Evolution of Medicine Podcast

Guest: Zak Holdsworth, CEO of Hint Health In this Business of Functional Medicine episode, we hear from Zak Holdsworth, a leader in the health technology industry and the CEO and cofounder of Hint Health. Hint Health supports the direct primary care (DPC) movement and aims to provide affordable, high-quality health care by offering a successful alternative to the traditional fee-for-service model. Zak Holdsworth’s company offers technology solutions for DPC clinics, including membership management systems and employer infrastructure. They have also developed an EMR system specifically designed for DPC clinics. Additionally, Hint Health has created Hint Connect, a network product that connects DPC clinics with employers and other health care practitioners. Their goal is to create a unified network of DPC clinics that can work together to provide better care and reduce costs. The company's vision is to redesign the healthcare system to enable easy access to high-quality, affordable care. Download and listen to the full episode to learn about: The concept of unity and the value of working together in the DPC market. Constraints of the fee-for-service model and how removing those constraints can lead to better patient care and alignment with functional medicine practices. How Hint Connect allows for rapid patient onboarding and revenue generation for doctors. A positive shift in the perception of DPC by insurance brokers, who now see the value in investing in high-value primary care. And much, much more! Plus, check out the visualization of the interconnected relationships across the Hint Health DPC ecosystem.

Exploring the complexities of botanical medicine, Dr. Guilliams discusses bioavailability, personalized approaches, and limitations of clinical trials. He advocates for understanding traditional uses, questioning product sources, and rethinking research processes. The podcast delves into the challenges of curcumin absorption, individualized medicine, and utilizing botanicals in functional medicine practice.

Exploring the role of the vagus nerve in healing and overall health; importance of shifting from sympathetic to parasympathetic state; strategies to improve vagus nerve tone; significance of breathing exercises, gargling, and humming; vagus nerve as the organ of unity; chronic diseases caused by disconnection; impact of physical trauma on vagus nerve; benefits of yoga, pilates, exercise, and active recovery; therapies for enhancing vagus nerve function; importance of integrating health for all ages.

Dr. Jeffrey Morrison, a doctor who uses nutrition to prevent or reverse degenerative and chronic disease, discusses the importance of detoxification for optimal health. He explains how toxins in the environment can lead to symptoms and illness, and emphasizes the need to support the body's natural detoxification process through exercise, anti-inflammatory eating, hydration, and regular bowel movements. The role of the lymphatic system and nervous system in detoxification is also explored. Other topics include group detox programs, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, the health effects of the spike protein, and addressing toxins in medical practices.

In this episode, James interviews Dr. Bryce Appelbaum, a neuro-optometrist. For the first time ever on the podcast, we learn about the field of functional optometry, including how it differs from traditional optometry. Dr. Appelbaum discusses the importance of vision for overall health and how vision problems can impact learning, behavior and daily life. His framework is shaped by his childhood experience with overcoming visual problems through vision therapy. He is passionate about his mission to raise awareness about functional vision care, even though he faces resistance from conventional optometry. He also introduces his online vision training program, ScreenFit, which is designed to minimize the negative effects of screens on vision and promote healthy visual habits. Podcast listeners can use the code EVOMED to receive a discount on the ScreenFit program. Tune into the full conversation to learn more about: How one in 10 children have vision problems that impact their ability to learn The importance of vision for neurological function, especially in childhood Waldorf education and developmentally appropriate educational philosophies How inflammation and cardiometabolic health relate to eye function And much, much more!  

Dr. Andrew Weil, founder of a fellowship program for integrative medicine, discusses the future of integrative medicine, including the role of psychedelics, the need for financial incentives for preventative medicine, and the importance of outcome studies. He envisions a future where allopathic medicine focuses on critical care, trauma, and terminal care. This captivating conversation also explores the challenges and opportunities of advancing integrative medicine and the legacy and future of integrative medicine in healthcare. The speakers emphasize the need for unity and a new standard of care.

