Wellness Reimagined: Dr Laura Lile Of Lile Wellness On 5 Things That Should Be Done To Improve and Reform The Health & Wellness Industry
An Interview With Maria Angelova
Modify the role of PharmDs to incorporate them into primary care settings and enable them to prescribe medications.
In our world of constant change, and with life moving faster than ever, topics such as mental health, self-care, and prevention have become popular buzzwords. People are looking to live healthier lives, and there is superb care out there that is being offered. At the same time, there are misconceptions about the meaning of self-care and exercise. Many opt for quick solutions — surgery, pills — to dull the problem without adequately addressing the underlying cause. Meanwhile, many parts of the industry are unregulated and oversaturated. People with years of training are competing with people with weekend training. Many providers are overworked, overwhelmed, and underpaid. The general public is not educated about asking the right questions when selecting a wellness provider. In the face of all this, what can be done to correct the status quo? In this interview series, we are seeking to hear from a variety of leaders in the health and wellness industries who agree that the wellness industry is in need of an overhaul and offer suggestions about what can be done moving forward. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Dr. Laura Lile.
Dr. Lile has devoted more than three decades to developing, teaching and practicing the principles of preventative healthcare and wellness. As both a board-certified medical doctor and registered pharmacist, she has the distinct honor of being one of the only dual-credentialed compounding pharmacists and preventative health medical doctors in the world. Her mission is to effectively change how healthcare is delivered, one patient at a time.
Thank you so much for doing this interview. It is an honor. Our readers would love to learn more about you and your personal background. Can you please share your personal backstory? What has brought you to this point in your life?
I grew up in Ada, Ohio, a town of about 5,000 people. I was supposed to be a trial lawyer — my dad, brother, and sister are lawyers, and my mom was the dean of a business school, but I walked into a chemistry lab in high school and fell in love with it. So I decided to announce to my family that I wanted to be a pharmacist because I would get to interface with patients and use my love for chemistry.
After I graduated from The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, I wanted to create a unique and welcoming environment for patients. That led me to open one of the first drive-through pharmacies in the Midwest. I installed a large picture window where people could watch apothecary-style mixing and individualized medicine. To make it even more inviting, I added a cappuccino maker and small dining tables so people could enjoy a cup of coffee and feel at home. However, I soon realized that I wanted to do more. One morning, I woke up with a clear vision. I was either going to open my own pharmacy or go to medical school. I never dreamed I would end up doing both, but I followed my intuition and enrolled in The Medical College of Ohio in Toledo in 1997.
This decision set me on a path to becoming one of the few dual-credentialed registered pharmacists and medical doctors in the entire world. Upon graduating, I had the unique opportunity to work at a retired nun care facility. The nuns had been waiting for a female doctor and asked if I would be the medical director for their facility. This role allowed me to implement systems to care for the nuns, bishops and priests, and even helped establish hospice programs for them.
As my practice grew, patients spread the word to their families and friends. I became a pioneer in telehealth, treating patients virtually and opening additional offices in Alpharetta, Georgia, and Franklin, Tennessee, along with my original location in Grosse Ile, Michigan. As my practice continued to expand, my global profile grew as well. I was invited twice to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican, who, interestingly, was also a chemist before becoming a priest. Pope Francis is deeply interested in preventative health. He was keen on incorporating more women into his advisory leadership team and being a part of that team was a tremendous privilege.
Throughout my career, my goal has always been to provide the highest quality of care and to innovate within the healthcare field. My experiences have taught me the importance of personalized, preventative care, and I am passionate about continuing to advance this approach in my practice.
What is your “why” behind the work that you do? What fuels you?
Since early in my career, I have had a strong desire to get to the root of a problem. When I graduated from The Ohio State University in 1987, I saw the importance of compounding medications to meet each individual patient’s needs. There were not many choices with vitamins and nutraceuticals at the time, and I often had to compound unique compounds like glucosamine. I was motivated to find a way to improve our health span because my mother had a stent placed at a young age, and both sides of my family had shortened life spans due to strokes and cardiovascular disease. I knew that if I wanted my own children to have their grandparents at their weddings, I would need to find a way to alter the course of our DNA. I started working with epigenetics in 2003, and in doing so, I have been on a path to continue to help improve the health of not only my family but for all of the patients that have come into my life.
