--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE: THE FUTURE My goal…" description: "\"“FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE: THE FUTURE My goal in medicine is to help provide a way to navigate and sort through health information based on an entirely new ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/mark-hyman-22258_doctor_functional-medicine-the-future-my-goal-i_2732184.jpg" --- # FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE: THE FUTURE My goal in medicine is to… ![“FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE: THE FUTURE My goal in medicine is to help provide a way to navigate and sort through health information based on an entirely new way of thinking about health and disease. I want to find the right treatment for each person, regardless of what that treatment might be. If a…” quote by Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/mark-hyman-22258_doctor_functional-medicine-the-future-my-goal-i_2732184.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/mark-hyman-22258_doctor_functional-medicine-the-future-my-goal-i_2732184.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/mark-hyman-22258_doctor_functional-medicine-the-future-my-goal-i_2732184.jpg) > ““FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE: THE FUTURE My goal in medicine is to help provide a way to navigate and sort through health information based on an entirely new way of thinking about health and disease. I want to find the right treatment for each person, regardless of what that treatment might be. If a medicine is the best treatment, I will choose that; if a change in diet, supplements, herbs, or lifestyle works best, then I will choose that. We must learn to treat the person, not the disease; the system, not just the symptoms. This is personalized medicine, the medicine of the future.”” [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Medical practice should shift from disease‑centered to person‑centered, using any effective method—medicine, diet, or lifestyle. **In simple terms:** Treat the individual, not just the disease, with any effective approach. Key Takeaway Personalize care for each patient. Themes personalized medicine holistic health patient‑centered care Mood pragmatic optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - clinical practice - wellness programs - dietary counseling Key Concepts integrative medicine systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can healthcare systems support individualized treatment? - What barriers exist to non‑pharmaceutical interventions? A Different Perspective Implementation faces systemic resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Way of thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“This is also known as patient-centered health care, rather than disease-focused medicine, and it is a fundamental underpinning of functional medicine—a revolutionary new way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/this-is-also-known-as-patient-centered-health-care-rather-than/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [“The goal of medicine is peculiarly, the goal of making itself unneccessary: of influencing life so that what is medicine today becomes mere commonsense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-meyer/the-goal-of-medicine-is-peculiarly-the-goal-of-making-itself/) Adolf Meyer > [Medicine in the future will give everyone the ability to become their own best healer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/medicine-in-the-future-will-give-everyone-the-ability-to-become-their/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [The medicine of the future will be music and sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/the-medicine-of-the-future-will-be-music-and-sound/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [Sound will be the medicine of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/sound-will-be-the-medicine-of-the-future/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [The body is one integrated system, not a collection of organs divided up by medical specialties. The medicine of the future connects everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman-m-d/the-body-is-one-integrated-system-not-a-collection-of-organs-divided/) [Mark Hyman, M.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman-m-d/) > [What's sad is that nobody knows the constitution of the ecosystem that has just been destroyed. Is it an important future food? Is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horst-rechelbacher/what-s-sad-is-that-nobody-knows-the-constitution-of-the-ecosystem/) [Horst Rechelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horst-rechelbacher/) > [We should have lifelong monitoring of our vital signs that predict things like skin or pancreatic cancer so we can eradicate it. We should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/we-should-have-lifelong-monitoring-of-our-vital-signs-that-predict/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [“predictive tests and technologies for individuals and for society, and also science-based strategies to prevent or mitigate disease and poor health." Interestingly, they characterized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohit-bhargava/predictive-tests-and-technologies-for-individuals-and-for-society-and/) [Rohit Bhargava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohit-bhargava/) > [As the knowledge around personalized medicine continues to grow, consumers should expect their healthcare providers to begin to incorporate genetic information into their treatments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-wojcicki/as-the-knowledge-around-personalized-medicine-continues-to-grow/) [Anne Wojcicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-wojcicki/) > [Making personalized medicine a reality will require a strong partnership between 23andMe and the physician and medical communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-wojcicki/making-personalized-medicine-a-reality-will-require-a-strong/) [Anne Wojcicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-wojcicki/) > [But I believe that the huge advances now being made in genetic research will be the key to personalized medicine one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hepburn-ferrer/but-i-believe-that-the-huge-advances-now-being-made-in-genetic/) [Sean Hepburn Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hepburn-ferrer/) > [I'm a big believer in what's called personalized medicine, which refers to customizing your health care to your specific needs based on your physiology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-agus/i-m-a-big-believer-in-what-s-called-personalized-medicine-which/) [David Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-agus/) > [Even in a remote monastery, you may still be remote from the truth! To find the truth, all you need is a sound way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/even-in-a-remote-monastery-you-may-still-be-remote-from-the-truth-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“She realized that the photograph had caused his reaction. It came to her almost as a revelation. Think of it: a photographer presses a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soheir-khashoggi/she-realized-that-the-photograph-had-caused-his-reaction-it-came-to/) [Soheir Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soheir-khashoggi/) ## More by Mark Hyman > [“How we eat, how much we exercise, how we manage stress, our exposure to environmental and food-based toxins, and the structural violence or “obesogenic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/how-we-eat-how-much-we-exercise-how-we-manage-stress-our-exposure-to/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [“My advice is to give up stevia, aspartame, sucralose, sugar alcohols such as xylitol and malitol, and all of the other heavily used and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/my-advice-is-to-give-up-stevia-aspartame-sucralose-sugar-alcohols/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [“We know that food is a medicine, perhaps the most powerful drug on the planet with the power to cause or cure most diseases.