Functional Medicine Doctor
Clinical Director
Dr. Henri Balaguera, MD specializes in Functional Medicine, Chronic and Infectious Disease, Auto-Immune Disorders, Functional Nutrition, Pulmonary Disorders, Sleep Issues, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Dysfunction, Natural Hormone Replacement, and Preventative Medicine. Dr. Balaguera holds a medical degree from Universidad Industrial de Santander and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Balaguera has had extensive experience and training since he received his degree as a Medical Doctor in 1991. He comes to us with over 8 years of experience as senior staff physician at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center Department of Medicine, Division Hospital Medicine, in Burlington Massachusetts. He is trained in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases and has a Fellowship in Immunogenetics. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Balaguera will be a Certified Functional Medicine Physician from the Institute of Functional Medicine. Dr. Balaguera is a certified SMART trainer. This is a Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) developed by the Benson-Henry Institute in conjunction with Harvard Medical School. He now leads SMART training for staff and other healthcare providers. He has a dedicated holistic self-care practice. Mindfulness and meditation are at the foundation of his core values. He continues his clinical research, in collaboration with our team here at Groton Wellness.
Dr. Henri Balaguera’s approach of combining traditional medical training with an in-depth knowledge of Functional Medicine will help patients immensely to receive the best care possible in the 21st century.
Education
1991 Medical Doctor, Universidad Industrial de Santander
Postdoctoral Training
Internship and Residencies:
1993-1995 Immunogenetics Fellowship in Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
1995-1996 Internship in Internal Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
1996-1998 Residency – Internal Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Fellowships:
1998-2001 Clinical Fellowship – Infectious Diseases, Boston University
Licensure and Certifications
1992 Colombia Medical Licensing Registration
2005 Commonwealth of Massachusetts
2009 American Board of Internal Medicine
2019 – Certified SMART trainer, Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART), Benson-Henry Institute & Harvard Medical School
Academic Appointments
2002-2006 Assistant Professor of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga, Colombia
2008-Present Assistant Professor Clinical Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine
Memberships
- American Medical Association
- American College of Physicians
- Infectious Diseases Society of America
- IFM
Testimonial
“For more than 10 years, I have been on a journey to restore my health and improve my wellness. What began with Lyme Disease in 2008 became a myriad of other potential issues – a pattern of Lupus and a marker for Sjogren’s in my blood, arthritis in my spine, and finally, fibromyalgia. Through much of my twenties, I struggled with wide-spread discomfort, brain fog, muscle weakness, and fatigue. It slowed me down – with my career, with my ability to teach yoga, and to generally care for myself in ways that would really help my body to heal. Over the years I saw many doctors, found that while Plaquenil helped the overall Sjogren’s symptoms it created sun sensitivity, and I began to understand just how connected the mind and body are in overall wellness.
It was such a relief for me to see Dr. Henri Balaguera because he saw me as a whole person, not just an illness to treat. Dr. Balaguera spent time with me to learn not just about how my daily habits and diet were impacting my health, but to better understand how the events throughout my life may have contributed to creating disease and imbalances in my body. I had been doing so much work on my own through hypnosis and coaching to release emotional distress, and I felt truly seen as he listened and encouraged me to go deeper. We talked about my tendency to treat stress and other emotions with food, usually of the fast variety, and Dr. Balaguera asked me to go on an elimination diet.
At first I felt nervous, but as I looked at the recipes and shopping lists I was given, I felt more at ease because it was in line with how I tried to eat whenever I changed my diet. However, the reason I hadn’t kept with diet changes in the past is because of the flu-like feeling I got as I removed gluten, dairy, and sugar from my diet. Prior to visiting Groton Wellness, I had considered trying a keto diet and talked about it with a colleague, who warned me about the “keto flu.” Having this information was really empowering as I started to feel sick in the first week of the elimination diet. I was open with my colleagues about the changes I was making, and everyone was supportive when I needed to work from home or take some time to rest – and they encouraged me to stay strong because it would pass soon.
I also struggled for the first week with cravings, and my mind trying to negotiate why it was ok for me to have steak and telling me I’m not really going to give up pizza anyway. I shared my frustrations with my partner, who compassionately listened and stayed supportive, and I allowed myself to really feel into the thoughts and cravings to understand their root, rather than cave to the demands. Soon enough, they passed, and being on the diet felt more empowering than it did restrictive.
The results have been amazing:
- My digestion has improved and food cravings have disappeared.
- I am sleeping better than ever, and my skin no longer becomes itchy or crawly at night.
- The inflammation in my body, which had been such a constant, is gone.
- I have more energy than I have had since I was 18 years old. People regularly tell me that I am glowing.
- I’m back to practicing yoga in a studio instead of just at home, and I am able to work on a passion project to help others transform their wellness, too.
I am so grateful for the transformative counsel Dr. Balaguera has given me, and even more thrilled that I have a doctor who has prescribed me red peppers, avocados, raw broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. It really is the medicine I’ve been craving.”
~ Laura Paine
