Most of the time, we don’t head to the doctor until something is wrong. We get a cold, a fever or an injury. At EveresT Men’s Health in Woodbury, the team is trying to switch that thinking, with a focus on preventative care. “All the time you’ll hear people, particularly politicians, talk about how important preventative medicine is,” says Aaron Davis, M.D. and CEO of EveresT. “Unfortunately, in today’s world, while we recognize the importance, our general health care system is really much more of a disease-oriented, symptom-based, reactive model.”
The preventative angle is just the start of what makes EveresT different from your average clinic. “We look at some credible physiological markers that are important for a man’s physiological function and health,” Davis says. They also place an emphasis on the treatment of low testosterone.
At EveresT, the team of doctors has a collective expertise in men’s health, with an emphasis on proper medical management for testing and treating men with low testosterone. “In men’s health, when you have deficient levels, correcting those levels has a very significant influence in a wide variety of areas in a man’s experience,” Davis says. Low testosterone can cause a decline in energy, motivation and libido, which can negatively affect a man’s health, work and personal relationships.
“We look at testosterone levels on every man and make proper decisions as to whether or not the patient is appropriate for testosterone replacement,” because it’s not a cure-all, Davis says. If they do start treatment, it then gives EveresT the opportunity to guide patients to make improvements in nutrition and exercise, and to look at all areas of health, like “whether or not they have added risk for cardiovascular disease, or early signs of Type II diabetes.”
They also look for other physiological markers, like a vitamin D deficiency, which is pretty common, he says. From the markers, they can take a look at the more conventional framework of disease states, whether “someone has high blood pressure, high cholesterol, evidence of blood sugar dysregulation,” or other ailments, Davis says. They then bring in personalized guidance on nutrition, exercise, lifestyle and medical intervention if necessary. “The goal here is to ultimately address physiological function to get a shift in energy early on, then guide them to apply the energy and behavioral changes which are critical to sustain health and ultimately educate them.”
Tom Joles, a doctor at EveresT, says that testosterone replacement is just one aspect of what EveresT does, but “I think it’s an important physiological marker that a lot of mainstream medicine disregards.” But, he says, don’t come in expecting a miracle cure. The doctors want you to do something with the energy you regain with treatment. “It tends to be a commitment. It tends to be a lifestyle change,” Joles says.
The lifestyle change is made a little easier with its Woodbury location, chosen by Davis, who lives in Indianapolis. “I found this property and thought, ‘Well, this is a beautiful facility; it’s accessible.’” People he spoke to told him, “You know Woodbury is a wonderful area that is growing rapidly.”
The clinic also offers general medical care, Davis points out. “If they wake up with a sore throat they can call in.” And the perks of a small clinic include being able to make same-day appointments.
