Tag Archives: clinician

September 2023 A4M Member Spotlight: Gracia Luz Don, MD, ABAARM, FAAMM

September 29, 2023

We’re excited to spotlight Gracia Luz Don, MD, ABAARM, FAAMM, for this month’s A4M Member Spotlight. 

Dr. Luz Don is the Chief of Cardiology Service at San Martín Hospital in Paraná, Argentina, and the founder of the Center of Healthy Life and Nutrition, a hub for anti-aging and regenerative medicine. 

With cardiology, nutrition, and functional medicine expertise, Dr. Luz Don provides comprehensive care focused on disease prevention, lifestyle modifications, and personalized treatment plans.

In this interview, Dr. Luz Don shares insights into her diverse practice areas, her passion for innovative approaches to healthy aging, the value she gets from being a distinguished member of the A4M community, and her vision for the future of personalized healthcare. 

Tell us a bit about your practice and focus areas in healthcare. What originally drew you to these specialties?

I am a physician in Argentina with expertise in cardiology, nutrition, and anti-aging medicine. My practice focuses on providing comprehensive, personalized care to enhance patients’ health and well-being. My journey into these specialties began with a passion for addressing cardiovascular diseases, promoting nutrition as a preventive measure, and exploring innovative approaches to health and aging.

What led you to join A4M originally? How has being part of this community impacted your career? 

I joined A4M to stay at the forefront of anti-aging and regenerative medicine. Being part of this community has greatly benefited my career by providing access to cutting-edge education, networking opportunities, certifications, and resources that enhance my practice’s credibility and patient care.

How do you stay up-to-date on the latest research and innovations in your practice area? What resources do you find most valuable? 

I stay current through medical journals, conferences, online databases like PubMed, medical associations, continuing education, clinical trials, literature reviews, healthcare news sources, and collaboration with peers and mentors. These resources are invaluable for staying updated in my practice areas.

What healthcare challenges are unique to your community? How are you addressing those needs?

Unique healthcare challenges in my community include limited access to specialized care, nutrition-related issues, economic disparities, an aging population, and healthcare infrastructure shortcomings. To address these needs, I engage in medical outreach, telemedicine, nutrition education programs, advocacy for equitable access, and specialized care for the aging population.

How has being an A4M Member benefited you in your practice? What value do you get from the membership?

Being an A4M member has benefited my practice by providing access to cutting-edge education, networking, certifications, evidence-based resources, advocacy opportunities, and enhanced patient trust. This membership adds credibility and keeps me updated on anti-aging and regenerative medicine.

What excites you most about the future of medicine in your specialty area? How do you see care evolving in the coming years?

The most exciting aspect of the future of medicine in my specialty is personalized, patient-centered care. I foresee care evolving with precision medicine, digital health, prevention emphasis, regenerative therapies, AI integration, and global collaboration, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

If you could change one thing about healthcare today, what would it be and why?

I would ensure universal access to healthcare to promote equity, prevention, early intervention, reduced financial burden, improved public health, productivity, patient-centered care, innovation, and global health security, aligning with the principle that healthcare is a fundamental human right.

Will You Be Our Next Member Of The Month?

Would you like to be featured as part of our new A4M Member Spotlight series? 

We take immense pride in each and every one of our members and their unwavering dedication to redefining medicine. To empower them in boosting their visibility and expanding their practice, we are excited to spotlight a different member each month. 

The monthly spotlight will showcase your unique background, insights, achievements, and vision as an innovator shaping the next generation of healthcare. It’s an unparalleled opportunity to increase exposure, forge connections, demonstrate thought leadership, and inspire fellow members.

To become eligible to enter the running, join our global community of innovative health leaders today and complete the following steps:

  1. Follow @redefiningmedicine on Instagram.
  2. Share a post outlining your health professional goals, why you are passionate about anti-aging medicine, and how your A4M membership has benefited your practice. 
  3. Use the hashtag #A4MMember and tag @redefiningmedicine.

Learn more about A4M Membership opportunities. 

Physician of the Month: Susan Marra, MS, ND

August 2, 2016

Susan Marra, MS, ND

A4M valued member Susan Marra, MS, ND, shares great insight from her professional experience in this Physician of the Month feature.

Based in Seattle, WA, Dr. Marra has more than 15 years of experience successfully diagnosing and treating Borreliosis/tick-borne illness, and has helped over 10,000 patients return to health. Additionally, Dr. Marra has been completely successful in overcoming her own battle with Borreliosis/Lyme disease, and has been symptom-free for more than seven years. Her personal road to recovery aids her in understanding the difficulties patients experience on the healing journey, and heightens her compassion for patients in search of a proper diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

Q: Before becoming a member of A4M, what was your medical background?

I have a Masters of Science in Psychology, and a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. I largely practice Integrative Medicine, but I needed a well-organized, thoughtful, comprehensive refresher course after nearly 20 years of practicing medicine.

Q: What anti-aging techniques have you incorporated into your practice and how did you do so?

I use more natural hormonal therapy in my practice as the result of my anti-aging training. Balancing hormones is an art that requires significant study and practice, but I believe as the result of using them, my patients are happier and healthier than ever. Understanding how the hormones influence each other was something that I took away from this course in much greater depth than I had known previously. For that, I am grateful. The teaching was phenomenal.

Q: What are the benefits of practicing Anti-Aging Medicine?

The greatest benefit by far is to witness the increase overall sense of wellbeing that I see in my patients. They are happier and enjoy life more, and are better able to handle stress in their lives because they have underlying endocrine and organ support. For me, this is the greatest accomplishment that I could achieve as a professional.

Q: Why would you recommend Anti-Aging Medicine to your peers?

There are many reasons for learning Anti-Aging Medicine but mostly to service the continuous increase in the population of aging people. Anti-Aging Medicine allows for people to live healthier, longer lives, and enjoy their golden years with fewer ailments. This is also “common sense” medicine. In my opinion, A4M and the Metabolic Medical Institute have THE most comprehensive education program in the country with the most qualified teachers. The seminars are fantastic and you can do a lot of coursework online, so that you don’t have to miss much clinic time. I found that if you listen and study the material well, you will be well prepared to apply the newly learned material in your practice. Clearly, there was a lot of thought put into the development of this curriculum. It was outstanding.

Q: Where do you see the future of Anti-Aging Medicine 20 years from now?

I believe that Anti-Aging Medicine is and will be at the forefront of progressive medicine in this country for many decades to come. Also, with the rise in genomic research and available diagnostic testing, the marriage of Anti-Aging Medicine and genomic medicine is extremely exciting. This will allow for true personalized medicine to be delivered in the office setting. I am excited about the developments in both fields, and will continue my education to reflect the ever-changing landscape of 21st century Integrative Medicine.

Open to all A4M Members: If you would like to be featured as A4M’s Physician of Month, please write us at [email protected].