About PPH

Philadelphia Personal Health (PPH), is a cutting edge Functional Medicine and Advanced Nutrition Company located in Center City Philadelphia. PPH provides a wide variety of services designed to meet each individual’s specific health needs and goals. PPH uses the Functional Medicine model, which seeks to understand and address the unique underlying cause(s) of each person’s disease(s) and/or their symptoms. This is patient-centered, not disease-entered care. Functional medicine is 100% evidence-based medicine. The practitioner and patient work as a team to identify, modify, and eliminate “upstream” causes of health problems with the goal of restoring balance, health, and vitality.

At the most basic level, functional medicine asks two fundamental questions:

  1. What does your body need that it does not have enough of? This could be essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, muscle, neurotransmitters, beneficial gut bacteria, hormones, enzymes, sleep, purpose, metabolism/energy, community, immune balance and tolerance…
  2. What does your body have that it doesn’t want? This list could include heavy metals, impaired detoxification pathways, visceral fat, excess cortisol, stress, harmful gut bacteria, allergens, cholesterol, insulin resistance, impaired energy production, impaired neurotransmitter production, inflammation/neuro-inflammation, unhealthy relationships…

It is important to realize that, with rare exception, the body becomes imbalanced, depleted, and breaks down over time. How many cigarettes until lung cancer? We heal in a similar way. In other words, not overnight. Traditional pharmaceutical therapies can elevate symptoms rather quickly, and are at times needed, however they often do not get to the root cause of the problem. While Functional Medicine (FM) is interested in relieving symptoms, the long-term goal is to find and correct causative factors. Very often more than one body system needs support.

A certified FM practitioner goes through an intense medical education (see FAQs) and is subsequently armed with a number of interventions to restore health. Patient willingness and participation in some of, if not all, therapeutic recommendations is paramount. Having a very knowledgeable guide to prioritize your specific interventions can make all the difference. Remember, change nothing and nothing changes. Or, quoting Dr. Amy Myers, “live the solution.” Every effort will be made to not disrupt your life (at least not too much!). Ready to make that commitment to yourself and to your family? Not quite ready, spend a little more time on this website, it has been designed to help you learn more about human health, in other words…..about you!

Debra L Meier

IFMCP, CNWC, PT

Debra Meier is a lifelong student of the human body. She believes we all deserve a vibrant and purposeful life. Debra is dedicated to personalized, evidence-based medical guidance, whole person health care, and proactive patients.

Debra is a 2015 graduate of The Institute for Functional Medicine’s Certification Program. She joins an elite group of approximately 450 practitioners lead by Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Jeffery Bland who are devoted to identifying and treating the root cause(s) of chronic disease. Functional Medicine not only incorporates the latest in genetic science and systems biology, but also enables the health care practitioner to practice predictive and personalized medicine. Functional Medicine encourages patients to take an active role in their own health.

Debra is a certified provider with DNALife genetic testing services. She is uniquely trained to create the best diet, nutrition, and lifestyle program that will support your unique genetic needs. Nutrigenomics is the science of reducing the risk of ill health and disease by designing  personalized nutrition and supplement programs. This single test  has been a true game changer for countless patients! See Genetics under Services to learn more.

Debra became a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant in 2012 and has deep understanding of nutritional biochemistry. Using advanced specialty laboratory testing, she can examine your body’s unique nutritional needs and design a customized multivitamin and mineral program specifically for you. Her areas of nutritional expertise and interest include: nutrigenomics (matching genes with nutrition), Krebs cycle and energy production (body composition and weight management), neurotransmitter production and metabolism (mood), safe estrogen metabolism (reducing breast cancer risk), medically supervised detoxification (weight loss and gastrointestinal healing), regenerative sleep, methylation (how the body self-regulates and heals) and drug-induced nutrient depletions (minimizing pharmacological side effects).

Finally, Debra is a Direct Access Licensed Physical Therapist and Medical Exercise Specialist qualified to see patients without an MD referral. She also has over 20 years of experience in Orthopedic Rehabilitation. Debra does BIA testing and tracking of body composition. With her combined medical education she is in a unique position to write personal exercise prescriptions for all patients. Considerations in your exercise prescription include: your goals, relevant medical history, orthopedic history/injury, posture and body composition, gender, age, and hormone status. Exercise prescriptions include advance nutritional counsel and nutrient timing recommendations.

Licenses and Certifications

  • The Institute For Functional Medicine. Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, May 04, 2015
  • American Fitness Professionals and Associations. Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. Member Identification Number 73762; April 12, 2012
  • American Academy of Health, Fitness and Rehabilitation Professionals. Certified Medical Exercise Specialist. Certification Number V6DM24-11; July 5, 2011
  • Direct Access Physical Therapist. Certificate Number DAPT002148; June 1, 2010
  • Physical Therapist. License Number PT006687L; December 20, 1988
  • CPR Adult, Child, Infant. Ongoing

Memberships

  • The Institute for Functional Medicine
  • The Life Extension Foundation
  • The American Physical Therapy Association
  • The American Academy of Health, Fitness and Rehabilitation Professionals