Click Below To Listen….
In this episode of the Prime Health Podcast, Dr. Derek Baron interviews Dr. Tyler Saunders, DO, FMCP, an internal medicine physician, IFM-certified functional medicine practitioner, and founder of HealthSpan Chicago. Driven by the loss of his grandfather to pancreatic cancer and a desire to restore human connection in primary care, Dr. Saunders stepped away from high-volume corporate medicine. He discusses bridging the gap between osteopathic medicine, functional root-cause analysis, and conventional care. The conversation highlights how extended patient visits, early advanced biomarker screening (such as ApoB and Lp(a)), body composition tracking, and VO2 max testing transform long-term disease prevention and healthspan.
Key Takeaways:
- Leaving High-Volume Medicine: Pushing doctors through rushed, 15-minute visits creates systemic physician burnout and leads to missed diagnostic opportunities. Stepping outside traditional insurance-based constraints enables clinicians to give patients 60-to-90-minute individualized visits.
- Bridging Osteopathic and Functional Care: Functional medicine is not an “alternative” replacement for conventional care; it is an integrative framework that combines evidence-based pharmaceuticals when necessary with nutrition, lifestyle, and root-cause systems analysis.
- Early Preventative Biomarkers: Standard basic cholesterol and blood sugar panels often miss early-stage cardiovascular and metabolic risks. Advanced testing for ApoB, Lipoprotein(a), fasting insulin, and LPIR scores identifies insulin resistance and arterial disease years before clinical onset.
- DEXA and VO2 Max for Longevity: Tracking body composition (specifically visceral fat vs. muscle mass) alongside VO2 max (cardiorespiratory fitness) provides a predictable roadmap for maintaining physical independence and reducing all-cause mortality as patients age.
- The Team Approach to Health: Optimal healthspan requires building a collaborative support ecosystem around the patient—combining primary care, physical therapy, strength training, and mental health resources to support lifelong quality of life.
Connect with our Guest
- Website: healthspanchicago.com
- Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-saunders-do-fmcp-4b843626/
- Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthspan-chicago
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089769971195
- YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxes4isUWOAExYWQOR8fXAA/videos
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthspanchicago
- Podcast: Beyond Normal with Dr. Tyler J. Saunders
To be a guest or suggest an episode, email: info@primehealthpodcast.com
Connect with us:
- Website: https://primehealthpodcast.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derektbaron/
- LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grro-solutions
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrimeHealthPodcast
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primehealthpodcast/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@primehealthpodcast
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/primehealthpodcast
Please leave us a review on your favorite platform:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2zYlwjo5863xRzG6bh9wuH
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX8L0BBe8OdwvlH_YsONOJROVBFxLxto0
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prime-health-podcast/id1835679843
