Functional Medicine in Toronto, Led by a Medical Doctor
Functional medicine looks for the root cause of your symptoms instead of only treating them. At VitalityMD, Dr. Shari Caplan, MD, a family physician who became board certified in integrative medicine and has more than 30 years in women’s health, combines in-depth testing with a personalized plan for concerns like fatigue, hormone imbalance, gut issues and weight gain. Your care works alongside your family doctor, not instead of them.
Jump to: What it is · Conditions · Your first visit · Why an MD matters · FAQ
What Is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a personalized approach to medical care that focuses on prevention and on “patient care” rather than “disease care”. It treats each patient as a unique individual with their own environmental exposures and genetic predispositions, and recognizes that while our genetics may “load the gun”, it is the environment that “pulls the trigger”. Functional medicine balances these internal and external factors to help you achieve optimal health through nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, restorative sleep, detoxification and hormone balance.
Instead of asking “What drug matches this diagnosis?”, functional medicine asks: “Why is this happening in the first place?”
For a fuller explanation, and a video from Dr. Caplan, read What Is Functional Medicine? A Toronto Expert Explains.
How Functional Medicine Is Different from Conventional Medicine
| Conventional medicine | Functional medicine |
|---|---|
| Focuses on symptoms | Focuses on root causes |
| Standardized treatment | Personalized care |
| Reactive (after illness) | Preventative and proactive |
| Short appointments | Deep, comprehensive assessments |
Many patients seek functional medicine after being told:
- “Your tests are normal”
- “This is just part of aging”
- “Just take this pill”
Functional medicine goes deeper.
Integrative and Anti-Aging Medicine
Integrative medicine combines mainstream medical therapies with complementary and alternative therapies that are supported by scientific evidence. It takes into account everything that influences health, including mind, body, spirit and community, and patients are active participants in their own health and healing. Because each person’s physiology, genetics and environmental exposures are different, different people respond best to different therapies.
Anti-aging medicine focuses on the early detection, prevention and treatment of age-related decline. Research suggests that aging, obesity, chronic disease, heart disease, acne and some cancers may be inflammatory conditions. With a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, supplements and hormone balancing, we may be able to slow these processes.
What Conditions Can Functional Medicine Help With?
Functional medicine is especially helpful for chronic and complex conditions, including:
- Hormonal imbalances (thyroid, menopause, PCOS)
- Digestive issues (bloating, IBS, gut health)
- Fatigue and low energy
- Weight gain or metabolic concerns
- Stress and burnout
- Sexual health concerns: low libido, vaginal dryness, lichen sclerosus, interstitial cystitis
- Inflammation-related conditions like arthritis and joint pain
- Autoimmune conditions, working alongside your specialists
- Mood concerns such as anxiety, low mood and brain fog
- Cardiometabolic risk: blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure
A Focus on Women's Health and Hormone Balance
Dr. Shari Caplan specializes in women’s health and sexual health, helping patients understand how hormones impact everything from mood and metabolism to libido and long-term health. Her interest grew out of years of managing hormone imbalances, including PMS, perimenopause and menopause, postpartum depression, PCOS and infertility, and she now treats all types of patients.
"Our hormones decline with age. But, it is the decline in hormones which contributes to the aging process. People feel much better when their hormones are balanced and replaced to physiological levels. Some conditions where bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) would be useful include PMS, perimenopause, menopause, andropause, weight loss, and infertility. Hormone replacement of any kind is not without risk (BCP, OCP, conventional HRT, and BHRT). But, there are studies to show that BHRT may have less risk. I encourage you to learn more about BHRT."
What to Expect at Your First Functional Medicine Visit
Functional medicine starts with time and detail. At VitalityMD, your care usually follows four steps:
- A full health history. Dr. Caplan or one of her functional medicine trained practitioners will review your symptoms, medical history, medications, supplements, diet, sleep, stress, lifestyle and our extensive lab panel, which is ordered in advance of the appointment. Expect a longer conversation than a typical doctor’s appointment: first appointments are typically an hour.
- Targeted testing. Beyond our extensive blood work, testing may include advanced hormone panels, a comprehensive stool analysis (CDSA), an organic acids test (OAT), SIBO breath testing, micronutrient testing, genetic testing and more, as we are always looking for innovative testing: information is power. We also offer screening total body MRIs, proteomics and more. These are only suggested if appropriate for your situation.
- A personalized plan. A customized personalized plan will be recommended to improve your diet, stress management, sleep hygiene and targeted supplements and, when appropriate, include prescription medication or bioidentical hormones.
- Follow-up and adjustment. Progress is reviewed and the plan is adjusted as your results and symptoms change.
Our Goal Is to Optimize Your Health
VitalityMD was founded by Dr. Shari Caplan to offer a personalized, integrative health optimization approach, tailored to your unique medical concerns and using both conventional and alternative treatment options. You will be given several options to choose from.
- We review the merits of hormone therapy for those who are suited for it.
- We use conventional, functional and genetic diagnostic testing to find ways to improve your health and prevent disease.
- Our team of practitioners has years of experience in both traditional and functional medicine, and attends conferences alongside our doctors.
- We offer an expanding range of personalized services and programs to help you reach your goals.
Who Provides Functional Medicine, and Why a Medical Doctor Matters
Functional medicine is practised by people from several backgrounds, including medical doctors, naturopaths, nurse practitioners, chiropractors and holistic nutritionists. Many practitioners can’t diagnose, order tests or prescribe medication. At VitalityMD, your care is led by Dr. Shari Caplan, MD, who is board certified in Integrative Medicine (ABOIM) with the American Board of Physician Specialties and has been a family physician specializing in women’s health for more than 30 years at both Women’s College Hospital and Sunnybrook. She holds additional certifications in anti-aging, regenerative, functional and metabolic medicine.
Because Dr. Caplan is a licensed physician, she can order and interpret medical testing and prescribe medication when it’s needed. She also works alongside your family doctor and specialists rather than replacing them. Functional medicine at VitalityMD is offered in line with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario policy on complementary and alternative medicine.
Is Functional Medicine Right for You?
You may benefit from functional medicine if:
- You don’t feel like yourself, but tests say “normal”
- You have ongoing symptoms with no clear diagnosis
- You want a proactive, preventative approach to health
- You’re looking for a more personalized care plan
Functional Medicine FAQs
Functional medicine is an approach that looks for the root causes of symptoms, such as hormone imbalances, gut health, nutrient deficiencies, stress and lifestyle, instead of only treating the symptoms themselves.
Functional medicine is not the standard of care, so it is not covered by OHIP.
You don’t need a referral, but if we get one it helps us keep your family physician in the loop.
No. VitalityMD acts like a consultant, and working collaboratively is always a good thing. Dr. Caplan will often review results and consult notes from your family physician or specialist.
It depends on the concern. Some patients notice changes in energy or digestion within weeks, while hormone and metabolic changes often take a few months of consistent care.
Functional Medicine in Toronto, Mississauga and the GTA
Our clinic serves patients across Toronto, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Oakville, Brampton, Vaughan and North York. If you’re searching for a functional medicine doctor near you, we’re here to help.
Book a Functional Medicine Consultation
Take the first step toward understanding your health at a deeper level. Call us at (416) 792-1100 or book online. VitalityMD, 1769 Avenue Road, Toronto.