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Dr. Mark Hyman, MD

Bio

MARK HYMAN, MD is a family physician, a four-time New York Times bestselling author, and an internationally recognized leader in his field.  He is founder and medical director of The UltraWellness Center, chairman of the board of the Institute for Functional Medicine, board member of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, advisor to Dr. Mehmet Oz’s HealthCorps, and nominee to President Obama’s Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion and Integrative and Public Health. Through his private practice, education efforts, writing, research, advocacy and public-policy work, he strives to improve access to the whole-systems medicine approach known as functional medicine.

Full Bio:


Mark Hyman, MD has dedicated his career to identifying and addressing the root causes of chronic illness through a groundbreaking whole-systems medicine approach known as Functional Medicine.  He is a family physician, a four-time New York Times bestselling author, and an internationally recognized leader in his field. Through his private practice, education efforts, writing, research, advocacy and public-policy work, he strives to improve access to Functional Medicine, and to widen the understanding and practice of it, empowering others to stop managing symptoms and instead treat the underlying causes of illness, thereby also tackling our chronic-disease epidemic.


Dr. Hyman is Chairman of the Institute for Functional Medicine, and was awarded its 2009 Linus Pauling Award for Leadership in Functional Medicine.  He is on the Board of Directors of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, and a faculty member of its Food As Medicine training program. He is also on the Board of Advisors of Memhet Oz’s HealthCorps, which tackles the obesity epidemic by “educating the student body” in American high schools about nutrition, fitness and mental resilience.  He is a volunteer for Partners in Health with whom he worked immediately after the earthquake in Haiti and continues to help rebuild the health care system there. He was featured on
60 Minutes for his work there.


Dr. Hyman has testified before the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and has consulted with the Surgeon General on diabetes prevention.  He has testified before the Senate Working Group on Health Care Reform on Functional Medicine, and participated in the White House Forum on Prevention and Wellness in June 2009. Dr. Hyman was nominated by Senator Tom Harkin for the President’s Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion and Integrative and Public Health, a 25-person group to advise the Administration and the new National Council on Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health.


With Drs. Dean Ornish and Michael Roizen, Dr. Hyman crafted and helped to introduce the Take Back Your Health Act of 2009 into the United States Senate, to provide for reimbursement of lifestyle treatment of chronic disease.  He continues to work in Washington on health reform, recently testifying before a Congressional hearing on Functional Medicine, nutrition and the use of dietary supplements.


Through his work with corporations and government entities, such as CIGNA and the Veterans Administration, he is helping to improve health outcomes and reduce costs around the world. In recognition of his efforts, he was recently awarded The Council on Litigation Management’s 2010 Professionalism Award, citing individuals who have demonstrated leadership by example in the highest standard of their profession.  He also received The American College of Nutrition 2009 Communication and Media Award for his contribution to promoting better understanding of nutrition science. He has been featured in recent months on 60 Minutes, Larry King Live, CNN, and MSNBC.


Dr. Hyman is founder and Medical Director of The UltraWellness Center in Lenox, Massachusetts, where he directs a team of physicians, nutritionists and nurses who utilize a comprehensive approach to health.  Before starting his practice, he was co-Medical Director at Canyon Ranch Lenox, one of the world's leading health resorts.  While at Canyon Ranch, he co-authored the New York Times bestseller Ultraprevention: The 6-Week Program That Will Make You Healthy for Life (Scribner) – winner of the Books for a Better Life Award honoring the best self-improvement books each year.  He has since written UltraMetabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss, and a companion public television special. His latest book and PBS special, The UltraMind Solution, a comprehensive approach for addressing the causes of mental illness and cognitive disorders, was released in January 2009. The Blood Sugar Solution book and companion PBS special will be released in March 2012, addressing the global epidemic of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.


Dr. Hyman graduated with a B.A. from Cornell University, and graduated magna cum laude from the Ottawa University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at University of San Francisco's program in Family Medicine at the Community Hospital of Santa Rosa.



Specialties:

Affiliation:

  • Founder and Medical director of The UltraWellness Center, Mass.

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Activity

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Integrative Medicine:
    FDA Panel Considers 1st Drug for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

    THURSDAY, Dec. 20 (HealthDay News) -- A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee will meet Thursday to consider approval of the first drug to treat chronic fatigue syndrome.

