Functional and Integrative Medicine
Functional & Integrative Medicine: A Deeper Approach to Chronic Health
Most chronic symptoms are not caused by a single issue, and they rarely improve through a one-size-fits-all treatment plan. Functional and integrative medicine focuses on understanding how the body’s systems interact — and identifying the underlying factors that may be contributing to fatigue, inflammation, hormone imbalance, gut dysfunction, cognitive changes, or chronic illness.At Nova Wellness, care is built around treating the whole person, not just managing isolated symptoms or diagnoses. The goal is to understand why symptoms are happening in the first place and create a personalized plan that supports long-term healing, resilience, and overall health.
What Functional & Integrative Medicine Means
Conventional medicine is exceptionally effective for acute illness and emergency care. But many modern health concerns develop gradually across multiple systems and are not always resolved through symptom-based treatment alone.
Functional and integrative medicine takes a broader, systems-based approach by looking at how factors like inflammation, hormones, gut health, immune function, nutrition, metabolism, stress, sleep, and environmental exposures may all influence overall health.
Rather than replacing conventional medicine, this approach expands on it — combining evidence-based medical care with nutrition, lifestyle medicine, targeted supplementation, hormone optimization, and other integrative therapies when appropriate.
The Nova Approach to Integrative Medicine
Every treatment plan at Nova Wellness begins with a comprehensive evaluation of your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and physiology. Through advanced lab testing and detailed clinical assessment, we look for the underlying patterns that may be contributing to chronic symptoms or dysfunction.
- Root-Cause FocusedCare is designed to identify and address the underlying contributors to symptoms, not simply suppress them.
- Systems-Based CareHormones, metabolism, gut health, immune function, inflammation, and nervous system regulation are evaluated together to better understand the full clinical picture.
- Evidence-Based & IntegrativeNova Wellness combines conventional medicine with nutrition, lifestyle interventions, supplementation, hormone therapy, peptides, and other evidence-informed therapies when appropriate.
- Personalized TreatmentNo two patients are treated the same. Every plan is tailored to your symptoms, goals, lab findings, and overall health history.
Nova Wellness’s integrative care model combines Dr. Jennifer Knight’s fellowship training through the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine with Dr. Chris Di Giorgio’s expertise in cardiometabolic and lifestyle medicine to provide comprehensive, physician-led care.
Led By
Dr. Jennifer Knight
Dr. Knight is an internist certified in integrative medicine by the American Board of Integrative Medicine, a graduate of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine fellowship, and a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. She leads women's health at Nova, including perimenopause, menopause, and hormone therapy, along with functional and integrative medicine.
Conditions & Symptoms Commonly Addressed
Nova Wellness works with patients experiencing a wide range of chronic and complex health concerns, including:
- Fatigue and low energy
- Brain fog and cognitive symptoms
- Hormonal imbalance and thyroid dysfunction
- Autoimmune conditions and chronic inflammation
- Long COVID and post-viral symptoms
- Mold-related illness and environmental sensitivities
- Gut health concerns, IBS, and SIBO
- Metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular risk
- Sleep disruption and stress-related conditions
- Sexual health and intimacy concerns
Many patients come to Nova Wellness after years of persistent symptoms, fragmented care, or feeling dismissed despite knowing something still feels off.
What to Expect
I
Discovery Call
A brief consultation to discuss your symptoms, goals, and whether the practice is the right fit.
II
Comprehensive Evaluation
A detailed review of your medical history, lifestyle, symptoms, nutrition, hormones, sleep, stress, and overall health.
III
Advanced Testing
Testing may include hormone panels, metabolic markers, inflammatory markers, nutrient testing, gut health evaluation, autoimmune labs, and specialty diagnostics when appropriate.
IV
Personalized Prevention Plan
Your plan may include nutrition support, lifestyle interventions, supplementation, hormone optimization, peptides, and conventional therapies based on your needs.
V
Ongoing Partnership
Treatment evolves over time through follow-up visits, lab monitoring, and adjustments as your body responds.
Before Your Visit
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between functional and integrative medicine?
Functional medicine focuses on identifying root causes and understanding how body systems interact, while integrative medicine combines conventional care with evidence-based complementary therapies. At Nova, both approaches work together to create more comprehensive care.
Will I need to stop my current medications?
Not necessarily. Many patients continue conventional medications while deeper contributors to symptoms are addressed. Treatment plans are individualized and coordinated carefully.
Does Nova Wellness treat autoimmune conditions?
Yes. Nova Wellness frequently works with patients experiencing autoimmune disease, chronic inflammation, and complex immune-related symptoms through a personalized, systems-based approach.
Is functional medicine covered by insurance?
Nova Wellness is a membership-based, direct-pay practice.
How long does it take to see results?
That depends on the condition and underlying factors involved. Some patients notice improvements within weeks, while more complex or long-standing concerns often require longer-term care and monitoring.
You Deserve More Than Symptom Management
If you’ve been told your labs are “normal” despite ongoing symptoms, or if you feel like you’ve been collecting diagnoses without meaningful improvement, Nova Wellness offers a more comprehensive approach.
The goal is not simply to manage symptoms. It’s to better understand your health, address what may be driving dysfunction, and help you feel stronger, clearer, and more like yourself again.
Start Here
Request a Consultation
We started Nova because the appointments we were trained to give were too short for the questions our patients were asking. That is why a first visit here is 90 minutes, and why the two of us work from the same plan. We both see patients in Roseland, and we would be glad to meet you.