Nice to meet you,
I’m Dr. Victoria (Vikki) Gelman
Applied Functional Medicine Practitioner
From as early as I can remember, I wanted to become a doctor. I was curious about the human body, drawn to biology, and driven to understand how things work at a deeper level. I wanted to help people, but I did not imagine how winding that path would be.
My professional journey began at Tel Aviv University, where I trained and was certified as a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). The scientific foundation I received remains an important anchor for me to this day. Over time, however, I felt that something was missing.
The academic knowledge I had gained explained what was happening in the body, but not always why
A significant turning point came after moving with my family to the United States in 2013.
Around that time, my family and I went through a significant health challenge. For the first time, I found myself on the other side of the system, not as a doctor, but as someone facing uncertainty and looking for answers.
This is how I was introduced to the world of Functional Medicine.
Step by step, I began applying this approach at home. As I saw how addressing root causes could create real, tangible change, not just temporary symptom relief, I understood that I had found the path I had been looking for.
That realization changed the way I understand health. It also gave me a clear sense of direction.
I realized this was not just knowledge I wanted to learn, but the path I wanted to follow and build my work around.
I began by exploring and learning on my own, driven by curiosity and the need to understand what I was seeing. As I progressed, I realized I needed structured training to turn this knowledge into a clinical tool.
My first step was training as a Functional Medicine Health Coach through the Institute for Functional Medicine, which provided a practical foundation for applying this approach in real-life settings.
I then became a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), adding a critical layer of supporting behavior change and translating knowledge into actionable steps.
I continued to deepen my clinical expertise through the Applied Functional Medicine Certification (AFMC), where I trained in analyzing complex cases through a systems-based, root-cause lens and building precise, individualized plans.
Today, I integrate my medical training, personal experience, and functional medicine approach to help people understand their bodies and create a clear, structured path toward better health.