In a Healthcare System Built for Speed, Dr. Elissa B. Gartenberg Built a Practice Designed for Finding Answers
Elissa B. Gartenberg, D.O., a board-certified family physician trained at Mayo Clinic and founder of Modern Family Medicine in Old Town Scottsdale, was named a PHOENIX magazine Top Doctor in Family Medicine.
Congratulations on being voted a PHOENIX magazine Top Doc in Family Medicine. What do you think patients recognize about your care?
Thank you. I am truly honored and grateful to my colleagues for recognizing the care I provide. This feels like winning an Oscar in my world! I have always treated my patients as I would my own family. I take time to understand who they are, what they value, and what is happening in their lives. That perspective allows me to care for the whole person, integrating mind, body and spirit. When a basic workup does not explain what a patient is experiencing, I take a medical detective approach and follow the clues until we figure it out. I start the work up before sending patients to a specialist. I work together with the best specialists as a team.
I use evidence-based medicine and I also incorporate holistic approaches, including supplements, lifestyle strategy, osteopathic manipulation and medical acupuncture. I am comprehensive in both prevention and active disease treatment. I utilize advanced laboratory testing, evaluate patterns in results over time, and incorporate health data from devices many patients already wear, such as an Apple Watch, Garmin, or Oura ring. My goal is to get to the root cause and build a plan the patient can follow.
What makes your practice unique?
I built my practice to deliver the level of medicine most people wish they could get in primary care but rarely do. I created my own signature process called the Personalized Integrative Medical Assessment (PIMA). It is a deep, structured evaluation that blends evidence-based medicine with functional medicine, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and other holistic frameworks. It helps me connect the dots across systems, catch early shifts before they become major problems, and create a strategy that fits the individual.
I see patients from around the state who want this kind of careful analysis and continuity. Many are busy professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, and high-performing people who do not have extra time. Others come to me after being told their labs are “normal” while they still feel off.
Some want a clear plan to lower cardiovascular risk, improve metabolic health, address hormone imbalance, or prevent chronic disease before it starts. I look at cardiovascular and metabolic markers, inflammation patterns, hormone balance, lifestyle factors, and how results are changing over time.
Because I keep a limited membership panel, I can practice more quality medicine. I have built in time to do extra research, converse with my patients, and create treatment plans they can follow. The experience is smooth and easy. Patients don’t have to book appointments for every question. They can reach me between visits. Included with membership is Medical Acupuncture, all office visits and procedures, same day/next day visits, and private events. I also offer a house call option for patients who prefer care in their home or office.
My concierge practice is for patients who value their health and want an expert physician to guide prevention, decisions, and next steps.
You created Francesca Global Care in addition to your medical practice. What is it, and why did you build it?
Francesca Global Care is a consulting service for non-patients I created in honor of my sister, Randi Gartenberg Schreiber, PA-C, who passed away ten years ago. She had a passion for helping people navigate complicated diagnoses. Through Francesca Global Care, I review medical records in depth, reconcile differing opinions, research options, and prepare clients for specialist visits or second opinions. Clients keep their existing providers, and I help them develop a clear strategy so they can move forward with confidence. For more information, visit
www.francescaglobalcare.com
Modern Family Medicine maintains a limited membership. If you’d like to be considered, call the office at 602-363-1631 or visit modernfamilymedicine.com
7522 E. 1st St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(602) 363-1631
modernfamilymedicine.com
