Personalized Functional Medicine in Berkley, MI
Functional Medicine
YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE WITH A:
FREE DISCOVERY CALL
We begin with a complimentary discovery call with one of our providers. This is your opportunity to share what you've been experiencing and for us to explore whether our approach is the right fit for your needs. From there, we can guide you toward a range of personalized programs and treatments designed to address the root cause of your health concerns and support you in achieving lasting wellness.
What Is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine determines the how and the why illness occurs and restores health by addressing the root causes of disease for each individual. We look at antecedents, triggers and mediators that may have played a part in the development of your condition. We look for signs of physiological dysfunctions that have led to core clinical imbalances. We discuss modifiable lifestyle factors that would make the biggest impact on your condition and your health.
We take a patient-centered approach where YOU are the focus, not your diagnosis. We may ask you to make some tough lifestyle changes, but we have health coaches to help you make those changes and to hold you accountable.
We believe health is more than just the absence of disease. Health is a state of living where you feel your best, full of energy, free of pain, clear headed, sharp as a tack, relaxed and present. We want to take you, wherever you may be on the spectrum of health and disease and move you in the right direction.
Our Functional Discovery Process
DIGESTIVE HEALTH PATHWAY:
Gut health is a t the core of overall wellness. This pathway is designed for those experiencing bloating, discomfort, food sensitivities, or chronic digestive issues. We focus on healing the gut lining, reducing inflammation, and supporting healthy digestion and nutrient absorption.
HORMONE HEALTH PATHWAY:
Hormonal imbalances can affect mood, sleep, energy, focus, and overall quality of life. Our hormone health pathway helps restore balance naturally, with options for advanced testing, targeted supplementation, and when appropriate, hormone replacement therapy.
METABOLIC HEALTH PATHWAY:
For those struggling with weight, energy, or body composition, our metabolic health pathway is designed to reset your metabolism and support sustainable results. We address factors such as nutrition, movement, sleep, inflammation, and lifestyle habits to help you feel and function at your best.
CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH PATHWAY:
This pathway focuses on strengthening heart health and circulation by addressing cholesterol balance, blood pressure, inflammation and lifestyle factors - helping you lower your risk, improving resilience and protecting your heart for years to come.
Our Approach
What Makes Our Approach Unique?
Team Approach
We know how difficult making long-term lifestyle changes can be, we’ve been there! That’s why we have developed a team approach to help you make changes that will last. Our team brings a wide variety of clinical knowledge and experience and we have weekly meetings to discuss and develop your care plan.
Food-First Philosophy
We believe in a food-first philosophy, because food is medicine. We may ask you to eliminate certain foods that could be contributing to your condition and will ask you to incorporate others that will be considered therapeutic.
Lifestyle Medicine
We believe that your lifestyle also has an enormous influence on your condition. We are going to great lengths to educate you on how to change these significant factors that are often overlooked.
Conventional Medicine Integration
We believe there is a time and a place for conventional medicine and we are happy to work with your other providers to help you achieve your goals.
Functional Medicine Practitioners
Dr. Sarah Kirsch
OWNER AND FOUNDER
I am Dr. Sarah Kirsch, a chiropractic doctor, nutritionist, and functional medicine practitioner dedicated to helping my patients uncover the root causes of their health challenges.
I am deeply committed to helping my patients improve their health by addressing chronic pain, inflammation, and other underlying issues through personalized, root-cause-focused care.
I founded Balanced Health and Wellness to provide exceptional chiropractic services tailored to my patients’ needs. With an excellent team of doctors now in place, I have decided to focus on what truly inspires me: developing the Functional Medicine Clinic here at Elevate Health and Wellness.
I live in Huntington Woods with my husband and our three daughters, where we enjoy a vibrant family life.
Dr. Jaclyn Israel
MEDICAL DIRECTOR
I grew up in Huntington Woods, MI, and my journey in medicine has been shaped by a deep-rooted passion for holistic care and patient relationships.
Two mantras have profoundly influenced my life and career. The first is: “Before life gets in the way, start living.”When time allows, you’ll often find me with a plane ticket in hand, exploring the world and immersing myself in new cultures. Closer to home, I enjoy hiking up mountains, skiing down them, or kayaking on a serene lake. On quieter days, I love tending to my extensive plant collection, capturing moments with my camera, or exploring creativity through cooking, art, and music.
The second mantra that guides me is “H.A.P.” or “Have A Purpose.”Although healthcare caught my interest in high school, it took years for my passion for medicine to fully take shape. I considered nearly every scientific career, hoping to find something less daunting than medicine. Yet, almost a decade later, I found myself completing medical school and my Family Medicine Residency.
Medicine has filled my life with purpose, allowing me to connect with incredible people from all walks of life and to grow immensely as an individual. My areas of interest and expertise in healthcare include integrative medicine, nutrition and lifestyle medicine, osteopathic manipulative medicine, full-spectrum primary care, chronic disease management, and, above all, fostering a positive, healing relationship with my patients.
Nicole Hering
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
I am Nicole, a licensed Physician Assistant with over 14 years of experience practicing in Michigan.
Before starting my formal medical education at Wayne State University, I gained valuable experience working with a chiropractor and a hospice team. It was during this time that I realized health is about more than just treating symptoms with medication.
Throughout my career, I often encountered patients asking, “Why did this happen?” and “What can I do to change?” Unfortunately, in the conventional medical model, I lacked the resources to address their health holistically. This realization led me to shift my focus to functional medicine, where I have found greater fulfillment in helping people achieve true health by addressing root causes rather than just symptoms.
I am excited to be part of the integrated team at Elevate Health and Wellness, where we are dedicated to finding and treating the underlying causes of health issues, not just the symptoms.
Outside of my professional life, I am passionate about being a mother, hiking, reading, practicing yoga, photography, and spending time outdoors. I look forward to supporting you on your journey to better health.