Gina Cushman, NMD, PhD is a licensed naturopathic medical doctor, president emeritus of the California Naturopathic Doctors Association, board member of the California Citizens for Health Freedom, owner and founder of HealthBridge Medical Center and HealthBridge Management LLC, and physician spokesperson for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the American College for Advancement in Medicine, and the California Citizens for Health Freedom’s Cancer Bill. A recognized leader in the field of integrative medicine, Dr. Gina is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles where she received college and Latin honors and a graduate of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences where she was awarded her doctorate degree at the age of 23 and received distinguished honors for her work in nutritional biochemistry, homeopathy and herbal medicine. Dr. Gina is a featured expert on the cable TV show Fine Living Network (HGTV) and on PBS, and is often quoted as an expert in popular women’s and health magazines.
 
Health E-Insights: Share some of the attributes of HealthBridge Medical Center.
 
Dr. Gina: HealthBridge Medical Center in Newport Beach, CA offers comprehensive integrative and preventive healthcare for men, women and children, with a focus on treating the underlying cause of health challenges instead of masking or suppressing symptoms. For example, if a patient comes to our center with the symptom of a headache, we do not routinely prescribe aspirin to resolve the headache. Instead, we diagnose and treat the underlying physical reason why the patient has the headache in the first place, by utilizing innovative lab testing and symptom analyses that point to the root cause of the symptoms. By doing so, we resolve the patient’s condition rather than masking or suppressing the symptom with potentially damaging chemicals. HealthBridge Medical Center is moving beyond the existing medical paradigm, incorporating advanced and innovative diagnostic and treatment strategies that address key foundational and underlying causes of the most prevalent and debilitating symptoms that people in the U.S. experience today. 
 
Health E-Insights: You’ve trained over 10,000 medical doctors and other healthcare professionals about integrative medicine, natural detoxification therapies and natural treatments. That’s a lot of docs.
 
Dr. Gina: Actually, now the number is increased to about 300,000 doctors and healthcare professionals. Through my consulting firm, HealthBridge Management, LLC I deliver live continuing medical education seminars online, with international attendance, where we discuss integrative medical treatments used in practice.
 
Health E-Insights: What’s your take on medical doctors fully embracing dietary supplements?
 
Dr. Gina: Most medical doctors recommend at least some form of dietary supplementation to their patients. I work beside a seasoned medical doctor in our office at HealthBridge Medical Center who is very supportive and interested, because she sees the benefit and interest in her patients. The general attitude is changing, where there is a greater respect for the value that supplements bring to the healthcare industry, offering affordable, safe and effective solutions, particularly when prescribed by a physician trained in the efficacious use of dietary supplements to prevent and treat disease. Appropriate lab testing makes a major difference when it comes to creating a supplement protocol and seeing results with the use of dietary supplements.
 
Health E-Insights: What do supplement manufacturers need to do have a respective presence within the health professional marketplace?
 
Dr. Gina: My consulting firm specializes in this medical marketing category. Here are the steps where HealthBridge sees the greatest return on investment, in our evolving healthcare system. First, sponsor Continuing Medical Education (CME) seminars where a physician can discuss, first hand, peer to peer, his or her clinical experience with the products, going into what the appropriate lab tests are, to diagnose, and monitor progress using supplements. If you can get them approved for live online continuing education credits, you have an ace. Doctors can then receive their live required credit hours in the convenience of their home or practice, without the hassle and added expense of travel. Next, run private practitioner research studies on the products…cost effective, doable and extremely valuable—particularly when a physician shares those results in a CME presentation. Just be sure that the doctor, who runs the study, and the consultant managing the study, are skilled in design, management and completion of a research study. Otherwise, you waste time and money. And third, hire a doctor to formulate and/or endorse existing supplements in your company’s line.
 
Health E-Insights: What supplements do you recommend to your patients?
 
Dr. Gina: I have a pretty extensive pallet of supplements that I draw from to create an individualized protocol for each patient. Having been a medical consultant in the natural products industry for the past 15 years or so, I’m particular about what we offer our patients. The vast majority comes from manufacturers that cater to the healthcare practitioner market. The most recent additions are BRM4 and Plasmanex1 (Daiwa Health Development).
 
Health E-Insights: Of all your talents and successes, what do you want to be remembered for?
 
Dr. Gina: Somehow, by the grace of God, finding and emulating balance in life, and sharing that treasure with patients and corporate clients.
 
Health E-Insights: You’re based in almost always sunny Laguna Beach. Do you surf?
 
Dr. Gina: Yes!
 
Health E-Insights: Do you have a favorite participation sport?
 
Dr. Gina: Yoga is a favorite, and surfing and swimming in the ocean is a close second. However, we’re looking at opening a medical practice in Hawaii, so surfing may take first position.
 
Sheldon Baker wants to interview you. For more information contact Sheldon at [email protected]. And visit his website at www.bakerdillon.com and blog at www.NutraInk.com.