The Cleveland Clinic's Center for Functional Medicine has seen explosive growth in the two years since it opened. Despite little advertising, it was full on its first day in September 2014 and only went up from there, quickly outgrowing the six exam rooms dedicated to it.
The center, which the clinic says is the first of its kind at an academic medical center, focuses on holistic treatment of the root causes of health problems. Functional medicine is based on the evidence that lifestyle factors—such as nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress, relationships and genetics—contribute to disease.
“I think people are understanding that there are limits to drugs and surgery for treating chronic diseases,” said Dr. Mark Hyman, director of the center and a noted wellness expert.
In December, providers began seeing patients in a new 17,000-square-foot location, which is more than double the size of its previous space.