About Us
Dr. Sandy Foukarakis, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C
Sandy has been a certified physician assistant for over 10 years.
She completed her master’s in physician assistant studies at Touro College of Health Sciences in NYC, with undergrad concentrations in exercise physiology and biology. She started her career in emergency medicine at several area hospitals and began teaching emergency medicine, anatomy & physiology and exercise science at a local university. After several years, Sandy transitioned into Spine and Sports Medicine, to combine her passion for medicine with her background in exercise physiology. She then completed her Doctorate of Medical Science, with concentrations in sports medicine and healthcare administration, at Lynchburg University in Virginia. A lifelong learner, she has also completed courses with the Institute in Functional Medicine, as well as certification in Anti-Aging Medicine, Bioidentical Hormone Replacement (BHRT) and Regenerative and Peptide Medicine.
For Dr Foukarakis, the interest in functional medicine is personal. Having always been active and athletic, she took her good health for granted. Then in 2018, she was diagnosed with a devastating neuro-autoimmune illness that rendered her temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. Frustrated by endless doctor visits, diagnostic tests and toxic medications, Dr Foukarakis applied her medical knowledge to her own case, which led to an interest in Functional Medicine. This branch of medicine studies root causes of disease to understand how to prevent, treat and sometime, even reverse illness, instead of just medicating symptoms.
Given her personal interest in Functional Medicine, Dr Foukarakis enrolled at the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) to become a certified Functional Medicine provider. Using what she learned at IFM, Dr Foukarakis made dietary and lifestyle changes, which include intravenous and intramuscular supplementation, as well as peptides, to improve her overall wellness to aid in her recovery. Over time, this enabled her to be taken off medications used to manage symptoms of her illness. Once told she may never walk again, exactly one year after her initial paralysis, Dr Foukarakis was able to return to one of her favorite activities, running, and celebrated it by doing a 5K. She brings that same passion, compassion and empathy to SF Med by using her experience as both a provider and patient, to help patients’ reach health and wellness goals, no matter their starting point.
Dr Foukarakis’ enjoys spending time with her two children, Noah and Alexa. As an Ocean County native, and Point Pleasant Beach local, she enjoys all the area has to offer such as the beaches, boating, restaurants and shops. Her hobbies include working out, reading and gardening… she grows most of her own fruits and vegetables! Dr Foukarakis is currently writing a book detailing her experience of becoming “the patient” after 10 years of being the provider. In it, she details the valuable lessons she learned from being on both sides of the examining table and how it influenced her pursuit of total wellness and lays out a detailed plan for you to optimize your health as well.
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