DABBLING IN PRECISIONE
Integrative Gastroenterologist Dr. Marvin Singh Explains How Decoding Personal Health Leads to Lifelong Wellness
Dr. Marvin Singh aims to prevent health issues before they even manifest. Using the most cutting-edge technology available in the field of integrative gastroenterology, he and his team of board-certified specialists assist their patients in staying on top of their health, rather than underneath disease, by analyzing the individual genome sequences that make every person’s health journey unique. At his Precisione Clinic, Dr. Singh helps people understand their bodies, how they work, and what they need distinctly—knowing that one size does not fit all, his method is truly a one-on-one approach to wellness with the purpose of prevention and extending life.
After completing his residency in internal medicine at the University of Michigan and first fellowship in gastroenterology/hepatology at The Scripps Clinic, Dr. Singh went on to become an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University and the University of California, Los Angeles. He is currently a voluntary assistant clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego, a contributing faculty member at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine (where he completed his second fellowship in integrative medicine), a board member of the American Board of Integrative Medicine, and an invited speaker for the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Since he is one of the only physicians in the country who has training in internal medicine, gastroenterology, and integrative medicine, he is an expert and thought leader in the field of personalized medicine, bringing great expertise as founder of the Precisione Clinic.
LB What led you to integrative gastroenterology?
MS Early on in my career, I realized that we were really missing something important with how we take care of patients. We were able to take care of patients when they were sick and in the hospital, but the majority of people are not like that. The majority of people suffer from chronic symptoms and often get passed from doctor to doctor without much relief in their symptoms. I discovered integrative medicine, which is an approach to healthcare that keeps the entire patient in mind and focuses on how to use as many tools as we can to help people feel better, and this really changed my viewpoint on life and how to take care of patients.
LB In what ways is gastroenterology an integral component of overall wellness?
MS The gastrointestinal tract is the home of one of the most powerful forces in our body: the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome plays a large role in how we feel, how we digest, what neurotransmitters and hormones we produce, how we lose weight, how we detoxify ourselves, and so many other important functions. Gut health is whole health; they are one and the same!
LB Explain how wellness and preventative medicine serve our health’s big picture.
MS I always say that it is better to be on top of your health rather than underneath disease. It seems so much more important to figure out what problems you might be susceptible to and to take actions to prevent those problems from happening, rather than waiting until you get sick to figure those things out. If we spend the time now to learn about our health and how our body works, the benefit for the length of our lives is so powerful.
LB How has preventative medicine evolved in recent years?
MS The science and technology in this field is very rapidly evolving. Sequencing the first human genome cost about $1 billion and took 13 years to complete. Now, the average person can get their whole genome sequenced in a matter of weeks and it may only cost a few thousand dollars. There are predictions that one day it may cost only $100 to have your whole genome sequenced. As the technology we have gets better and better, we can get answers faster and cheaper—this is what’s super exciting to me. We can also sequence the gut microbiome in a matter of weeks, as well. In the “old days,” preventive medicine meant getting your cholesterol checked and doing a stress test. Now, it means getting your genome sequenced, learning about what your true risks are for certain things, and taking actions to prevent illness.
LB What is the link between happiness and wellness?
MS Happiness and wellness are very closely intertwined. Most of us want to just live our best lives and do things that we like, and spend time with those who we love and have fun with. In order for us to be able to do this as much as we can and as long as possible, we need to make sure we are well. There is no better way to ensure that you can live life to its fullest than by making sure you know what possible things might get in your way and having the opportunity to “one up” them by taking actions that could prevent those obstacles from even appearing in the first place.
LB Share what makes Precisione Clinic different from other wellness facilities.
MS Precisione Clinic is a very unique medical practice, different from any other practice in the world. Here, we look at every element of health possible. We can evaluate your health as deeply as you choose (there are no rules). It is a super relaxed environment and we can consult with our clients via telemedicine, from the comfort of their homes. There are many up and coming tests that are becoming available like non-invasive screening tests for certain cancers, and as they are available to the general public, Precisione Clinic will be sure to be one of the first to offer it.
LB Tell us about the technologies you utilize to help patients be proactive about their health and wellness.
MS We use a wide variety of testing and technologies when we evaluate someone’s health. Clients have the opportunity to get whole body imaging, brain imaging, cardiac imaging, body composition imaging, whole genome sequencing, microbiome sequencing, toxin evaluations, mitochondrial function testing, food and chemical sensitivity testing, CT coronary calcium score, testing for leaky gut, evaluation of inflammation and risk factors for inflammation, telomere length testing, testing for nutrient levels, and many other types of sophisticated testing done. After spending at least 90 minutes getting to know the client and collecting all of the data from the testing, we put all the information together, looking for correlations and patterns, so that we can make the most accurate recommendations regarding what to eat, what supplements to take, how to exercise, and how to modify one’s lifestyle. This is truly decoding your personal health blueprint!
LB How do you navigate the process of tailoring integrative gastroenterology and personalized medicine to meet the unique needs of each client?
MS This is the fun part for me! Every patient is like a unique puzzle—I never know what I’m going to get when we start the evaluation. I could have the easiest puzzle I have ever solved or the most challenging. But I learn from each patient and it only makes me more passionate about this field. I tell my clients that every person is so different. We don’t know if we are going to hit a home run on the first go at it, but it is my pledge to do my best to keep looking, to keep searching, until we can figure out what problems they might have so that we can map out integrative and comprehensive solutions for them. I love puzzles and solving problems, so while some might find navigating through all of this data too much of a challenge to be worth it, I think the opposite—this is my passion, this is what excites me the most!
Managing Editor Lauren Barisic
