The functional medicine approach relies on the partnership between the doctor and the patient working together as a team. Compared to conventional medicine, where the treatment is reactive (ie. symptoms develop and then the doctor prescribes “a pill for every ill”), the functional medicine approach is transformative. It allows the patient to take an active role in changing their own health — and prevent future disease. Our physician at Upstream FM, Dr. Julia Buchkina, provides medical consultation for patients in our office in Iowa City and via telemedicine for residents of the state of Iowa.

Dr. Julia focuses on uncovering and addressing the root causes of health challenges with long-term lifestyle change — so that once your symptoms have improved, you will have an action plan to prevent them from worsening again. Sometimes this does require the smart use of both conventional medications and over-the-counter supplements, with the long-term goal of reducing prescription medications when possible. Because she has completed extensive training in both conventional and integrative/functional medicine, Dr. Julia is able to bridge the best of both worlds with a wider healing toolkit.

Our medical programs are designed to provide you with both the medical plan you need to achieve optimal health and the support that you need to implement it. We at Upstream FM are highly invested in seeing every patient through to an improved health outcome, and thus we require that all new patients commit up front to at least two medical visits with Dr. Julia.

Research shows that it takes several months for new lifestyle changes to become ingrained habits. Therefore, all of our medical programs include a minimum of 2 medical visits, 2 health coaching sessions, and between-visit phone, secure text, and secure email support for all patients. See the pricing page for full details on our new patient medical programs, as well as for ongoing support options when the initial 3- or 6-month program is complete.

Due to Iowa Board of Medicine requirements, all initial medical visits take place in-person in our office. As of March 2020, residents of Iowa may also choose to have their first consultation via secure video visit. Subsequently, Dr. Julia may continue to prescribe medications and provide medical recommendations via phone for one year before a follow up visit is required for ongoing prescription monitoring.

The success of your functional medicine plan will depend in part on your ability and willingness to take an active role in your health care. Dr. Julia expects that all new patients are motivated and open to making lifestyle changes at the time they begin their medical journey with us.

Food as Medicine is the foundation of our practice and is a key part of each and every functional medicine prescription. All patients are advised to nourish themselves from the inside out with real, whole foods during their programs with us. We strongly encourage everyone to eliminate added sugar and processed foods. At the first visit, the doctor will assess the five functional medicine pillars of health in your lifestyle – nutrition, movement, stress management, sleep, and relationships – and may recommend some initial adjustments in these areas even before lab results are back.

If you do not currently feel ready or able to make changes to your lifestyle, especially the elimination of sugar and processed foods, we recommend starting with a single health coaching session to explore any barriers to change – before committing to a medical program.