I am fueled by the desire to help change the trajectory of a patient’s life. It is so rewarding to be able to grow old with my patients. I have a thirst for knowledge and am a lifelong learner. One of my patients was a nun, Sister Teresa Milne, and she told me at 88 years of age that she always strived to learn at least 2 new things a day. I am confident that I learn at least that many new things each day!
What are some of the most interesting or exciting new projects you are working on now?
I am excited to be working with clinical decision support tools that allow us to integrate actionable overrides for a patient’s gene variants. When whole genomic sequencing was discovered in 2003, I remember thinking how this was going to change everything. Early on, the data was in a format that was difficult to use. In the past few years, with the advancement of artificial intelligence and its affordability to patients, we are now able to dial into a patient’s genomic profile. Previously, I would use trend analysis for blood work, a patient’s family history, and their personal health history to provide workable preventative health solutions. The problem is that with blood work we are only looking at the periphery. We can’t see what is beyond the blood-brain barrier. Now with genomic testing, we can dial in on a patient on day one. We are discovering new genetic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in patients every day. That makes me sit back and marvel at what we can discover. The future of medicine will allow us to have the patient’s “owner’s manual” or genomic sequence prior to prescribing. We are able to get to the root cause of a patient’s issue much quicker and not just treat symptoms.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I don’t think mistakes are funny when you’re in medicine. That being said, I do have a very memorable story from early on in my career that stands out when I think about the lessons I’ve learned. I was working as a compounding pharmacist at the time, and we didn’t just work with humans. We worked with other mammals. There was an amusement park nearby that asked me to treat a dolphin for a yeast infection. It’s a pretty unique situation! The vet called and asked if I could use a particular antifungal, and I agreed. Then he asked how to give the medication to the dolphin. I had this great idea that we would stuff fish with medicine. So I bring fish into our compounding lab and we weigh out the dose based on the size of this huge dolphin. We made these fish for the trainers to give to the dolphins and I thought all was well.
Then about two days later I got a call from the vet and they asked if there were any side effects to the antifungal. I asked what was going on with the dolphin, and apparently, a side effect of the antifungal medicine was increased sexual activity! The vet said the dolphin couldn’t perform because it was being very “friendly”. So my big takeaway was learning about dosing in large mammals. Side effects can occur in all of us and sometimes they aren’t what we expect. Pharmacists should always listen to patients when they say they have a really bizarre side effect because sometimes really crazy things can happen.
Not to mention how much it made my pharmacy smell! Having all these fish and weighing out the antifungal medicine was probably not my brightest idea. I’m sure we could have put it in a capsule, and it would have been fine for the dolphins. So that was the first and last time I ever stuffed fish as a compounding pharmacist.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview. From where you stand, why are you passionate about the topic of Reimagining The Health and Wellness industries? Can you explain what you mean with a story or an example?
I believe my whole life has brought me to this moment in time. My mission statement from day one is “to effectively change how healthcare is delivered”. We are at a critical time in history concerning health and wellness. We often hear that we need to fix the broken system, but I believe we have to completely rethink how we approach the health and wellness industry. When I talk about reimagining the wellness industry, I am talking about reimagining it from the perspective of the providers as well as from the perspective of the recipients and patients.
Last summer is when I really had my ah-ha moment that we need to incorporate PharmDs and genomic testing into the practice to effectively change how healthcare is delivered, unlock the potential of genomics and focus on preventative care, personalized medicine, longevity, and the reversal of cognitive decline.
Genomics is very complex, and it’s difficult to understand the numerous recommendations, from supplements to food advice. It can be very overwhelming even with clinical decision-support tools. I was trying to teach my team of doctors and mid-level providers. I enrolled them in a genomics university course that was extremely well taught. I did this thinking they would quickly become as excited and proficient as I was. However, I soon realized they were struggling to get through the material. Despite their intelligence and dedication, they felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information.
This was a pivotal moment for me. I realized that my pharmacy training gave me a unique advantage. Pharmacists are constantly problem solving and researching, skills that align perfectly with the way these genomics tools operate. We have a comprehensive understanding of both medical knowledge and the nuances of drug interactions, which is crucial when dealing with complex recommendations. For instance, a report might suggest ashwagandha for memory improvement, but ashwagandha can also thin the blood — a potentially dangerous combination for someone on a blood thinner.
