Despite a dramatic rise in antidepressant use in the United States since 1988, the number of Americans suffering from depression has not decreased. This leaves clinicians with a stark reality: more medication, without improvement. This reality raises the central question that inspired the Healing Depression Project: Is depression truly treatment-resistant, or are current treatments simply not effective?
In this practitioner spotlight, Dr. Darisa Espinal, naturopathic physician at Dr. Kara Fitzgerald’s New Frontiers Functional Medicine Clinic, shares her journey into functional medicine, the types of patients she supports, and how she integrates longevity medicine and root-cause care to help patients achieve optimal health and vitality. Dr. Espinal, can you share your path to becoming a functional medicine doctor and how your training shaped your approach to patient care?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating, chronic joint disease affecting about 33 million adults in the United States. As the aging population grows and obesity rates climb, this number is expected to surge. By 2030, nearly 67 million Americans will be living with arthritis, with OA being the most prevalent form. OA is not just a condition of the joints – it’s a systemic burden that increases the risk of serious comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression, significantly impairing quality of life and increasing healthcare costs.
Let’s be honest, the term “longevity medicine” has gotten a bit of a reputation lately. For many of us in functional medicine, it can feel like the exclusive domain of elite biohackers or billionaires chasing the next shiny object. I hear it from practitioners all the time: “Longevity isn’t for me. It’s all hype, no science.” Or “It feels disconnected from the work I do every day with real patients.” But I’m here to tell you that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, I would argue that Functional Medicine Is Longevity Medicine. Always has been. This is exactly why I created the Functional Medicine IS Longevity Medicine Masterclass: For Clinicians, happening live, virtually, and for free, September 17–19, 2025. Because it’s time we reframe the narrative and take our seat at the table. Or better yet, remind folks that we built the table.
With thanks to Romilly Hodges, CNS, for her contributions to this article. I’m not here to fan the flames of controversy, but I do believe in asking smart, systems-oriented questions—especially when we’re talking about chemicals that may be added to something as essential as drinking water. Fluoride is one of those topics that sits right…
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Kirsten FitzGerald*, DNP, FNP-BC, has joined the clinical team at the New Frontiers Functional Medicine Clinic. With a strong background in functional and integrative medicine, Dr. Kirsten brings a thoughtful, science-backed approach to healing that perfectly aligns with our clinic’s mission: to provide personalized, root-cause care that empowers patients to take charge of their health.
Urolithin A is rapidly becoming a go-to longevity nutrient, and with good reason. Backed by 15 years of research and 11 human clinical trials, it is one of the most extensively studied compounds for healthy aging.
When I was a kid at lunch, while my friends were eating those heavenly-looking ultraprocessed Twinkies and Ringdings and making dough balls with their white bread, I ate home-made yogurt or nutbutter sandwiches on a very dense, whole grain bread; or perhaps noshed on some sardines. Make no mistake, I went through a very rebellious phase involving Oreo cookies when I finally called the food shots in my life. But thankfully, I had gleaned enough from my mom that this phase didn’t last long. Indeed, I developed a deep appreciation for how savvy she was (and still is!) when it comes to keeping food clean, healthy and almost completely free of ultraprocessing and toxic food chemicals. She taught me the importance of avoiding ultra-processed foods and toxic food chemicals, long before it became a public health headline.
Estrogen is a life-giving hormone with which modern humans have a complicated relationship. Over two decades ago, The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) findings mistakenly reported that combined estrogen and progestin hormone therapy increased the risk of breast cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, and venous thromboembolism in postmenopausal women. This led to a pervasive vilification of estrogen therapy that has affected generations of women.
Discover the truth about olive oil. Dr. Artemis Morris busts common myths and shares science-backed benefits of this Mediterranean staple.