Joseph Madamba, M.D. is a board certified physician who is passionate about helping people learn how to become healthier. He believes that the best way to do this is to understand a patient’s unique life story and health journey as completely as possible; this allows him to more precisely find specific imbalances leading to one’s health challenges, and target those areas for treatment.

Dr. Madamba’s journey into the healing profession started at a young age. He feels blessed to be the son of two wonderful parents who are also Honolulu physicians – general surgeon Dr. Jose Madamba and fellow internist and integrative physician Dr. Gloria Madamba. He saw first-hand their hard work and commitment to their patients throughout their careers. Developing a great rapport and caring for patients with excellence, courtesy, and compassion were values instilled in Dr. Madamba at an early age. And, through his upbringing, he also came to learn the great value of having health in body, mind, and spirit.

As a youngster, Dr. Madamba felt very proud to know that, as doctors, his parents were able to help save many lives and improve quality of life for many others. But on the other hand, he gained a unique perspective in coming to know the numerous pitfalls and challenges in the medical profession and current healthcare climate. With the freedom to choose, a young Dr. Madamba in college did his due diligence and explored several other career options pertaining to his interests – ranging from culinary arts to positive film writing – but ultimately he returned to embrace a career in medicine, where he felt he could have the most lasting, positive impact on helping people.

With enthusiasm and energy, he entered medical school; however, some of Dr. Madamba’s early observations during medical education and training gave him pause:

-1st, Dr. Madamba recognized a consistent pattern of “sick care” and a “pill for the ill” mentality that is ubiquitous in healthcare today. While there is undoubtedly an important role for pharmaceutical medicines, he felt that too much of healthcare consisted of giving drugs (often lifelong and for only temporarily relief) for any and all problems with little focus on why those problems arose and how to help a patient heal.

-2nd, he learned that the structure of the healthcare system created by insurance companies and the government led to short, rushed, often unsatisfying appointments for both doctors and patients. In this practice environment, there is little time for doctors to understand the full story of a patient’s life and health journey, which are essential factors in treating many if not most illnesses.

-3rd, Dr. Madamba observed a lack of emphasis on the power of lifestyle to cure and improve diseases. In modern medical education, insufficient time is spent presenting the significance and implementation of healthy lifestyle habits. Moreover, there is little emphasis placed on key determinants of health like mental/emotional/spiritual well-being, relationships and community, and environmental influences. Furthermore, there seemed to be little consideration given to the potential benefits versus risks of complementary and alternative therapies such as vitamins and supplements, herbs, and acupuncture.

Fortunately, these negative observations about healthcare would not deter Dr. Madamba. Through God’s Grace, while still in medical school Dr. Madamba’s passion and inspiration were rekindled when he was introduced to the idea of integrative medicine – first by his spiritual guru, Divine Mother, and also at a serendipitous medical conference dedicated to integrative medicine. He learned how this novel approach combined conventional medicine with holistic, natural therapies. The concept felt reinvigorating and resonated completely with Dr. Madamba’s instinctive views on health and healing. Re-energized, he was set on a career path and training that allowed him to develop the kind of practice he has today: in a phrase, holistic primary care.

To be sure, the integrative medicine approach requires sustained commitment to change by a patient in partnership with the doctor and results tend to come more slowly and gradually compared to conventional medicines; still, Dr. Madamba believes that the positive effects of this method are more permanent and far-reaching. In fact, the principles and techniques Dr. Madamba has learned during his integrative medicine training have helped him and his family on their own health journeys as well. Dr. Madamba looks forward to working with every patient through this integrative medicine framework to help them achieve their health goals and optimize their health and vitality.

Board Certifications:

Board Certified in Internal Medicine
Board Certified in Integrative Holistic Medicine
Board Certified in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine

EDUCATION:

Punahou School – Honolulu, HI
Occidental College – Los Angeles, CA
University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine – Honolulu, HI
Huntington Memorial Hospital Internal Medicine Residency – Pasadena, CA

Honors & Awards:

Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society

Graduated Summa cum Laude, Occidental College

Graduated with Honors in Economics, Occidental College

Memberships & Affiliations:

Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine

Member, American College of Physicians

Diplomate, American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine

Diplomate, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine

Member, Institute of Functional Medicine

Bibliography:

Thompson, T.P., Pearce, J., Chang, G., Madamba, J. Surfer’s Myelopathy: Spine, 29(16): E353-6. August 15, 2004.