Natalie Bruce, MD, FAAP

My approach to medicine has always been rooted in curiosity: seeking to understand people as they are, recognizing patterns, and looking beyond isolated symptoms to understand the larger processes influencing health and well-being.

I created Nurturing Pediatrics after more than a decade of practicing traditional outpatient pediatrics because I wanted a model of care that allows me to do the type of medicine I find most meaningful: listening deeply, thinking critically, and helping families navigate complex medical journeys.

This is a setting designed for thoughtful care.  By keeping the number of families I work with intentionally small, I am able to move beyond a one-size-fits-all, symptom-focused model to create personalized care plans grounded in each child’s biology, lifestyle, and environment. I value the trust families place in me and enjoy partnering with parents who are seeking a thoughtful, comprehensive approach for their child’s health.

I graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in 2010 and completed my pediatric residency at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2013. I became board-certified in pediatrics that same year. I continue to participate in regular continuing medical education to maintain and expand my pediatric knowledge.

Recognizing that a child’s health and well-being are influenced by many interconnected factors, I pursued additional training in evidence-based behavioral health approaches and integrative strategies to provide a more comprehensive approach to pediatric care.

In 2025, I completed the patient-centered mental health in primary care mini-fellowship with the REACH Institute and subsequently enrolled in a year-long pediatric functional and integrative psychiatry fellowship through Psychiatry Redefined.

In 2025 and 2026, I participated in two separate longitudinal, case-based learning collaboratives through UNC TEACCH and the Arc of North Carolina. These programs brought together multidisciplinary experts and community clinicians over the course of several weeks to months to discuss evidence-based care and real-world clinical cases involving children with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Since 2025, I have pursued extensive additional training in neuroinflammatory conditions, including PANS and PANDAS, through the Neuroimmune Foundation and Neuroimmune Institute.

This training has included hundreds of hours of lectures, case discussions, and collaborative learning through programs such as the Psychiatric Presentations with a Neuroimmune Basis ECHO and the annual Inflammatory Brain Disorders Conference. I regularly collaborate with physicians caring for children with these conditions to discuss challenging cases and remain current in this rapidly evolving field.