So much of women’s health is based solely on conventional medicine, leaving little room for other evidence-based methods. Today we talk to Dr. Anna Barbieri who has a passion for truly personalized patient-centered care for women from preventative care to complex gynecologic issues. Dr. Barbieri is a board-certified gynecologist with additional training in integrative medicine. She completed a residency in OB-GYN at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, where she is now an assistant clinical professor and a member of the Mount Sinai Center of Excellence for Menopause and Integrative Gynecology. Together with Dr. Suzanne Fenske, Dr. Barbieri is a co-founder and physician at TārāMD, an innovative gynecology practice in New York City. Dr. Barbieri believes that the patient is the most important member of their healthcare team and she partners with them to help them maintain or restore optimal gynecologic health. Today, she dispels some of the many misconceptions about integrative healthcare and lists some of the evidence-based methods that she uses in addition to conventional medicine, such as nutrition, behavioral and lifestyle changes, stress reduction techniques, and acupuncture. Tune in to find out the three things you should keep in mind at your next annual appointment and how integrative healthcare can help you take control of your health.

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to Dr. Anna Barbieri and some of her background in healthcare.
• How TārāMD was established out of a passion for a holistic approach to women’s health.
• TārāMD’s focus on gynecology beyond fertility and how it is different from other practices.   
• Some of the evidence-based methods they use in addition to conventional medicine. 
• Other team members include a nutritionist, health coach, and acupuncturist. 
• The role of educating women on good health practices in their practice. 
• Why the patient is the most important member of their healthcare team.
• Why women should not be afraid to ask questions.
• The prevalence of alternative treatments used by women and how few discuss this with their doctors.
• Dr. Barbieri dispels misconceptions about integrative health. 
• How this school of thought relates to hormones and conditions like PCOS.
• How PCOS is not a fertility issue but a lifelong condition that needs to be treated as such.
• Why your annual check-up is not about the pap smear.
• Dr. Barbieri’s gratitude for the discovery and awareness that so many people share really positive goals.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Anna Barbieri 

TārāMD 

Mount Sinai Hospital

The North American Menopause Society 

Dr. Suzanne Fenske

RMA of New York

RMA of New York on Twitter

RMA of New York on Instagram

RMA of New York on YouTube

Rena Gower LinkedIn

Rena Gower Instagram

Dara Godfrey LinkedIn

Dara Godfrey Instagram

Fertility Forward on Instagram