I did not initially set out to practice the type of medicine I deliver today. I come from a long line of physicians; my parents were both very successful physicians in South Florida and my grandfather was a very prominent general practitioner in Bombay, India- he was so well-liked that there is even a street named after him in that city. When I went to medical school, I knew very little about alternatives to conventional medicine. However, I did realize that as a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), our philosophy was different than our allopathic (M.D.) peers. D.O.’s believe that the body should be treated as a whole entity that works as a single unit to heal itself rather than as individual organ systems. Osteopathy is also more inclusive of the premise that lifestyle and environmental factors impact well-being as much as, if not more than, medications and surgery. I also found that the D.O.’s I encountered were people-oriented and took the time to hear what their patients had to say. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to go into Internal Medicine as it would give me the opportunity to treat all areas of medicine.
I went to Tulane University for my Internal Medicine residency. Although Tulane was purely allopathic, it provided me with an education far beyond my expectations. I was taught by some of the finest physicians in the world and allowed the opportunity to treat conditions I had only previously read about in textbooks. I was so pleased with my education that I stayed on to do a two-year fellowship in Nephrology (the study of the kidneys and diseases related to blood pressure, water, and electrolytes). My intention was not to become a Nephrologist but to become a better Internist, as Nephrology patients can be the sickest and most complex of all.
I returned to South Florida to practice, and for many years I was content with the routine medicine I had been trained to do. However, I gradually began to have doubts about what I was able to do for my patients. I saw patients who had heart disease, and while we were able to treat them after the fact, I questioned why more was not being done to prevent the disease. I saw patients who were being seen by Integrative Medicine doctors and had a dramatic improvement in their symptoms. The problem was that for many, Integrative Medicine was prohibitively expensive and very little of it was covered by insurance. I also found that many Integrative Medicine practitioners were just as resistant to embrace evidence-based traditional medicine as Traditional Medicine practitioners were to incorporate Integrative Medicine. I have always believed that all physicians have the responsibility to improve the patient’s quality of life, be open-minded to all aspects of healthcare, listen to their patients, and provide quality care without exorbitant expense. Over my many years of practice, I have incorporated numerous novel tests and treatments, eliminating any that I felt did not provide enough benefit. My practice now includes genetic testing, but only tests that give a result that is modifiable. I am a Fellow of The American Society of Preventive Cardiology, so a large part of my practice is devoted to the prevention of cardiovascular disease. I actively participate in multiple clinical trials through Excel Medical Clinical Trials, one of the premier research groups in the country. I am a strong advocate for bio-identical hormone replacement because I have heard my patients tell me how miserable they felt and how their Gynecologists and Endocrinologists were not listening to them.
Over the past decade, I have developed protocols that I believe are unique and effective. My practice is truly a blend of standard medicine, holistic medicine, research, and wellness. This Hybrid Medical System includes nutrition, weight loss, mental health, stress reduction, hormone balance, advanced lab testing, and genetics. Our priority is our patient’s health, well-being, and quality of life. You will not find any cosmetic procedures, fad diet programs, excessive nutraceuticals, or prescribing of unnecessary medications in this practice. My Physician Assistants were hand-picked because of the additional expertise they have brought to this practice. As this practice continues to grow, we will continue to keep looking at cutting edge research to provide the best services for our patients.
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