Scientific Advisory Council

Meet the Renowned Experts Shaping the Future of Health, Wellness & Longevity

Dr. Darshan Shah

Founder & CEO of Next Health, surgeon, and host of the EXTEND Podcast

Darshan Shah, MD is a health and wellness specialist, well-known, board-certified surgeon, published author, tech entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Beautologie and Next Health. As an expert on all body systems, he has performed over 10,000 surgical procedures, including trauma surgery, general surgery and plastic/reconstructive procedures. As a health and wellness specialist, he has advised thousands of patients on how to optimize their well-being and extend their lifespan, culminating in the creation of Next Health, the first health optimization and longevity center to offer life-extending and enhancing technology and treatments in a beautiful, welcoming environment.

Dr. Mark Hyman

Functional medicine pioneer and bestselling author

Mark Hyman, MD is a practicing family physician, pioneering Functional Medicine leader, and passionate advocate for transforming our healthcare and food systems. He is a co-founder and the Chief Medical Officer of Function Health, the fastest growing health company in the US.  He is the founder and Director of The UltraWellness Center, and the founder of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine. Dr. Hyman also serves as Board President for Clinical Affairs at the Institute for Functional Medicine and is Chairman of the Food Fix Campaign, working to advance food and agriculture policy. A 15-time New York Times bestselling author—including the #1 national bestseller Young Forever—he also hosts The Dr. Hyman Show, one of the leading health podcasts with over 300 million downloads. His insights are regularly featured on CBS This Morning, Today, Good Morning America, The View, CNN, and other major media outlets.

Dr. Hyman has advised U.S. policymakers and global leaders on chronic disease, nutrition, and prevention. He has testified before Congress, consulted with the Surgeon General on diabetes prevention, and participated in the 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. Dr. Hyman co-authored landmark initiatives like the Take Back Your Health Act and the ENRICH Act.  His work has been recognized with awards such as the Linus Pauling Award and the Nantucket Project Award, and he was also named to the 2025 Time100 Health list, which recognized the most influential voices in global health.   You can explore his latest work and resources at drhyman.com, and connect with him on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.

Dr. Jeffrey Bland

“Father of Functional Medicine,” founder of the Institute for Functional Medicine

Jeffrey Bland, PhD, FACN, FACB, CNS is a pioneering biochemist, educator, and thought leader widely regarded as the “Father of Functional Medicine.” With more than four decades of groundbreaking work at the intersection of nutrition, genomics, and systems biology, Dr. Bland has redefined the way medicine understands and supports human health. He co-founded the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), which has trained tens of thousands of practitioners worldwide, and is the founder and president of the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute (PLMI), advancing the science and clinical application of personalized, preventive care.

Dr. Bland began his academic career as a Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Puget Sound and was later appointed Director of Nutritional Research at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine, under the mentorship of two-time Nobel Laureate Dr. Linus Pauling. He has authored more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and several seminal books, including The Disease Delusion, and continues to influence clinical practice globally through his leadership at Big Bold Health, a company dedicated to harnessing the power of immuno-rejuvenation and food as medicine.

A lifelong advocate for scientific innovation in healthcare, Dr. Bland has lectured to audiences in more than 50 countries and remains one of the most respected voices in functional and lifestyle medicine today. His work continues to inspire a new generation of clinicians to address the root causes of disease and empower patients to achieve optimal health through precision medicine and preventive care.

Dr. Amy Shah

Double board-certified physician, author, and expert in circadian biology

Dr. Amy Shah is a double board-certified MD and nutrition specialist with a background in nutrition from Cornell University.

Over the last decade, she has built a world-renowned wellness education platform, and written two bestselling books—I’m So Effing Hungry and I’m So Effing Tired—with her third, Hormone Havoc, now available for pre-sale.

A frequent guest on national media and a sought-after global speaker, Dr. Shah is passionate about discovering less invasive interventions and teaching people how to transform their health through nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes, using medication only as a last resort.

Her mission is to empower others to “save themselves” by working from the inside out. Both online and off-line, she is recognized as a leading voice in nutrition, gut health, and women’s health.

