Our Team
Eleanor Dunham, MD MBA FACEP
Quick Facts
- Born in Philadelphia, PA and raised in south Jersey (loves the shore)
- Bachelor of Arts in Biology - Rutgers College of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
- Doctor of Medicine - Georgetown University School of Medicine
- General Medical Officer (GMO) - United States Navy for 5 years serving in San Diego, CA, Norfolk VA and Washington DC
- Emergency Medicine residency- Medical College of Georgia
- American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) Board certified
- Medical Director Community General Hospital of Pinnacle Health – Harrisburg, PA
- Medical Director Penn State Hershey Emergency Department- Hershey, PA
- The Functional Medicine Academy and American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) trained
- Mother of four boys (husband included) in Hershey, PA
From my beginnings in South Jersey to my home now in Hershey Pennsylvania, I have experienced so much- being an officer on a Navy ship and working at a Naval Hospital, medical school at Georgetown and Emergency medicine residency in the deep south, working in the ED for 20+ years, and raising all boys (which sometimes includes my husband!). If I ever have the time, I need to write a book about all that I’ve seen and experienced. But for now, I’m eager to share that experience as a functional medicine specialist.
As an Emergency Medicine (EM) physician, I know what it looks like when you let preventable diseases go on too long. I’ve treated these people, and have seen the damage that was done, even if there was something that could be done to help. But too often, I’ve seen people literally die in front of me from very preventable diseases way too often. You can’t control car wrecks, accidental trauma, etc. but the preventable diseases could have been fixed early and should never have gotten this far. However, people keep dying because they either weren’t taking proper care of themselves, didn’t know how to, or they weren’t able to get the care they needed.
I also was on the front line in the Emergency Department (ED) during the Covid pandemic and was able to see how people’s preventable diseases negatively impacted their immunity and their ability to fight Covid. I also saw how primary care physicians have been handcuffed by their current structure and unable to spend the time needed to dive down to the root causes of health issues. Instead, they’re assigned to chase after the latest urgent symptom, with no time to figure out what is really causing it. Being proactive can fix the problem, but being reactive only puts a temporary band-aid on it. I’ve heard so many stories from patients that have tried everything under the sun with traditional allopathic medicine to no avail. They’ve exhausted all their resources and are still frustrated because they still don’t have answers as to why they are feeling poorly or are still in pain.
But I’ve also heard so many stories from patients and friends that have tried functional medicine and had success in their health journey. People I know who had cancer or a debilitating disease that became functional again OR people on antihypertensives or diabetic medications are now off these medications after they changed their lifestyle or diet or added supplements or eliminated something in their lifestyle. So because of those and other reasons, I decided to switch from the end of the line in the ED where I saw easily preventable health problems that had been allowed to get out of control, to the front end with functional medicine where it’s not too late to make a major difference in the quality and longevity of life. I am eager to help patients get a firm grip on their overall health now while there’s still a chance, before things escalate, so they never have to end up in the ED. I look forward to seeing you soon, either in person or online; so we can get a plan to Ellevate your Health and Ellevate Yourself!
Ellements of Health Staff
Kari Costa
Melanie Gillman
Kari Costa
Aesthetician
Kari graduated from Bloomsburg University with her BSN. She has worked in various settings including the ICU, Emergency and PACU. She currently works in mental health at Danville State Hospital. She was trained by the Aesthetic Medical Educators Training (AMET) both in botulinum toxins and dermal fillers since 2019. She ha
Aesthetician
Kari graduated from Bloomsburg University with her BSN. She has worked in various settings including the ICU, Emergency and PACU. She currently works in mental health at Danville State Hospital. She was trained by the Aesthetic Medical Educators Training (AMET) both in botulinum toxins and dermal fillers since 2019. She has 5 children and lives in the country on a 5 acre farmette. She enjoys traveling, photography, lifting weights and exercise. She loves doing Morpheus, Botox, and fillers and making her clients look their best!
