Dr. Portales graduated from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been practicing medicine for over 20 years. He was board certified in emergency medicine in 1997 and practiced emergency medicine for 15 years.

Despite work in a wide variety of emergency medicine settings over many years, Dr. Portales did not find the practice of medicine consistent with his education as an osteopathic physician where he was trained to take a holistic approach to each patient in delivering healthcare. What he found is that most healthcare in the U.S. is delivered in a symptom approach. In other words, most patients have their symptoms treated, but seldom is the underlying cause of the problem addressed.

In the emergency department, this approach works very well and emergency medicine has made great strides in patient care. But, most people don’t go to the emergency department except on rare occasions, if ever. Yet, many people have medical problems that they see their doctor for on a fairly regular basis, perhaps a few times a year or more. These patients have chronic medical problems and in these chronic problems a symptom treatment approach does not serve the patient well.

The patient with high blood pressure serves as an example. How many patients go to the doctor for their blood pressure medicine? Blood pressure medicine only treats the symptom of elevated blood pressure but does nothing for the causes, which can be many. A more comprehensive approach addresses nutritional status, weight, stress reduction, overconsumption of stimulants, proper rest and sleep patterns, family history, and diet. These are a few of the related issues that affect blood pressure.

To address underlying causes, Dr. Portales forges a partnership with his patients. To achieve optimal health requires a certain level of commitment from the patient and lifestyle changes. These changes are not always easy and Dr. Portales will partner with his patients to help them achieve their wellness goals, whatever their level of commitment. He understands that most wellness goals are a process and are not solved with a prescription.

Dr. Portales is board certified by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and is a fellow in anti-aging, regenerative, and functional medicine. His fellowship training included over 240 hours of medical education. He has appeared on Frank Jordan’s radio show “Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise” on Sirius XM 131. He is a member in good standing of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M)