Why I Do What I Do

Why am I starting a psychiatry practice at my age?

Shouldn't I be thinking about retirement?

On the surface, the answer might seem simple. I’m a physician, and I’ve spent my adult life as a helper in a particular way. I trained for years, gave up much of my young adulthood to get here, and honed my craft through countless patient encounters—those irreplaceable lessons that only time and experience can provide. Over the years, I’ve shared deeply personal, transformative moments with my patients—sparkling moments of connection that opened the door to healing. So why stop now, when I’m at the top of my game?

My Journey to Functional Medicine & Psychiatry

My superpower has always been optimism. I’ve always been the one who inspires—even when there was no obvious reason to do so. I look to the horizon and move toward what’s possible rather than settle for the status quo. That forward-looking spirit has sustained me as a physician and, I suspect, is the reason I’ve never burned out.

About fifteen years ago, I discovered Functional Medicine—a field that excited me because it looks for the root causes of illness rather than simply managing symptoms. In Psychiatry, symptom-based diagnosis and treatment have long been the norm. While there’s growing recognition that we can and must do better, the clinical world often changes slowly; it can take 15–20 years for research to make its way into everyday practice. I’ve never been patient enough to wait that long.

Functional Medicine, when applied to Psychiatry, has made remarkable advances over the past decade and a half. In my view, it’s no longer acceptable to ignore the wealth of science connecting genetics, biochemistry, nutrition, immunology, infectious disease, and gut health to mental well-being. The old Cartesian split between mind and body no longer holds; we know they are inseparable. Yet many psychiatrists still practice without integrating these essential insights.

That’s why I continue. I want my patients to benefit from what we now know about the medical contributors to mental health.

Why Focus on Integrative Psychiatry for Children?

I initially trained in adult and geriatric psychiatry, but over the years, I found myself drawn to children and families. That work felt most aligned with my personality and approach—and frankly, I love kids and their parents. As a parent myself, I understand the challenges of raising children and deeply empathize with families navigating those complexities. I’m also passionate about helping the younger generation grow into their own unique zones of genius. One size truly does not fit all; there is tremendous biodiversity in our makeups, and it deserves to be understood and honored.

I don’t see my role as “fixing” your child or family. I’m here to journey with you—to look under the hood and identify any biomedical factors that may be affecting mental or physical health.

I also offer genetic testing for adults or children which can inform  medication selection and dosing for use by your current provider. This is particularly relevant to decrease the odds of failed drug trials or to guide treatment when nothing seems to be working sufficiently.