Recognizing this gap, I decided to conduct an experiment. I sponsored PharmD students from The Ohio State to attend a medical conference, where they interacted with a group of highly regarded medical doctors. Within hours, it was evident that the pharmacy students grasped the concepts more readily than many of the experienced doctors. This wasn’t because the doctors were less capable, but because pharmacists are trained to think in a way that bridges these complex recommendations with practical, safe application.
This experience was a moment of clarity for me. It highlighted the need for interdisciplinary training and the inclusion of pharmacists in these cutting-edge fields. It also reinforced my belief that to truly reimagine the health and wellness industries, we need to leverage the unique strengths of different healthcare professionals and provide them with the tools and training to navigate this evolving landscape effectively. That’s why I believe we need to radically change the healthcare industry and free up doctors to focus their expertise on diagnosis, and enable PharmDs to prescribe the right level and mixture of drugs, supplements, and nutraceuticals based on how they work together. We need to use a patient’s genomic sequence as a guide to allow a care team to quickly treat the cause, rather than the symptoms. In essence, my passion stems from a deep-seated commitment to improving how healthcare is delivered, ensuring it is not only innovative, but also safe and accessible for everyone involved.
When I talk about Reimagining the Wellness industry, I am talking about reimagining it from the perspective of the providers as well as from the perspective of the recipients and patients. Can you share a few reasons why the status quo is not working for both providers and patients?
The status quo in healthcare is failing both providers and patients for several reasons. Patients are increasingly frustrated because they lack time with their doctors and face frequent turnover among their healthcare providers. This instability means patients aren’t receiving the consistent care they need, leading to dissatisfaction and unmet medical needs. On the flip side, doctors are equally overwhelmed. The healthcare system has become so burdened that it’s nearly impossible for doctors to provide the attentive, individualized care each patient deserves within the constraints of a six- to 10-minute visit.
These brief appointments barely allow for pleasantries, let alone meaningful medical consultations. As a result, patients don’t feel heard, and doctors can’t practice to the best of their abilities, further exacerbating the problem. It’s important to note that the issue isn’t solely with the healthcare providers but with the entire system, which has become unsustainably demanding.
Moreover, the traditional healthcare model often fails to encourage patients to take ownership of their health. With access to more knowledge than ever before, patients can and should play a more active role in managing their health. For instance, understanding one’s genetic predispositions can be empowering. It’s important that genomic testing is accessible to everyone. If a patient learns they have a genetic variation affecting BDNF, a protein linked to brain health, they might be more motivated to engage in moderate exercise, knowing it can significantly boost their brain function.
This understanding highlights the need to reimagine both the healthcare system and the patient’s role within it. By shifting towards a model that values longer, more meaningful interactions and empowers patients with knowledge and tools for self-care, we can create a more effective and satisfying healthcare experience for everyone involved.
Why do you think there is a good opportunity now to improve and reform the health and wellness industry?
Patients and providers are both ready for change. Patients understand that they have the ability to be part of the process and advocate for their own healthcare needs. For many patients over the age of 70, the model was to go to a doctor, get a prescription, and do what you are told. Now, patients have access to information at their fingertips and can ask questions like never before. This can be good or bad. Having the ability to apply the knowledge and filter out “fake news” on the internet is not easy. This is where having your doctor as a teammate can be helpful. But now is the time to reimagine our healthcare system because all parties are ready and willing to change.
Can you please share your “5 Things That Should Be Done To Improve and Reform The Health & Wellness Industry”?
- Modify the role of PharmDs to incorporate them into primary care settings and enable them to prescribe medications. Doctors are experts in diagnosing. We need to transition PharmDs to become involved in genomics and prescribing and dispensing prescription drugs. This would eliminate thousands of medical prescribing errors. For example, a patient would see their doctor to get a diagnosis which is then sent to a PharmD who would then look at the diagnosis and genomics results and then prescribe any necessary medications. This way doctors can focus on giving a precise diagnosis and PharmDs can focus on giving the best overall medication, supplements, and lifestyle recommendations to the patient.
- Incorporate patient genomic sequencing into a patient’s treatment plan. This means making sure all patients have access. This would enable care teams to identify inherited weaknesses upfront and mitigate these issues by overriding the genetic expression of the disease.
