Dr. Michael Barber is the Medical Director at Strata Med, and a founding member of the integrative wellness center. Dr. Barber, a traditionally trained cardiologist who worked in invasive cardiology for 30 years, partnered with Strata’s two other co-founders, Judy Mackey and Brenda Smith, to create a common-sense approach wellness center that treats the person instead of just treating the problem.
Comprehensive + Customized
Strata offers concierge medicine and amongst men, the men’s lifestyle membership is the most popular. They offer a variety of services including internal, functional and structural medicine. Mindful wellbeing is also offered. The men’s lifestyle membership is for a year and offers men a comprehensive and customized approach to their health that focuses on the patient’s unique needs.
Although the men’s membership is appropriate for men at any age or stage of life, Dr. Barber says that ideally a man will come in during his forties or early fifties, so that issues can be corrected before they become bigger problems. He stresses that men suffer many of the same issues that women do, but some of those problems are not as prominently demonstrated.
Dr. Barber notes, “Men are as potentially as likely as women to need some type of hormone balancing.”
The men’s lifestyle membership offers a comprehensive lifestyle intake that identifies health goals and conducts lab tests, including extensive lab studies, that look for additional issues behind the standard battery of tests. The membership is composed of three parts including the core assessment, optimization and maintenance phase. Ultimately, the goal is to create a plan for the patient that is attainable and sustainable.
Individualized Care
Thanks to the individualized nature of the men’s lifestyle membership, men feel heard and valued. Appointments aren’t rushed and Strata’s focus is on how many lives can be positively impacted. Dr. Barber doesn’t mind being questioned and sees conversations as an opportunity to educate. As men go through the program, goals change which lends itself to a very fluid program.
As part of the patient-centered approach, the medical providers at Strata don’t hesitate to refer patients to other providers. Strata focuses on the importance of listening to people and avoiding a standardized, one-size-fits-all type of program. Strata providers work collaboratively to create a long-term plan for each patient. The goal is to do the best they can for each patient.
When Dr. Barber isn’t treating patients, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and four dogs. He says he starts his days with at least a mile-long walk.
“I love what I do,” he says. “I love taking care of people. I love what has been afforded to me in my life.”
Website: https://www.stratawell.com
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