This way of thinking started with my father. When he was battling cancer, I watched him fight not only the disease itself, but also the effects of the treatments intended to help him. I saw how much of his care was focused on the disease, and how little attention was given to supporting him going through it. I painstakingly saw his vibrant life quickly spiral downward and recognized how, once a serious disease takes hold, our ability to change the course becomes much harder.

As I learned more on my own at the time, I discovered many meaningful ways we could have complemented his treatment plan. I also began to understand something that has stayed with me ever since: there is so much we can do to support health and address vulnerabilities before someone reaches the point of serious illness.

At the time, I was already a physician, finishing my residency and fellowship training in rehabilitation and sports medicine. I knew how to treat injuries, help restore function, and to manage symptoms with medication. But I realized I needed a deeper understanding of what drives health and disease beyond the immediate problem in front of me. That led me to pursue extensive additional training in integrative and functional medicine, nutrition, and other areas, that over nearly three decades since, have become an integral part of how I provide medical care.