Lissa Rankin

Lissa Rankin, MD, is an OB/GYN physician, New York Times bestselling author, and a prominent figure at the intersection of science, spirituality, and integrative medicine. Rankin is the founder of Whole Health Medicine Institute and the nonprofit Heal At Last, and is also an encaustic artist. Her research focuses on radical remission, trauma-informed medicine, and spiritual healing. Rankin explores factors that contribute to optimal health and those that predispose individuals to illness, working to integrate scientific and spiritual approaches to support both individual and collective well-being.

Rankin is the author of several books, including "Mind Over Medicine," "The Fear Cure," "The Anatomy of a Calling," and "The Daily Flame." Her work in "Mind Over Medicine" examines the intersection of science and spirituality, highlighting the body's innate ability to self-repair. In "Sacred Medicine," Rankin continues this exploration, offering insight into alternative healing paths for patients who have not found relief through conventional or alternative medicine.

After transitioning from conventional medicine, Rankin began focusing her integrative medicine practice on patients with chronic illness who had not improved with standard treatments. Her clinical experience led her to conclude that unaddressed trauma often underlies persistent symptoms, and that treating trauma can sometimes result in radical remission. Rankin has studied multiple trauma therapy modalities, including Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing, NeuroAffective Relational Model, and Advanced Integrative Therapy.

Rankin's TEDx talks have been viewed by millions, and she has appeared in two National Public Television specials. Her work has been featured on numerous television and radio shows and in publications such as O Magazine, the New York Times, Health, Women's Health, Forbes, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and CNN. During the pandemic, Rankin publicly addressed "Conspirituality," countering Covid denialism, anti-vaccination propaganda, and conspiracy theories within the wellness and spirituality communities. Her approach is grounded in science, informed by spirituality, and emphasizes trauma awareness.

Rankin continues to contribute to the fields of integrative medicine, trauma therapy, and health care reform through education, advocacy, and writing. She teaches memoir writing for therapeutic purposes and educates others in Internal Family Systems. Rankin leads workshops online and at retreat centers such as Esalen, 1440, Omega, and Kripalu, as well as internationally. Her book "Relationsick," co-written with Harvard psychiatrist Jeffrey Rediger, MD, MDiv, explores the connection between relational trauma, medical illness, healthy boundaries, and the role of Internal Family Systems therapy in addressing diseases related to nervous system dysregulation.