Smitha C. Reddy, MD

Smitha C. Reddy, MDBoard-Certified Rheumatologist
Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner

Smitha C. Reddy, MDBoard-Certified Rheumatologist
Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner

Functional Medicine Physician | Based in Poway, California.

Dr. Smitha Reddy is a board-certified Functional Medicine physician and is also board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, based in Poway, California, serving patients throughout San Diego County and surrounding communities. She is passionate about lifelong learning and delivering patient-centered care, focusing on identifying and treating the root causes of chronic disease, inflammation, and immune imbalance–rather than simply managing symptoms.

Her interest in Functional Medicine is deeply personal. She initially became interested in Lifestyle Medicine to support her family’s health and needs, which led her to develop a strong passion for exploring root-cause approaches to chronic disease and immune health. This journey inspired her to combine her expertise in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology with Functional Medicine to provide truly comprehensive, individualized care.

While caring for patients with complex rheumatologic and autoimmune conditions, Dr. Reddy pursued advanced training and certification in Functional and Integrative Medicine and has remained committed to ongoing clinical education and research. Although new medications continue to advance the treatment of autoimmune disease, she observed that integrating functional and lifestyle-based approaches often led to better outcomes, improved medication tolerance, and enhanced overall well-being.

Functional Medicine also allowed her to go a step further–not only helping manage symptoms, but also addressing the underlying drivers of autoimmunity, with the goal of reducing chronic inflammation and, when possible, decreasing medication burden, while supporting long-term immune resilience.

This vision led to the founding of the Functional Health Institute in October 2024, created to deliver highly specialized Functional Medicine care focused on sustainable, actionable steps that empower individuals to take ownership of their health journey.

Her Functional Medicine programs are designed to encourage patients to take the first steps toward better health, and then to sustain those improvements through structured maintenance programs. The focus is on education and personalized coaching, alongside targeted, evidencebased supplementation to support healing and long-term wellness.

Practicing in San Diego County since 2010, Dr. Reddy combines a strong foundation in evidence-based Internal Medicine with advanced Functional Medicine training to help individuals facing autoimmune conditions, chronic inflammation, fatigue, metabolic dysfunction, and other complex chronic health concerns. Known for her compassionate and educational approach, she empowers patients to understand their health and actively participate in their longterm healing journey.

The Functional Health Institute Mission

The Functional Health Institute, based in Poway, California, is dedicated to restoring balance, preventing chronic disease, and empowering individuals through personalized, sustainable care rooted in Functional Medicine. We believe that every patient is unique and deserves an approach that considers their genetics, environment, lifestyle, nutrition, and stress physiology.

Through mentorship, education, and advanced diagnostic testing, we partner with patients to create individualized, sustainable health plans that support long-term wellness. Our focus is on root-cause solutions, not short-term symptom management. Helping patients build the knowledge, habits, and resilience needed for lifelong health.

Our goal is to deliver truly personalized, sustainable care through Functional Medicine, supporting healing, prevention, and long-term vitality.