Yoon Hang Kim MD, MPH  Integrative Functional Medicine

IV Hydration in Georgia: What the Composite Medical Board’s 2026 Position Statement Means for Clinics and Clinicians A clinical and regulatory roadmap for compliant IV therapy practice in Georgia. Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician www.directintegrativecare.com IV hydration and “drip bar” services have become a fixture of the wellness economy. They are marketed on social media as quick fixes for fatigue,

Regulatory Update Telemedicine Prescribing of Controlled Substances in 2026: What Clinicians Need to Know — With a Focus on Testosterone Therapy Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH | Direct Integrative Care MEDICAL & LEGAL DISCLAIMER I am a physician, not an attorney. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. Readers who need guidance on how these rules apply to their specific practice or situation should consult a qualified health care attorney before acting. This article is f

When the Line Gets Crossed Board Actions Against Functional Coaches, RNs, and Social Workers for the Unlicensed Practice of Medicine in Texas, California, New York, and Florida A Clinical & Regulatory Briefing | www.yoonhangkim.com | April 2026 Why This Question Matters Now The functional and integrative medicine space has exploded into a crowded marketplace where the title on the door does not always match the license behind it. Nurses, health coaches, social workers, a

by Yoon Hang Kim MD www.directintegrativecare.com How Does Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) Function as an Endorphin Blocker? Low dose naltrexone works through a counterintuitive mechanism: it temporarily blocks the very system it ultimately aims to strengthen. Understanding this paradox is essential to making sense of why some patients experience a rough adjustment period before meaningful relief arrives. Naltrexone, at standard doses (50mg+), is prescribed to treat opioid and alc

By Yoon Hang "John" Kim, MD, MPH — Board-Certified Preventive Medicine Physician specializing in Integrative and Functional Medicine | www.directintegrativecare.com Most of the Floridians who find their way to my practice have already been somewhere else first. Usually several somewhere elses. They've seen the primary care doctor, the gastroenterologist, the rheumatologist, the pain clinic, and maybe a wellness spa or two. They arrive tired — not just physically, but tired of

A practical, three-part framework covering brand positioning, patient acquisition, and 90-day launch execution — written for clinicians building sustainable, cash-pay integrative practices. By Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH | directintegrativecare.com ⚠ MEDICAL & BUSINESS DISCLAIMER This article is intended for licensed healthcare professionals and reflects the author’s clinical and practice-development experience. It does not constitute legal, financial, or regulatory advice. Ph

Published: March 2026 | Regulatory Basis: Minnesota Statutes Ch. 148, 62A, 147; Minn. Stat. § 319B; Federal DEA Regulations ⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE — PLEASE READ BEFORE PROCEEDING This article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It was prepared using publicly available resources, including Minnesota statutes, state board publications, federal agency guidance, and publicly accessible healthcare law firm blogs and commentary. This article does NOT c

Understanding AI in Medicine: The Crucial Principle of GIGO By Yoon Hang Kim MD MPH Over the past year, I have dedicated an hour a day to engaging with various AI models. Throughout this journey, one principle has consistently emerged: GIGO—“garbage in, garbage out.” This simple yet profound concept is particularly relevant in the realm of medical AI, where the quality of input, the structure of workflows, and the verification processes are essential determinants of the relia

⚠ CRITICAL LEGAL DISCLAIMER This article is provided for EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. It does NOT constitute legal advice and should NOT be relied upon as such. The information herein is based on publicly available statutes, regulations, and secondary sources and may not reflect the most current legal developments. BEFORE making any decisions regarding practice structure, clinic operations, or regulatory compliance, you MUST consult with a qualified healthcare

Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board Certified in Preventive Medicine Diplomate of American Board of Medical Acupuncture Diplomate of American Board of Holistic & Integrative Medicine Scalp Acupuncture - with electric stimulation representation Abstract Depression remains a leading cause of disability worldwide, and a substantial proportion of patients do not achieve adequate remission with first-line pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy alone. This has prompted growing interest in neur

