Having practiced a plant based diet for numerous years, Dr. Shayla Toombs-Withers has strived to incorporate her lifestyle into educating her patients in how to improve and overcome their chronic diseases as a Family Physician. She founded Essence of Health Wellness Clinic & Coaching in Chattanooga, TN in 2019 so that she could combine her deep knowledge of medicine, plant based nutrition, and athletic training to provide Preventative and Chronic Care to her patients using a unique concierge model of care. Dr. Toombs-Withers earned a Doctorate Degree in Osteopathic Medicine from the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed Residency training in Family Medicine at The University of Cincinnati and Christ Hospital. She has also completed additional Fellowship Training in Obesity Medicine, is Certified by The Menopause Society (Formerly NAMS), is a Certified Functional Medicine Physician through The Institute For Functional Medicine (IFM), and holds a Certificate of Plant Based Nutrition. Her basis for health are in line with two of her favorite quotes “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and “let food be thy medicine.”