Finding the Root Cause. . .
As long as I can remember, I have had a holistic approach to health care and a strong belief that many of the chronic illnesses we see in today's society could be avoided with proper nutrition, the correct supplementation and lifestyle modification. Nutrition, optimal health and weight control have been of central importance in my life. For this reason, I went into public health before attending medical school. I believed this path would provide me with the information and experience I needed to practice preventive medicine. Furthermore, I wanted to be well versed in the basic scientific knowledge and thought an M.D. would supply me with this. However, in medical school I was told there was no literature that supported most of my beliefs. Now I know we do have the literature that supports my strong beliefs, I just did not have access to it.
Currently my clinical emphasis is on each patient's individual risk and addressing that in order to prevent disease. I especially enjoy “connecting the dots” between patient’s complaints and exam to find the root cause of their illness or dysfunction. This includes paying particular attention to a patient's family history, exposures, lifestyle habits and health issues in order to prevent or treat illnesses. This can be in the context of a chronic condition and also enjoy addressing the body as a whole and being able to treat most health problems for men and women with specific interest in nutrigeonmics, weight loss and hormone imbalances.
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Townsend Letter - October 2015: "Your Mood's Micromanager."
Townsend Letter - January 2014: "The Continuum of Insulin Resistance."
Townsend Letter - December 2013: "The Next Longevity Revolution: Estrogen Metabolism in Men."
Townsend Letter - December 2014: "Adrenal Dysfunction."
The Official Anti-Aging Revolution: A Physician's/Practitioner's Guide to Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine, 2nd Edition, 2013. Chapter 20, “The Continuum of Insulin Resistance.”
Encyclopedia of Clinical Anti-Aging Medicine & Regenerative Biomedical Technologies. 2012. Chapter 20, "The Continuum of Insulin Resistance."
Smart Life: Silicon Valley Health Institute – January, 2013: "Practical Detoxification."
Saude Actual - January 2015: "Disfunção Adrenal"
UCD School of Medicine Family Practice Student Research – April, 1993: “Farmworkers Opinions Regarding Pesticide Exposure.”
Family Practice Newsletter, UC Davis – March, 1993. “Why I Chose Family Practice.”
Border Health Journal - Vol.V No.3, 1989 (original research). “Heavy Metals in Sediments and Fish of the Tijuana Estuary.”
CMSA Newsletter – September, 1989. “The Watsonville Earthquake.”
MBRS/MARC Conference, Washington DC – April, 1984. “Energetics of Lactation of the Northern Elephant Seal: Poster Presentation.”
Clinica Tepati - 1990 “Model of a Student Run Clinic"
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Education:
Functional Medicine/Anti-aging fellowship 12/05 – 12/07.
Santa Rosa Community Hospital Family Practice Residency Program 7/93 - 6/96.
University of California Davis Med School 8/88 - 6/93 M.D.
San Diego State University 1/87 - 7/88 M.P.H. in Environmental Health, electives in Epidemiology.
University of California Santa Cruz 9/80 - 6/85 B.A. in Biology. Honors: Most Outstanding Alumni - UCSC 6/04.
Scholarship to attend course Harvard School of Public Health for non-profit org. 3/02.
Elected by Chief of Staff to serve on Ethics Committee of Watsonville Community Hospital 1/98 - 3/2000.
American Dream Award 4/98. Elected to be part of exchange program with Family Practice Department at the Saga Medical Center in Saga City Japan 5/97.
"Japanese Connection" trophy for residency graduating class 6/96.
Resident with most Community Service (Cesar Chavez Award) 6/96.
Organized the 5th Annual Latino Health Conference in Sonoma County 3/96.
Project Hope - developed and implemented a hospital certification course for lay midwives working in very rural areas in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala 4/95.
Residency Selection Committee 9/93 - 6/96.
"Most Outstanding Graduating Medical Student in Family Practice" UCD 6/93.
Elected Co-Director of Clinica Tepati - the only completely student run clinic in the U.S. 4/89 - 3/90.
AAFP Minority Scholarship7/91 and 7/92. Chico Community Hospital Scholarship for three years (88-89, 91-93).
Elected by peers & Dean of Student Affairs to serve on the Minority Admissions Committee for 1991 entering class to UCD School of Medicine.
Award for Outstanding Commitment - Clinica Tepati 1990.
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Teaching site for UCD FNP/PA program and Stanford PA program 1998 - present. v
UCSC Alumni Executive Board: VP of Administration 4/04 - present, Chair of Outreach Committee 2002 - 2004
Alumni council member 2001 - present.
Portuguese Radio Show at KLBS/KSQQ and Monterey Los Banos discussing health issues for 1 hour monthly.
Translator for Portuguese and Spanish speaking immigrants through various community organizations.
Speaker / Presenter for various universities, colleges, high school and grammar school students in my community encouraging them to seek a higher education.
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Faculty: Fellowship in Regenerative and Functional Medicine 2009-present.
