UWS hires new functional medicine doctor for clinic system

Dr. Rachel Fischer will also teach, serving as the Integrative Therapeutics distinguished professor in functional medicine

PORTLAND, Ore., March 11, 2015 – University of Western States (UWS), a leader in the education of health care professionals, recently added Rachel Fischer, MD, MPH to the UWS clinic system. Dr. Fischer’s background in preventive and functional medicine also earned her a role as a faculty member in the new Northwest Center for Lifestyle and Functional Medicine (NWCLFM) at UWS. In this role, she will serve as the Integrative Therapeutics distinguished professor of functional medicine, teaching functional and preventive medicine to students in the HNFM program.

Functional medicine integrates the most recent Western medical data and practices with a focus on prevention and reversing disease progression through nutrition, exercise, stress management, as well as with drugs, supplements or therapeutic diets.

“We are very excited to have Dr. Fischer join our clinic and teaching staff. Her experience as a medical doctor with a background in functional and preventive medicine not only broadens the scope of services we can provide to patients, it also aligns with the goals and visions of the university’s new Northwest Center for Lifestyle and Functional Medicine. She shares in our belief that treating disease must start with finding the root cause,” Dr. Will Evans, provost and executive vice president at University of Western States said.

Dr. Fischer obtained her medical degree from University of Utah, where she also completed two years of medical residency in internal medicine. Dr. Fischer then completed her residency and fellowship in occupational and environmental medicine at University of Washington. Additionally, she completed a Master of Science with a focus in epidemiology from University of Utah and a master of public health focused in environmental health from University of Washington. Dr. Fischer is board certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine and is currently pursing certification by the Institute of Functional Medicine.

“While my experience and education made this position a perfect fit for me,” Dr. Fischer said, “ultimately, it was the people and their shared belief that a transformation in patient care is necessary to address the complex, chronic diseases that so significantly impact public health.”

About Northwest Center for Lifestyle and Functional Medicine

The Northwest Center for Lifestyle and Functional Medicine was launched in 2014 as a center of excellence highlighting ways to reduce lifestyle-related health conditions such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension. The center’s vision is to promote healthy behaviors and positive lifestyle changes in order to achieve optimal quality of life for the members of our community through service, education and research. The center believes in integrated, conservative, patient-centered approaches to address lifestyle-related health conditions. To learn more about the center visit uws.edu/nwclfm.