Consider the case of Kathy, a patient who struggled with depression, migraines, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for years. Through genomic testing, we discovered several specific genetic variants that were key to her conditions. For instance, Kathy carries an AOC1 gene variant related to histamine intolerance which is present in only 7.1% of the population. We addressed this by supplementing with DAO, an enzyme that helps break down histamine in food, similar to how we use Lactaid for lactose intolerance.
We also found that Kathy has a COQ10 variant (NQO1 gene), affecting her body’s ability to recycle CoQ10. By providing her with the reduced form of ubiquinol, we effectively managed this issue. Additionally, we discovered variations in her HTR1A and HTR2A genes, which we managed with lifestyle adjustments like light therapy and appropriate supplementation.
These insights from her genomic owner’s manual allowed us to create a tailored treatment plan that significantly improved Kathy’s health. Her PHQ-9 score, a measure of depression severity, dropped from 13 to 0 in just 16 weeks. Her migraines and IBS symptoms also resolved, and she no longer felt it was her fault for not getting better.
This approach demonstrates the power of understanding and leveraging genomics in healthcare. By providing patients and clinicians with a real-time, personalized owner’s manual, we can bridge the gap between research and practice, bringing scientific advancements directly to patient care more quickly than ever before.
3. Change how we educate and train our future healthcare providers. Currently, medical education focuses heavily on diagnostics, teaching future doctors to identify and treat illnesses based on symptoms and test results. While this is important, it is not sufficient for creating a truly holistic and effective healthcare system. We need to empower doctors to embrace a more integrated approach to patient care. In the reimagined model, doctors would be trained to work closely with a multidisciplinary team, including pharmacists, nutritionists, and mental health professionals, to provide comprehensive care that addresses all aspects of a patient’s health. This radical shift is necessary. We can’t keep trying to fix the problem by increasing funding without changing the fundamental issues within the healthcare system.
A significant aspect of this reimagined medical model is the role of pharmacists. A shift is already taking place in some hospitals and health systems that we can emulate in primary care settings. In hospital settings, traditionally, pharmacists have been relegated to the basement, focused primarily on filling prescriptions. However, over the past few decades, their role has evolved significantly. Pharmacists are now integral members of healthcare teams, working directly in ICUs and other critical care settings. This collaborative approach has proven highly effective in hospital environments, and it is time to extend this model to outpatient and primary care settings. By integrating pharmacists into care teams, we can leverage their expertise in medication management and patient education, leading to better health outcomes. This approach not only enhances the quality of care but also alleviates some of the burdens on doctors, allowing them to focus more on diagnosing.
We must embrace innovative strategies and integrate these into medical education. Universities need to take the lead by incorporating these “radical” concepts into their curricula and establishing pilot programs to test and refine the new model.
4. Implement dual credentialing doctors for both alternative medicine and functional medicine. In the U.S. we are so driven by Western medicine. We need programs that allow a provider to be dual credentialed in both alternative medicine and Western medicine much like I am dual credentialed as a registered pharmacist and medical doctor. This could be achieved through specialized residency programs that integrate both fields, allowing physicians to look at things from functional and traditional medicine perspectives.
Currently, our medical training often forces providers into one pool. This dichotomy limits the potential for truly holistic patient care. This dual focus would enable doctors to utilize a broader range of treatments, combining the strengths of both approaches to provide patients with more comprehensive care. Patients often express frustration that they can’t find providers who are knowledgeable about alternative therapies and also grounded in conventional medical practice.
5. Reimagine the role of the patient. Patients need to take a more proactive ownership of their health. We no longer need to solely rely on doctors for all health-related decisions. With the wealth of information available today, patients have the power to educate themselves and advocate for their well-being. For example, if a patient learns through genomic testing they have a genetic variation in BDNF, which influences brain health, they are more empowered to make healthier decisions like increasing their physical activity, not just because a doctor advised it, but because they understand their specific genetic makeup and that moderate exercise can boost the BDNF levels. This shift requires patients to ask questions, seek knowledge, and actively participate in their healthcare decisions. We need to transform the patient-doctor relationship into a collaborative partnership. Embracing this mindset is key to achieving our best health outcomes.
From the recipient and patient side of the industry, can you please share a few ways that patients and recipients should reimagine what the wellness and healthcare industry should provide?
