The Power of Genetics

Dr. Peter Osborne is a veteran of the Air Force and his journey working in the VA hospital, treating veterans was the trigger that shaped his path on to the gluten world. Tired of the failed pattern of prescribing methotrexate, steroids, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like hydroxychloroquine for pain, he dived into the search of looking for better options. He suddenly realized nobody was talking about diet, lifestyle or nutrition and that’s when he found his why. Topics discussed in this episode: How he started researching gluten, fasting, fish oil and their relationship with rheumatoid arthritis and pain treatment. The Impostor Syndrome in functional medicine and how practitioners sometimes get in their own way to breakthrough. The importance of creating strategy and having a clear roadmap to accomplish success What practitioners can do to have more impact. Define your why, set your how and embrace marketing to get your message out. The problem of centralization: when practitioners want to do everything by themselves. How Genetics is in its infancy stage.

James Maskell is the founder and CEO of Evolution of Medicine and HealCommunity.  His journey started as a child, growing up in a commune, doing natural medicine from a chiropractor to a holistic dentist and realizing that was not the "normal way” other kids did their healthcare. He studied health economics in the UK and traded on the world's biggest trading floor before he decided to follow his interest in healthcare. His work since then has evolved to one mission: popularize functional medicine. Topics discussed in this episode: James' background and his unique journey. Why James decided to help popularize functional medicine. What is holding back health systems and doctors to adopt functional medicine as standard care. How they are working to reduce the friction that prevents functional medicine full adoption and scaling. Group structure as a model to deliver care. The role of genetics in this new paradigm. What does the future of medicine look like? A new layer of care between people, the community and the healthcare system.

Dr. Kara Fitzgerald is our perfect example of a practitioner-scientist.  Her career has been out-of-the-box from the beginning. Consulting with clinicians from around the world in the laboratory setting helped her embrace telemedicine early on and broaden her practice beyond her local community. She has been actively engaged in clinical research on the methylome using diet and lifestyle interventions. She is also on the faculty at IFM, runs a Functional Medicine Clinic Immersion program for professionals, is the podcast host of 'New Frontiers in Functional Medicine', and lectures globally.  Topics discussed in this episode: - Kara's extraordinary journey in naturopathic and functional medicine, authorship, and research. - How steady commitment and joint efforts can change the global paradigm of medicine - How Kara has been able to challenge the "normal" way of doing things. - A few pieces of advice to new functional medicine practitioners. - How your practice's website is your storefront today. - Epigenetics and DNA methylation.

Dr. Spar's career journey started out with an ambitious dream: changing a healthcare system that was revolving around prescription writing. Myles is a leading authority in Integrative Men’s Health and a world-renowned author, teacher, researcher, and TED talk speaker. He currently oversees all clinical programs as Chief Medical Officer of Vault Health.  While working abroad, he witnessed firsthand how patients in other countries with the same disease status as patients in the US were doing much better. He discovered how the power of community, natural food sources, and increased mobility could make a difference beyond prescription meds. In today's episode, you will enjoy the words of a true mentor in integrative medicine who has a multifaceted and unique career journey. Topics discussed: How the American health system revolves around prescription writing  Dr. Spar’s beginnings doing acute care in various countries for Doctors Without Borders The difference in access to integrative medicine between rich and poor How he found issues related to Men's health that had not been addressed in a way that was specific to them Advice for professionals to improve their practice and prepare for the future of medicine The value of having a mentor on your career journey and the importance of asking for help Dr. Spar's perception of the role of genetics and personalized care

The ripple effect of changing a person's life shouldn't be underestimated.  Dr. Michael T. Murray has been a thought leader in the natural medicine community for almost 40 years and instrumental in educating people on the power of nature. More importantly, he has lived the life he is trying others to embrace.  Dr. Murray currently serves as Chief Scientific Advisor at iHerb.com. He has authored more than 30 books including 'The Textbook of Natural Medicine' with Dr. Joseph Pizzorno and he was an essential piece to help bring natural products to the US market including Glucosamine sulfate, St. John’s wort extract, Ginkgo biloba extract, Silymarin, Enteric-coated peppermint oil, Saw palmetto berry extract, PGX, PharmaGABA, and Theracurmin. Topics discussed in this episode: How Dr. Murray has been instrumental in bringing natural medicine products to the US market How bioactive compounds can change gene expression How having a strong sense of mission and purpose is crucial to make an impact on the lives of others How a near-death experience made Dr. Murray embrace the idea of helping people improve their health Advice to practitioners on the importance of changing one person’s life Patients' perception of what changing their health implies