In this episode, Dr. Joan Rosenberg discusses her book, 90 Seconds to A Life You Love, and the concept of living life by design. Many believe their circumstances dictate their lives; our guest asserts that one can design their life by having a vision or big goals and working towards them despite the circumstances. Dr. Rosenberg shares the importance of paying attention to how thoughts and feelings are expressed and managing emotional states effectively. She introduces the concept of the "Rosenberg reset," which involves choosing awareness by experiencing unpleasant feelings for 90 seconds and using insights gained from those feelings to make decisions or act. Dr. Rosenberg also discusses how clinicians can apply these principles in their practice, including addressing difficult topics with patients and handling their own emotions. She suggests using a soft contract with patients to discuss sensitive issues and delivering information with well-intentioned kindness. Dr. Rosenberg believes confidence and resiliency can be developed when clinicians are able to confront difficult topics and handle the responses they receive. Download and listen to this conversation to learn more about: How to develop confidence as a clinician Why emotional mastery is an important component of successfully collaborating with patients The eight emotions we need to accept to feel more capable in our lives Using “soft contracts” and offering observations tentatively to deliver difficult messages to patients And much, much more Joan I. Rosenberg, PhD, creator of Emotional Mastery™ and Emotional Mastery Training™, is a highly regarded expert psychologist, master clinician, trainer and consultant. She is a cutting-edge psychologist who is known as an innovative thinker, trainer and speaker. 

Dr. Mollie James, a former critical care physician in an ICU, shares her experiences during and after the pandemic. She discusses post-vaccine syndrome, treating chronic health conditions, and her ethical responsibility to keep functional medicine affordable. Learn about her career-defining choices and the importance of consumer-focused medicine in a post-pandemic world.

Peter Kozlowski, MD is a functional medicine physician based in Chicago, Illinois. In this episode, we discussed the importance of detoxification and gut health in his practice. He emphasizes the need to address the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of health because they play a significant role in detoxification. Dr. Kozlowski recommends focusing on the basics of detox, such as sleep, hydration, bowel movements, and sweating, before considering more advanced testing and treatments. He also highlights the importance of community and social support for maintaining a healthy detoxification system in the body. Dr. Kozlowski encourages practitioners to work together and collaborate rather than compete in order to better serve patients and improve outcomes. Download and listen to learn more about the following: How recovering from an alcohol-use disorder led Dr. Kozlowski to functional medicine The value of testing for heavy metals, mycotoxins and glyphosate Addressing the skin and gut barrier during detoxification protocols   Dr. Kozlowski’s experimentation with different payment models and in-person versus virtual visits Using cortisol labs, stool cultures and other tests to show patients how trauma impacts their health And much, much more 

 This episode’s guest is Dr. Michelle Thompson, the medical director of the Lifestyle Medicine Institute at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). This conversation explores how Dr. Thompson is bringing lifestyle and integrative medicine into major health systems. She began her journey practicing integrative medicine but leveraged the six pillars of lifestyle medicine to bridge the gap with conventional medicine. This hybrid path allowed her to excel at practicing in traditional settings and facilitated introducing integrative and lifestyle medicine principles into larger health systems. Dr. Thompson also shared evidence that there is growing momentum behind the integrative and lifestyle medicine movements, including acceptance and adoption of its principles within health systems. She encourages physicians who may have previously left the system to consider returning and joining a hospital system that is open to change and supportive of these modalities. Building upon recent podcast conversations, such as the episode with Dr. Joe Pizzorno, this episode emphasizes the importance of unity amongst the many disciplines within health-promoting care. Download and listen to this episode to learn more about: How clinicans can transform medicine by being bold and authentic in how they choose to practice The responsibility of clinicians, residents and medical students to help shift the culture in medicine to better align with the principles of lifestyle medicine The importance of showing empathy towards patients and letting them drive their own health journey Physician burnout and the importance of clinicians prioritizing self-care And much, much more Related resources: American College of Lifestyle Medicine: About the UMPC Lifestyle Medicine Program Whole Hearted Medicine: Meet Dr. Michelle