What is Functional Medicine / “FunMed”?

Integrative or Functional Medicine approaches wellness from a systems biology perspective. This means I consider each system in the body, how it interacts with other systems, and how the sum total impacts your clinical picture.  I draw on the years of training I completed to practice traditional medicine, while incorporating the years of research and continuing education I have pursued in functional medicine in each case.  It allows us to capture the best of both worlds in regards to research, interventions, and treatment modalities.  I call that a win!  I assess multiple factors in body function that will impact your overall health, create a unique wellness plan that addresses our target objectives, and frame our strategy in what you feel will work for you.  I often tell patients we are like a giant “spider web”- everything is connected.  There are decades of research that speak to this point.  Our bodies are phenomenal at adapting, compensating, and mitigating stressors and or dysfunction.  Over time, compensation will catch up with us.  This often results in symptoms.  Sometimes a symptom is even considered a “Diagnosis.”

An example would be hyperlipidemia or elevated cholesterol.  Did you know that 50-75% of patients with elevated cholesterol markers actually have issues with Insulin Resistance or Metabolic Syndrome that has progressed to Cardiometabolic Syndrome?  Hyperlipidemia can actually be a symptom of insulin resistance.  The body uses LDL cholesterol to patch inflamed areas in blood vessels.  The body is actually compensating and attempting to protect itself.  If we correct the insulin resistance, our lipid profile will revert to a normal pattern 50-75% of the time.  Hyperlipidemia should be a clue that something has gone offline.  This symptom can he spotted years before someone is diagnosed with overt “Type 2 Diabetes.”

Let’s pause here.  Would you rather take a pill that reduces LDL cholesterol (wrongly named the “bad Cholesterol”) or treat the root cause?  That is something to think about.

FunMed is based in science and continued learning.  It is also personalized medicine – not one size fits all.  FunMed is not just a reference to functional medicine, it is FUN to watch my patients become well.

In the story of Hansel and Gretel, the children drop bread crumbs in hopes of finding their way home. When it comes to wellness, our bodies drop “bread crumbs” as well. These are clues in your story, your labs, and your symptoms that will guide us back to root causes.  Then we address the root causes with whole food nutrition, supplements, movement, sleep, mindfulness, community, purpose, and sometimes pharmaceuticals (hence the “integrative”).  We will take the best of both worlds, medically speaking, to optimize function.  That will look different for each person, as each person is unique.

What is Direct Primary Care?

The Direct Primary Care Model steps outside of traditional insurance and allows patients to work directly with their provider in pursuing wellness.  It is a fee-for-service model that cuts the red-tape, mitigates cost, and allows patients to pursue what they feel is best rather than having insurance dictate what they are permitted to pursue.  I believe it is more efficient in upholding informed consent to care practices, than the traditional insurance model.  Direct Primary Care takes the insurer out of our patient-provider relationship when it comes to decision-making.

Cura Personalis Wellness follows the Direct Primary Care Model.  I do not take insurance or deal directly with insurance companies.

There are many advantages to this model, but when it comes to Functional Medicine, we have an exceptional pairing.  Many of the tests and interventions used in Functional Medicine are not covered by traditional insurance.  For this reason, I collaborate directly with partners that offer labs and supplements to get the best possible pricing for my patients.  Patients will pay these lab partners directly.  There is no mark-up in pricing because there is no middle-man getting a cut.  It is truly Direct Primary Care – patient focused, not insurance-focused, not big-pharma focused.  Quality care at a reasonable cost should be an attainable reality.  Cura Personalis Wellness is committed to that goal.