Dr. Vanessa Niles, R.N., M.D., F.A.C.O.G.
Dr. Niles is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, with more than 40 years in women's health. She earned her medical degree at Meharry Medical College and completed her residency at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center.
Dr. Niles is the medical reviewer of HealifyMD's site content. Her review focuses on accuracy, fair presentation of risks and benefits, and making sure our pages do not promise more than the evidence supports.
Dr. Benjamin H. Krasne, M.D.
Dr. Krasne is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology, with a focus on longevity and metabolic health. He earned his medical degree at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed his residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
What board certification means
Board certification is a voluntary credential beyond a medical license. According to the American Board of Medical Specialties, it is an independent evaluation of a physician's knowledge and skills to practice safely and effectively in a specialty. It requires completing an accredited residency and passing rigorous exams, and most boards require ongoing continuing certification.
A medical license, issued by a state, is what allows a physician to practice in that state. Board certification tells you something additional about training and assessment in a specific specialty.
Reading the letters after a name
- M.D.: Doctor of Medicine, a medical degree.
- R.N.: Registered Nurse, a separate nursing credential.
- F.A.C.O.G.: Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a designation from the professional society for OB-GYNs.
- Board certified: certified by a specialty board after training and examination.
How clinical care is organized
HealifyMD is a technology and administrative platform and does not practice medicine. Clinical care is provided by independently licensed clinicians who must be licensed in the state where you are located. The clinician you connect with depends on your state, the service you want and availability.
Every clinician makes treatment decisions on their own professional judgment. No one on the business side of HealifyMD can require a prescription. If a clinician decides a treatment is not appropriate, that decision stands.
How physicians shape our content
Beyond individual care, physician input shapes how HealifyMD explains health topics. Our editorial policy describes the process: content is written from authoritative sources such as FDA labeling, federal health agencies and professional society guidelines, then medically reviewed. When a page involves a compounded medication, it must say clearly that the product is not FDA-approved. When evidence is limited or comes mainly from animal studies, it must say so.
If you believe something on our site is inaccurate, email support@healifymd.com. Clinical corrections go back through medical review.
What to expect from any HealifyMD clinician
- A review of your history, medications and goals before any prescription.
- Labs when they would change the decision or are needed for safe monitoring.
- A plain explanation of benefits, risks and alternatives, including FDA-approved options.
- Follow-up, with a willingness to change or stop treatment that is not helping.
Verifying a clinician's credentials
You can check a physician's license through the medical board of the state where they practice, and you can check board certification through the certifying board or the American Board of Medical Specialties. Asking about your clinician's licensure and training is reasonable, and your care team can tell you who is treating you.
