Meet the People Behind HormoneSynergy®

HormoneSynergy® Longevity Medicine grew out of more than 25 years of clinical practice and a shared interest in helping people understand their health before disease, disability, or loss of function forces the conversation.

Our practice began with a strong emphasis on hormone medicine and gradually expanded as our understanding of aging, metabolic health, cardiovascular disease, brain health, and preventive medicine evolved. The patients we were seeing rarely fit neatly into a single diagnosis. Hormonal changes often occurred alongside concerns about sleep, weight, cardiovascular risk, cognition, muscle, and bone health.

Today, HormoneSynergy® brings those areas together through individualized medical care, advanced diagnostics when appropriate, and a commitment to helping patients make informed decisions about their health.

Dr. Kathryn Retzler, ND

Founder | Longevity Medicine & Preventive Cardiology

Dr. Kathryn Retzler founded the medical practice that would become HormoneSynergy®. Since beginning her career in 2001, she has developed an approach to medicine shaped by clinical experience, continuing education, scientific research, and a longstanding interest in understanding why people develop chronic disease and what can reasonably be done to prevent it.

Her early work centered on hormone medicine, but the patients she cared for often presented with much more complicated health concerns. Hormonal changes could occur alongside insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk, sleep disorders, declining bone density, changes in body composition, or cognitive symptoms. Over time, her practice evolved toward understanding the relationships among these conditions rather than approaching each one independently.

Today, her clinical interests include hormone medicine, preventive cardiology, metabolic health, body composition, bone health, cognitive function, and the biological changes that influence health as we age. Her work reflects a conviction that preventive medicine requires more than identifying disease once symptoms become apparent. It also requires understanding risk, recognizing changes in physiology, and determining which interventions are likely to make a meaningful difference over time.

Training & Clinical Experience

Dr. Retzler received her doctorate from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, in 2001. Her postgraduate experience included an integrative medicine internship with Andrew Weil, MD, and residency training in McMinnville, Oregon. She subsequently pursued advanced fellowship training in preventive cardiology through the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine with Mark Houston, MD.

Throughout her career, she has continued studying with physicians and researchers in hormone medicine, cardiovascular health, and brain health, including Rebecca Glaser, MD, Thierry Hertoghe, MD, Daniel Amen, MD, and Dale Bredesen, MD. Her continuing education has expanded her work into advanced cardiovascular imaging, laboratory diagnostics, pharmacology, metabolic medicine, and cognitive health. She is licensed with prescribing authority in Oregon and Washington.

Dr. Retzler's understanding of medicine has changed considerably since her early years in practice. Her naturopathic education provided a foundation in nutrition, physiology, prevention, and lifestyle medicine, but her clinical work increasingly incorporated prescription therapies, advanced diagnostic testing, cardiovascular medicine, and collaboration with other healthcare professionals.

She has never considered medicine a choice between natural and conventional treatment. Some patients benefit most from improvements in nutrition, exercise, sleep, or other aspects of daily life. Others need prescription medication, hormone therapy, additional diagnostic evaluation, or specialist care. Often, the most appropriate treatment plan includes several approaches, each chosen for a specific reason.

A More Complete Understanding of Health

One of the defining features of Dr. Retzler's practice is her interest in how different physiological systems influence one another. Cardiovascular health, metabolism, hormones, inflammation, body composition, and cognitive function are closely connected, particularly as people age. Understanding those relationships may reveal risks or treatment opportunities that are less apparent when each concern is evaluated separately.

She places considerable value on objective measurements, but believes testing should serve a clinical purpose. Advanced laboratory studies, vascular imaging, body composition analysis, bone density testing, and cognitive assessments can provide useful information when selected thoughtfully. The challenge is interpreting those findings in the context of a patient's history, symptoms, goals, and overall health rather than treating individual test results in isolation.

Patients working with Dr. Retzler can expect a detailed review of their health concerns and a discussion of what the findings may mean for their future health. She weighs the potential benefits and limitations of different treatments, considers the strength of the available evidence, and works with patients to identify priorities that are both medically appropriate and realistic.

At HormoneSynergy®, Dr. Retzler continues to lead the comprehensive Optimal Aging Assessment, bringing together advanced laboratory and diagnostic findings, medical history, individualized risk assessment, and an extended physician consultation. The assessment provides the foundation for a personalized approach to preventive longevity medicine, with ongoing care available through the clinic's concierge model.

After more than 25 years in practice, Dr. Retzler remains committed to learning, questioning assumptions, and adapting her approach as medical knowledge evolves. For her, the purpose of longevity medicine is not simply to extend the number of years people live, but to help preserve health, independence, and quality of life throughout those years.

Read more about the evolution of naturopathic medical training and practice.

Dr. Elise Schroeder, ND

Naturopathic Physician | Hormone Medicine, Women's & Men's Health

Dr. Elise Schroeder brings more than 25 years of experience in hormone medicine, women's health, fertility, and integrative care to HormoneSynergy®. While much of her career has focused on women's hormonal health, she also works with men seeking individualized evaluation and treatment of hormonal and related health concerns.