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/we-know-that-food-is-a-medicine-perhaps-the-most-powerful-drug-on-the/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [“The way modern medicine operates is like trying to diagnose what’s wrong with your car by listening to the noises it makes instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/the-way-modern-medicine-operates-is-like-trying-to-diagnose-what-s/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [“This starts with personal action and community organization. Creating a healthier world is a revolutionary act, one you can start right now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/this-starts-with-personal-action-and-community-organization-creating/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [While pimples are not as simple as too much milk or sugar in your diet, both have a significant impact. Nutritional deficiencies as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/while-pimples-are-not-as-simple-as-too-much-milk-or-sugar-in-your/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [“Negative lifestyle choices and high job stress led me down a path of alcohol and nicotine abuse, and eventually open heart surgery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/negative-lifestyle-choices-and-high-job-stress-led-me-down-a-path-of/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [Today there are not even enough fruits and vegetables in this country to allow all Americans to follow the government guidelines to eat five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/today-there-are-not-even-enough-fruits-and-vegetables-in-this-country/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [“First, when you try to restrict calories and exercise more, your body is hardwired to perceive a starvation situation. That makes you tired (so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/first-when-you-try-to-restrict-calories-and-exercise-more-your-body/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [“control, and even cure muscle cramps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/control-and-even-cure-muscle-cramps/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [The food industry profits from providing poor quality foods with poor nutritional value that people eat a lot of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/the-food-industry-profits-from-providing-poor-quality-foods-with-poor/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [Through my work and travels I have been lucky enough to have been exposed to various eclectic cuisine running the gamut from small local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/through-my-work-and-travels-i-have-been-lucky-enough-to-have-been/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [We have to pay close attention to what we see, and be ready to work with the unexpected according to the basic principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/we-have-to-pay-close-attention-to-what-we-see-and-be-ready-to-work/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [Placing too much emphasis on a yes/no diagnosis, meaning you either have a disease or you don't, can lead even the most well-meaning physicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/placing-too-much-emphasis-on-a-yes-no-diagnosis-meaning-you-either/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) > [Paradoxically Americans are becoming both more obese and more nutrient deficient at the same time. Obese children eating processed foods are nutrient depleted and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/paradoxically-americans-are-becoming-both-more-obese-and-more/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) [Explore all 27 Mark Hyman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) ## More Doctor quotes > [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/) [Daniel D. 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In my opinion it had never been approached in a strictly scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-cendrars/as-a-special-branch-of-general-philosophy-pathogenesis-had-never-been/) [Blaise Cendrars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-cendrars/) > [A creative space is an important thing. There are so many studios that feel like doctor's offices in Nashville. I couldn't write there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/a-creative-space-is-an-important-thing-there-are-so-many-studios-that/) [Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/) > [We ought to observe that practice which is the hardest of all-especially for young physicians-we ought to throw in no medicine at all-to abstain-to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-randolph-of-roanoke/we-ought-to-observe-that-practice-which-is-the-hardest-of-all/) John Randolph of Roanoke > [The miracle drugs (neuroleptics) cause the worst plague of brain damage in medical history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-breggin/the-miracle-drugs-neuroleptics-cause-the-worst-plague-of-brain-damage/) [Peter Breggin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-breggin/) > [“old-fashioned, gentle Scottish physician, unmoved by the considerations of profit and personal gain that could so disfigure medicine. That doctors should consider themselves businessmen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/old-fashioned-gentle-scottish-physician-unmoved-by-the-considerations/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-ve-never-bought-this-idea-of-taking-a-therapeutic-distance-if-i-see/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [Heart surgeons do not have the world's smallest egos: when you ask them to name the world's three leading practitioners, they never can remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/heart-surgeons-do-not-have-the-world-s-smallest-egos-when-you-ask/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [Thankfully, I found a doctor at Presbyterian Hospital in New York, Scott Hammer, who diagnosed my chronic fatigue as the Epstein-Barr virus, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-halpern/thankfully-i-found-a-doctor-at-presbyterian-hospital-in-new-york/) [Tucker Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-halpern/) > [My parents are so supportive of whatever we want to do and completely nurtured that, and they're so proud of that as well. 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Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) [Browse all 3,922 Doctor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE: THE FUTURE My goal in medicine is to help provide a way to navigate and sort through health information based on an entirely new way of thinking about health and disease. I want to find the right treatment for each person, regardless of what that treatment might be. If a medicine is the best treatment, I will choose that; if a change in diet, supplements, herbs, or lifestyle works best, then I will choose that. We must learn to treat the person, not the disease; the system, not just the symptoms. 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