South Peninsula Hospital’s Functional Medicine Clinic opened its doors on January 4, 2016. The clinic physician and director, Rob Downey MD, is excited to offer the community the opportunity to explore the benefits of functional medicine. In July of 2020 we will be relaunching as Seaworthy Functional Medicine.
Dr. Downey’s practice involves understanding the origin, prevention, and treatment of complex, chronic disease. It is an integrative, science-based healthcare approach that treats illness and promotes wellness by focusing assessment on the biochemically unique aspects of each patient, and then individually tailoring interventions to restore their health and vitality. He has ten years of training and clinical experience in functional medicine, and is recognized as a Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner through the Institute of Functional Medicine.
Lifestyle is a very big factor in the practice of functional medicine. Research estimates that 70-90% of the risk of chronic disease is attributable to lifestyle. That means what you eat, how you exercise, what your spiritual practices are, how much stress you live with and how you handle it are all elements that must be addressed in a comprehensive approach. One of the Functional Medicine Clinic’s goals is to help our patients improve their quality of life by leading healthier lifestyles. Working in partnership with the Functional Medicine Clinic team, patients make lifestyle changes and take charge of improving their own health and changing the outcome of disease. In addition, the Functional Medicine Clinic uses supplements, botanical medicines and/or certain medications to address individual physiological needs and imbalances.
Here’s a bit more about Dr. Rob Downey and his credentials:
Dr. Rob Downey witnessed his first exceptional clinical outcome in response to functional medicine in 2006 when his natural medicine mentor turned around a severe autoimmunity case via whole food, probiotics and safe, potent anti-inflammatory botanical supplements. When he asked her whether getting Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) training would allow him to “speak the language” so he could understand what she was doing she responded, “If you get the IFM training, you will help people the way I do.” He never looked back.
Dr. Downey is driven to connect with other people, listen deeply to what they are experiencing and ask, with them, “What’s next, where do we go with our thoughts and actions to be whole and healthy?” It started in childhood talking with friends and family while hiking in the mountains of western Montana and continues part-and-parcel in the IFM-informed therapeutic alliance he endeavors to form with every patient. He finds there is a beauty, transparency and honesty in the doctor-patient relationship when approached this way. His patients report this approach creates a space for them to get over their hurdles and be their best.
Clinical Practice Experience
Attending Physician Seaworthy Functional Medicine, a department of South Peninsula Hospital
4/4/2020-present
Outpatient focus is solely Functional Medicine in Homer at Seaworthy Functional Medicine.
Attending Physician South Peninsula Hospital (SPH) Functional Medicine Clinic/Attending Physician SPH Long Term Care Unit/ Medical Administrator South Peninsula Hospital.
12/1/2015-present
Outpatient focus is solely Functional Medicine in Homer at South Peninsula Hospital Functional Medicine.
Administrative responsibilities continue to include the assistant medical directorship of the long-term care unit, infection control and employee wellness.
Attending physician SPH Functional Medicine Clinic/ Attending Physician Ninilchik Tribal Council Community Clinic/Medical Administrator SPH.
12/1/2014 to 11/30/2015
Administrative responsibilities included long-term care, infection control, employee wellness and physician champion ICD-10 coding transition.
Outpatient focus was Functional Medicine in Homer and both routine Family Practice and Functional Medicine at the Ninilchik Clinic.
Medical Director and Attending Physician, Seldovia Village Tribe Health and Wellness (SVTHW), Homer, Alaska.
August 2012 to November 2014
Time was divided 50% administrative:50% clinical.
Provided outpatient Functional Medicine and conventional medicine at SVTHW and inpatient services at South Peninsula Hospital.
Attending Physician Florence Family Practice, Florence, Montana, July 2004 to May 2012
Attending Physician, Stevensville Community Medical Center, Stevensville, Montana, October 2002 to May 2004
Both settings are rural clinics in Montana’s Bitteroot Valley providing comprehensive conventional outpatient care.
I started providing Functional Medicine in Florence in 2006 after completing IFM’s Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP).
I provided Functional Medicine in conjunction at the point of care with my Naturopathic Doctor mentor and colleague, Hillery Daily ND, every Wednesday after completing AFMCP.
Attending Physician, Maniilaq Health Center, Kotzebue, Alaska, October 2000 to September 2002.
Native Alaskan community of 3,000 people, service area 11,000 people/11 remote villages.
Walk-in clinic, minor procedures, inpatient hospital care, emergency department including stabilization of trauma, obstetrics, telemedicine, emergency air transport.
Residency
Internship and Residency in Family Practice, University of Minnesota, Fairview-Riverside, Smiley’s unit, 1997 to 2000.
Level III NICU, ICU management, Code Blue management, also conventional family practice inpatient and outpatient rotations.
Medical School/Education
Doctor of Medicine, University of Utah Medical School, SLC, Utah June 1997.
B.S. Biology, University of Utah, SLC, Utah June 1993.
Certification and Licensure
Board Certified Family Practice 2000, 2007, 2014.
Alaska license # 7559 exp. 12/2020.
Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner May, 2016.
Honors
Spirit of Saint Patrick’s Award, 2011.
One of the highest honors bestowed by Saint Patrick’s Hospital, first time ever to a department rather than an individual, to Florence Family Practice for Advanced Access.
North Arctic Borough Region Emergency Medical Services Robin Rowlander Memorial Outstanding Service Award for Physician, 2002.
Resident Teacher of the Year, 2000
Smiley’s Unit, Family Practice Residency.
Affiliations
American Academy of Family Physicians, 2000 to present.
Institute for Functional Medicine, 2006 to present.
Activities and Interests
Raising two children, running, yoga, whole food, fly-fishing, skiing, cycling, hiking, floating rivers, poetry, reading, travel.