Patients need to take ownership of their personal health and wellness. It’s important to understand you only have one body, and you have to make the choice every day to take care of it. The majority of chronic diseases can be prevented. Diet and exercise choices matter greatly for a patient’s overall health and wellness.
And, know your numbers. It is very important to establish trend analysis and know your blood work numbers. You need to follow blood levels including HbA1c, fasting insulin, lipid profile, homocysteine, and others at least twice a year.
What do you think are the biggest roadblocks to reforming the industry? What can be done to address those hurdles?
The greatest roadblock to changing the healthcare system is the hierarchy of how we are trained. The education system is set up so that attending physicians train residents and residents train students. I have been blessed to work with many academic facilities across the United States and the problems are the same. We need to train doctors to prevent disease from starting in the first place. We are in reactive medicine in our country. In a tragedy or emergency, the U.S. is hands down the best. But so many countries are much better than we are at having the doctor involved in preventative health. We need to switch to a model of proactive healthcare versus reactive diagnosis.
Lile Wellness is at the forefront of reforming the healthcare industry. We are partnering with my alma mater, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, to sponsor PharmD students with rotations at Lile Wellness, credentialing as genomic consultants, and the first-ever PharmD graduate now serving in a full-time role at the practice.
I’m very passionate about the topic of proactive versus reactive self-care and healthcare. What do you think can be done to shift the industries towards a proactive healthcare approach? How can we shift the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike?
I believe the key to shifting towards a proactive healthcare approach lies in empowering patients with what I call a “Patient Genomic Owner’s Manual.” This concept is similar to having an encyclopedia for your health — something you can continually refer back to and learn from. By equipping patients with their personalized genomic information, we provide them with a powerful tool that can be updated in real time. With current technology, we can refresh this genomic data with the latest scientific discoveries. Traditionally, it takes about 10–15 years for new research to make its way from academia through medical school and into clinical practice. However, with real-time updates, both patients and doctors can have immediate access to the latest information. This significantly accelerates the translation of science into practical, ambulatory care.
This approach encourages patients to take a proactive role in managing their health. Moreover, this transforms the patient-doctor relationship into a collaborative partnership. Patients, armed with their genomic owner’s manual, can engage in more meaningful discussions with their healthcare providers. They can ask informed questions and make joint decisions, leading to shared responsibility and better health outcomes.
Thank you for all that great insight! Let’s start wrapping up. Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?
My favorite life lesson quote is, “Do more of what makes you happy.” It took me a long time to fully embrace this quote. I was given a birthday card with this quote on it years ago when I was a working, single parent. I couldn’t understand how I could possibly do more of what made me happy. It felt selfish because I felt I needed to make others happy.
One day, I took a few hours to do what would make me happy — I went to Starbucks and read a book for a few hours. Later that night at dinner, my children told me how much happier I seemed. I had not realized that by simply doing more of what makes you happy, you will bring joy and happiness to those around you. It is also critical for reducing stress levels and is part of a proactive health approach.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)
I would have a private afternoon tea with the Royal Family. I was just in London for the Integrative & Personalised Medicine 24 conference, so this feels especially timely. I’ve always wanted to meet them, particularly because of their interest in alternative health and wellness.
King Charles, who is currently battling cancer, has been a long-time advocate for alternative health. The Royal Family has faced various health issues, such as Queen Elizabeth’s father, who died young from lung cancer, and Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis.
I truly believe that genomic sequencing could be transformative for their health. By understanding their genetic heritage and lineage, we could develop personalized health plans to improve their longevity and quality of life. Prince Charles has spoken about the potential of genomics, and I am confident that integrating this knowledge with their health regimen could profoundly benefit them. For instance, by sequencing the genomes of Prince William, Kate Middleton, and even Prince Harry, we could identify genetic predispositions and provide tailored health recommendations. This approach could help mitigate potential health risks and promote longer, healthier lives for their children and future generations.
I’ve spent a significant amount of time in London, nearly opening an office on Harley Street in 2020, and I am passionate about the potential impact of integrating genomics into personalized healthcare. Meeting the Royal Family would be an incredible opportunity to discuss these ideas and demonstrate how we can harness their family history and lineage to help them live healthier lives.
Plus, I’ve been practicing my curtsy — just kidding! But seriously, I believe there’s a real opportunity here to make a significant impact.
I appreciate your time and valuable contribution. One last question, how can people reach or follow you? That will have to be determined by the team.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