Dr. Jeremy London

Cardiac surgeon and functional medicine expert

Jeremy London, MD, has spent his entire professional life taking care of patients.

Dr. London received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed his general surgery residency at Joseph’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado. He completed a general vascular and thoracic surgical fellowship at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C. Dr. London has over 25 years of clinical experience as a board-certified cardiovascular surgeon.

To deepen his understanding of medicine, he completed the Institute of Functional Medicine core program. The IFM offered a root-cause, full-body approach that he could integrate into his traditional allopathic training.

Dr. London‘s mission is to provide easy-to-understand, relatable health information via his newsletter, podcast, and social platforms. He currently lives in Savannah, Georgia, with his wife, four pups, and three boys.

Dr. Vonda Wright

Orthopedic surgeon, researcher, and thought leader on active aging

Vonda Wright, MD is a double-board-certified orthopedic surgeon and internationally recognized authority in active aging, mobility and musculoskeletal longevity. Her clinical practice emphasizes hip-preservation, shoulder and knee reconstruction, cartilage restoration and cutting-edge orthobiologics treatments. She founded and directs the Performance and Research Initiative for Masters Athletes (PRIMA), whose pioneering work is reshaping how clinicians view the aging process, and how athletes of all ages stay vital.

Dr. Wright earned her M.D. at University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and completed her orthopedic surgery residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and fellowship in sports and shoulder surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery. In addition to her surgical and research work, having studied thousands of masters-athletes and published in peer-reviewed formats, she is a best-selling author of books such as Fitness After 40 and Guide to THRIVE: 4 Steps to Body, Brains & Bliss.

Dr. Mindy Pelz

Women’s health leader and bestselling author

Dr. Mindy Pelz is a New York Times bestselling author, visionary educator, and trailblazer in the field of women’s health and hormone science. With over two decades of experience, she’s built a global movement to help women understand the power of their bodies at every stage of life.

Her bestselling books, including Fast Like a Girl, The Menopause Reset, and her newest release Eat Like a Girl, have helped millions of women use fasting, nutrition, and lifestyle shifts to balance hormones, boost energy, and take back control of their health. Her upcoming book, Age Like a Girl, redefines what it means to grow older as a woman. Dr. Mindy shows women how to use the neurochemical shifts of midlife as a launchpad for purpose, leadership, and bold reinvention.

Dr. Mindy’s Resetter Podcast consistently ranks among Apple’s top U.S. science shows, with guests ranging from LeAnn Rimes and Rachel Hollis to Dr. Rangan Chatterjee. Her YouTube channel has surpassed 110 million views, and her teachings have reached hundreds of thousands through workshops, online programs, and live events.

She holds a Doctorate of Chiropractic and a background in functional nutrition, and she brings both science and heart to everything she does. Based in San Jose, CA, she leads a team committed to helping women worldwide become the healthiest, most powerful version of themselves.

Dr. Mindy believes this is not the time for women to get quieter, it’s the time to get stronger, clearer, and more connected to who they truly are. Aging isn’t a decline. It’s an evolution.

Dr. Karan Rajan

Surgeon, educator, and expert in gut health science

Karan Rajan, MD, MRCS, is a practicing general surgeon in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and a senior clinical lecturer at University of Sunderland School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from Imperial College London in 2014, including a first-class honors degree in haematology during his studies.

He has built a distinguished reputation for translating medical science into accessible education, authoring the Sunday Times No.1 bestseller “This Book May Save Your Life: Everyday Health Hacks to Worry Less and Live Better.”

As a widely-followed medical educator, he has amassed millions of followers across social platforms and uses his digital reach to debunk health myths, clarify complex medical topics, and empower audiences with practical, evidence-based advice.

Dr. Sara Szal

Harvard-trained physician, bestselling author, and women’s health expert

Sara Szal, MD is a physician, researcher, educator, mother, and author who sits at the intersection of science and story. Trained at Harvard Medical School and MIT, she’s as likely to prescribe a continuous glucose monitor or a deep dive into your microbiome as she is to discuss the latest pharmaceutical — not because she rejects modern medicine, but because she believes in starting upstream, where root causes live.

