038 | Guest Series: Vitalism, Labs, and the Art of Listening: A Deep Dive with Dr. Brad Rachman

In this episode of Funk Med Nation, host Dr. Steve Nosworthy talks with Dr. Brad Rockman about his long career in functional medicine, early influences like Jeff Bland and Datis Kharrazian, and his transition from clinician to educator and diagnostic developer. They discuss Brad's personal health journey with ankylosing spondylitis, the evolution of functional medicine, and the importance of understanding labs as indicators of the body's adaptation rather than definitive pathology. Topics covered include high-value laboratory markers (complement proteins, MMP9, oxidized LDL, C-peptide, GGT), the pros and cons of panelized testing, microbial and viral contributors to chronic illness, and the role of specialty tests. They also cover clinical practice models — balancing patient volume with depth of engagement, setting expectations, creating individualized health roadmaps, and using AI-driven risk modeling. Brad explains his philosophy of vitalism: treating the body as a self-regulating system and serving as a steward rather than a fixer. They discuss managing symptoms versus trusting adaptive processes, using targeted tools like specialized pro-resolving mediators, glutathione proxies, and vitamin D optimization, and the importance of lifestyle interventions, exercise, and patient communication. Practical advice for clinicians entering functional medicine and the value of a diagnostic framework are also shared.