Clinical Decision Guides for Functional Medicine Laboratory Testing with IFM

Prior to joining IFM in 2015, Robert Luby, MD spent 26 years as a board-certified family physician providing primary care in Latino community health centers, successfully applying the functional medicine model in these under-resourced settings. After also spending 16 of those years in academic medicine honing his skills in curriculum development and faculty training, he has taken over the reins of IFM’s Medical Education Department. Past teaching affiliations include Harvard, University of Massachusetts, Tufts University, Boston University, and the University of Vermont medical schools. Dr. Luby holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Dartmouth, and received his MD degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He was board certified in holistic medicine in 2002, and in 2013 joined the first class of IFM Certified Practitioners.

Dr. Alexis Gonzales, commonly known as Dr. G, is a distinguished naturopathic doctor and IFM Certified Practitioner, specializing in endometriosis, fertility, and menstrual cycle health. Her career in medicine, deeply influenced by her personal experience with endometriosis, began with a residency at the Institute for Functional Medicine and Vida Integrated Health. This experience was instrumental in developing her expertise and reinforcing her dedication to empathetic patient care. Currently, as a Clinical Content Developer, Dr. Gonzales effectively combines her clinical knowledge and personal insights to produce impactful health education materials. Her private practice in Walnut Creek, CA, is marked by a holistic and patient-centered approach, aimed at thoroughly understanding and addressing the core issues related to endometriosis. Known for her deep empathy and attentive care, Dr. Gonzales empowers her patients to confidently manage their health, overcoming the challenges of their conditions to achieve a state of wellness and freedom.

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Jennifer Jackson, MD serves as the Associate Program Director for University of Kansas Internal Medicine Residency in Wichita dedicating her time training future doctors for the state of Kansas. She is board certified in internal medicine, hospice, and palliative care, and is certified by the Obesity Medicine Association and the Institute for Functional Medicine. Dr. Jackson's passion lies in researching and teaching about a real food diet and sustainable agricultural practices as they relate to human health and environmental issues. In summer 2013, she and her family relocated to a 40 acre farm implementing a grass finished cattle and pastured poultry business using local distribution and “beyond organic” farming practices. Dr. Jackson is the founder of KU Wichita Functional Medicine which focuses on identifying factors underlying our chronic disease epidemics and focuses on reversing disorders using a system-based approach to health focusing on intensive lifestyle modification, microbiome manipulation and toxin reduction.

Myrto Ashe, MD, MPH, originally trained as a family physician and practiced 20 years in community health centers in Massachusetts, California, and Colorado. After noticing the failure of a conventional medical approach to improve symptoms for a close family member, she began studying alternatives to medications, and started trying some of these practices on herself and her family. The near immediate improvement in everyone’s health was so compelling that in 2011, she decided to orient her entire practice around functional medicine. Dr. Ashe is certified in functional medicine by the Institute for Functional Medicine, and her consultation-based practice is located in California. Over the years, the focus of the practice has evolved. At this time, it centers on the restoration of a healthy gut microbiome, and the optimization of health parameters with the goal of healthy aging. The practice website is unconventionalmedicine.net.

Sanjay Bhojraj, MD holds board certifications in both cardiovascular diseases and interventional cardiology. He spent the first 20 years of his career in a traditional cardiology practice, performing invasive cardiac procedures in the heart such as coronary stents and transcatheter valve replacements. He recognized the need for a more holistic and integrative approach to prevention of cardiovascular disease and found functional medicine as a perfect adjunct to his cardiology practice. He is now a certified practitioner of The Institute for Functional Medicine and has founded his new program, "well12.health," a 12-week program deeply rooted in principles of functional medicine that employs diet, sleep optimization, and stress management to reduce cardiometabolic risk.

Dr. Yousef Elyaman is a highly accomplished and credentialed physician, with an impressive academic background that includes board certification in internal medicine and a cross-specialization in pediatrics. Additionally, he holds board certification in integrative medicine from the American Board of Physician Specialties. Moreover, Dr. Elyaman is one of the first graduates of The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), where he earned his certification in functional medicine. His expertise also extends to psychological trauma, and he holds certification from Spirit2Spirit Healing.

Dr. Elyaman’s expertise in integrative and functional medicine are evidenced by his being on the teaching faculty team at IFM. In his role there, he lectures for their Cardiometabolic Advanced Practice Module; this experience has led him to speak at various organizations such as A4M (American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine) and Quest Diagnostics, to mention a few. His commitment to knowledge-sharing is further demonstrated by his leadership of the Functional Medicine Practitioners Forum, a widely popular Facebook group with active engagement from medical professionals around the world.  

Vivian Asamoah, MD, has board certification in gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition. She completed her fellowship at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Post-fellowship, she earned her certification in functional medicine through The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM). She currently owns and runs her private practice in Houston, Texas, where she merges cutting-edge, evidence-based methodologies in both conventional and functional medicine to achieve superior clinical outcomes for her patients. Dr. Asamoah is especially focused on algorithms that seek to improve gastrointestinal disorders such as IBD, IBS, SIBO, and celiac disease. She has lectured extensively on functional gastrointestinal disorders and continues to educate her patients with seminars at her conference center, which is associated with her practice in Houston. Among her publications are topics on celiac disease, micronutrient deficiencies, and metabolic disorders related to obesity. Her most recent publication is a collaboration with Dr. Gerard Mullin of Johns Hopkins titled “Complementary health approaches for irritable bowel syndrome.” She is currently involved in research seeking optimal nutritional strategies for patients with NAFLD.

David Haase, MD is the founder and medical director of the MaxWell Clinic which was established in 2003 and now has two locations in Tennessee. Dr. Haase is co-founder of MD Omics, a company that analyzes complex data sets to enable more precise clinical care, as well as a nonprofit organization that helps youths make healthier choices for their bodies and their communities (TheFoodInitiative.org). He is the chief medical and innovation director for XYMOGEN, a leading professional nutraceutical company, as well as chief medical officer for TrendShift which specializes in personal risk factor monitoring, health trend tracking, and healthcare cost reduction for large employers. Dr. Haase serves as medical advisor to Evoke Neuroscience, a company that delivers technologies that promote brain health, and Metabolon, which develops metabolomics diagnostics for precision medicine.
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He is a doctor, teacher, and innovator who is deeply committed to maximizing wellness one unique person at a time. Dr. Haase received his medical training at Vanderbilt University and completed his residency in family medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is board certified in family medicine and integrative holistic medicine and was in the first class graduating class of IFM Certified Practitioners.