FACTS Conference Speaker Highlight: Sarah Murray, MD
A Pioneer in Functional and Reproductive Medicine
By: Molly Franzonello
Director’s Note: In anticipation of our upcoming FACTS conference in Philadelphia on September 19 and our virtual conference on October 18th and 19th, we are continuing our conference speaker series. This month, we are delighted to introduce Dr. Sarah Murray, a board-certified family medicine physician. I have had the pleasure of mentoring Sarah since she was a medical student at Georgetown University and have continued to collaborate with her professionally since then. Dr. Murray thrives at the intersection of patient care and educational outreach, particularly through her active role with FACTS. Dr. Murray’s leadership was instrumental in contributing to the initial FACTS elective at Georgetown and developing our FACTS Speaker program. Please join us on September 19th in Philadelphia to hear Dr. Murray speak about lifestyle factors that may affect fertility at the FACTS FMEC Pre-Conference.
A Holistic Approach to Family Medicine
From an early age, Dr. Murray’s passion for science and a desire to help others steered her towards a career in medicine. Today, she practices in a primary care setting affiliated with Atlantic Health in New Jersey and runs her own practice, Cura Functional Medicine. The practice champions a holistic, functional medicine-based approach inspired by the idea of “cura personalis,” or care for the whole person, and perfectly reflects her commitment to treating individuals, not just symptoms.
Advancing Functional Medicine Through Personalized Care
Dr. Murray considers functional medicine a professional calling, inspired in part by having learned about FABMs in medical school. She completed her certification with the Institute for Functional Medicine in 2021 and is grateful to provide comprehensive and transformative care that considers the whole person. Cura Functional Medicine extends beyond traditional settings, including telehealth and home visits, and offers customized treatment plans tailored to each unique patient. This innovative approach is bolstered by the guidance and support she receives as a new small business owner from SCORE, a resource affiliated with the Small Business Association that helps her focus on immediate goals and her practice’s long-term growth.
“Dr. Murray considers functional medicine a professional calling, inspired in part by having learned about FABMs in medical school.”
Integrating Fertility and Overall Health
Dr. Murray’s expertise in alternatives to traditional fertility treatments through restorative reproductive medicine (RRM) and fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) is reinforced by the functional medicine model of care. Dr. Murray said, “restorative reproductive medicine is to fertility as functional medicine is to whole body health, whole body medicine.” This philosophy underscores her belief in the interconnectedness of bodily systems and the importance of holistic well-being in enhancing fertility outcomes.
“Restorative reproductive medicine is to fertility as functional medicine is to whole body health, whole body medicine.”
Dr. Murray described how one couple’s success story illustrated the impact of her methods.
“We started treating them from a functional medicine standpoint first, optimizing their metabolic health, testing their gut health and cleaning it up,” she said. “Then they got pregnant naturally before we even started the hardcore RRM interventions.”
Dr. Murray has also authored a series of blogs on cervical mucus for FACTS, further educating the medical community on its crucial role in fertility awareness. Read the first in the series here. Dr. Murray advocates for a shift to broaden the education of alternative fertility treatments earlier in life. She dreams of expanding her practice to include more community-oriented services.
A Balanced Life: Fulfillment in Both Personal and Professional Realms
Dr. Murray is a dedicated physician and a mother of three. She strives to maintain the balance she consistently advocates for her patients. Her role allows her to deeply engage with her family while providing exceptional care to her patients. Dr. Murray is excited about the potential to integrate functional and reproductive medicine further, enhancing patient well-being and contributing to a more holistic healthcare landscape. Her ongoing involvement with FACTS underscores her commitment to sharing her expertise with the next generation of medical professionals. Dr. Murray enhances individual health outcomes and contributes significantly to the evolving healthcare landscape, emphasizing preventive and integrative care strategies.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Molly Franzonello
Molly Franzonello is the FACTS Communications & Social Media Coordinator. Molly brings extensive experience in health care management, program design, and health policy, holding a MS in Nursing and a Master of Health Administration. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Midwifery at Columbia University’s School of Nursing. She previously served as a Health Equity Specialist at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, working on ways to reduce maternal mortality through a special project. Molly contributed to the Defense Health Agency in several roles, improving access to primary care clinics. She will create engaging content and co-manage our online presence to promote fertility awareness and looks forward to continuing to advance healthcare through education!
Meet Dr. Sarah Murray and the FACTS team at the upcoming FMEC preconference! Be sure to register by September 10th!
