The "Why" Behind Our Work.

Our Story: The Joy Behind the Name

Simcha Healthcare is named in honor of a very special service dog. Simcha, which means "joy" in Hebrew. He brought immense happiness and comfort to my son during his final year after a traumatic brain injury. After my son's passing, Simcha passed away in 2022. This business is a tribute to the joy he brought us, embodying the core of our mission: to find Joy Through Healing.

What Is Functional and Nutritional Medicine?

Functional and nutritional medicine focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of illness rather than just treating symptoms. It combines the science of nutrition with personalized care to optimize health and prevent disease.

Core Principles

• Personalized Treatment Plans: Based on a patient’s genetics, lifestyle, environment, and biochemistry.
• Whole-Person Approach: Mental, emotional, and physical health are all considered.
• Root Cause Focus: Practitioners ask “why” instead of just “what,” exploring interconnected systems in the body.
• Patient Empowerment: Patients are actively involved in their care through education and collaboration.

Nutrition-Centered Care

• Diet as Medicine: Food choices are foundational to healing. Anti-inflammatory diets, elimination diets, or nutrient-rich meal planning may be used.

• Supplementation: Carefully prescribed vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and herbs to support healing.

• Functional Testing: Advanced diagnostics like food sensitivity panels, micronutrient analysis, and gut health assessments.

• Lifestyle Optimization: Sleep, stress management, movement, and mindfulness are equally emphasized.

In Practice

Imagine a client struggling with fatigue. A functional medicine practitioner might:
• Test for nutrient deficiencies or thyroid imbalances.

• Review dietary habits and inflammatory markers

• Explore gut health, sleep quality, and stress levels

• Design a plan including tailored nutrition, supplements, and behavioral changes

It’s like detective work for your health—with a microscope zoomed in on how everything connects.

Key Differences

Philosophy

• Functional & Nutritional Medicine: Root-cause approach; looks at interconnected systems

• Traditional Medicine: Symptom-focused; targets immediate relief

Patient Role

• Functional & Nutritional Medicine: Active participant in healing

• Traditional Medicine: Passive recipient of treatment

Treatment Approach

• Functional & Nutritional Medicine: Personalized nutrition, lifestyle changes, and supplements

• Traditional Medicine: Standardized protocols and pharmaceuticals

Diagnostics

• Functional & Nutritional Medicine: Deep dive into genetics, microbiome, and nutrient levels

• Traditional Medicine: Labs and imaging to confirm diagnosis

Focus Areas

• Functional & Nutritional Medicine: Prevention, optimization, chronic condition management

• Traditional Medicine: Acute care and disease treatment

Time Investment

• Functional & Nutritional Medicine: Longer appointments; holistic analysis

• Traditional Medicine: Shorter visits; quick assessment

Tools Used

• Functional & Nutritional Medicine: Functional testing, food plans, health coaching

• Traditional Medicine: Prescriptions, surgeries, referrals

Think of It Like This:

Traditional medicine is great for emergency care, infections, and surgeries.

Functional medicine shines in complex, chronic issues like fatigue, autoimmunity, and gut dysfunction—where lifestyle and nutrition play a major role.

You could say functional medicine asks why, while traditional medicine often asks what. Both have their strengths, and in fact, they can work beautifully together!

Dr. Peninah Wood, Ph.D, (Dr. P)

Is the founder of Simcha Healthcare. She has been in the medical field for decades. Over the past thirty years of her career, she has been a nurse and an Executive Director in sub-acute care, serving individuals with Neurodegenerative Diseases. Dr. Wood received her undergraduate degrees from Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati.

Dr Wood holds a Doctorate in Holistic Medicine, a Doctorate in Functional Medicine, and a Doctorate in Nutritional Medicine. She is also a certified Health and Wellness Coach.

During her years in conventional medicine,

Dr. Wood saw a change. High costs, short appointment times, impersonal doctor-patient relationships, little knowledge of nutrition, prescribing unnecessary medications, and rejection by insurance. Working within the conventional system, she witnessed firsthand how chronic conditions were managed rather than truly understood. That disconnect drove her to seek out and eventually transition into functional medicine, where she could focus on root causes and individualized care.

Dr. Wood dedicates her life journey and this business to her two sons, whom she considers her greatest accomplishments.

Dr. Peninah Wood, Ph.D, (Dr. P)'s Degrees

Ready to begin your path to joy through healing? We're here to help.

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