Meet Dr. Amy Sapola
Dr. Amy Sapola is a Clinical Pharmacist, an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner (IFMCP), and a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) with a B.S. in Nutrition.
Dr. Sapola has completed a 2-year Fellowship with honors in Integrative Medicine from the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) and has trained in Culinary Coaching and Culinary Medicine.
She has worked in rural healthcare, helping to start hospital and school gardens and helping the local food shelf move to a produce-forward design. She later became the Director of “Farmacy” at the Chef’s Garden in Huron, OH, where she worked extensively with “food as medicine” and culinary medicine, as well as regenerative farming and soil health.
In her current role at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Sapola specializes in women’s health, peri-menopause and menopause, and integrative oncology. Additionally, Dr. Sapola works with healthcare providers, community members, and schools, teaching yoga and mindfulness, food as medicine, and culinary medicine.
As a mother of two young children, avid gardener, passionate cook, and long-time yogi, Amy has an integrative approach to health and wellness, personally and professionally.
FAQ
What is Culinary Medicine?
Culinary medicine is an evidence-based field of medicine that blends the art of food and cooking with the science of medicine. Culinary medicine’s goal is to provide the education and skills to guide personal decisions about selecting, preparing, and enjoying nourishing meals that help to heal chronic health conditions and restore well-being.
What is Mindful Eating?
The practice of mindful eating is the intention to be compassionately present and aware of the eating experience. By cultivating mindful eating we reduce judgment and are invited to connect with body, mind, and heart and honor the body’s need for nourishment.
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional Medicine is a “systems biology–based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease”. If you’d like to learn more about Functional Medicine please visit www.ifm.org.
What is Integrative Medicine?
“Integrative Medicine, as defined by the American Board of Integrative Medicine® (ABOIM) and the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine, is the practice of medicine that reaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, healthcare professionals, and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.” If you would like to learn more about Integrative Medicine please visit the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) www.aihm.org
How do I find a Functional Medicine Practitioner?
I highly recommend checking out the IFM “Find a Practitioner” search to find an IFM Certified Practitioner (IFMCP).
