A collaborative approach to raising healthy, resilient kids
Functional Pediatrics in Plano, TX
Children should believe in their bodies. Instead of believing that health comes from a bottle.
That belief is the foundation of Optim8’s new pediatric department, led by Shazia Lackey, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC — a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner with almost two decades of pediatric experience. We know many parents come to functional pediatrics after feeling like they’re expected to do it all: daily supplements, extensive panels, elimination diets, constant vigilance. Somewhere in that process, the goal of raising a healthy child can turn into the goal of managing a fragile one.
Our approach is different. There’s no judgment here. Just education, and help.
How We Work
What Is Functional Pediatrics?
Functional medicine is an approach that looks at how systems in the body interact over time. Instead of focusing on a single symptom, it considers patterns across metabolism, hormones, digestion, inflammation, and stress.
This approach is often used by people who:
Want fewer, more intentional interventions instead of a growing list of supplements
Are looking for guidance rooted in food, sleep, and daily habits before testing or protocols
Want to raise a child who trusts their own body instead of fearing it
Rather than starting with extensive testing, we start by understanding the whole child, and the whole family, first.
Nurse Practitioner–Led Pediatric Care
Meet Shazia Lackey, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, RYT
Shazia has worked in pediatrics since 2008 across nearly every setting a child might need: newborn care, NICU, inpatient and emergency pediatrics, primary care, and integrative holistic pediatrics. She is also a Registered Yoga Teacher with training in Ayurveda and homeopathy, and has taught childbirth education and breastfeeding support for years. Her role is to provide pediatric care that is:
- Rooted in education rather than fear
- Focused on foundational habits before protocols
- Grounded in clinical training while treating the whole family, not just a symptom
Shazia is a mother of two, has homeschooled, has experienced both hospital and out-of-hospital birth, and has run an organic farm. That range of experience, alongside her clinical background, shapes how she partners with parents.
Optim8 Root-Cause Wellness Since 2007
Our approach is designed to build confidence before complexity.
Functional Pediatrics in Plano, TX
If you’re searching for functional pediatrics in Plano or the Dallas area, you’re likely looking for an approach that goes beyond another supplement or another test.
Optim8 serves families in
Plano | Frisco | Dallas | Surrounding North Texas areas
What Families Commonly Come In For
Many families come to functional pediatrics not because something is acutely wrong, but because they want a clearer, calmer approach to their child’s health.
Common concerns include:
Low energy
Picky eating
General guidance on raising a resilient, healthy child
Frequent illness
Behavioral or emotional regulation concernses
nutrient gaps
Digestive discomfort
Frequent supplement use without a clear plan
Sleep struggles or bedtime resistance
When One Symptom Isn’t the Whole Story
A child’s sleep affects digestion. Digestion affects mood and immunity. A parent’s own stress affects the whole household. Functional pediatrics looks at these connections instead of treating each concern as separate.
At Optim8, we take a foundational first step, starting with habits, not protocols.
Game Changer
Optim8 Health and Wellness has been a game changer for me. Laura and Heather have been nothing short of phenomenal. Their level of expertise, attention to detail, and genuine care is something I have never experienced in healthcare before.
★★★★★
Brandon K. — Verified Patient
The Place for Me
I have been searching for a functional medicine doctor for years to deal with my gut and hormone issues. Yay I found Laura and Heather!! I knew at my initial visit that this was the place for me.
★★★★★
Mel S. — Verified Patient
Can’t Thank Laura Enough
Laura took the time to understand what was important to me. She ran very thorough labs and walked through the action plan without being overwhelming.
★★★★★
Maura A. — Verified Patient
Outstanding
A beautiful place with a kind, helpful staff. The red light therapy was excellent for my joint pain—I will definitely be back!
★★★★★
Rhonda H. — Verified Patient
How Optim8 Is Different
Most pediatric wellness approaches lead with supplements, panels, or elimination diets. At Optim8, we start somewhere else.y:
Reviewing sleep, nutrition, movement, and daily habits first
Using the least intervention necessary before escalating to testing
Educating parents, not just treating the child
Building an exit strategy into every guidance, not a lifelong routine
This allows families to understand what their child actually needs and what they don’t.
Our goal is to raise adults who know how to care for the body they were given.
Our approach is designed to give you clarity before complexity.
Get Started
If you’re looking for functional pediatrics in Plano and want a clear, structured starting point, Optim8 provides a way to begin without jumping straight into complexity.
Start by understanding what your child has been dealing with—and what direction makes the most sense moving forward.
Serving Plano & Dallas
Plano | Frisco | Dallas | North Texas
What to Expect
If you’re exploring functional medicine in Plano, it helps to know what the process looks like. This step-by-step approach removes guesswork and creates clarity.
Steps
1
Initial Consultation
You’ll walk through your child’s health history, current symptoms, and key concerns.
2
Foundational Review
We look at sleep, nutrition, movement, and stress before anything else.
3
Personalized Plan
You’ll leave with a clear, manageable plan built around habits your family can sustain.
4
Next Steps
If clinically appropriate, additional testing or targeted support can be introduced, always with a clear purpose and an exit point.
If you are searching for functional medicine Plano TX or functional medicine Dallas TX, our approach is designed to meet you where you are and provide a clear path forward.
A Collaborative Functional Pediatrics Model in plano
Who This Is For
This approach is a good fit if
You want fewer supplements and more clarity on what actually helps
You’re tired of being told your child needs one more protocol
You want your child to grow up trusting their body, not fearing it
You’re looking for functional pediatrics in Plano with an educational, collaborative approach
Why People Choose Functional Pediatrics
People searching for functional Pediatrics in Plano are often looking for
A calmer, more foundational approach to their child’s health
Guidance that reduces reliance on supplements over time
A provider who explains the “why,” not just the “what”
A partner in raising a confident, resilient child
Optim8 is designed to provide exactly that.
A Collaborative Functional Medicine Model in plano
Get Started
Pediatric care begins with an initial consultation with Shazia, focused on understanding your child’s full picture before recommending anything.
Rather than starting with testing or a long list of supplements, this first step is about building a clear, foundational plan, one your family can actually sustain.
Functional pediatrics looks at how sleep, nutrition, movement, and stress interact to support a child’s long-term health, rather than treating isolated symptoms.
Yes, Optim8’s pediatric department is led by Shazia Lackey, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, serving Plano, Dallas, and surrounding North Texas.
Not necessarily. Our approach starts with foundational habits- sleep, nutrition, movement, and stress- before considering testing or supplementation.
Families looking for a more intentional, educational approach to their child’s health, whether they’re managing a specific concern or simply want a calmer, more foundational path forward.
Learn About Symptoms
• Brain Fog & Cognitive Clarity
• Gut Health & Digestive Issues
• Autoimmune & Chronic Inflammation
• Histamine, Mast Cell Activation & Immune Reactivity
Each page explains the common causes, testing options, and how a root-cause approach may help restore balance.