    The experts will discuss the risks and benefits associated with the intravenous drug rintatolimod (prop...Full Article

  • Mark Hyman, MD
    Mark Hyman, MD answered:
    What should I do to prepare for a nutritional cleanse?
    Simplicity is best when preparing for a nutritional cleanse. In this video, functional medicine...  Full Post
  • Mark Hyman, MD
    Mark Hyman, MD answered:
    What should I consider before starting a nutritional cleanse?
    Most people can handle a nutritional cleanse -- but that doesn't mean they're safe for everyone. In...  Full Post
  • Mark Hyman, MD
    Mark Hyman, MD answered:
    What are the benefits of green tea catechins?
    For centuries, green tea catechins have provided people with near-magical benefits. In this video,...  Full Post
  • Mark Hyman, MD
    Mark Hyman, MD answered:
    Why is staying hydrated so important?
    Sure, dehydration will make you thirsty -- but it does a lot more than that. In this video,...  Full Post
  • Mark Hyman, MD
    Mark Hyman, MD answered:
    How can taking a hot bath help improve sleep quality?
    Most people don't make time for a regular bath, but functional medicine specialist, family...  Full Post
  • Mark Hyman, MD
    Mark Hyman, MD answered:
    Why should I care about blood sugar if I don't have diabetes?

    Blood sugar problems affect roughly half of all Americans, says family physician and Dr. Oz guest Dr. Mark Hyman. To find out why people with diabetes aren't the only ones who need to worry about blood sugar, watch this video.


     Full Post
  • Mark Hyman, MD
    Mark Hyman, MD answered:
    What is insulin resistance?

    Insulin resistance is at the heart of a number of serious health conditions, including obesity and diabetes. To learn what insulin resistance is, watch this video featuring family physician and Dr. Oz guest Dr. Mark Hyman.


     Full Post
  • Mark Hyman, MD
    Mark Hyman, MD answered:
    What are the health benefits of eating adzuki beans?

    If you want to broaden your bean repertoire, adzuki beans offer a host of nutritional benefits. Learn about the health benefits of adzuki beans by watching this video featuring family physician and Dr. Oz guest Dr. Mark Hyman.


     Full Post
  • Mark Hyman, MD
    Mark Hyman, MD answered:
    Why should I eat black rice?

    If you thought brown rice was healthy, wait 'til you hear about black rice. In this video, family physician and Dr. Oz guest Dr. Mark Hyman discusses the health benefits of black rice.


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  • Mark Hyman, MD
    Mark Hyman, MD answered:
    Is high fructose corn syrup digested differently than cane sugar?
    Regular cane sugar (sucrose) is made of two sugar molecules bound tightly together -- glucose and fructose in equal amounts. The enzymes in your digestive tract must break down the sucrose into glucose and fructose, which are then absorbed into the body.

    High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) c...  Full Post
  • Mark Hyman, MD
    Mark Hyman, MD answered:
    What causes a sensitivity to gluten?
    Wheat was introduced into Europe during the Middle Ages, and 30 percent of people of European descent carry the gene for celiac disease (HLA DQ2 or HLA DQ8), which increases susceptibility to health problems from eating gluten. American strains of wheat have a much higher gluten content (which is needed...  Full Post
  • Mark Hyman, MD
    Mark Hyman, MD answered:
    Does high fructose corn syrup cause overeating?
    High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is absorbed more rapidly than regular sugar, and it doesn’t stimulate insulin or leptin production. This prevents you from triggering the body’s signals for being full and may lead to over consumption of total calories.  Full Post
  • Mark Hyman, MD
    Mark Hyman, MD answered:
    What is gluten sensitivity?
    A gluten sensitivity is actually an autoimmune disease that creates inflammation throughout the body, with wide-ranging effects across all organ systems including your brain, heart, joints, digestive tract, and more. It can be the single cause behind many different “diseases.” To correct...  Full Post
  • Mark Hyman, MD
    Mark Hyman, MD answered:
    How do I know if I have a gluten sensitivity?
    The only way you will know if this is really a problem for you is to eliminate all gluten for a short period of time (2 to 4 weeks) and see how you feel. Get rid of the following foods: Gluten (barley, rye, oats, spelt, kamut, wheat, triticale), as well as often surprising and hidden sources of...  Full Post