Heidi Cox
Melanie Gillman
Kari Costa
Health Coach
Heidi comes to us with significant experience helping people of all kinds. Growing up, Heidi had a love for learning and helping others that has only grown stronger. She graduated from Shippensburg University with a bachelor's degree in education and spent 15 years teaching in public schools. Over the years and through health
Health Coach
Heidi comes to us with significant experience helping people of all kinds. Growing up, Heidi had a love for learning and helping others that has only grown stronger. She graduated from Shippensburg University with a bachelor's degree in education and spent 15 years teaching in public schools. Over the years and through health struggles of her own she developed an intense interest in the role that nutrition and lifestyle changes played in both healing and illness prevention. Wanting to share this gift with others, she became a certified health coach which combined her love for education with her passion for health. Heidi is enthusiastic about life overall, and specifically about empowering, educating, guiding, and supporting each of her clients on their wellness journeys. She is eager to help people of all ages reach their own health goals, with a special focus on women with thyroid or other hormone imbalances; and those that face dietary restrictions due to food sensitivities/intolerances/other health reasons. Heidi resides in Palmyra with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs. She enjoys reading, cooking/baking, walking, spending time in nature, and listening to music in her free time. Heidi definitely makes us better at Ellements of Health!
Melanie Gillman
Melanie Gillman
Melanie Gillman
Weight management expert
Melanie Gillman, CRNP
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing- University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA
• Master of Science in Nursing/Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner- York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA
• Obesity Medicine Association certified
• American College Of Lifestyle Medicine- board certification exam November
Weight management expert
Melanie Gillman, CRNP
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing- University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA
• Master of Science in Nursing/Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner- York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA
• Obesity Medicine Association certified
• American College Of Lifestyle Medicine- board certification exam November 2024
• Yoga Instructor (RYT 200)- certified at Yoga On Chocolate, Hershey, PA in 2017
• Passion for running, biking, hiking, yoga, outdoor adventures, nutrition and overall health!
-During my younger years, I was unsure what career path I wanted to follow, but I have always had a desire to serve others, a love for humankind, and a passion for health. I was drawn to nursing, and after completing an associate degree RN program, I knew I wanted to advance my education. I began practicing as a new graduate nurse while pursuing my bachelor's degree in nursing. After that, my love for education continued to stir and brought me to York College of Pennsylvania in pursuit of an advanced practice degree. My career goals have evolved with my education and experiences, but the aspects of gaining knowledge, meaningfully impacting others, and improving the health of humankind remain at my core. My experiences as a nurse have taken me to inpatient care, home care, and outpatient services. My range of experiences have allowed me to grow in my practice and develop a holistic understanding of health. As a nurse practitioner, I use the knowledge and experiences from my nursing career and my studies to care for my patients in an individualized, all-encompassing manor.
Since 2019, I have been practicing obesity medicine, which has been extremely rewarding. Lifestyle is at the core of obesity management, and guiding my clients on their weight loss journey results in a complete transformation in all areas of their lives. I am honored to partner with my clients and give them the tools they need to achieve their goals. In addition to lifestyle medicine and obesity management, I am passionate about aesthetics and helping others enhance their natural beauty! When we feel good inside and outside, we bring our best selves to the world!
In addition to my role as a healthcare provider, I am a yoga instructor. I discovered yoga in my mid twenties. The physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional benefits I've experienced have been life changing. I enjoy sharing these benefits with others by teaching in a studio and offering free classes in the community. Sharing the wonderful health benefits of yoga with others fosters my mission in life to promote the health of others.
As a health enthusiast, nutrition and physical activity are extremely important to me. I love to be in nature. I am an avid runner, cyclist, and yoga practitioner. I've been able to incorporate my personal health practices and my nursing practice by sharing the benefits of an active, healthy lifestyle with the patients I serve. I use my hobbies for the good of others by running races for charity, and by participating in programs promoting the health of children.
My Personal Mission:
• I maintain a positive attitude and look at life's challenges as opportunities for growth. • I raise my children with the values of love, respect, honesty, equality, health, determination, spirituality, and self-worth while encouraging them to express and develop their own unique gifts. • I live life with vigor, vitality, and excitement each day. • I am an inspiration and role model to others. • I treat all things, living and nonliving, with utmost kindness and respect. • I am dedicated to service, bringing joy, health, and wellness to others. • I am a forward thinker and agent for change. • I stand for truth, unity, integrity, dedication, kindness, and love.
Helping others achieve healthier, happier lives is true to my soul. My goal is to help you optimize your health and live your best life!