In this episode of Never Been Sicker, Michael Rubino sits down with Dr. Jen, an emergency medicine physician turned integrative and functional medicine expert, to explore why our current healthcare system is failing so many people—and what we can do about it.
Dr. Jen shares her personal journey from burnout and disillusionment in the ER to founding a practice focused on treating root causes, not just symptoms. They dive deep into what integrative medicine really is, why chronic illness is exploding, and how lifestyle, environment, and early interventions are the future of care.
Whether you're sick and not getting answers, or you're a provider searching for a better model—this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Topics include:
- Why so many people are chronically ill
- What integrative medicine looks like in real life
- The environmental and lifestyle factors behind illness
- The shift from reactive to proactive healthcare
- How Dr. Jen helps patients feel seen, heard, and healed
Highlights:
00:00 – Intro
01:45 – Dr. Jen’s journey: From ER burnout to integrative medicine
05:12 – What is integrative medicine, really?
09:38 – How conventional medicine overlooks root causes
12:27 – Lifestyle, environment, and inflammation
17:15 – The power of patient stories and listening
21:50 – Environmental triggers: Mold, toxins, stress
25:30 – Why the system is broken and patients are gaslit
30:44 – Functional testing vs. standard testing
34:19 – Dr. Jen’s approach to chronic illness
38:00 – The role of mindset and validation in healing
43:45 – Examples of real patient transformations
49:20 – Advice for patients who feel unheard
53:02 – What the future of medicine should look like
56:12 – Final thoughts: Your symptoms are not in your head
