Julia Buchkina, MD, MPH, ABIHM, IFMCP

Julia completed medical school in 2008 and residency in Family Medicine in 2012 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa. She received her certification in Functional Medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine in 2014. She is board certified in Family Medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine, and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. She uses a comprehensive, patient-centered, and evidence-based approach to identify and address the root causes of chronic disease.

The functional medicine approach relies on the partnership between the doctor and the patient working together as a team. Compared to conventional medicine, where the treatment is reactive (ie. symptoms develop and then the doctor prescribes “a pill for every ill”), the functional medicine approach is transformative. It allows the patient to take an active role in changing their own health — and prevent future disease. Our physician at Upstream FM, Dr. Julia Buchkina, provides medical consultation for patients in our office in Iowa City and via telemedicine for residents of the state of Iowa.

Dr. Julia focuses on uncovering and addressing the root causes of health challenges with long-term lifestyle change — so that once your symptoms have improved, you will have an action plan to prevent them from worsening again. Sometimes this does require the smart use of both conventional medications and over-the-counter supplements, with the long-term goal of reducing prescription medications when possible. Because she has completed extensive training in both conventional and integrative/functional medicine, Dr. Julia is able to bridge the best of both worlds with a wider healing toolkit.

Is the functional medicine approach right for you? Visit the Upstream website to find out if we would be a good fit for your care.