Dr. Eri Shimizu
Board Certified Internist
I am board certified in Internal Medicine and certified through the Institutes of Functional Medicine. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Bioengineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and graduated summa cum laude from Creighton University Medical School. I completed my Internal Medicine residency at UCLA and worked at a Los Angeles county hospital. In 2012, I returned to Hawaii and served as a Hospitalist at Maui Memorial Medical Center. Maui is now home with my husband, two children, and a fighting fish named Rainbow.
When I first became a doctor, my calling was to care for the sickest of the sick. For 13 years, I treat patients in my role as a Hospitalist (that is, an Internal Medicine Physician specializing in hospitalized patients). While I never doubted my calling to help others, I began to question how I was helping. Call it a midlife crisis (or a more positive phrase, a “midlife awakening”!), but I no longer thought I was using the right tools to get the job done. Yes, I was helping people through their most immediate, life-threatening problems. However, I did not feel I was making them well. Antibiotics and fancy procedures save lives no doubt, but often they stop short of complete healing.
A few years ago, I began having health issues of my own. I ate a healthy diet (or what I previously considered “healthy”), exercised most days, and controlled my weight – I should have been the epitome of health. Despite this, I suffered miserable migraines, annoying stomach aches, and alarming menstrual issues. Worst, (and I still feel guilty about this), I was highly irritable, even around my young children. Of course, I tried all the conventional and a few less traditional approaches, but things only worsened. That is how I discovered Functional Medicine.
By addressing the underlying root cause of my issues – burn-out, poorly managed stress, inconsistent sleep patterns, gut dysfunction, suboptimal diet (it turns out I was not eating as well as I thought…) – I gave my body what it needed to work WELL. The Functional Medicine approach is not an easy fix (taking pills requires far less personal investment), but it is the long-lasting fix, freeing me to focus on what matters – life! You can be well too, but it does take commitment.
- Mold literate with Dr. Jill Crista
- Kalish Institute training program
- Advanced lab test interpretation with Dr. Goodenow Research Institute
Frequently Asked Questions
Functional medicine is a science-based, individualized approach to health that goes beyond traditional medicine. It finds the root cause of illness by focusing on gut health, metabolism, hormones, environment, and genetics. A personalized diet, nutritional supplementation, and lifestyle plan is designed for your unique profile to achieve health. The Institute for Functional Medicine’s website (ifm.org) has detailed information regarding our practice model.
Both functional and holistic medicine focus on the total body. Functional medicine focuses on interactions between genetics, environment, and lifestyle that impact health. Holistic medicine has a spiritual approach to the body, mind, and soul.
Functional medicine can help with many health problems, such as fatigue, sleep problems, indigestion, weight gain, and hormonal imbalances. If you’re on multiple medications, want to get to the root of your symptoms, or want more natural ways to optimize your health, functional medicine can help you.
As a board-certified internist, I am experienced with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiac, inflammatory, gastrointestinal, and autoimmune diseases. I also treat fatigue, weight gain, hormone imbalances, and gut dysfunction, such as bloating and gas.
Absolutely! In addition to treating illness, functional medicine also emphasizes prevention for health maintenance.
No, I am not a primary care provider. I will work with you as a functional medicine consultant to address the cause of your chronic health problems and discuss them with your primary care provider if necessary.
Dr. Shimizu is licensed to practice Internal Medicine (adult medicine) in the state of Hawaii.
Yes, when necessary.
I review the traditional labs obtained by your primary provider, such as cholesterol levels and blood counts. Depending on your health goals, I recommend further testing. Some examples are specialized metabolic tests, gut health, environmental toxins, or food sensitivity tests. Some of these specialized testing are not covered by insurance and are out-of-pocket.
Functional medicine is considered complementary alternative medicine; not all insurance plans cover this service. You will pay at the time of your visit, and I will provide a superbill for you if you wish to submit the claim to your insurance or apply to your flexible spending accounts (FSA). We currently accept traditional Medicare.
Rates: – Initial visit (60 minutes): $300 – Second visit (45 minutes): $225 – Follow-up visits (20 minutes): $100 – Initial Visit Package (first three visits included): $700
Go to Olena Center’s online scheduler to schedule an initial appointment. (make this a click here) You will complete health questionnaires and upload available medical records before your appointment. During the first visit, you and I will discuss your health history, family history, diet, and lifestyle habits. I will review different approaches to your health and make some suggestions for change at this time. I may also recommend laboratory testing. The second visit is generally 1-2 months later. At this time, I will evaluate your progress and further personalize your care plan. I may recommend additional dietary changes, supplements, lifestyle changes, and possibly medications. The timing for additional follow-up visits will depend on your customized plan.
