Mitochondria Through the Lens of the Gut-Heart-Brain Axis
Building upon the foundational concepts introduced in the virtual event, this Deep Dive Series expands into a more detailed and clinically focused exploration of mitochondrial health through the interconnected lens of the Gut-Heart-Brain Axis. This advanced series is designed to translate systems biology into practical, patient-centered applications across key stages of life and clinical presentations.
As research continues to highlight the growing burden of chronic disease—particularly cardiovascular and metabolic conditions in women—there is an increasing need to understand how mitochondrial function influences health outcomes across the lifespan. This series explores how disruptions within the gut, heart, brain, and nervous system contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction, and how targeted interventions can restore balance and resilience.
Each session provides a deeper examination of specific clinical domains, offering actionable insights and strategies that practitioners can integrate into care models immediately.
Session Overview:
- Session 1: The Origins of Lifelong Mitochondrial Health: The Placental Powerhouse and the Gut-Mitochondrial Axis” – Emily Rydbom, MDH, BCHN, CNP
Explore the critical role of mitochondrial function in placental biology and the impact on the gut-mitochondrial axis. - Session 2: The Power of the Heart-Brain-Mito Connection in Clinical Practice
Sanjay Bhojraj, MD
A clinical exploration of the heart-brain-mitochondrial connection, with emphasis on women’s cardiovascular health and its implications for long-term vitality. - Session 3: Leveraging the Vagus-Mitochondrial Connection: Sending Signals of Safety to Heal
Navaz Habib, DC
Understand the role of the vagus nerve in mitochondrial regulation and how nervous system signaling can influence healing and resilience. - Session 4: Menopause, Mitochondria & Metabolic Flexibility – The Path to Vital Aging
Monique Class, APRN-BC
Examine the intersection of hormonal transitions, mitochondrial function, and metabolic health in supporting healthy aging. - Session 5: Panel Discussion
Led by Lisa Portera, DC
An integrative discussion synthesizing key themes across sessions, highlighting clinical applications and future directions.
This Deep Dive Series equips practitioners with a comprehensive, systems-based framework to better understand and address mitochondrial dysfunction, empowering more precise and effective interventions in clinical practice.
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Event Information
This Deep Dive is exclusive content available to members. Become a member for access.
Speakers
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Lisa Portera, DC, IFMCPDr. Lisa Portera is an integrative Doctor of Chiropractic with more than three decades of clinical experience, specializing in chronic, complex inflammatory conditions, autoimmune disorders, and chronic pain.
She is a respected and passionate educator in functional and integrative medicine, serving as faculty for Bastyr University, California, and contributing to The Institute for Functional Medicine’s Bioenergetics Advanced Practice Module. Her work focuses on mitochondrial health and its role in nervous system regulation, sleep, metabolic health, and the gut–brain–mitochondrial connection in chronic pain and fatigue.
Dr. Portera serves on IFM’s clinical mentor team, working closely with military physicians through the National Capital Regional Pain Initiative (NCRPI) at Walter Reed Medical Center, advancing systems biology–based approaches to chronic pain care. She is also certified in Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), with a focus on patients experiencing chronic nociplastic pain.
Currently the Director of Clinical Education and Research at Researched Nutritionals, Dr. Portera is widely recognized for her unique ability to “connect the clinical dots”—translating complex science into practical, impactful strategies that clinicians can immediately apply.
Her work is grounded in the understanding of mitochondria as intelligent cellular messengers, orchestrating resilience, nervous system balance, and the body’s capacity to heal. Through the application of nutrition and lifestyle medicine, she empowers practitioners and patients alike to cultivate a state of cellular safety and adaptability—creating the foundation for meaningful, lasting transformation.
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Sanjay Bhojraj, MDSanjay Bhojraj, MD is an interventional cardiologist and nationally recognized leader in functional and integrative cardiology. He is certified in Functional Medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine and serves as a faculty speaker for IFM and several other national organizations. Dr. Bhojraj specializes in cardiometabolic optimization, mitochondrial health, redox biology, and longevity-focused cardiovascular prevention. He is the founder of the Well12 Program and host of The Curious Cardiologist podcast, where he translates cutting-edge science into practical strategies for improving heart health and resilience across the lifespan.
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Emily Rydbom, BCHN, CNP, MDHcEmily Stone Rydbom, BCHN, CNP, and Master of Digital Health candidate, is a nationally recognized Board Certified Holistic Nutritionist, clinical nutrition consultant, and scientific advisor specializing in the implementation of functional and precision nutrition across chronic disease, pediatrics, and maternal wellness. She is an author on multiple peer-reviewed publications, a co–principal investigator on three clinical research studies, and a co-founder of a clinically validated, integrated perinatal OB–nutrition care model designed to improve pregnancy and intergenerational health outcomes.
Her work has been instrumental in advancing scalable, evidence-informed maternal nutrition pathways, particularly within diverse and low-socioeconomic communities, across Oregon, Nevada, California, and soon in North Carolina (2026) through partnerships with Medicaid managed care organizations, hospital systems, and OB-GYN clinics. These initiatives integrate micronutrient biomarker assessment, nutrigenomics, microbiomics, and personalized nutrition counseling within real-world clinical workflows and have demonstrated meaningful reductions in maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes.
Emily has also helped co-create a first-of-its-kind nutrigenomic test designed to assess genetic variants associated with maternal and neonatal outcomes, translating emerging genomics research into actionable clinical decision support. A member of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals, she bridges clinical nutrition science, genomics, digital health, and implementation research.
Internationally, her work extends to Great Britain, the Philippines, and Abu Dhabi through the GrowBaby, GrowHealth, and GrowBaby Life Project platforms. GrowBaby Life Project, a nonprofit environmental partner of 1% for the Planet, was a finalist in the Action for Women’s Health Global Call. In 2026, she will serve as co-principal investigator on a groundbreaking, multi-site study launching in partnership with a Medicaid managed care organization, hospital system, and OB-GYN clinic.
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Monique Class, APRN-BCMonique Class is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, international lecturer, and Co-Founder of The Center for Functional Medicine. A leading authority in integrative functional gynecology and functional medicine, she combines advanced clinical expertise with a patient-centered approach.
Renowned for her work in women’s health, mind-body medicine, and coaching, Monique inspires both patients and healthcare professionals through her national and international lectures. She holds advanced certifications from The Institute for Functional Medicine, The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, and The Psychosynthesis Institute, along with dual board certifications in coaching from AHNCC and NBC-HWC.
In addition to her clinical practice, Monique is deeply committed to advancing the future of Functional Medicine through education, mentorship, and leadership. She serves as:
– Senior Faculty Member at The Institute for Functional Medicine & The Center for Mind-Body Medicine
– Director of Coaching Development at The Functional Medicine
– Coaching Academy
– Clinical Instructor at the Yale Graduate School of Nursing -
Navaz Habib, DCDr. Navaz Habib, aka “The Vagus Nerve Doc,” is a best-selling author and host of ‘The Health Upgrade Podcast’. After using functional medicine to overcome his own health challenges, Dr. Habib built Health Upgraded, an online health program guiding parents and professionals to enhance their health by unlocking the healing power of the Vagus nerve to reduce the effects of stress and inflammation.
