I see both Anisa Woodall and Dr. Mark Woodall at CIM and can't speak highly enough of them!
I have a rather complex medical history with chronic migraines and associated neurological symptoms being my chief complaint. After 15+ years of desperately seeking relief, trying everything any of the many doctors and specailists I saw over the years suggested, and hearing, "Sorry, there's nothing more I can do for you" more times than I can count, my husband found a book about adopting a ketogenic diet to treat migraines (which had never been mentioned to me by anyone in the medical community). I followed the guidelines in the book but really wanted more personalized guidance, which is when I was referred to Anisa. Anisa is unlike any nutritionist I've ever seen (and I've seen a handful); she is a rare gem!
Anisa's approach is that of a partner in health instead of that of a dictator. She has always listened to my specific goals and given me the guidance I needed to achieve them. Unlike my experiences with other nutritionists and dieticians, I've never felt like Anisa was giving me rules I had to follow or like I would get in trouble if I didn't stick to her recommendations. Instead, she's able to fill in the gaps in my knowledge and help customize a plan that works for me and my unique body. She also strikes a great balance of pushing me to try new things without nagging. I'm slowly becoming a more adventurous eater and a better cook because of her.
I was immediately impressed by how knowledgeable Anisa is (she has answers to all of my questions!) and how up to date she is on nutrition; she doesn't push the low fat, low cholesterol, and whole grains mantra that I had to fight about with my previous dieticians (even not too long ago while Anisa was on maternity leave). From the beginning, Anisa was eager to help me with a ketogenic diet, and all of her recommendations were in line with what I'd heard in the keto community but was still being advised against by my then-doctors. When I recently decided to further hone my diet and go carnivore/zero-carb, Anisa was again very supportive and has been a tremendous help in making that transition.
Though Anisa has been working with me in a somewhat niche area of nutrition, I honestly believe that she would skillfully meet anyone where they're at on their health journey and help them meet their goals in a way that is suitable to them; she is not at all stuck in a one-size-fits-all model!
I've been seeing Dr. Woodall for about a year now. Once again at the point of "There's nothing more I can do for you," my husband recommended I give Dr. Woodall a try (which in and of itself is high praise!). I was, admittedly, skeptical that Dr. Woodall could help me, but during my initial consultation with him, as he listened to my medical history, he was jotting lists of things to try and avenues to pursue (none of which had been mentioned by any of my previous doctors). The breadth and depth of his medical knowledge is unparalleled. He gave me renewed optimism after having largely lost faith in doctors as a whole.
Dr. Woodall is the first doctor to see me as a whole, interconnected person and not merely a list of symptoms that he can throw pills at. He addresses all of my ailments and has an extraordinary ability to connect all of the dots. He never dismisses any individual symptom as just another aspect of my migraines. He is doggedly committed to figuring out what is actually wrong and fixing it rather than merely alleviating symptoms and has figured out that, among other things, I have both Bartonella and a mycotoxin issue that have gone undiagnosed and untreated for years, possibly decades.
Dr. Woodall is also very conscientious of the fact that I, like each of his patients, am a unique individual. It is not uncommon for him to tell me what the standard protocol for a particular issue would be and then to enumerate why he's hesitant to go that route with me before proposing a more cautious approach. This level of detail and concern is unprecedented, yet comes naturally to Dr. Woodall (he was actually surprised to find out other doctors aren't like that).
Dr. Woodall is thorough not only in his evaluations, but also in his explanations; he makes sure that I understand his thought processes and lab results before I leave the office. He also makes sure to include me in any decision-making, asking for my insights and opinions; I feel like I have a say in everything we do. Dr. Woodall is great about working closely with me, seeing me frequently enough to address all of my concerns and monitor my progress.
Dr. Woodall has a great bedside manner and ease about him. He is passionate about what he does gets visibly excited anytime we figure out another piece of the puzzle. He cares about my overall wellbeing and is genuinely happy any time I come into his office feeling better than the last time he saw me. Dr. Woodall is, by far, the best doctor I've ever had! read more
