Physician Assistant with a Focus on Integrative Medicine, Nutrition, and Fitness

Emily Parrella, MS, PA-C, has always been passionate about health, movement, and helping others thrive. Her journey into healthcare was inspired by a lifelong interest in the human body and performance—shaped early on by her experience as a competitive soccer player and swimmer. That passion for wellness only deepened as she worked as a lifeguard, swim coach, caregiver for children with special needs, and certified nursing assistant.

Emily earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Biology with a minor in Nutrition from NC State, followed by a master’s in Physician Assistant Studies from East Carolina University. She began her career in internal medicine in Wilson, NC, where she practiced for five years before joining the team at Heritage Urgent & Primary Care.

Her clinical focus bridges integrative and functional medicine with a deep understanding of nutrition, fitness, and preventative care. Emily works closely with patients to address concerns like fatigue, brain fog, hormone imbalances, menopausal symptoms, gut dysregulation, chronic pain, mental health, sleep disturbances, and stress. She has a particular interest in body composition and guides patients through weight loss while maintaining lean muscle mass—using tailored plans that incorporate macronutrient tracking, supplementation, and exercise programming.

Emily believes optimal health begins with foundational habits: nutrient-dense eating, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, and gut health. She’s also a strong advocate for integrative therapies like bioidentical hormone replacement and peptide therapy, which she has seen significantly improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Outside of the clinic, Emily leads by example—staying active through boxing, yoga, Pilates, running, weightlifting, and walks with her huskies, Opie and Fenrir. She also loves cooking Italian food, spending time with her family, and traveling to New York to visit her in-laws.