Functional Medicine Practitioner
Certified Nutrition Specialist
PhD in Neuroscience
Hello, I'm Debora
MY PRACTICE
This is a solo functional medicine practice focused on gut, microbiome, cardiometabolic, and brain health. You'll work directly with me throughout your care. I take the time to study your history, symptoms, and lab results, whether the goal is resolving a persistent problem or protecting long-term health. My approach is science-based, drawing on both the research literature and clinical practice. Sessions are available in person in Berkeley, CA, and via telehealth.
Why I Was Drawn to Functional Medicine
MY STORY
My father was growing wheatgrass in our Los Angeles backyard in the 1970s. Needless to say, I grew up in a household that valued eating a healthy diet. As someone who has endured chronic migraines, I've also been careful with food choices, but it was only after a severe health crisis — triggered by a combination of gastrointestinal infection, antibiotic use, and midlife stress — that I truly understood the vital role of gut health in overall wellness.
Even though I studied basic science and traveled in standard medical circles for most of my professional career, I guess the apple does not fall far from the tree: I was always trying to resolve health issues for myself and others by mining the scientific literature, getting to the underlying cause, and then using diet and lifestyle to rebalance. When I realized this practice had a name, “Functional Medicine,” I knew I had finally found my calling. After several years of rigorous graduate study, internship, and starting a private practice, I am humbled by the depth of the clinical science, the uniqueness of each person’s health story, and the power of collaborative clinical work. I invite you to join me on a transformative journey toward your best expression of health and vitality, guided by the effective principles of functional medicine.
MY PATH
My path to this work hasn't been a straight line. Early in my career, I earned a PhD in neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and worked in academic biomedical research and biotech. Later, after witnessing my parents struggle through chronic illness, I went back to school for a master’s in gerontology so I could better understand how to help people navigate aging. I then spent seven years co-leading a community nonprofit for people living with memory loss and their caregivers. On a memory cafe outing to the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, I heard Dr. Dale Bredesen speak about reversing early cognitive decline. It was my first introduction to functional medicine, but I recognized it right away: looking for underlying causes and connections was how I’d always approached health for myself and my family. Seeing it applied to brain health was a watershed moment, and it sent me back for a master’s in human nutrition and functional medicine.
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I started the program focused on brain health, but my new training confirmed what my own midlife health crisis had taught me: the gut is central. I became fascinated by the microbiome and came to see how closely gut, metabolic, and brain health are linked.
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After completing my Master of Science, I continued building my clinical foundation through a 1,000-hour supervised internship with Clinicians Incubator, earning my Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential and LDN license. I went on to become an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner, completed a year-long mentorship at the Kalish Institute of Functional Medicine, and became certified in Dr. Bredesen’s ReCODE and PreCODE protocols through Apollo Health. I also continued my microbiome studies with Dr. Jason Hawrelak and became a Certified Healthy Gut Practitioner.
This body of work shapes how I practice today. I pair a critical read of the research with clinical wisdom from my own practice and my mentors to connect the dots across a complex health picture, always with the long view in mind.
MY CREDENTIALS
​CERTIFIED FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER (FMCP)
Institute for Functional Medicine
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CERTIFIED NUTRITION SPECIALIST (CNS®), LDN
Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists​​​
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ReCODE 2.0 CERTIFIED PRACTITIONER
Apollo Health | Bredesen Protocol
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CERTIFIED HEALTHY GUT PRACTITIONER
Microbiome Restoration Center
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Ph.D., NEUROSCIENCE
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
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M.S., HUMAN NUTRITION & FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
University of Western States
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M.A., GERONTOLOGY
San Francisco State University​
FROM PEOPLE I'VE WORKED WITH
Working with Debora has been truly life-changing. Her patience and kindness made our work together such a positive experience, and her thorough research allowed us to fully resolve my digestive issues. Best of all, a year has gone by, and they have not recurred.
— M.O.
What I loved about working with Debora is her ability to look at all of my goals… holistically, taking into account both my health needs and my personal preferences. AND IT WORKED! I can sleep, exercise, and work more easily again.
— J.B.
With Debora's personalized and precise approach as a functional nutritionist, we have overcome amalgam mercury poisoning, high cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure. Together, we have improved my chances for healthy aging and longevity.