PALM: Functional Medicine 

Written By Carrie Edelstein 

Photo By Suzy Gorman 

There’s a new face at PALM Health in Ladue. Dr. Scott Jamison joined the group after practicing internal medicine for 29 years in Blacksburg, Virginia. He is board certified in internal medicine and trained in functional medicine as an IFM Certified Practitioner. That means his daily interactions with patients range from routine primary care to complex medical care. We asked Dr. Jamison to shed some light on how the increasingly popular approach to healthcare works.

SL: What is functional medicine and how does it differ from traditional healthcare? 

SJ: “Functional medicine can best be described as an approach that takes on the whole person in a complex systems approach to work towards optimal health. Rather than seeking  a single diagnosis and therefore a single treatment, functional medicine seeks to uncover the bigger picture, also known as ‘root cause.’ By understanding the foundational issues that lead to a state of the suboptimal function or failure of different body functions, it is possible to leverage multiple treatments to restore a state of optimal wellness. Functional medicine incorporates multiple strategies including lifestyle medicine, stress management, nutrition, and exercise to achieve these  goals.” 

SL: What is the certification and training process? 

SJ: “Certification in functional medicine can be achieved through  post-graduate studies in functional medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine. This is the path that the providers at  PALM have chosen. There are about 1,000 IFM certified practitioners  worldwide at this time. We are proud to have four such certified providers at PALM– Dr. Basima Williams, Dr. Varsha Rathod, and Nurse Practitioner Sarah Bird.” 

SL: You came from Virginia... are there many physicians practicing traditional medicine in St. Louis or do patients typically travel out of state for treatment? 

SJ: “St Louis is very fortunate to have, in addition to PALM, an active integrative health community serving the greater St Louis area.  We do have patients who travel to PALM for their medical care from all over the country such as California, Colorado, New York, Arizona, and Florida.”   

SL: What are common ailments or lifestyle-related elements that are best suited for this approach? 

SJ: “The functional and lifestyle medicine approach applies to essentially any diagnosis you can imagine including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and autoimmune disorders. In addition, it can support and improve outcomes in patients with dementia, cancers, and complex illness such as Lyme and fibromyalgia as complementary support for more traditional treatments for these complex disorders.”    

SL: What is your favorite feature at PALM? 

SJ: “My favorite aspect of PALM is the healing environment that is present at PALM, from everyone working here to the amazing facility itself. It is a real honor to be here every day and be a part of the special energy that is PALM. Personally, the infrared sauna and the PALM cafe are my favorite parts of PALM.”  

SL: Personally speaking then, what are your hobbies and interests outside of PALM? 

SJ: “My first love is medicine– a true calling for me. I am an avid bicycler and have fallen in love with Forest Park and the Botanical Gardens.”  

For those interested in learning more about functional medicine and meeting Dr. Jamison in person, he will be offering a seminar about  functional medicine and how this approach can benefit your health on Friday, January 17 at PALM Health in Ladue from 12:30pm-1:30pm. A seminar about functional nutrition and why food matters will be held Friday, February 7, also from 12:30pm-1:30pm. These seminars are open to non-members. To reserve your spot, call PALM Health, located at 9160 Clayton Road, 314.801.8898.