Dr. Jayanti Rao, MD

I began my medical career in conventional medicine, completing my Internal Medicine residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and my fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, both in Boston. After practicing Allergy and Immunology for over a decade, I began to recognize that conventional medicine doesn't always fully address the underlying factors contributing to chronic illness. I became increasingly interested in understanding how the immune system, gut, brain, genetics, nutrition, and environmental exposures are interconnected and collectively influence our health.

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This curiosity led me to pursue additional training in integrative and functional medicine. I completed my integrative medicine training through the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona and became board-certified in Integrative Medicine. I have also completed the coursework through the Institute for Functional Medicine and pursued additional training through the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (MAPS), further expanding my understanding of complex neurodevelopmental and immune-related conditions.

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What I find most fascinating about medicine is understanding the unique complexity of each individual—how our genetics, environment, experiences, and life stories come together to shape our health. I enjoy looking at health through multiple lenses, exploring everything from genomics, cellular function, metabolism, and biochemical pathways to immune function and the health of different organ systems. When we examine these different layers together, we begin to recognize the intricate connections between them rather than viewing each system in isolation. My goal is to piece together these findings with each person's history to better understand how imbalances may have developed and identify meaningful ways to help restore balance and improve health.

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My clinical interests include autoimmunity, allergies, chronic inflammation, cognitive health, mental health, gastrointestinal health, and particularly the fascinating relationship between the immune system, gut, and brain.

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At Benton Integrative Medicine, I value the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Ben Schwartz and our health coaches, bringing together our complementary perspectives and areas of expertise to provide thoughtful, comprehensive care. I believe that the best care begins with listening, understanding each person's unique story, and working together as a team to help patients achieve their health goals.

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I consider myself a lifelong learner and am passionate about continuing to explore advances in medicine, deepen my understanding of the human body, and apply new knowledge to help patients achieve better health and quality of life.

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Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, cooking healthy meals, meditation, personal reflection, exercise, and being in nature.