Dr. Szal is the author of four New York Times bestselling books on hormones, health, and longevity, with her latest, The Autoimmune Cure, redefining what it means to heal from the inside out. As Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Medicine and Nutritional Sciences at Thomas Jefferson University and Director of Precision Medicine at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health, her work exists where molecular profiling meets human experience. Her current focus: how personalized data — from wearables to metabolomics — can map the hidden terrain between mental and physical health, and how leveraging those insights can change the trajectory of one’s life.

Dr. Louisa Nicola

Neurophysiologist and Human Performance Coach, founder of Neuro Athletics

Louisa Nicola is a neurophysiologist, global educator, and host of The Neuro Experience Podcast. She is also the creator of BRAIN CODE: Decoding a Woman’s Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, a groundbreaking initiative focused on women’s brain health.

A former world champion triathlete who represented Australia at the Beijing and Auckland World Championships, Louisa brings elite performance and neuroscience together to redefine how we think about the brain. Her doctoral research centers on the intersection of hormones and Alzheimer’s disease, with a broader mission to eliminate cognitive decline.

Based in New York, Louisa works alongside leading neurosurgeons on clinical investigations in cranioplasty and post-surgical outcomes, with an emphasis on how exercise and nutrition influence brain recovery. Today, she translates cutting-edge science into practical strategies for high-performing athletes, executives, and healthcare professionals—empowering people to protect their brains, extend their healthspan, and thrive at every stage of life.

Dr. Kara Fitzgerald

Functional medicine leader, researcher, and author

Kara Fitzgerald, ND, IFMCP is engaged in award-winning clinical research on epigenetics and longevity, using a diet and lifestyle intervention developed in her Functional Medicine clinic. Her first study, published in Aging (2021), demonstrated potential bioage-reversing effects of an 8-week DNA methylation-supportive program in middle-aged men. A follow-up study, published in Aging (2023), suggested similar results in middle-aged women. She has also published a case series showing women reduced their biological age by an average of over four years compared to baseline.

Dr. Fitzgerald is the author of *Younger You: Reduce Your Bio Age and Live Longer, Better* and its companion cookbook Better Broths and Healing Tonics, and she leads patients and consumers through her Younger You Program. She also serves as lead author and editor of Case Studies in Integrative and Functional Medicine and is a contributing author to Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine and IFM’s Textbook for Functional Medicine.

She received her doctorate from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon, completed the first CNME-accredited post-doctorate in nutritional biochemistry and laboratory science at Metametrix Clinical Laboratory, and her residency at Progressive Medical Center, a large integrative medical practice in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Fitzgerald is on faculty at the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), is an IFM Certified Practitioner, and lectures globally on functional medicine, longevity, and epigenetics. She hosts the award-nominated podcast New Frontiers in Functional Medicine and maintains an active blog at drkarafitzgerald.com. Her clinical practice is based in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.

Mona Sharma

Celebrity nutritionist, entrepreneur, and wellness educator

In her early 20s, Mona Sharma faced multiple heart surgeries, a wake-up call that forced her to confront the reality of her declining health. When doctors warned she might need a pacemaker, she realized that conventional medicine alone wasn’t the answer. Instead, she turned back to her roots - immersing herself in the ancient healing traditions of the ashram where she was raised. Through Ayurveda, meditation, nutrition, and community, she transformed her own health, proving that the body, given the right tools, has the power to heal itself.

Now a globally recognized nutritionist and wellness leader, Mona shares this integrative approach with the world. As the host of the #1-rated nutrition podcast, Rooted in Wellness, brings together top experts to merge ancient wisdom with modern science, offering accessible education that empowers people to take control of their health. On Instagram, she connects her followers to practical tools, resources, and strategies to create sustainable wellness.

But Mona knows true healing doesn’t happen in isolation. That’s why she is launching Rooted Community - a space designed to bring back a crucial missing piece of wellness: connection, support, and the power of collective healing. Whether through her work with celebrities, her podcast, or her growing community, Mona’s mission is clear: to help people reclaim their health by blending time-tested traditions with the best of modern functional medicine.

