Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino.
Dr. Jaclyn, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m a Board-Certified Family Physician with a collaborative, holistic approach to practicing medicine. I also hold a subspecialty certification in Hormone Optimization and have received extensive training in Functional Medicine through the Institute of Functional Medicine, and additional training in oncology nutrition.
Through my experiences, I’m deeply committed to creating opportunities for my patients to make empowered and informed decisions about their own health, working together to explore personalized methods of treatment for sustainable, long-term wellness. As a family physician and a Doctor of Osteopathy, my approach involves taking the time to guide patients to a complete understanding of their body’s unique individual requirements at every stage of life, from preventive care to health restoration during a major illness.
My experience navigating the complexities of health care as a young cancer survivor really helped to affirm the whole-body perspective which in turn has deepened my dedication to a comprehensive, patient-centered practice. To back up a bit, I was always extremely interested in science and math – throughout my childhood and adolescence – and I became particularly interested in biology and the human body when I started volunteering at a local hospital in high school.
That made the decision to study Health Sciences in college fairly easy for me, but it really wasn’t until after I graduated and took a summer job working at a doctor’s office that I really committed to medicine. I was very enamored by the idea of building this long term relationship with my patients and caring for them throughout their lifetime – helping them navigate every different phase coupled with any challenges or successes.
I ultimately ended up attending medical school in Blacksburg, Virginia. I applied to an Osteopathic school because that philosophy of whole-person care was very much aligned with the way I wanted to practice medicine. In my last year of medical school, my mother faced very difficult news when doctors discovered the recurrence of breast cancer she had previously been successfully treated for.
I spent several months at home with her, supporting her through chemotherapy and radiation. It was a challenging time, but I’m grateful for the ability to have been able to support her. I completed my Family Medicine residency at Westchester General Hospital in Miami, where we primary worked with underserved populations in downtown Miami. After completing my residency, I joined a conventional primary care practice.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As a young physician, I didn’t have a great experience being a “patient,” especially facing a serious health situation. My diagnoses of breast cancer in 2016 was absolutely life-changing, both personally and professionally. It forced me to reevaluate my lifestyle so that I could begin making positive changes to move past my diagnosis.
During my recovery, I spent a lot of time immersed in “functional medicine” education, and I uncovered so much during that course of study that were very pertinent to how my body was currently functioning and how that could be improved.
I learned about the role nutrition plays in healing, about detoxification, assessing inflammation, cellular health, micronutrient optimization, and addressing really important lifestyle factors like getting enough sleep and appropriately managing stress.
I also learned a lot about myself; it was an incredible moment of personal development for me, and I emerged from the experience with the realization that so many patients absolutely needed access to this type of care as well.
That’s ultimately what led me to seek out a career with a medical practice that resonated with my own personal philosophy. Parsley Health combines the best aspects of traditional primary care and functional medicine, which has created space for me to finally practice medicine through this lens.
One of the more eye-opening elements of navigating the medical system while I was facing my own medical crisis was just how difficult things can really become for a patient – especially when you’re facing a complex diagnosis.
It’s very easy to become quickly overwhelmed by the requirements of trying to manage your own care; making appointments with so many specialists, or trying to integrate all of your treatment plans into something cohesive and manageable.
Experiencing this first hand has given me an incredible amount of perspective, and really helped me conceptualize the ways in which I can make this type of medical journey easier and more seamless for my own patients.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Parsley Health – what should we know?
Parsley Health is a high-tech modern medical practice bringing nutrition and wellness to cutting- edge medicine. With offices in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, Parsley’s membership model provides patients with nearly 4-hours of doctor time per year (that’s compared to the typical 19 minutes a year), five health coach visits a year, and personalized health plans that include recommendations for nutrition, exercise, and more.
Care plans are guided by advanced testing of thousands of biomarkers, ranging from genetics and hormones to the microbiome. It’s the next level of primary care – with a focus on keeping patients alive and feeling well. As a Parsley Health Physician, I’m Board Certified in Family Medicine, with subspecialty in hormone optimization.
What sets you apart from others: For me personally, my experience as a breast cancer warrior and my ability to expand the lens when looking at chronic diseases, which is something that all of our Parsley Health physicians take pride in.
If you had to start over, what would you have done differently?
Nothing, my experiences brought me to this point, and I’m exactly where I need to be, doing what I love to do.
Pricing:
- Parsley membership information can be found here: https://www.parsleyhealth.com/join. Our most popular plan is “Complete Care” ($150/per month) which is perfect for anyone looking to address ongoing symptoms or make changes for peak performance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.parsleyhealth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parsleyhealth (@ParsleyHealth)
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parsleyhealth
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/parsley_health (@ParsleyHealth)
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
