community, protection, and care. That is the exact heartbeat of our studio.
At Waya Wellness, everything we do is hyper-personalized to the individual and their unique biochemistry through comprehensive functional lab testing and tailored health plans. Furthermore, we’ve partnered with a clinical platform and operate under a Medical Director, allowing us to bridge a massive gap in rural areas by offering acute minor urgent care services alongside our functional protocols. In a rural community where the nearest urgent care can be a 40-minute to an hour drive away, having access to this level of high touch care is life changing.
I am finally becoming the provider I always dreamed of becoming. While our physical studio is rooted in central Oklahoma, our mission is nationwide. We currently offer Telehealth services across 48 states, and our ultimate goal is to scale and expand this boutique, concierge model to underserved rural communities across the entire country. We are just getting started, and I am so incredibly excited to continue caring for, and elevating the health of our communities nationwide
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. True entrepreneurial journeys rarely are, and my path to getting here has been no exception.
One of the greatest challenges came when I began my very first physical location. I was deeply in the thick of the postpartum journey with my second-born child, and during that time, I was dealing with a significant amount of postpartum anxiety. Trying to navigate those intense internal struggles while simultaneously building, structuring, and growing a brand-new business from the ground up was incredibly challenging.
I’ve been extremely blessed to have an amazing support system in my family and my partner, who truly believe in me, my passion, and what I am building. Having people in your corner who see your vision and support you through those raw, exhausting seasons makes all the difference.
Despite the late nights and the moments of real uncertainty, every single step has been entirely worth it. I am deeply passionate about what I do, and nothing fulfills me more than positively impacting the lives and health of the people in our community. I think that’s why I am so drawn to both entrepreneurship and functional medicine. They both come with incredibly unique, complex puzzles, and I honestly just love a really good challenge.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
What We Do & What We Specialize In:
At Waya Wellness, we bridge the gap between advanced functional medicine, holistic medicine, and essential healthcare. We specialize in root-cause, cellular wellness. Rather than just managing chronic symptoms, we dig deep to uncover why the body is out of balance. We are best known for our hyper-personalized approach, utilizing advanced comprehensive lab testing including GI mapping, DNA analysis, advanced hormone testing, and intricate functional blood chemistry panels. From these insights, we craft custom health plans and supplement protocols tailored to each individual’s unique blueprint.
To complement our root-cause care, we’ve partnered with a platform and licensed medical providers to deliver acute, minor urgent care needs directly through Telehealth. This partnership allows us to seamlessly handle sudden, minor illnesses and have necessary medications sent directly to local pharmacies right in the client’s community. In rural areas where the nearest urgent care can be a 40-minute to an hour drive away, having this immediate access is life-changing, allowing us to serve as a true wellness sanctuary for every aspect of our clients’ health.
What Sets Us Apart
What truly sets Waya Wellness apart is the intersection of deep wellness expertise and a premium, concierge user experience. We have completely dismantled the cold, intimidating, “assembly-line” feeling of traditional medicine. We are currently preparing to open our brand-new physical studio in less than a month!
Furthermore, our reach is not limited by geography. While we love our local studio community, we are a modern, tech-forward practice. Through our robust Telehealth platform, we are able to bring this high-touch, personalized style of functional medicine and care to clients across 48 states.
What We Are Most Proud of Brand-Wise
Brand-wise, I am incredibly proud of how Waya Wellness honors both heritage and deep community care. We are so proud that our brand not only represents my Cherokee heritage, but that it truly stands for community, accessibility, and care at its core. We have successfully built a brand where clients don’t feel like a chart number; they feel seen and heard. We are also proud to stand exclusively by the highest standards, requiring pure supplement formulations for our protocols to ensure our clients get the exact cellular support they need.
What We Want Readers to Know
We want your readers to know that your health does not have to be a guessing game, and healthcare does not have to feel impersonal. Whether you are dealing with chronic fatigue, gut issues, postpartum depletion, on weight loss journey, or you simply want to optimize your longevity, there is a root-cause solution waiting for you.
Waya Wellness is here to redefine your health journey. If you are local, we invite you to experience our new studio opening in just a few weeks. If you are anywhere else in the country, our virtual doors are wide open through Telehealth. We are ready to partner with you, look at your unique healthcare needs, and help you become the vibrant version of yourself you were always meant to be. More than anything, I want people to know that we truly care. We built this practice intentionally to create a more personal, compassionate, and accessible approach to wellness. Especially for rural and underserved communities that are too often overlooked.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up in rural Oklahoma, my childhood was split between two worlds: the quiet peace of nature and an absolute whirlwind of fiery energy.
We lived on 80 acres of land, and nature was a massive part of my life. For a long time, I was a bit introverted and incredibly quiet in the classroom. In fact, I was really, really quiet all the way until about the 8th grade. But by the time 8th grade hit, a major shift happened, and I became incredibly outgoing, and confident outside of my schoolwork.
Even during those quiet years, the second school let out, my true energy took over. My cousin and I had free rein over those 80 acres, running wild, exploring, and connecting with the land. That deep love for the outdoors is a huge part of what drew me to holistic health later in life.
I was also an absolute ball of fire with a relentless drive. I was a competitive dancer for a long time, and even though I was the quiet kid in class, the moment I stepped onto a stage, I completely lit up. I always needed a million things to do, so I threw myself into everything I could get my hands on a job, sports, mission trips, cheer, and FFA.
Looking back, that nature-loving kid who found her voice and possessed an unstoppable, high-energy work ethic was the perfect recipe for the functional medicine practitioner and entrepreneur I would eventually become.
Pricing:
- Initial Consultation: $100
- Single Comprehensive Lab Test with Health Plan: $850
- Comprehensive Lab Package (2 Tests): $2,100
- Minor Urgent Care Visits: Starting at $75
- Wellness Injections Starting at: $25
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wayawellness.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautyinkbysophia/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/clarks-holistic-care-wellston-2?osq=Health+%26+Medical
- Other: https://clarksholisticcare.square.site
