Russ Canfield, MD

As a Holistic Family Physician, I am aware of the physical and biological elements that influence health, such as diet, exercise, and nutritional supplements, as well as the internal, felt dimensions of mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Both those dimensions exist for us on the individual level, but also on the collective levels of family, community and even the biosphere as a whole. Our physical environment is becoming increasingly toxic and our culture increasingly stressful.

In my successful application essay to the University at Buffalo School of Medicine, I wrote about my commitment to both the art and the science of medicine. I saw how conventional medicine focused on the physical aspects of physical illness, but didn’t seem to appreciate that one’s inner emotions, attitudes, and intentions also play a vital role in the cause and cure of physical illness. I became convinced that the healing partnership between patient and physician, acknowledging the patient’s goals and concerns, was as important as the doctor’s knowledge base in anatomy, physiology and pathology. I learned and identified with the “Biopsychosocial Model,” which recognizes not just the physical side of health and disease, but also the psychological, social, and environmental aspects of health.

At the University of New Mexico I did my residency training in Family Medicine because I was interested in learning all aspects of medicine. I couldn’t see how the body could be divided into specialties. Clearly, the various organ systems are interrelated, and it is important to see the whole. Through my formal post-graduate training from the Institute for Functional Medicine, I have refined my understanding of how genetics, environment, and lifestyle interact as a total system. I now diagnose and treat illnesses based on patterns of imbalance and dysfunction, rather than treating the symptoms of the illness specifically. Functional Medicine goes beyond the quick fix of masking symptoms with medication; rather, it treats the unique individual who has the disease.

After ten years of experience in working with patients of all ages, and specializing in this integral, 360° approach to health and well-being, I tend to recommend a foundation of naturopathic therapies and, when indicated, complement them with powerful conventional medical treatments.

I have earned and maintain board certification from both the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Holistic Medicine. I have further former training in mindfulness meditation and in transpersonal studies from Naropa University, and am a Certified Diabetes Educator. I am deeply committed to education, both with my clients and as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the UNM School of Medicine. I have written for and have been quoted in newspapers and magazines, including Natural Health.

I am fortunate to be the consulting physician to Life Vessel Santa Fe. During my intake meetings with clients, we will likely discuss ways to augment this balancing experience with medical treatments that will further detoxify and replenish the body. We don’t claim that the Life Vessel treats medical conditions. However, in addition to our standard intake and outtake assessments, before-and-after laboratory testing can be ordered to track any specific medical condition.

You may wish to check out for more information on my private practice. I offer Integrative Medicine consultations and am accepting new patients who want a holistic primary care physician.

Take Good Care,
Russ Canfield, MD

Vince Palladino, DC

I first started on my journey in the health care arena in a round about way. In my early twenties, while working as a quality control test and inspection manager for Westinghouse Aerospace Center in Baltimore, I developed high blood pressure as well as severe gastrointestinal problems. I loved my job, however, I knew intuitively that I had to do something different. I quit my job and changed my life. I went back to the university and got an undergraduate degree in business and economics, and began reading the latest information on health. Strange that I would study business and economics, but that’s the way it went. My health condition changed for the better as I modified my diet and began a meditation practice, which I have religiously continued to this day. Then another life altering situation occurred, I developed a herniated disc in my lower back. I went to my family doctor, who prescribed medication for the condition, but the medication did not help. My pain level continued to worsen. A good friend who was a physical therapist took me to a chiropractor. I knew nothing about chiropractics, nor did I care. I just wanted relief from the relentless low back pain. I went in twisted and came out straight. Wow! Who was that “Quack?” After suffering for weeks I finally got some help. I got interested in chiropractic and decided to go back to school and take the additional required courses for admission.

I attended Palmer College of Chiropractic. After graduation I received additional training at Cornucopia in rural Kentucky. It was a training center for the work of a man named Ken Keyes, whose book A Handbook to Higher Consciousness, had inspired me. You mean I am the creator of my emotional experience and I can’t blame someone else? Huge! As I attended courses there, this simple knowledge changed my life. I loved the community and work so much I decided to move there. I lived in the community for about three years, where I also practiced chiropractics and nutrition. I can say that living in community and serving in that rural Kentucky town were two of the highlights of my life.

I continued to educate myself on human nutrition and offered the information to my patients. I was offered a job in one of the first Holistic Health Centers in the country in Lexington, Kentucky with seven other clinicians. Allopathic Medicine, Functional Medicine, Dentistry, Homeopathy, Psychology, Iridology, Shatsu, Massage, Macrobiotics, Chiropractic and Kinesiology were represented, thanks to a real visionary, a man named Walt Stoll, MD. This multidisciplinary approach helped many people regain health, and I loved the interaction with other clinicians. We learned a great deal from each other.

The past twenty-five years brought a lot more education and experience in Functional Medicine, Chiropractic, Shamanism, Frequency Medicine, and diagnosis (which has become my new passion). I look forward to this opportunity of serving as part of a team that provides service to those who choose to come for care.

Sincerely,
Vince Palladino, DC