About Functional Medicine Associates
Functional Medicine Associates are a team of dedicated IFM certified practitioners. Founded by Pete Williams, who was the first IFM certified practitioner in the UK, the practice is located in the prestigious Harley Street district of Central London. IFM certification is a badge of quality and commitment, that few have achieved. Certification sets them apart from others who may only be starting out on their road to becoming a Functional Medicine practitioner.
“It is best to choose someone, who has gone through and passed the certification programme”
“The Gold Standard of Functional Medicine Training”
The team at Functional Medicine Associates have had years of experience applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice. This has allowed us to evolve and continually learn from both our own experiences and our patient’s challenges. Complex chronic disease is just that, complex. For this reason, we use a team approach for each patient. Our experience has shown that this can often be the difference between successful and unsuccessful outcomes. Our strength is in our association.
Pete Williams
M. Med.Sci, CSCS, IFM Certified Practitioner, Bredesen Trained Practitioner.
Founder of Functional Medicine Associates Pete is an exercise and medical scientist. In 2002 he was part of the UK’s founding group of Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists, as accredited by the National Strength and Conditioning Association of America. In 2004 he became the youngest ever recipient of a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award from the Register for Exercise Professionals. In 2013 he was in the first worldwide cohort to be awarded Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner status, and has represented the Institute for Functional Medicine as a Clinical Innovator.
Pete has had over 20 years of experience applying Functional Medicine in clinical practise and is seen by his peers as one of the leading figures in Functional Medicine in the UK. He is a sought-after speaker and advisor to nutraceutical and lab testing companies. Throughout this time, he has treated people with a wide range of chronic diseases.
Pete is a personal and professional advocate of exercise and the key role it plays in health. He loves to practise what he preaches in all aspects of life including keeping up with his two young sons.
Areas of specialism:
Executive Health
Prioritise your Health
Optimal Performance
Resilience/Longevity
Cognitive Decline
Despina Giannopoulou
After 30 years in high pressure corporate environments such as Morgan Stanley and Deloitte, Despina had first-hand experience of the detrimental effect a corporate lifestyle can have. This led to a career change to healthcare culminating with the prestigious IFMCP practitioner award in 2016. Despina has worked for the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) as a Business Development Consultant and as a contributor to the IFM best practice initiative by setting up tools, clinical processes and systems for excellence in their primary care health practice model.
Despina embraces systems biology and believes that everything she learned in her early career in computer science and networks, also applies to the networks in our body. They are constantly interacting and processing information so as to help us thrive in our day to day life. With each patient Despina looks at the pathways that need to be supported to help the body return to balance and help each patient receive their desired outcomes. In this way she practices 4 P medicine that is personalized, participatory, preventative and predictive.
Despina loves to keep fit, and her Greek roots means she loves nothing more than being around friends, family, food and the occasional glass of red wine.
Areas of specialism:
Fatigue
Low Energy Issues
Healthy Longevity
Live Longer, Age Better
Blood Sugar Balance
Pre-diabetic
Gastro-intestinal Optimization
Healthy Gut, Healthy You
Alex Manos
BSc Nutritional Therapy, MSc Personalised Nutrition IFM Certified Practitioner 2016
Alex completed his MSc dissertation on cortisol resistance in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and thus has a passion and experience in supporting clients with this condition. Alex has 13 years’ experience in the industry. In that time, he has lectured at various colleges and institutions including MSc programmes. As well as teaching students, Alex has more recently returned to the educational world and mentors nutritionists and functional medicine practitioners.
Aside from his experience in nutritional therapy, Alex has a vast range of qualifications and experience in personal training and is a transformational life coach. This allows Alex to work at a deep level within all three realms of health and performance: nutrition, exercise and mindset.
Outside of work Alex is honing his cooking skills to support his clients in the kitchen, and is a keen golfer, meditator, reader and a dark chocolate and coffee lover.
Areas of specialism:
Gastrointestinal Health
Calm gut - Calm you
Chronic Fatigue
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Optimal Performance
Resilience / Longevity
Deirdre Nazareth
MSc Ost Medicine, MSc Pain Neuroscience, IFM Certified Practitioner, Dip Osteopathy, Dip Naturopathy, IIN certified health coach
Deirdre started her academic career with a degree in Biopsychology from Drew University in New Jersey. She then worked as a research assistant in the Dept. of Human Genetics at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York while simultaneously working as the top personal trainer at one of New York’s finest fitness facilities. This combination led her to pursue a master’s degree in Osteopathy and then her Masters in Pain Neuroscience at King’s College London. Her father, a Paediatric Neurologist encouraged her to take the IFM Certification pathway and she qualified in 2016.