Her approach begins with listening. Patients often arrive with symptoms they cannot quite explain, laboratory results they do not understand, or the feeling that something has changed even though they have been told everything looks normal. Dr. Schroeder believes those experiences deserve thoughtful attention rather than a quick explanation or a predetermined treatment protocol.

Hormonal changes can affect much more than laboratory values. Sleep, energy, mood, concentration, physical well-being, and even a person's sense of identity can shift during different stages of life. Dr. Schroeder recognizes that understanding these experiences sometimes requires conversations that extend beyond symptoms and test results. Her approach makes room for the emotional and practical dimensions of health alongside the physiology.

Dr. Schroeder earned her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, following undergraduate studies in human biology and women's studies at the University at Albany.

Her professional experience includes reproductive health and fertility clinics, serving as Executive Director of the Women in Balance Institute, and consulting on thousands of clinical hormone cases. As a former physician consultant for hormone testing laboratories, she developed extensive experience helping clinicians interpret complex hormonal patterns and understand how laboratory findings relate to symptoms and treatment decisions. She has also spent many years teaching healthcare professionals about hormone therapy, laboratory interpretation, and reproductive health.

At HormoneSynergy®, Dr. Schroeder works with women and men experiencing hormonal changes and related health concerns. Her clinical interests include perimenopause, menopause, bioidentical hormone therapy, thyroid health, hormone imbalances, metabolic health, and the relationships among stress, sleep, nutrition, and hormonal function.

She brings particular attention to patients who continue to feel unwell despite laboratory results falling within conventional reference ranges. Rather than treating a number in isolation, she considers the person's symptoms, medical history, medications, metabolic and thyroid function, nutritional status, and other relevant findings. Additional testing is considered when it can help answer a meaningful clinical question or guide treatment.

Her individualized approach may incorporate prescription medication and hormone therapies, nutrition, targeted supplementation, movement, sleep, and lifestyle strategies. She also considers the influence of chronic stress, burnout, and nervous-system regulation on a person's overall well-being, while recognizing that complex symptoms may have multiple contributing causes.

Dr. Schroeder believes patients should understand both the reasoning behind a recommendation and the alternatives available to them. Her work emphasizes education, shared decision-making, and treatment plans that fit the realities of everyday life. She recognizes that feeling heard, having time to ask questions, and participating meaningfully in decisions can be important parts of a productive medical relationship.

At HormoneSynergy®, Dr. Schroeder provides individual medical consultations for patients seeking focused care, as well as ongoing treatment and follow-up for patients participating in our concierge longevity medicine program. Patients who complete the comprehensive Optimal Aging Assessment with Dr. Retzler may continue their care with Dr. Schroeder when appropriate.

Her goal is for patients to leave their visits with a clearer understanding of their health, realistic options for moving forward, and confidence that their concerns have been taken seriously. She welcomes people from all backgrounds and life experiences and approaches each patient with kindness, curiosity, and respect.

Daniel Soule

Owner & Clinic Director | Patient Experience & Health Education

Daniel Soule is the owner and clinic director of HormoneSynergy®. His background includes psychology, counseling, coaching, behavior change, and health education, along with more than two decades of experience building and operating an independent medical practice.

While Dr. Retzler and Dr. Schroeder focus on clinical care, Daniel oversees the business and operational side of HormoneSynergy, including patient communication, education, practice development, technology, and the systems that support the patient experience.

His interest in human behavior and personal development has also influenced the practice's emphasis on patient education. Medical recommendations are most useful when people understand what they mean, how they relate to their lives, and what changes they can realistically maintain.

Daniel studied psychology, sociology, and anthropology at Wichita State University and continued his education at New West Seminary in Portland, Oregon. His additional training has included professional coaching, clinical hypnotherapy, health and wellness coaching, Chinese medicine, and massage therapy.

His work at HormoneSynergy® reflects a longstanding interest in the relationship between physical health, emotional well-being, personal responsibility, and the practical challenges of making lasting changes. He believes good patient care extends beyond the examination room to include clear communication, thoughtful education, and respect for each person's individual circumstances.

Getting to Know HormoneSynergy®

We are an independent medical practice in Lake Oswego, Oregon, serving patients throughout the Portland metropolitan area and beyond. Our work reflects the experience and perspectives of the people who make up HormoneSynergy®, with a shared commitment to thoughtful, individualized care.

Whether you are considering comprehensive longevity medicine, seeking help with hormonal changes, or simply exploring your options, we welcome the opportunity to help you understand what our practice offers.

To learn more about our clinical services, visit our Personalized Longevity Medicine page or explore the HormoneSynergy® Resource Library.

HormoneSynergy® Longevity Medicine
9 Monroe Parkway, Suite 260
Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035
503-230-7990