The start of each new year comes with a requisite list of wellness resolutions. You know this familiar drill: Invest in self-care practices. Eat a nutritious diet. Commit to a fitness regimen. Prioritize restorative sleep habits. Choose peace and balance over stress and burnout.  

These lifestyle shifts are beneficial—foundational even. But all too often, we embark on healthy changes without the direction necessary to sustain them. No wonder about 80 percent of these resolutions run their course by mid-February (University of Scranton). 

Wellness is more than just checking a few arbitrary boxes in accordance with an annual new year tradition. Wellness thrives on consistent implementation and intentional guidance from a provider you can trust, tailored to your own unique and specific body.  

That’s where Functional Medicine Florida comes in. Dr. Fred Harvey, the Medical Director of this practice, is a long-time contributor of Natural Awakenings. We are thankful for his expert insights and commitment to whole-person care which resolves the underlying roots of a chronic condition, rather than merely treating the surface-level symptoms.  

Dr. Harvey has transitioned his practice to an entirely virtual telehealth format—an evolution he breaks down in our first Community Spotlight of 2026.   

Natural Awakenings: What factors influenced your decision to transition Functional Medicine Florida from a brick-and-mortar space into an entirely virtual practice?  

Dr. Fred Harvey: This decision has been years in the making. In the pandemic, in-office healthcare became difficult to access, so regulatory agencies had to pivot and make high-quality virtual telehealth options more feasible.  

The work I do primarily centers around information—I gather it, interpret it, and tailor it into a structured care plan. I do not practice “medicine” in the conventional sense of doing physical exams to diagnose an acute illness, and I no longer perform in-office interventional procedures. Because of this, a physical brick-and-mortar location isn’t necessary for me to do effective, meaningful work with my patients. 

NA: What can both current and future patients expect from this new format, and how do you envision it reaching and benefiting even more folks as 2026 unfolds?  

Dr. Harvey: For current patients, the relationship does not fundamentally change—all that changes is the delivery method. We will meet through video telehealth appointments instead of in-office visits. The only service my practice offered onsite was laboratory tests, so moving forward, we will handle these with partner facilities or at-home options. 

Looking ahead to 2026, this virtual model will also expand access. Telehealth licenses and regulations now make it possible for me to see patients in more locations. Currently, with Florida licensure, I can practice telehealth in over 20 states. This increased reach means that more folks who need this type of care can receive it.  

NA: What services and modalities does Functional Medicine Florida offer, and can you describe what a typical virtual session might entail?  

Dr. Harvey: Functional Medicine Florida offers programs that focus on recovering function in chronic illness and optimizing wellness in those who want to improve their health trajectory. We work with complex conditions—Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, post-Lyme and post-COVID syndromes, vaccine injuries, mold toxicity, or other difficult-to-manage chronic patterns, which often do not respond well to a conventional acute-care model. 

Many of the folks I see have been told—either explicitly or implicitly—that a condition “in their head,” that no abnormalities can be found in conventional lab results, or to come back if a new symptom occurs. These are the patients who deserve a more complete investigation into their health status and a more functional path to healing. 

In my virtual practice, the first intake session is about two hours. It includes an extensive history and a thorough discussion of the issues a person is dealing with. Then, we follow this up with a review of metabolic and metabolomic testing to help clarify what is occurring inside the body, so we can establish how best to intervene. Next, we build a plan together—I do not believe in simply issuing orders, then hoping someone follows them. Implementation matters, and it works most effectively when the plan fits each unique patient.  

After the visit, a patient will receive written summaries, a post-consult instruction plan, and supplemental guidance to support the follow-through. Patients will also meet with a health coach to help them locate resources and facilitate real-world implementation.  

NA: The start of a New Year is often the season when folks resolve to take better care of their health—what would you tell someone who wants to make a positive lifestyle change in 2026, but might feel overwhelmed or unsure of where to start?  

Dr. Harvey: Start off simple with a change the body can sustain long-term. One of the healthiest actions that folks can implement—if they’re able—is walking. If you do not walk daily, begin there. Make it a priority to set aside 20 minutes each day for this new habit. That one intentional shift can improve your metabolic health, mood state, circulation, sleep quality, and overall resilience more than you might realize. You do not need a “perfect” plan to begin—you just need a manageable first step, consistently repeated.  

Dr. Fred Harvey is the Medical Director at Functional Medicine Florida. He is quadruple board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Functional Medicine, and Holistic-Integrative Medicine. Dr. Harvey brings decades of clinical insight to help patients nationwide recover from chronic illness, rebalance their systems, and thrive at every stage of life. He also hosts Tampa Bay’s number-one health program, The Healthy Steps Radio Show, where he shares real solutions for modern health challenges. To learn more or schedule a consultation, visit https://functionalmedicineflorida.com/