Internal Medicine–Focusing on the prevention and treatment of adult diseases

Internists are equipped to deal with whatever problem a patient brings — no matter how common or rare, or how simple or complex. They are specially trained to handle severe chronic illnesses and situations where several different illnesses may strike at the same time. They also bring to patients an understanding of wellness (disease prevention and the promotion of health), women’s health, substance abuse, mental health, as well as effective treatment of common problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system and reproductive organs.

Internists are sometimes referred to as the “doctor’s doctor,” because they are often called upon to act as consultants to other physicians to help solve puzzling diagnostic problems.

Although internists may act as primary care physicians, they are not “family physicians,” or “general practitioners,” whose training is not solely concentrated on adults and may include surgery, obstetrics and pediatrics.

Integrative Medicine–Treating the Whole Person

Both doctors and patients alike are bonding with the philosophy of integrative medicine and its whole-person approach — where the goal is to treat the mind, body, and spirit, including all aspects of lifestyle.

Integrative Medicine combines conventional Western medicine with alternative or complementary treatments, such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, biofeedback, yoga, and stress reduction techniques — all in the effort to treat the whole person. Proponents prefer the term “complementary” to emphasize that such treatments are used with mainstream medicine, not as replacements or alternatives.

While some of the therapies used may be non-conventional, a guiding principle within integrative medicine is to use therapies that have some high-quality evidence to support them.

The principles of integrative medicine:

Dr. Michelle T. Wyatt, M.D.

Dr. Michelle Wyatt graduated from medical school at Loyola University Chicago in 1991. She completed her internship at Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago and residency at Lutheran General Hospital in 1994. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and practiced as an Internist in Oregon from 1994-2005, then in Utah for 3 years. She returned to Oregon in 2009 and has planted roots firmly in Eugene.

Dr. Wyatt has practiced general Internal and Integrative Medicine for over 15 years, and has interests in diabetes, prevention of cardiovascular disease, and women’s health. Although she is a conventionally trained and practicing physician, she embraces an approach to wellness that treats the person as a whole, including the mind/body/spirit connection.

She encourages patients to take an interest in their own health and wellness, and embraces complementary and alternative medical services. Nutrition and lifestyle are key factors to health. Besides her traditional role as a physician, she is a patient advocate and allows patients to make their ultimate health care decisions based on well-informed medical and lifestyle options. She feels it is important for all patients to find a balance between work, play, and relaxation to maintain wellness.

In her free time, Dr. Wyatt enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing, yoga, singing, cooking, ethnic dining, knitting, meditation, and small domestic pets.