PEPTIDES IN CLINICAL PRACTICE: Feb 2026 Risk Analysis and Compliance Framework for Physician-Owners FDA-Unregulated Substances: Dispensing, Administering, and Navigating the 2025–2026 Enforcement Landscape Yoon Hang “John” Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine February 2026 ABSTRACT Background: The U.S. regulatory landscape for peptide therapies has undergone a fundamental transformation between 2024 and early 2026. The FDA’s reclassification of widely used well

A Personal Journey By Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH, FAAMA Cancer changed the trajectory of my life long before I ever became a doctor. When a close family member was diagnosed with breast cancer, I wasn’t thinking about “integrative oncology.” That term didn’t even exist yet. I was thinking about one thing: how do we help her survive? That desperation led me to Dr. Bernie Siegel. My First Teacher: Dr. Bernie Siegel Dr. Siegel, a Yale University surgeon and author of Love, Medicine,

By Yoon Hang "John" Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine | Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician February 2026 Successful Integrative Medicine in Health Care Systems What Actually Works—and What Doesn't—When You Build an Integrative Medicine Progr0am at a Rural Hospital I have built integrative medicine programs inside a nationally ranked cancer center, an academic medical school, one of the largest managed care organizations in the country, the VA system

Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Board Certified in Preventive Medicine Residential Fellowship Trained Integrative Medicine Physician Institute of Functional Medicine Scholarship Recipient www.directintegrativecare.com Something is shifting in American medicine, and it goes well beyond the usual complaints about paperwork and burnout. A growing number of physicians—especially those in direct primary care (DPC), cash-pay models, and independent integrative practices—are asking a questi

From Pet to Threat: Integrative Medicine Directors - Celebrated, Abused, and Discarded By Yoon Hang “John” Kim, MD, MPH Board-Certified Integrative Medicine Physician February 2026 The phone call always starts the same way. A hospital CEO, a department chair, or a health system president reaches out with unmistakable enthusiasm. They’ve been reading about integrative medicine. Their patients are asking for it. Their competitors are offering it. They want to launch a program—s

Summary Dr. James S. Gordon, a Harvard-educated psychiatrist and founder of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM), has pioneered an evidence-based approach to healing trauma that has helped hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. His methods, developed over 50 years of clinical experience, combine ancient wisdom with modern neuroscience to address the biological and psychological damage caused by trauma. This article explores three core CMBM techniques: Soft Belly Breat

By Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH If you're reading this, you've probably felt what many of us have felt: the quiet frustration of writing another prescription when you know the patient needs something more. The administrative burden. The fifteen-minute visits that leave no room for the conversations that actually matter. The gnawing sense that medical school prepared you for disease management but not for healing. I've been there. And I've spent years building a different kind of pr

January 2025 Update DISCLAIMER: This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulatory status of peptides changes frequently. Always verify current FDA guidance and consult legal counsel before compounding. Document compiled: January 2025 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Legal Pathways for Peptide Compounding 2. Category 1 Peptides (Can Be Compounded) 3. Previously FDA-Approved Peptides 4. Category 2 Peptides (Prohibited) 5. PCAC December 2024 O

A Critical Review of Preclinical Evidence and Emerging Clinical Data Abstract Ivermectin, a 16-membered macrocyclic lactone originally developed as an antiparasitic agent, has garnered substantial interest as a potential repurposed anticancer drug. Preclinical studies demonstrate that ivermectin exhibits antitumor activity across numerous cancer cell lines and animal models through multiple mechanistic pathways, including modulation of Wnt/β-catenin, PAK1/Akt/mTOR, and YAP1 s

Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH Abstract Most patients assume that if something is sold at a health food store or online as a "supplement," it must be safe. After more than two decades in integrative medicine, I can tell you this assumption gets people into trouble every week. This review covers the supplements I see most commonly abused in clinical practice—stimulants marketed for weight loss, GABAergic substances like phenibut that cause rapid dependence, and kratom with its opioid-