Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Sisk.
Hi Stephanie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
We’re Stephanie Sisk and Veronica McPike, nurse practitioners and co-founders of Merit Weight Loss & Wellness in Leawood, Kansas. We started Merit after years of working in weight management and seeing the same pattern over and over — women feeling dismissed, unheard, and frustrated with their bodies.
Traditional healthcare systems weren’t addressing weight or hormones in a meaningful way. Appointments were short, solutions were generic, and women were often told to just “eat less and exercise more.” On the other side, the growing world of medical spas felt intimidating, overdone, and focused more on appearance than long-term health. There wasn’t a place in Kansas City for women who wanted real medical help with weight loss and hormones — but in a setting that felt approachable, supportive, and down-to-earth.
That’s the gap we set out to fill with Merit. We built a space where medical weight loss meets genuine connection — where every client feels seen, supported, and celebrated. Our approach combines personalized medical care, hormone optimization, and real-life strategies that actually fit busy lifestyles.
Since opening our Leawood location, we’ve helped hundreds of Kansas City women not just lose weight, but truly feel like themselves again. Our story isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress, confidence, and results worth celebrating.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely been a journey — rewarding, exciting, and a little chaotic at times!
When we started Merit, neither of us had formal business training. We came from nursing and women’s health backgrounds, not entrepreneurship. So we’ve had a crash course in running a business — from learning marketing and finances to managing a growing team. It’s been fast-paced, humbling, and incredibly rewarding.
One of the biggest challenges, though, has been breaking through the noise in the weight loss space. There’s been an explosion of clinics and med spas suddenly offering weight loss injections — often without real training or understanding of obesity medicine or hormones. We’ve had to prove that Merit isn’t a fad or a trendy shot bar.
This is all we do — and it’s backed by years of medical experience and advanced education in obesity and hormone management. We spend time with each client, monitor labs, adjust medications, and build individualized plans that fit real life.
We’ve worked hard to earn our reputation as a legitimate medical practice that Kansas City women can trust — not just for weight loss, but for long-term wellness. And honestly, that’s what makes every challenge along the way worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Merit Weight Loss & Wellness. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At Merit Weight Loss & Wellness, we’re redefining what medical weight loss and hormone care look and feel like in Kansas City. We’re not a trendy shot bar or an intimidating med spa — we’re a team of medical professionals who combine advanced obesity and hormone medicine with real-life, sustainable strategies that actually work.
We specialize in personalized weight loss and hormone optimization, helping women improve metabolism, balance hormones, and finally feel like themselves again. Every plan is built around each client’s unique biology — using lab work, body composition scans, and ongoing one-on-one support. This isn’t a quick fix or cookie-cutter plan; it’s thoughtful, individualized care that gets lasting results.
Our team is made up of experienced nurse practitioners and nurses who do this full time — it’s all we do, and it shows. Clients come to us because they’re tired of being handed a prescription without a plan or walking into a med spa that feels more like a sales pitch than a solution.
At Merit, the difference is how it feels. It’s warm, welcoming, and real — like catching up with girlfriends who happen to specialize in metabolism and hormones. We celebrate every success (yes, there’s a bell for that!), and we’re proud that Kansas City women trust us to help them reach results worth celebrating.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Oh, absolutely — we’ve learned so much along the way.
First, make connections with other entrepreneurs. Building a business can feel lonely at times, and having people who truly understand the ups and downs is invaluable. Some of our best ideas — and most honest advice — have come from conversations with other small business owners.
Second, take time each quarter to step back and look at the big picture. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily details, but some of our biggest growth moments have happened when we paused long enough to ask, “Is this still aligned with where we want to go?”
And finally, give yourself grace. You’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to have high highs and low lows — everyone does. The key is to keep learning, stay humble, and remind yourself why you started.
We didn’t have business degrees or a roadmap when we opened Merit — just passion, experience, and a clear vision of helping people feel their best. The rest we learned along the way… and honestly, that’s part of what makes the journey so rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.meritweightloss.com
- Instagram: meritweightloss
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meritweightloss
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/meritweightloss
