Dr. Alisa C. Illescas is the founder of Beyond Medicine MD in Old Town. She received her Doctor of Medicine from the University of New Mexico. She says, "I fell in love with internal medicine and with the idea this would allow me to treat the whole body and mind."
Dr. Illescas worked as an Internal Medicine hospitalist but wanted to make a bigger impact. In 2023, she opened a private, integrative medicine clinic. The clinic centers on physical and emotional well-being. Her whole health approach focuses on seven core factors for her patients (food, gut health, hormones, cardiometabolic health, movement, connection to others, and self-reflection.) She says, "In order to optimize their health, I focus on all aspects of who they are. As an integrative medicine physician and internist, I am first and foremost a diagnostician." She sees the body, mind, and spirit as one interconnected unit that can easily be thrown off balance by a domino effect of even the simplest derangement.
Dr. Illescas works to find the root cause of her patients' symptoms rather than just treating them. She says when doctors treat a patient without knowing the root cause, it's similar to "putting a Band-Aid on a symptom rather than alleviating it." At Beyond Medicine, the goal is to eliminate what's causing the symptoms on a biochemical level.
As an expert in epigenetics or precision medicine, Dr. Illescas can look at how our environment influences our genes. She says, "It means our activity level, what we eat, and how we live can truly shape our health. The changes you make can transform your life and help you to thrive."
Beyond Medicine offers patients advanced genomic, metabolic, and functional lab testing for assessment and a unique treatment plan customized for each patient. Dr. Illescas utilizes advanced lab work, food, exercise, and cardiovascular screening to help her patients. She believes our social lives are also an important key to good health.
”Our health is strongly rooted in the connections and community we are part of," says Dr. Illescas. She helps patients focus on aspects like relationships with family, friends, and people in our community. She challenges her patients to ask themselves if they feel part of something bigger in the world and have a true sense of purpose.
Spending time with her patients is what makes Dr. Illescas profession rewarding." The relationships I form with people and the reward I get when someone feels like they have gained something. The time spent is healing in itself."
Dr. Illescas’ patients have seen significant changes. "People feel like they are starting to transform their lives and that they matter and they are seen. That is really powerful," she says.
Dr. Illescas is also passionate about her role as an educator and has a strong background in teaching and medical education. Her monthly workshops are open to the community. She says, "For me, being able to reach more people on a grander scale is fun."
Visit www.BeyondMedicineMD.com or call 505.388.8662