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Meet Dr. Payal Bhandari, M.D.

Dr. Bhandari GRADUATED Magna Cum Laude FROM West virginia UNIVERSITY. After receiving her Md she completed a family medicine residency at the university of massachusetts.

Born in New Jersey, raised in West Virginia, trained in Massachusetts, Payal is an avid traveler who loves to explore new places and meet new people. In 2005 she first worked as a conventional family medicine physician for eight years and helped the practice become nationally recognized as the first patient-centered medical home in San Francisco. In 2013 Payal opened San Francisco's award-winning integrative functional medical center, SF Advanced Health where she brought together the leading experts in Eastern and Western medicine under one roof to understand the root causes of diseases and provide revolutionary healthcare solutions that go beyond conventional medicine.

Dr. Bhandari treats many of the world’s most influential people, from CEOs to renowned entrepreneurs, and cured thousands of patients who have been suffering from illnesses for years. She consistently empowers them through education how to take back control of their health and shift towards wellness.

Dr. Bhandari has been voted “Best Doctor” in San Francisco from 2008 through 2022. She has been the president of the San Francisco chapter of Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM.org) since 2015.

Dr. Bhandari has partnered with the brightest minds in integrative and functional medicine, the most talented and compassionate healers, and health innovation companies to help solve medical mysteries conventional Western Medicine is unable to. By utilizing the most cutting-edge technology she has built a robust and comprehensive data base looking at the root causes of diseases.

Dr. Bhandari is THE DOCTOR who is changing how healthcare is experienced.

Dr. Bhandari loves being by the water, exploring the outdoors, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life. She is happily married to her husband of over twenty years and mother to two wonderful daughters.

"We're all dealt a hand of genetic cards. Our life choices dictate 90% of genes expression. Although we can't always control the air we breathe or the water we drink, we may have a choice when it comes to what we believe, what we eat, how we sleep, think, and feel.

We are each enough when we are born. It’s up to us to change ourself if we want to change the world. All it takes is believing that everything happens for a reason. 

When opportunity knocks at your door, take it. If it changes you, let it.  Although your path may not be easy, it will be worth it. This is what defines the difference between being happy and healthy versus sick and suffering.”

— Payal Bhandari, M.D.

Top Reasons Dr. Bhandari has been voted the top 20 physician in the U.S.

Knowledge

Doctors with more knowledge and experience make their patients feel more comfortable during appointments and when turning to them for help. Dr. Bhandari has a high level of experience and knowledge based on twenty years of practicing holistic functional medicine. By focusing on the whole person, she can understand the root causes of disease and transform any illness into wellness for patients.

Listening Skills

Have you ever spoken to a doctor before, ran down your list of symptoms, and watched as the doctor ignored a high percentage of what you said? A good doctor like Dr. Bhandari understands the importance of listening to patients carefully. The information conveyed plays a critical role in deciphering the root causes of symptoms and how to customize the treatment plan. Your feedback and issues are taken into serious consideration.

Conversation Skills

In addition to listening to you, doctors must also have the conversation skills to chat with you. Dr. Bhandari always takes the time to understand the information communicated and not leave you feeling confused about your prognosis and treatment options.

Comprehensive Holistic Care

Dr. Bhandari focuses on the whole person and the direct impact our environment, lifestyle, diet, and social relationships have on our mind, body, and spirit. This is unlike conventional Western medicine, which views the body as separate organ systems and organ-specific health problems and does not always incorporate the environmental and social constructs that heavily influence our well-being.

Personalized Care

When it comes to individual health, one size does not fit all. By uncovering all components that affect a person’s physiological, mental, and emotional health, the root cause of ailments can be unearthed. We are unique; our unique problems cannot be solved by solutions designed for the “average” human.

Care Focused on Prevention and Reversal of Disease

Unlike conventional health care, integrative functional medicine primarily focuses on prevention to support optimal health before disease development and reinforce the body's innate ability to heal itself. Dr. Bhandari incorporates the best in scientifically based Eastern and Western medicine and the most cutting-edge technology to uncover the root cause of disease. She devises innovative, safe, and effective treatments customized to a patient’s unique needs. Unlike in conventional Western medicine, lifestyle medicine, personalized medicine, mind-body medicine, and in-depth patient education are commonly utilized.

Collaborative Physician-Patient Relationship

An open, honest, and collaborative patient-physician relationship, grounded in trust and mutual respect, is an inescapable and highly desired component of modern medical care. Dr. Bhandari has a “patient first” mentality to ensure every patient is treated with quality care and feels comfortable with every interaction.

Awards