About Us
We pride ourselves on providing a personalized and compassionate healthcare experience. We are a small, intimate, physician-owned practice and enjoy getting to know each and every one of our patients. They become our family. We are deeply committed to providing healthcare that reflects personal attention, empathy, integrity, and trust. We've had the privilege of certifying thousands of patients into Florida's program. A leader in the field since 2017, we serve as experts for navigating the Florida system and guiding medical cannabis patient care.
One of the things we enjoy most about cannabis as medicine is the empowering impact it often has on patient’s lives. Chronic illness takes away so much, and medical cannabis can bring back not only relief, but a sense of control. As cannabis patients start to feel better they are often able to reengage with the things that matter most to them. This inspires us.
It also reminds us why it’s so important to make sure our patients receive the proper education, support, and medical care to get the most out of their cannabis journey. In our clinic clients meet with and have continued support from both our licensed physician and cannabis coach to identify and achieve their wellness goals.
Who We Are
Dr. Scott Gebhardt, d.O., A.C.O.I.
CEO
Formally trained at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and a proud alum of Arizona State University, Dr. Scott Gebhardt is board certified in Internal Medicine. He draws from 20+ years experience in primary care, geriatric, anti-aging, functional, and sports medicine along with a passion for natural health. He’s completed the State requirements and is a qualified Florida Medical Marijuana certifying physician. Easy going and attentive, patients often comment on his compassionate bedside manner and fun stories. He enjoys (pretending how to) golf and spending time with his family.
Dr. Scott’s Cannabis Story
Dr. Scott wasn’t always a believer of cannabis as medicine. As a physician, he was naturally wary of anything with large claims and a panacea attitude. He carried that skepticism towards cannabis. While working in a nursing home a few years ago, he was caring for a patient with Alzheimer’s Disease who was having a lot of difficulty with agitation, sleeping, and appetite. Dr. Scott started the patient on a trial of Marinol, the synthetic form of THC. The patient had remarkable results - waking up the next morning cheerful and asking for breakfast! Dr. Scott’s curiosity was ignited and he was on a mission to learn more about cannabis as a potential treatment option. Dr. Scott began to delve into the research and couldn’t deny what he was finding - cannabis is an effective medicine with incredible potential. The side effects were minor and the patient stories were unbelievable. Dr. Scott quickly decided to take the required courses in order to become a qualifying medical cannabis ordering physician and Florida Medical Cannabis Clinic was born.
Kristina risola, mA, crc, NBC-HWC
director of Operations/cannabis health coach
A double graduate from the University of South Florida, Kristina holds a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. With 15+ years of experience in the medical, mental health, rehabilitation, and coaching fields she has an in-depth understanding of chronic illness and disability. She's also a legal cannabis patient who knows what it's like to live with debilitating conditions and chronic pain. Drawing from both her personal and professional experience, Kristina is able to partner with patients to provide an added level of education and guidance along their medical cannabis journey. Kristina enjoys paddleboarding, hockey, writing, and Vibram Fivefingers (toe shoes).
Kristina is a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.
Kristina's Cannabis Story
Kristina is a cannabis success story of her own. Dealing with multiple forms of chronic pain, POTS, autoimmune & GI disease, and PTSD with anxiety & depression, Kristina more than understands the experience of chronic illness. She’s been able to discontinue pain, anxiety, and sleep medications with the assistance of medical cannabis. After starting on nightly oral cannabis, she is sleeping soundly, without the endometriosis pain and spasms that used to wake her up screaming multiple nights a week. This personal success empowered her to assist patients in navigating their own cannabis health journeys.
You can learn more about Kristina at www.KristinaRisola.com or by emailing Kristina@flmedcannabis.org.
