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Hi, I’m
Sandra Ishkanes
BSc MA DipION
I am currently on sabbatical from my role as a Functional Medicine Practitioner specialising in women’s health, with particular expertise in menopause, to embrace a new opportunity as the Research and Learning Co-lead at the Centre for Knowledge Equity. This transition marks a significant shift in my professional focus, allowing me to apply my expertise in holistic health and systemic thinking to broader social justice issues.
At the Centre I am dedicated to addressing disparities in knowledge access and distribution, aiming to create more equitable systems of information sharing and utilisation. This role enables me to integrate my deep understanding of health and wellness into pioneering research and development projects that seek to empower communities and foster inclusive, sustainable solutions.
I have been working as a Functional Medicine practitioner for almost 10 years. With an academic foundation that spans a BSc in Molecular Biology from King’s College London, an MA in Social Anthropology from the School of Oriental and African Studies, and a Diploma from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (DipION), I bring a unique interdisciplinary perspective to my work.
Functional medicine is grounded in a holistic view that seeks to understand and treat the root causes of health issues, rather than merely addressing the symptoms. This approach is predicated on the recognition that multiple factors, including biological, environmental, and lifestyle elements, interplay to affect an individual’s health.
Transferring this perspective to social systems, I apply the same principles to dissect and address the multifaceted and interconnected issues inherent within social justice frameworks.
I actively apply this unique practice expertise to the Centre’s work in examining multifaceted and interconnected issues within systems and the interplay between social determinants, institutional behaviours, and lived experience, to tackle the root causes of oppressions/injustices rather than symptoms alone.
I ground inclusive, adaptive, and reflective approaches to research practices, incorporating diverse perspectives to co-create impactful knowledge and building methodologies that stay responsive to an ever-evolving world and nurture an environment ripe for innovations to flourish for the future of our people and planet.
In my spare time, I am channeling my deep understanding of women’s health into writing a book that explores how women can achieve optimal health during menopause. This book addresses the root causes of menopausal symptoms, highlights ways to maximise the enormous life advantages that menopause brings, and delves into its purpose and spirit, offering a comprehensive and practical guide for women navigating this transformative phase of life, with a focus on nutrition, lifestyle and supplements.
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