Welcome to Functional Medicine Associates

Founder of Functional Medicine Associates Pete is an exercise and medical scientist. In 2002 he was part of the UK’s founding group of Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists, as accredited by the National Strength and Conditioning Association of America. In 2004 he became the youngest ever recipient of a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award from the Register for Exercise Professionals. In 2013 he was in the first worldwide cohort to be awarded Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner status and has represented the Institute for Functional Medicine as a Clinical Innovator. He was also an early adopter of the Prof Dale Bredesen training to better understand neurodegeneration.

Pete has had over 20 years of experience applying Functional Medicine in clinical practice and is seen by his peers as one of the leading figures in Functional Medicine in the UK. He is a sought-after speaker and advisor to nutraceutical and lab testing companies. Pete has recently developed a genomics panel DNA Smile in collaboration with genomics company DNAlysis and Nordic Labs to help patients and clinicians better understand the oral and systemic health connection.

Throughout this time, he has treated people with a wide range of chronic diseases.

Pete is a personal and professional advocate of exercise and the key role it plays in health. He loves to practise what he preaches in all aspects of life including keeping up with his two young sons.

Deirdre started her academic career with a degree in Biopsychology from Drew University in New Jersey. She then worked as a research assistant in the Dept. of Human Genetics at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York while simultaneously working as the top personal trainer at one of New York’s finest fitness facilities. This combination led her to pursue a master’s degree in Osteopathy and then her Masters in Pain Neuroscience at King’s College London. Her father, a Paediatric Neurologist encouraged her to take the IFM Certification pathway and she qualified in 2016. Deirdre is certified by the Kharrazian Institute and is a Certified mould - literate practitioner through Dr Jill Crista.

Deirdre is regularly asked to speak and advise to nutraceutical and lab companies. She has recently co-authored a chapter with Associate Professor of Medicine Gerard Mullin in “Integrative Gastroenterology” by Oxford University Press due to be published summer 2019.

Deirdre lives to an 80/20 rule. She loves yoga, all types of exercise and is a self-confessed film nut.

After 30 years in high-pressure corporate environments such as Morgan Stanley and Deloitte, Despina had the first-hand experience of the detrimental effect a corporate lifestyle can have. This led to a career change to healthcare culminating with the prestigious IFMCP practitioner award in 2016. Despina has worked for the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) as a Business Development Consultant and as a contributor to the IFM best practice initiative by setting up tools, clinical processes and systems for excellence in their primary care health practice model.

Despina embraces the systems biology approach and 4 P Medicine (personalized, participatory, preventative and predictive) as the current health care model. Her most recent King’s College MSc entitled: The Microbiome in Health and Disease, has further highlighted to her, the importance of ‘omics science’ in achieving wellness and the need to encourage species diversity across the human microbiome. Despina works with clients in restoring balance in their body & their environment while at the same time teaching them daily practices to foster resilience in both body and mind.

Despina loves to keep fit, to travel and cook for friends and family, and to explore how to best use advances in technology to aid clients in achieving their wellness goals.

Sue completed a BSc and MSC in Personalised Nutrition with CNELM and continued her functional medicine training with the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) and in November 2019 qualified as an IFM Certified Practitioner.

Sue loves the systems biology approach of Functional Medicine and is constantly learning and researching the connections between body systems and the impact of that on health and disease. Her particular interests and expertise include digestive, hormone, adrenal and thyroid health. 

Sue has an intimate knowledge of the functional medicine industry from both business and patient experience, having spent over 5 years working in clinical education with functional medicine testing companies. Sue continues to lecture for nutraceutical companies and colleges and consults regularly on projects related to hormone health.

Sue enjoys running, open-water swimming, cycling and her latest passion is paddle-boarding. She loves the balance she gets from a combination of yoga and dark chocolate!

Binyamin began his healthcare career as a clinical pharmacist before subsequently qualifying as a medical doctor from King’s College London. After almost a decade of blending the two together he is a diligent clinician with a holistic approach to patient assessment and diagnoses with a notable aptitude for effective prescribing, medicines reconciliation and patient education. With experience in both the NHS and private sector, efficient and compassionate patient-centered care is his bread and butter.

Binyamin’s clinical interests lie in the field of acute medicine, and he is particularly interested in how functional medicine, namely nutritional therapy, can accelerate recovery during the post-acute phase. Health literacy is a big part of his work ethos as he aims to empower patients to take better control of their health circumstances.

Away from the healthcare scene Binyamin uses his downtime for football and kickboxing and enjoys films, reading and playing chess.

After several years working in the NHS as a Community Nutritionist, Shelley took a career break to raise her 2 boys. During this time, she began working alongside Pete as Practice Manager for Functional Medicine Associates. In this front of house role, Shelley is typically the first person potential clients will speak to when enquiring about our services. 

Shelley is also a certified Functional Medicine Health Coach, gaining this qualification through the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy (FMCA), recognised as the gold standard in health coach training. In both roles, she supports clients in many ways from helping with test kits and sample collection to booking blood tests and ordering supplements. She is trained to help patients implement healthy lifestyle behaviour changes and guide them along their health journey using a collaborative, coach approach. 

Shelley has a genuine love of whole food cooking and sustainable eating and can often be found in the kitchen cooking for family and friends. She is passionate about passing this love of healthy eating on to her clients so that they too can live their healthiest lives.

‍