With Over a Decade of Clinical Experience, the Westminster-Based Practitioner Is Redefining Patients
Westminster, United States – May 7, 2026 / Dr. Harrison’s Center of Functional Medicine /
The Growing Crisis of Chronic Illness in America
Chronic disease is the defining health crisis of our era. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, six in ten American adults live with at least one chronic condition, and four in ten manage two or more. Autoimmune diseases alone affect an estimated 24 million Americans, with conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and celiac disease rising steadily in prevalence. For millions of patients, the conventional medical model offers symptom management through long-term pharmaceutical protocols, but rarely investigates why the disease developed in the first place.
It is within this landscape that functional medicine has emerged as one of the fastest-growing disciplines in American healthcare. And among its most dedicated practitioners is Dr. Glenn Harrison, a chiropractic physician, board-certified clinical nutritionist, and certified functional medicine practitioner based in Westminster, Colorado, just outside Denver.
Who Is Dr. Glenn Harrison?
Dr. Glenn Harrison holds a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine from Northwestern Health Sciences University in Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba in Canada. His advanced post-graduate training spans functional neurology, functional endocrinology, functional blood chemistry, and clinical nutrition. He holds the credential of Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition (DACBN) and is a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (CFMP).
Dr. Harrison’s path into healthcare was forged through personal adversity. Before entering medicine, he worked in geological exploration in some of the most remote locations on Earth, including northern Greenland, the Tian Shan mountain range in Central Asia, and the Svalbard Islands in the Norwegian Sea. A debilitating back injury at age 19 threatened both his career and long-term physical health. After conventional treatments failed to provide relief, chiropractic care changed his trajectory entirely—and ultimately inspired his life’s work.
Today, Dr. Harrison operates the Center of Functional Medicine in Westminster, Colorado, where he focuses exclusively on chronic and autoimmune conditions. His practice has earned a 4.9-star rating from patients and draws individuals not only from across the Denver metro area—including Arvada, Broomfield, Thornton, and Boulder—but from across the United States and internationally through telehealth consultations
What Is Functional Medicine and Why Does It Matter?
Functional medicine is a patient-centered, science-based approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease rather than merely managing symptoms. While conventional medicine excels at acute and emergency care, functional medicine fills a critical gap for the millions of Americans living with complex, chronic conditions that don’t resolve with standard pharmaceutical intervention alone.
At the Center of Functional Medicine, Dr. Harrison’s clinical process reflects this philosophy at every stage. New patients begin with a complimentary 15-minute discovery call to determine whether the practice is the right fit. Those who proceed move into a comprehensive virtual medical history appointment, followed by advanced laboratory testing that goes far beyond conventional panels.
A functional medicine evaluation at Dr. Harrison’s practice may include a complete thyroid panel (TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, TPO and TG antibodies), adrenal cortisol assessments, comprehensive metabolic and inflammatory markers, nutrient status panels (ferritin, selenium, zinc, vitamin D), food sensitivity and immune reactivity testing, and gut health analysis. This depth of investigation is often the moment patients report a breakthrough, many saying they have never had these tests run before despite years of seeking answers.
Conditions Treated at the Center of Functional Medicine
Dr. Harrison’s practice specializes in a range of chronic and autoimmune conditions, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, lupus, chronic fatigue and adrenal dysfunction, digestive disorders including GERD, IBS, and leaky gut, hormone imbalances, neurological symptoms, and sleep disorders.
His approach treats the body as an interconnected system. For example, a patient presenting with thyroid dysfunction may also have underlying gut permeability, chronic infections such as Epstein-Barr virus reactivation, or environmental toxin exposure that is driving the autoimmune process. Rather than treating the thyroid in isolation, Dr. Harrison investigates the full clinical picture to develop a personalized protocol addressing all contributing factors.
A Telehealth Model Serving Patients Nationwide
One of the distinguishing features of Dr. Harrison’s practice is its robust telehealth infrastructure. Patients across the United States can access the same comprehensive functional medicine evaluation, advanced lab testing, and personalized treatment protocols from the comfort of their homes. This has made the Center of Functional Medicine accessible to individuals in areas where functional medicine practitioners are scarce or unavailable.
The telehealth model has proven especially valuable for patients who have cycled through multiple conventional specialists without resolution. Dr. Harrison’s initial consultations typically run 60 to 90 minutes—a stark contrast to the 10- to 15-minute appointments that characterize much of conventional primary care—allowing the time necessary to conduct a thorough health timeline and identify patterns that shorter visits may miss.
Patient Outcomes and Clinical Philosophy
The results speak through the patients themselves. Among the cases highlighted on the Center of Functional Medicine’s website, one family describes how their 11-year-old daughter, diagnosed with both celiac disease and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, experienced a complete transformation under Dr. Harrison’s care after two years of declining health under conventional treatment. Another patient, who sought help for unexplained neurological symptoms, reported near-complete resolution within four months.
Dr. Harrison’s clinical philosophy centers on what he calls “health independence”: equipping patients with the knowledge, tools, and understanding they need to maintain their health long after their formal treatment concludes. This educational approach sets his practice apart from models that create long-term dependency on practitioner visits or supplement regimens without empowering the patient to understand why those interventions work.
The Functional Medicine Approach to Thyroid and Gut Health
Two areas where Dr. Harrison’s expertise is particularly sought after are thyroid health and gastrointestinal disorders.
In thyroid care, his practice distinguishes itself by going far beyond the standard TSH test that most conventional physicians rely upon. Dr. Harrison evaluates the full conversion pathway from T4 to T3, assesses for autoimmune thyroid antibodies, examines nutrient cofactors essential for thyroid function, and investigates environmental and lifestyle factors that may be suppressing thyroid output. He interprets laboratory results within functional (optimal) ranges rather than the broader reference ranges used in conventional medicine, which often miss subclinical dysfunction.
In gastrointestinal health, Dr. Harrison approaches digestive complaints as systemic signals rather than isolated problems. His clinical model accounts for intestinal permeability, gut microbiome imbalances, chronic infections, and the relationship between gut inflammation and conditions seemingly unrelated to digestion—including joint pain, skin disorders, anxiety, brain fog, and hormonal irregularities. He emphasizes that the gut houses approximately 70 percent of the immune system and produces roughly 90 percent of the body’s serotonin, making gut health foundational to overall wellbeing.
Commitment to Public Education and Community Outreach
Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Harrison is deeply committed to public education. Through blog content, podcast appearances (including featured interviews on the NTI School PodTalk), community outreach, and patient education resources on his website, he works to demystify functional medicine and make evidence-based health information accessible to the general public.
His published articles cover topics ranging from the root causes of heartburn and indigestion to the functional medicine approach to sleep disorders, thyroid management, and gut health. Each piece reflects his core conviction that patients deserve to understand what is happening in their bodies and why—not simply be told what medication to take.
About the Center of Functional Medicine
The Center of Functional Medicine is located at 9035 Wadsworth Parkway, Suite 3300, Westminster, Colorado 80021, serving patients in the Denver metro area and nationwide through telehealth. The practice specializes in chronic and autoimmune conditions using advanced functional medicine laboratory testing, comprehensive clinical evaluations, and personalized treatment protocols designed to address root causes of disease.
Dr. Glenn Harrison, DC, DACBN, CFMP, is the founder and lead practitioner. The practice is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and offers complimentary discovery calls for prospective patients.
Contact Information:
Dr. Harrison’s Center of Functional Medicine
9035 Wadsworth Pkwy #3300
Westminster, Colorado 80021
United States
Glenn Harrison
+1720-449-6217
https://drgharrison.com