Dr. Dale Bredesen

Neuroscientist, neurologist, and pioneer in Alzheimer’s prevention

Dale E. Bredesen, M.D., is an internationally recognized neuroscientist, clinician-researcher, and pioneer in neurodegenerative disease therapeutics. He earned his B.S. from California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and his M.D. from Duke University Medical Center. He subsequently served as Chief Resident in Neurology at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate Stanley Prusiner.

Dr. Bredesen was the founding President & CEO of Buck Institute for Research on Aging and later directed major programs in aging and neurodegeneration at leading institutions. His lab has published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers and holds more than 30 patents related to the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. His seminal work culminated in the development of the “ReCODE” (Reversal of Cognitive Decline) protocol, a precision-medicine, systems-based approach to Alzheimer’s and related conditions, challenging the long-held belief that cognitive decline is irreversible.

Through his books, including the New York Times bestseller The End of Alzheimer’s, and his commitment to translating advanced neuroscience into clinical practice, Dr. Bredesen continues to shape the future of brain-health, longevity and regenerative medicine.

Dr. Michael Breus

Leading authority on sleep science, chronobiology, and performance health

Michael J. Breus, Ph.D., is both a double boarded Clinical Psychologist and a Clinical Sleep Specialist, known widely as “The Sleep Doctor.” He holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from University of Georgia and is both a Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine—one of only ~168 psychologists globally to pass the Sleep Medicine specialty board without attending medical school.

Dr. Breus is the author of multiple best-selling books including The Power of When and Energize!, through which he has popularized the application of chronobiology and sleep science to everyday performance and health. He has maintained a private sleep-medicine practice for more than two decades and served as the dedicated sleep expert for WebMD for over 14 years. Named the Top Sleep Specialist in California by Reader’s Digest, and one of the 10 most influential people in sleep, Dr. Breus contributes regularly to public education on the vital role of restorative sleep in metabolic health, cognitive function and longevity.

Dr. Tania Elliott

Dual board-certified physician, 3x Chief Medical Officer, and entrepreneur

Dr. Tania Elliott is a dual board-certified physician, 3x Chief Medical Officer, and entrepreneur.   She has over a decade of experience shaping innovative industry leading programs for fortune 100 companies.

She has served as Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Clinical and Network Services at Ascension, leading enterprise-wide innovation in virtual care, remote patient monitoring with FDA-grade wearable devices, and digital health. Her leadership roles at Aetna (CVS Health), Doctor on Demand (now Included Health), and EHE Health have shaped industry-leading care models in women’s health and longevity medicine.

Healthcare starts in our homes and our communities, with simple, informed choices that can make a major impact.  A dual board certified Allergist and Internist, she focuses on how environmental exposures–from the soil our food is grown in, to the constitution of our microbiome, to the products we put in and on our bodies and around our homes can impact healthspan.  She sits of the Board of Regents for the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, the Board of Directors for the American Telemedicine Association, is a Clinical Instructor at NYU Langone Health, and is a trusted medical contributor to Good Morning America, Today Show, Kelly and Mark, and CBS mornings.

Dr. Albert Pradeep

Dr. Pradeep Albert, M.D., D.A.B.R., is a globally recognized physician, innovator, and thought leader in regenerative medicine and longevity science.

Dr. Pradeep Albert, M.D., D.A.B.R., is a globally recognized physician, innovator, and thought leader in regenerative medicine and longevity science. With more than two decades of clinical and academic experience, he began his academic journey graduating magna cum laude in Accounting and Economics from SUNY Albany, followed by his M.D. from SUNY Upstate Medical University. He completed his internship in internal medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, residency in diagnostic radiology at New York Medical College/St. Vincent’s, and a fellowship in musculoskeletal radiology at University of California, San Diego, where he received the RSNA Research Award.

Dr. Albert has built an extraordinary career at the nexus of diagnostic imaging, musculoskeletal medicine and next-generation therapies. As Founder and CEO of RadSherpa, he drives artificial-intelligence innovations in medical imaging. He has also authored the textbook Exosomes, PRP, and Stem Cells in Musculoskeletal Medicine and co-authored Lifespan Decoded.

In his clinical practice he has performed more than 40,000 regenerative procedures and consults globally on robot-assisted, stem-cell and exosome-based therapies for musculoskeletal and longevity-oriented care.

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