Frequently Asked Questions:

1) Can you be my primary care doctor?

Although I am board-certified in family practice and adult gerontology acute care medicine, my main focus is on functional and lifestyle medicine consultations. It remains important to maintain an ongoing relationship with a primary care provider (PCP) for routine preventive screenings—such as Pap smears, colonoscopies, and breast exams. Additionally, some insurance plans require an assigned PCP to coordinate specialist referrals. Since I am not in-network with insurance providers for visit billing, I cannot facilitate these types of referrals or meet PCP requirements for certain policies. However, I am committed to working closely with your PCP and any specialists involved in your care to ensure comprehensive, coordinated support. I believe a team-based approach is key to optimizing your health outcomes. Your well-being is my top priority, and I am here to support you every step of the way. We welcome individuals with high-deductible insurance plans, those without insurance, and those seeking a concierge-style alternative to traditional, insurance-based primary care. While we do not accept insurance for visit fees, we are happy to provide documentation for HSA reimbursement and can supply necessary paperwork for veterans receiving integrative care.

2) Are specialty labs required?

Laboratory testing plays a crucial role in delivering personalized and effective functional medicine care. During your initial consultation, lab work is usually recommended to evaluate key aspects of your health and guide your treatment plan. If your first appointment is in person, we often collect labs on-site to provide timely insights for your follow-up visit. We work with Quest Diagnostics and Cleveland HeartLab for standard laboratory testing, offering options for in-office collection, local lab visits, or mobile draws when appropriate. For self-pay patients, we partner with affordable lab providers like Access Labs and provide access to comprehensive health screening through platforms such as Function Health. Specialty functional labs are not necessary for every patient but may be recommended when clinically indicated. These advanced tests can evaluate hormones, gut health, environmental toxicity, nutrient levels, and more. We frequently collaborate with trusted partners like Genova Diagnostics and always review the purpose, cost, and clinical relevance of these labs before proceeding. We also offer genetic and precision medicine testing through partnerships with labs like Exact Sciences and Galleri, which provide insights into inherited risk factors and DNA-based markers.

Labs we may recommend include:

• Cardiac Markers (Expanded Lipid Panel, Lipoprotein(a), Apolipoprotein B, LDL particle sizes)

• Thyroid Panel (e.g., TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Thyroid Antibodies, zinc, iodine, selenium)

• Immune Regulation (e.g., ANA, Rheumatoid Factor, WBC count, Lyme Panel, EBV Markers)

• Hormonal Health Labs (e.g., Testosterone, Estradiol, Cortisol, DHEA-Sulfate, SHBG, FSH, LH)

• Metabolic Health (e.g., Glucose, Hemoglobin A1c, Insulin, C-Peptide)

• Nutrient Panel (e.g., Omega-3/Omega-6 ratio, Vitamin D, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron Panel)

• Liver & Renal Health (e.g., AST, ALT, Creatinine, BUN, eGFR)

• Pancreatic Health (e.g., Amylase, Lipase)

• Heavy Metal Testing (e.g., Lead, Mercury, Arsenic)

• Food/Respiratory Allergies (Celiac, Food allergy IgE/IgG), Mold Panel

Additional testing may include stool analysis for microbiome evaluation, SIBO testing, allergy and food sensitivity testing, celiac panels, and more, as necessary for your health concerns.

3) Are supplements always required?

The decision to recommend supplements is based on a thorough assessment of your health—including your medical history, current symptoms, lab results, and lifestyle factors. Our main focus is to address root causes through nutrition, lifestyle, and behavioral strategies. Supplements may be suggested when specific nutrient deficiencies are identified or when targeted support can improve the body’s healing process. All recommendations, including dosages and duration, are tailored to your individual needs and carefully monitored for safety and effectiveness. We offer a professional-grade supplement dispensary through Fullscript, where members get exclusive discounts on high-quality, third-party tested products. Additionally, we have access to at-cost prescriptions from trusted compounding pharmacies, as well as carefully selected IV therapy options when clinically appropriate. Our aim is to ensure that any supplemental support matches your care plan, is backed by evidence, and genuinely promotes your long-term wellness.