Whole Health for a Whole Life | LifeScape

LifeScape’s Functional Medicine Philosophy: Rethinking Health from the Inside Out

Written by lifescapepremier | Apr 22, 2025 1:39:42 PM

What if healthcare wasn’t about managing disease, but about preventing it?

What if your doctor didn’t just treat symptoms—but asked, Why is this happening in the first place?

This is the heart of functional medicine. And for Dr. Susan Wilder, founder of LifeScape’s concierge and functional medicine Scottsdale clinic, it’s not just a practice—it’s a calling.

“Rescue is heroic, but prevention is the unsung hero. I left academic medicine to transform healthcare—because I knew we could do better. And at LifeScape, we are.” - Dr. Susan Wilder

What Is Functional Medicine?

At its core, functional medicine is a systems-based approach to healthcare that identifies and addresses the root causes of illness. Instead of masking symptoms with medications, it seeks to understand the why behind your fatigue, your brain fog, your chronic pain.

Functional medicine looks at the body as an interconnected ecosystem—and believes that when given the right support, it has the innate capacity to heal.

Dr. Wilder describes it best:

“If there's one thing I've learned from my journey into functional medicine in Scottsdale, it's this: there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to health. Each of us is a complex and dynamic ecosystem... finding what works for you may take exploration. But the journey is well worth it.”

A Personal Wake-Up Call

Before founding LifeScape, Dr. Wilder was leading a prestigious Family Medicine Residency. She was confident, accomplished—and assumed she was healthy.

Then, after undergoing what seemed like a routine surgical procedure, her health spiraled.

“I suffered weeks of brain fog and chronic fatigue. It was a wake-up call that showed me firsthand what my patients were experiencing—and just how limited traditional medicine could be in helping them reclaim their vitality.”

That experience didn’t break her. It became the catalyst for creating LifeScape—a practice rooted in prevention, lifestyle medicine, and personalized care.

The LifeScape Difference: Functional Medicine in Action

Today, Dr. Wilder and the incredibly experienced LifeScape provider team offer a robust suite of functional medicine services—grounded in science, empowered by data, and tailored to each patient’s story.

What You Can Expect from Functional Medicine at LifeScape:

  • Comprehensive Health Assessments
    Advanced diagnostics, genetic testing, hormone panels, and nutrient evaluations help uncover root causes.

  • Personalized Treatment Plans
    From therapeutic nutrition to lifestyle coaching, every plan is unique—built around your body, goals, and biology.

  • Focus on Prevention & Reversal
    Whether you want to prevent diabetes or reverse early cognitive decline, the team at LifeScape works with you to rewrite your future health story.

  • Collaborative Care
    With physicians, dietitians, health coaches, and specialists all under one roof, you’re supported at every step.

“The thought of losing my cognitive abilities is chilling, especially with Alzheimer’s Disease on the horizon,” shared Dr. Wilder, “But here’s my secret weapon: prevention. I’m empowering myself—and my patients—with lifestyle strategies that protect the brain, body, and spirit.”

LifeScape’s Five Functional Medicine Goals for Every Patient

These aren’t just medical milestones—they’re a bold vision for what’s possible when you shift from reactive to proactive health:

  1. Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
  2. Avoid Vascular Surgery
  3. Delay Heart Attacks
  4. Prevent Dialysis
  5. Preserve Cognitive Function

And they’re not just theoretical. Each week, the LifeScape team sees patients transform:

“Improved fatigue. Managed diabetes. Reduced inflammation. Enhanced cognitive function,” shared one of LifeScape’s concierge doctors, “And it wasn’t medication that did it—it was lifestyle, knowledge, and empowerment.”

Functional Medicine is a Movement

At LifeScape, health isn’t something that happens to you. It’s something you co-create. Whether you’re looking to reverse disease, optimize your energy, or just finally feel heard, our functional medicine Scottsdale clinic offers a path forward.

“Throwing prescriptions at symptoms is a cop-out. We have to break free from the pill-for-an-ill mentality,” insists Dr. Wilder, “True health transformation starts with honesty, curiosity, and courage.”

Functional medicine isn’t easy. It’s not a quick fix. But it works.

And at LifeScape, you’re not walking the path alone.

Experience the LifeScape Difference

Whether you join through our Concierge Care model or our SimpleCare Direct program, you’ll have access to a dedicated team who sees your full picture—not just a chart - and our integrative, functional model of care.

If you’re looking for a one-time consultation to address a pressing concern or to take your health to the next level, consider a Functional Medicine Scottsdale Consultation.

We believe in getting to the root cause, taking the time, and rewriting what healthcare can look like.

Because your health isn’t just about living longer—it’s about living better.

“Health is our most prized possession,” shared Dr. Wilder, “Let’s stop settling for sick care—and start investing in the brilliance of our bodies.”

Ready to reclaim your health?
Learn more about our functional medicine programs and request your appointment here.