Our story
Protea Life is an integrative wellness campus in Tempe, Arizona. It began as one naturopathic doctor's practice and grew, patient by patient, into medicine, regenerative care, nutrition and movement under one roof.
How it started
Dr. Brendan McCarthy opened Protea Medical Center in 2006. He is a licensed naturopathic medical doctor and primary care provider, and the way he practices was shaped long before he opened the doors.
In his words, his son's health crisis during medical school shaped the doctor he is today, and it is why he believes in practicing medicine with time, care and accountability. That belief still shapes how the practice runs, from longer first appointments to follow-up visits that check whether a plan is working.
He tells the full story himself on his podcast.
What started in two small treatment rooms has grown into a 25,000 sq ft facility.
Dr. Brendan McCarthyFounder & Chief Medical Officer, on his podcast
Why "Protea"
The practice takes its name from the protea flower, a symbol of resilience and transformation. It reflects the kind of long-term relationship with patients the practice was built around.
What we believe
Dr. McCarthy has described his approach to medicine on his podcast over many years. These three lines from those episodes capture how the practice works with patients.
Your body is not broken.
We don't attack the person. We repair the protocol.
Medicine needs both science and humanity.
Quotations from Dr. Brendan McCarthy's podcast.
Hormone therapy and teaching
Hormone therapy became the heart of Dr. McCarthy's practice. He has prescribed hormones for more than 20 years, written a book about them, and educated physicians and pharmacists on how to use them well.
He also believes physicians should show their work, including their data and their citations. That idea is behind the Protea Library. His weekly podcast now has 204 episodes, the white papers include their sources, and all of it is free to read or listen to.
How we grew
Dr. Brendan McCarthy opens a whole-person naturopathic practice in Tempe, in two small treatment rooms.
Protea grows to a team of two physicians.
The team expands to three.
A fourth physician joins and the Nutrition Department opens.
Protea keeps growing.
The medical team expands again.
Celeste McCarthy launches the studio: mindful movement for every body. A seventh physician joins.
A dedicated center for regenerative orthobiologics opens, led by Dr. Danny Clark.
Medical care, regenerative treatment, nutrition and movement in one Tempe building, serving the Phoenix Valley and central Arizona.
Our three centers
Each center is led by someone whose own experience shaped the work they do here. Their stories are below.
Protea Medical Center
Founder and Chief Medical Officer. Using blood work and clinical evaluation, he looks for the underlying factors in concerns such as anxiety, PMS, depression and slow metabolism, and he built a team of physicians who share that approach.
About Dr. McCarthy
Protea Performance Center
A triathlete, he turned to regenerative medicine after his own sports injuries didn't respond to standard treatment and dextrose prolotherapy finally brought relief. After a two-year residency in regenerative medicine, he now leads Protea's orthobiologics program and performs every procedure himself.
The Performance Center
Protea Movement Studio
She found yoga more than twenty years ago, searching for relief from scoliosis pain. A consistent practice strengthened her spine and helped her navigate stress. In 2024 she opened Protea Movement Studio, open to everyone, with classes that complement the care next door.
The Movement StudioA teaching practice
Protea has its own residency director, Dr. Bronwyn Carlblom, and physicians choose Protea to complete their residencies. The team's own training spans residencies in endocrinology, general medicine and regenerative medicine. Teaching new physicians also helps the whole team stay current.
Our people
Physicians, instructors, nutrition, and the people who make every visit run smoothly.
Protea Medical Center
Naturopathic Physicians in Tempe
View team →Protea Performance Center
Advanced Regenerative Medicine
View team →Protea Movement Studio
Yoga, Barre and Pilates Instructors
View team →Holistic Nutrition
Nutrition Care at Protea
View team →Our Support Team
Patient Support and Operations
View team →Questions
Dr. Brendan McCarthy, a licensed naturopathic medical doctor, founded Protea Medical Center in Tempe, Arizona in 2006. It started in two small treatment rooms and has grown into a 25,000 square foot campus with a medical center, a regenerative medicine center, a nutrition department and a movement studio.
The practice is named after the protea flower, a symbol of resilience and transformation.
Protea's physicians are licensed naturopathic medical doctors. Several completed residencies in areas such as endocrinology, general medicine and regenerative medicine, and Protea has its own residency director.
Bioidentical hormone therapy, prescribed with lab testing and follow-up. Dr. McCarthy has prescribed hormones for more than 20 years, is the author of Jump Off The Mood Swing, has educated physicians and pharmacists on hormone therapy, and hosts a weekly podcast with more than 200 episodes.
850 W. Elliot Rd., Suite 101, Tempe, AZ 85284, in south Tempe. Patients come from across the Phoenix Valley and central Arizona.
Our team can answer questions about our services, explain what to expect, and help you determine the appropriate next step.
Still exploring? Visit our educational library.
