Makenzie Wesner, NP (she/her)

Founder, Chief Executive & Care Officer
Neurodevelopmental Nurse Practitioner

Hello! I’m Makenzie. With close to 20 years of experience in the health care field, I am a leader in neurodevelopmental and mental health care specializing in bridging various disciplines including neurodevelopmental and behavioral pediatrics; child, adolescent, young adult psychiatry; and genetics-genomics. My training as a a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and Stanford shaped my approach as a specialist in neurodevelopmental behavioral health, but I’ve gone beyond conventional models, combining my various professional experiences to create a more comprehensive, innovative, and deeply personalized way of supporting young people.

My path to neurodiversity-informed mental health is both professional and deeply personal. As a young adult, I worked at Oregon Health & Science University’s Child Development & Rehabilitation Center as a volunteer patient liaison, having been a patient there myself since infancy. I witnessed how the genetics team partnered with patients and families with respect, curiosity, and genuine collaboration. That experience planted a seed: healthcare should feel like partnership, not hierarchy. However, as a college student navigating my own health challenges, I experienced the opposite—misdiagnoses of multiple sclerosis (MS) and epilepsy from a provider who wasn’t connecting with me. That experience taught me what happens when care becomes fragmented and transactional rather than collaborative and person-centered. It’s a lesson I carry into every patient interaction.

During my undergraduate studies in Health Promotion & Health Behavior at Oregon State University, I studied Experience-Based Design, a patient-centered care model that prioritizes the lived experience of those navigating the healthcare system. These principles, shaped by both my studies and my own journey, became the foundation for how Blue Wave operates today.

My commitment to neurodevelopmental and autism-focused care deepened when I worked as a special educator and behavioral therapist at Victory Academy, a small nonprofit school in Oregon serving children on the autism spectrum. It was there that I knew, without question, that this population would become my life’s work. I saw how fragmented healthcare left families struggling to piece together answers across disconnected providers, and I knew there had to be a better way.

Since 2015, my clinical work has focused on personalized behavioral and mental health care with a lens towards neurodiversity, neurodevelopment, genetics and medical wellness, both for the general population and for complex, misunderstood presentations that don’t fit neatly into diagnostic boxes. My master’s thesis explored the impact of parent support groups on stress responses in mothers of children with atypical sensory behavior. I remain deeply committed to advancing our understanding of the brain-based behavior science, sensory processing disorder, and the diversity of the autism phenotype. I aim to expand diagnostics, deepen our knowledge of neurogenetics, and honor the full complexity of the human experience. With close mentorship and collaboration with my advising neurologist, my growth is ongoing, and my approach remains informed by forward-thinking, whole-person neuroscience.

At Blue Wave, I listen differently, think creatively, and hold space for possibility. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all, and my goal isn’t just to help people “manage” but to help them thrive in ways that feel meaningful and unique to them.

I bring to my work not only my years of education and experience, but also lived understanding—as a human, daughter, sister, friend, student, mentor, creative athlete, and lifelong learner. I know what it’s like to feel unheard in a system that should be holding you. I know the weight of navigating challenges alone. And I know the life-changing power of finally being seen.

Youth, parents, and families often tell me they feel safe, supported, and truly understood for the first time upon meeting. That connection and therapeutic impact is why I do this work. It’s also the reason I founded Blue Wave Behavioral Health, through which we intend to make a lasting impact on the Greater Bay Area and beyond.

When I’m not working on Blue Wave, you’ll often find me chasing waves, swimming open water, kayaking, paddleboarding, and watching marine life and big wave surfers. I also love hiking, making music with dear friends, and spending time with loved ones. I’m always learning—whether it’s picking up my guitar, training with horses, attending writing workshops, or simply soaking in the beauty of the world. My dogs, Boonie and BeeGee, are my faithful companions. And above all, I strive to prioritize my own self-care and joy—because I continue to be reminded that honoring my own well-being and growth is one of the most important ways to serve the community that I love.