Faculty: IFM (Institute for Functional Medicine) 02/07-present.
Speaker: Genova Diagnostics 11/09 – present.
Private practice: functional medicine and nutrition 2/04 - present.
Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center (non-profit; part-time) 3/04 - present.
Medical Director: San Benito Health Foundation non-profit rural clinic serving the underserved farmworkers of San Benito County 2/99 - 8/03.
Physician: Plazita Medical Clinic, a very busy private practice catering to the needs of farmworkers in Watsonville, CA.
Duties included preventive, urgent care, colposcopy, minor surgery, supervising 2 to 3 PA'S while seeing patients.
Also simultaneously performing hospital admissions, surgical assisting, newborn exams, covering call for our group and the emergency room, caring for 7 to15 nursing home patients and doing home visits on a few patients 9/96 - present.
Locum Tenems at Santa Cruz Women's Health Center 4/96.
Moonlighting Alianza Medical Center 4/95 - 7/96.
Mentor: Developed and implemented a high school mentoring project with the SR FP Residents 8/93 - 6/96.
Teacher: Co-taught a lower division class (family Practice 80C) to undergraduate students participating in Clinica Tepati spring 1989 and winter 1990.
Laboratory Researcher: Applied Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry to identify and quantitate heavy metals in water, sediment and fish 1/87 - 6/88.
Income Tax Preparer 12/85 - 5/87.
Research Assistant: Applying High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to qualitate and quantitate protein and amino acid composition of the Northern Elephant Seal milk 6/81 - 9/85.
Tutor and University recruiter: Educational Opportunity Program UCSC 9/83 - 6/85.
Health Educator: Taught health and hygiene (in Spanish) to students K-12 and adults at Migrant Camps Medi-Corps 6/81 - 9/81.
Farmworker: Seasonal field laborer as a child and from 3/78 - 9/86.
Testimonials
“I started seeing Dr. Filomena Trindade in 2004. She had me do blood work and other tests so she could accurately assess my hormone levels. She worked with me on hormone balance. She also had me do a food elimination diet to determine which foods I had sensitivities to.
In the 12 years I have been a patient of Dr. Trindade’s, she has helped me tremendously. She is always very kind and is a great listener. I have recommended her to my daughters and many friends. They have all been very pleased with the medical care and encouragement she has provided them.
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“Being under the care of Dr Trindade has been the best decision I have made in my medical treatment. I had been struggling with peri menopausal symptoms for years when I found Dr Trindade. She worked so patiently and efficiently with me and immediately had a treatment plan to deal with my symptoms. Dr Trindade is also up to date on the most current medical research and is continuously applying her knowledge into your treatment plan. Dr Trindade has managed to bring balance back to my body and my life, and I cannot imagine where I would be had I not found her! ”
“When I think of my blessings, I think of my husband, my health, and you. You give one of the most precious gifts there is - that is, the gift of health. The hormones seem perfect. The vitamins seem to be increasing my energy and making life good.
I worked so hard to find you. I had to go to A4M Las Vegas conference in December 2016 and to communicate with Dr. Smith who recommended I see you. And, from my perspective, it is a perfect fit.”
“I spent many years feeling extremely anxious for no reason, and felt like I had no energy, and had gained a lot of weight. I went to see many practitioners, that wanted to prescribe anxiety medication and antidepressants. I was young, and didn’t know any other options, so I tried everything that was given to me. The pharmaceutical drugs made me feel sedated, and I gained a lot of weight. I continued to search for help knowing that there was a biological reason for my symptoms that needed to be addressed. Dr. Trindade knows how to read thyroid tests differently then most Doctors. She found a thyroid problem, B12 deficiency, Vitamin D deficiency, and adrenal fatigue. Very quickly after my first visit, and finishing all the testing did I start to feel good again. I was amazed! I couldn’t believe how much better I felt even with the first pill of natural thyroid. Following her nutritional guidance was often challenging, but worth it!
To be successful to regain your health with Dr. Trindade, you have to be committed, and willing to change your diet, take nutritional supplements, and follow her lead. It won’t always be easy, but it will certainly be worth it! You will regain your health and vitality. I wish all Doctors were trained in Functional Medicine, and had her intelligence and compassion.”
“Over the past 4 years, I have been honored to learn from Dr Trindade . When i have a case that is particularly chaellenging, she has the distinct ability to weave together all the elements that are driving the problem. Dr Trindade helps provide the fresh eyes and insights that we often need when dealinig with comple diseae. She is on the cutting edge of new research and treatments which ii find so valuable as tools to help my patients succeed in regaining their helath.
As if this was not enough, the retreat on the beautiful island of Sao Jorge where Dr Trindade grew up, is another opportunity to really dive deep into a systems bology way of thinking. Learning the hormonal symphony as it is explained so elegantly by Filomena, gives you deetails and interaction of the endocrine system not taught in any other place. I truly believe if yooou want to beomce an excelleent functional medicine clinician, learning from Dr Trindade is an opportunity you do not want to miss.”