A lot of the people who call our Staten Island office about functional medicine start with the same question: what will we actually do together? It’s a fair thing to ask. A functional medicine consultation works differently from a visit built around one symptom, and knowing what to expect makes it easier to decide if it’s the right step for you.
At our practice on Hylan Boulevard, Dr. Marina Fest, DNP, treats functional medicine as a search for the root cause of a health concern, not just a way to manage symptoms. Here’s how that shapes your consultation and how it connects with the rest of your care.
How a Functional Medicine Consultation Works With Dr. Marina Fest, DNP
A functional medicine consultation looks at several parts of your health, from daily habits to concerns that may call for additional testing. Each section below covers one part of that process.
What functional medicine looks at
Functional medicine focuses on root cause analysis rather than symptom management. Dr. Fest brings together lifestyle, nutrition, environment, and biology so your care stays centered on you as a whole person.
In practice, that means the conversation reaches past the reason you booked. Hormones, gut health, nutrition, and lifestyle are all part of the picture we consider. If you’ve felt that earlier visits only looked at one piece of what’s going on, this broader view is what sets functional medicine apart.
Testing that may be part of your plan
Testing is one of the tools Dr. Fest uses. Options include hormone, gut, thyroid, and adrenal testing, and the testing considered for your care depends on your individual health concerns and Dr. Fest’s clinical assessment.
Building an individualized plan
Your plan is built for you rather than pulled from a template. It’s individualized, it can blend conventional and natural approaches, and supplements may be part of it if Dr. Fest recommends them. This is where the root cause approach turns practical, drawing on the concerns discussed during your consultation and any relevant testing.
Where telehealth fits
Some care doesn’t require a trip to the office. Women’s Hormone Therapy is offered through telehealth. Our practice also provides telehealth for primary care patients in New York and Florida.
If you’re unsure whether telehealth is available for your concern, contact our Staten Island office to ask about your appointment options.
Who you’ll be working with
Dr. Marina Fest holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and is a graduate of NYU and Pace University. Her clinical experience includes cardiology, nephrology, dialysis, and rehab.
She is also a primary care clinician. Your functional medicine care and your everyday primary care, including chronic disease management, medicine management, and referrals, can stay within the same practice. We see patients aged 14 and older.
What to bring to your consultation
A short list of the concerns you want to discuss, when they started, and the medications and supplements you take now gives Dr. Fest a clearer starting point. If you’ve had lab work elsewhere, bringing copies can help the conversation too.
Visiting our Staten Island office
You’ll find us at 2627 Hylan Blvd D2, Staten Island, NY 10306. We’re open Monday through Wednesday from 9 AM to 4 PM, Thursday from 11 AM to 7 PM, and Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM. We’re closed Saturday and Sunday. Our Thursday evening hours can help if your workday makes earlier appointments difficult.
Ready to talk about what’s really going on?
If you’ve been dealing with a health concern that hasn’t fit neatly into one explanation, functional medicine offers an approach that considers several aspects of your health together. We’d be glad to meet you at our Hylan Boulevard office, or by telehealth where that option applies.
Book your visit online through our Book Now page, call us at (718) 285-4440, or email drmarinafest@gmail.com.
FAQs
Can I have a functional medicine consultation through telehealth?
Women’s Hormone Therapy is available through telehealth, and our practice also offers telehealth for primary care patients in New York and Florida. For other functional medicine concerns, call (718) 285-4440 and we’ll help you figure out whether a telehealth or in person visit fits best.
What kinds of testing does functional medicine care include?
Our functional medicine care includes hormone, gut, thyroid, and adrenal testing. Dr. Fest will talk with you about which options, if any, make sense for your situation.
Can I see Dr. Fest for both functional medicine and primary care?
Yes. Dr. Fest provides primary care, including chronic disease management, medication management, and referrals, along with functional medicine care.
What ages does the practice see?
We serve patients aged 14 and older in Staten Island.