Dr. Joseph Pizzorno likes to define himself by what he has been trying to accomplish: become a healthcare change agent.  Undoubtedly, Joe is a transformational leader. He was working in health medicine and naturopathy when there were only drug medicine and dietetics. As founding president of Bastyr University in 1978, he coined the term “science-based natural medicine” which set the foundation for Bastyr to become the first accredited institution in the field. In this episode, you will not only learn why Joe calls our bodies 'Inside Machines' but you will also get his unique advice and views that will remind you why you are practicing functional medicine. Topics discussed in this episode: Why Joe defines himself as a healthcare change agent The differences between 'Disease medicine' and 'Health medicine' How Joe went from having a dream about better medicine to founding Bastyr University How he brought science to natural medicine  One guiding question he advises functional medicine practitioners to ask themselves  Genetics as a piece of self-knowledge and a decision tool for practitioners and patients How COVID-19 shaped Joe's view on the future of medicine and what he foresees for the next few years.

“Start where you are at and make it incredibly easy for your patients to say: I'm not there yet." You probably know Dr. Terry Wahls for her amazing journey and discoveries after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Who in the world of functional medicine hasn't heard of The Wahls Protocol yet? Today's episode is beyond Terry's professional achievements which are of course worthy of more acknowledgment than these words. This episode is a path to empathy and how to become your best version as a functional medicine practitioner. If you are looking for inspiration and words of wisdom, this episode is a must-listen. Topics discussed: Terry’s incredible personal and professional journey after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis How redesigning her paleo diet led to dramatic improvements in her health (mental clarity, fatigue, pain) including the ability to walk again How medicine’s focus on the magic cure forgot about diet and lifestyle. The importance of recommending achievable dietary patterns that patients and their families can implement How practitioners can challenge the paradigms of healthcare and do it safely and responsibly The disconnect between biological and social evolution and how to approach this Advice on how to meet your patients where they are.

Dr. Frank Lipman is worldwide recognized as a vocal pioneer of integrative and functional medicine (or what he calls “good medicine”). He grew up in South Africa during the Apartheid where he received his initial medical training and later in 1984, he emigrated to the US. He is the founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center, the Chief Medical Officer at The Well, a sought-after international speaker, and the best-selling author of seven books including 'Better Sleep, Better You', 'The New Rules of Aging Well', 'How to Be Well', 'The New Health Rules', 'Young & Slim for Life', 'Revive', and 'Total Renewal'.  Dr. Lipman has guided and helped thousands of patients to recover and improve their health. In today's episode, he shares what he has learned along the way, on this inspirational and almost 40-year journey in the world of functional medicine.  Topics discussed in this episode: Frank's origins and how began his journey in functional medicine How meeting Dr. Jeff Bland was a tremendous motivator to push his career forward The concept of Good Medicine Why personalized medicine is the future of medicine The role of genetics tests in everyday practice What skills and personality traits patients expect doctors to have Why doctors should pay more attention to the concept of user experience The digitization of medicine: how medicine is moving out from the doctors' office.

Dr. Jeff Bland was one of the earliest authorities to write about nutrition and genetics. Bland was writing on the topic years before the first draft of the human genome sequence was released. He is worldwide acknowledged as the founder of the Functional Medicine movement. His pioneering work has created the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute (PLMI) as well as the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM).  Jeff is the author of best-selling books and over 120 peer-reviewed research publications. He speaks extensively, and his unique and engaging style makes him popular with both professional and consumer audiences. Dr. Bland’s latest project is Big Bold Health, where he’s on a mission to transform the way people think about one of nature’s greatest innovations—the immune system.  Topics discussed in this episode: Jeff’s beginnings and his out-of-the-box thinking that led him to start the functional medicine movement How PLMI incubates ideas that refresh IFM 3 Ways that the outside world directly interfaces with our body and inside functions What makes the functional medicine practitioner community so unique Advice for practitioners to get their message out into the open  How genes allow us to explore the potential greatness within every human being The goodness of genes and how they can free us out from ethnic bias and race How disease categories and labels can create separation and lack of understanding