Dr. Kara Fitzgerald | New Frontiers in Functional Medicine, Longevity, Epigenetics

If you're a clinician and finding yourself pressed for time in your practice, you're certainly not alone. A recent survey of over 9,000 US physicians revealed that more than half are experiencing burnout. Fortunately, the field of functional medicine is rapidly evolving, bringing tools that promise to streamline and improve accessibility in our practices. Rupa Health is one such tool. In this episode of 'New Frontiers, I’m joined by Dr. Kate Kresge, Head of Medical Education at Rupa Health. Together, we'll explore the remarkable resources offered by this advanced specialty lab testing platform. We'll also dive into the profound impact of chronic illnesses on our society, the crucial role functional labs play in providing answers that lead to lasting solutions, and how Rupa Health is at the forefront of reshaping the healthcare landscape through continuous innovation. Don't forget to check out the show notes at www.DrKaraFitzgerald.com for all the relevant links and resources. ~DrKF

Get ready for an enlightening conversation as I welcome Dr. Izabella Wentz, renowned Thyroid Pharmacist and an accomplished author, to New Frontiers. We’ll talk about her new book and dive into the often underappreciated and enigmatic connection between adrenal dysfunction and hypothyroidism, and how extreme stress can accelerate aging and impact immunity. Dr. Wentz provides invaluable insights into her personally crafted transformation techniques that can pave the way for enhanced mental and physical well-being, spanning dietary adjustments, lifestyle modifications, targeted supplementation, circadian rhythm optimization, and the power of a resilient mindset. We also chat about the pivotal role of community support in effectively managing adrenal imbalances. Whether you’re an experienced practitioner or someone navigating your own health journey, this conversation promises to be both riveting and profoundly enlightening. So, let’s dive right in!~DrKF

In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mark Newman, the president and founder of Precision Analytical, the company behind the revolutionary DUTCH test. Mark is a true pioneer in the field of hormone testing, and in our conversation, we delve into the latest developments in this rapidly evolving field. We discuss how the DUTCH test has expanded to include additional markers, providing even more comprehensive insights into hormone health. During our conversation, we also address the controversy surrounding saliva testing for hormone analysis. Mark sheds light on the limitations of this method and why the DUTCH test offers a more accurate and reliable alternative. I’m sure you’ll find this interview as fascinating as I did, and it will be super helpful for identifying the best forms of hormone testing for your patients. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this enlightening conversation with Mark Newman. ~DrKF

Harvard's award-winning Dr. Charles Serhan isn't just an expert on specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs), he is the scientist who actually discovered them. His breakthroughs opened up a brand new field of research and clinical application with immense potential. After all, chronic, unresolved inflammation is a contributor or cause of so many conditions. The growing body of research on the utility of SPMs continues to astound (although when you start to understand the mechanisms, it's perhaps easy to understand some of the "why") - pain, rheumatoid, osteo- and Lyme arthritis, macular degeneration, periodontal disease, uveitis, surgical recovery, and repetitive head injury, for instance, have all been shown to be potentially benefited by the ability of SPMs to promote inflammation resolution. Clinically, I consider SPMs in all conditions where unresolved inflammation is a contributing factor. Not only that, but SPMs appear to have some rather surprising additional effects including stem cell regulation, tissue regeneration, and inhibition of amyloid-beta peptide in Alzheimer's models (even restoring memory loss in mice). I am honored to host Dr. Serhan here on New Frontiers along with his esteemed colleague, Dr. Megan Sulciner. Dr. Sulciner is a clinician-scientist and resident in the Serhan Lab whose exciting work focuses on advancing postoperative outcomes for surgical patients as well as the role of SPMs in enhancing cancer therapy and preventing cancer metastasis. I’m sure you will love this insightful, tour-de-force conversation! ~DrKF

Dr. Michael Twyman discusses the importance of vascular health and uses biohacking and red light therapy for optimal mitochondrial health. The podcast explores the significance of glyco-calix and endothelium health, the role of nitric oxide, and the impact of toxic stress on heart health. It also discusses research studies on the glycocalyx and explores the role of genetics in cardiovascular longevity.

Dr. Vincent Pedre, an expert in functional gut health, discusses the microbiome's impact on chronic disease and stress resiliency. Topics include gut disruptors, high-fiber vs fermented food diets, microbial diversity, stress resilience, and the importance of environment on our microbiome.

As we gain insight into microbiome impact on our health, we need accurate tests that tell us not only what and how much is there, but also which metabolites, or post-biotics created that can have downstream effects. So today I’m thrilled to welcome the brilliant Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle, PhD, biochemist, CEO, and co-founder of Ixcela, to discuss their fingerstick gut microbiome test. We’ll discuss the 11 key markers, the value of a blood sample over urine, and the impact of endurance sports and chronic stress on health markers as revealed by the test. We also chat about my own results, how impressed I was by the insight provided – and how they clearly identified changes I could make to improve my markers. Listen and take notes -- I know I did! ~DrKF

Buckle up everybody, because this conversation is a big tour de force of where we are headed in regards to longevity and innovative technology within healthcare. I am joined by my friend, longevity investor and visionary, Sergey Young, to discuss his incredibly important mission of extending healthy lifespans of at least one billion people using technological breakthroughs AND by making longevity affordable and accessible. Sergey is a top 100 longevity leader and one of the co-creators of AGE REVERSAL XPRIZE, a global competition designed to cure aging. Today’s conversation looks at the fundamental issue of healthcare inequality, the democratization of access to healthcare, and dives into the current paradigm shift of using technology for disease prevention and reversal of biological aging. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and be wowed by the work of Sergey Young. ~DrKF

Imagine accurately determining the status of your skin’s age to tell whether it is younger or older than your chronological age, and then use this technology to determine whether expensive anti-aging serums and creams are effective, or actually causing more harm than good. Amazing, right? This is precisely the technology Dr. Carolina Reis Oliveira and her fellow stem cell biologists at OneSkin created and you will find this interview fascinating on so many levels – I know I sure did! After creating their skin clock, the OneSkin team discovered peptide OS1, which targets senescent cells, one of the root mechanisms of aging, and is being shown in current studies to have a positive effect on hydration, firmness, elasticity, and the skin barrier. Listen as Dr. Reis explains the science and ongoing studies exploring the possible benefits of OS1 for the skin microbiome, hair loss, inflammation, and overall health.

The therapeutic value of curcumin makes it a fabulous recommendation as both a foundational and medicinal supplement. And since finding a preparation that is bioavailable is key to efficacy, affordability, and patient compliance, I’m excited to have Dr. Sonia Malani (from Integrative Therapeutics) here to talk about the latest advances in curcumin deliverability. Dr. Malani breaks down the progress of curcumin deliverability and the keys to bioavailability in a way that is simple to understand and easy to pass on to our patients in order to help them move away from the less effective brands that are currently lining the shelves of local markets so they get the therapeutic influence we are hoping for. Lots to learn, let me know what think in this great interview sponsored by Integrative Therapeutics! ~DrKF