Deirdre is regularly asked to speak and advise to nutraceutical and lab companies. She has recently co-authored a chapter with Associate Professor of Medicine Gerard Mullin in “Integrative Gastroenterology” by Oxford University Press due to be published summer 2019.
Deirdre lives to a 80/20 rule. She loves yoga, all types of exercise and is a self confessed film nut.
Areas of specialism:
Conditions with Chronic Pain
The Brain in Pain
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Healthy Gut, Healthy You
Hormonal Dysfunction
Harmonising Hormones
Skin
Healing Your Skin from Within
Patient and Industry Testimonials
“My doctor, nutritionist and personal trainer all rolled into one. Functional Medicine Associates are the perfect answer to the ill effects of 24/7 big city living.”
Mike M
Pete’s patient
“Since working with Deirdre, I have experienced huge transformations in my health. When I arrived at her desk, I was experiencing insomnia, digestive issues, fatigue, brain fog and low mood. Through some testing we established there was candida overgrowth and hormonal imbalances and over a few months with Deirdre’s personalised protocol I got my health and vitality back. Deirdre has a very relaxed and friendly manner and was there to answer questions and provide support at every step of the way. I am grateful to her for where I am now and for her encouragement to address the root cause of the issues and take a lifelong outlook to health and happiness.”
Jordan
Deirdre’s patient
“Functional Medicine Associates are an outstanding group of integrative clinicians, they have an excellent understanding of the complexities of gastrointestinal disorders but also the potential systemic health issues that may accompany. They will regularly discuss patient results with our consultants and I highly recommend them.”
“IFM certification is a badge of quality and commitment, the relatively few who have achieved this accreditation will have spent much time, as well as a significant financial commitment in participating in this rigorous post-graduate training. It sets them apart from any others who may only be starting out on their road to becoming a FM practitioner. I have known Pete Williams for many years, he has an excellent knowledge of Functional Medicine and how to employ it. However, the complexity of clinical conditions requires the need to utilise this knowledge and skills of other similar trained professionals. The team that Pete has brought together, all of whom are IFM certified is an excellent initiative; recipients, whether they are patients or practitioners in education - can be assured of the highest quality, knowledge, and team work.”
“We have worked with Pete and his Functional Medicine Associates, for several years. They are a group of clinicians who have an excellent understanding of genetic testing, but more importantly how these tests fit appropriately into the bigger picture of their patient’s programmes. I highly recommend them.”
“I was referred by a friend to Pete after I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although I was getting the best possible treatment that private medicine could give me which involved chemotherapy and radiotherapy, I wanted to do everything possible to understand how my lifestyle influenced my condition. After all, my life was at risk and this is where Pete and Functional Medicine Associates became involved. I have been helped at every step of the journey to good health. Pete and his team have explained the science, the blood tests, the genetics, the food and exercise and how to apply it practically on a day to day basis. I am in remission and feel great!”
“Since working with Alex, I have been on a remarkable health & wellness transformation, the lessons of which will remain with me. The way in which Alex balances structure & adaptation in the recovery process - addressing physical, mental & emotional aspects - has proved invaluable.”
“Thanks to Alex my 5-year battle with IBS symptoms is finally over. I feel amazing!”
“Despina, it has been great working with you to identify my nutritional needs, I thought walking outside for some sun exposure would be enough vitamin D but clearly testing showed otherwise!”
“Despina, I never thought I could live without all my sugary treats, and with your help I have learned how to change recipes to make gluten free and dairy free desserts and swap sugar for dates and bananas and all sorts of new and innovative alternatives! It has been a fun journey and my waistline is thankful”
“My doctor said there was no cure for Fibromyalgia/CFS. There is, it’s called Functional Medicine. I feel sooo much better with Functional Medicine Associates treatment.”
“I've been working with Pete for just over a year, and he has helped me make some truly significant lifestyle changes. Now in my early 50’s I’ve battled with weight issues since childhood and tried every ‘diet’ going. Pete helped me identify a clearer strategy around improving my health from a systemic perspective. Using a combination of support, insight and expert knowledge, Pete has helped me appreciate that these things take time, as the issues are complex. We ran different tests, including discovering more about my genetic profile which was a very sophisticated and fascinating experience and really helped me change my perspective. With Pete’s patient and professional approach, I have discovered this journey is no longer about weight loss, but about becoming my best self, and living a sustainable, healthful life which does that justice. I have lost and kept off over 2 stone so far!”
“In positive news my bloating feels pretty much under control, I’m not swelling on long haul flights and also not swelling under stress – which is amazing. I’m also going to the loo every day, at least once” So I’m eternally grateful to you for that!”