ABOUT US

Dr. Hobie Fuerstman D.O. 

Hobie is passionate about helping each person find what being healthy and happy is to them.

Dr. Hobie Fuerstman is a board certified, and recently married, osteopathic family physician. Growing up in Atlanta, GA with a family of healers and spiritual seekers, he developed a strong sense of compassion, empathy and a desire to be of service, which he honed during his study of applied bioethics at Vassar College. After completing his osteopathic teaching fellowship and doctorate of osteopathic medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine -  Georgia Campus, Dr. Hobie went on to deepen his studies through an integrative family medicine internship in Westminster, Colorado. He completed his family medicine residency in Middletown, New York, which is also where he met his wife, Elise, and their adopted non-shedding mutt, Moonpie.

An incredible opportunity to work in a partnered integrative primary clinic brought Hobie to the California Bay Area for 3 years following his residency. It was here that Hobie’s interest in developing a more complete integrative approach to family medicine led him to additional training in functional nutrition, mindfulness based stress reduction, integrative healthcare, and ketamine assisted therapy for mental health. 

Towards the end of the 2020 global pandemic, Dr. Hobie, Elise, and Moonpie drove across the continental United States to take ownership of the existing (and established lyme-literate integrative care clinic), Preventive Medicine Vermont, and to start a life closer to their extended family in the Burlington area. Hobie is a founding member of the Psychedelic Society of Vermont and he supports the growing need for and interest in Ketamine Assisted Therapy as an avenue of hope for people suffering from treatment resistant depression and anxiety. Still, the heart of the Preventive Medicine clinic is in neuromuscular medicine and integrative wellness. Dr. Hobie is whole-person centered in his approach to healthcare and this focus helps his patients become empowered to trust and lead their way to preventing and reversing countless chronic conditions.

Dr. Alison Farr, FNP

My love for prevention-focused health care is deeply personal. As I’ve gotten older, and realized  that many people in my family have had heart disease, I did some biomarker testing and found out that I have a strong predisposition for it. So, I’m really proactive in heart health and have found a passion in running. In 2024 I’ll be running 2 marathons! This is a type of preventive focus that is not typically found in traditional medical practices. Conventional medicine providers rarely have time or specialized knowledge for the necessary conversations regarding personalized exercise and nutrition, and they often don’t know what tests to order or how to interpret them.

I bring a strong focus for hormone health to the way I practice, especially for women. I was included in the generation of healthcare providers who were scare-mongered into avoiding treating women in perimenopause and menopause with hormone replacement therapy. The reason for this was largely a result of misconstrued findings from a study called The Women’s Health Initiative, where results were taken out of context. This resulted in the dissemination of a message that hormones were dangerous and overall I believe this has hurt so many women. 

The ever-emerging truth is that hormone replacement therapy for perimenopause and menopause is largely safe for most women, and it improves quality of life, reduces rates of osteoporosis, and can even positively impact cardiovascular and diabetes risk. I am currently engaged in a certification program for becoming a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner.

I’m thrilled to be part of the Preventive Medicine care team and look forward to connecting with you as your PCP.

Dr. Alison Farr completed her studies at Maryville University and is a Doctorate-prepared Family Nurse Practitioner

At Preventive Medicine, Erin facilitates the M.O.R.E. Group Medical Visits and also offers Mind-Body Medicine Consults for people who have chronic pain and mental health challenges. When Erin is not doing clinical work, she can be found tending to her garden, skiing or hiking with her husband, kids, and dog, or out in the community advocating for kids with special needs.

Erin completed her degrees in Nursing from Penn State University, was certified as a Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and studied Yoga at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. She started her career in nursing working in Women’s Health, but since becoming a Nurse Practitioner she has been caring for people with chronic pain, trauma, depression, and anxiety at The Comprehensive Pain Program at UVMMC, where she continues to work.