How a Dublin-Based Provider Built Central Ohio's Functional Medicine Community From the Ground Up
There's no shortage of driven professionals here in Dublin. But this summer, one neighbor's work earned recognition on a citywide stage.
Marguerite Weston, MD, IFMCP, Director of Functional Medicine at Donaldson Health, was named a Trailblazer in
Columbus Business First's 2026 Women of Influence Awards, an honor given to women who shape their organizations and give back to the Central Ohio community.
Fittingly, the Honorees Were Celebrated Right Here at Home
The awards reception was held July 23 at the Exchange at Bridge Park in Dublin, Ohio. Dr. Weston was one of 31 honorees selected from 138 nominations across five categories: Trailblazer, Mentor, Nonprofit Leader, Community Champion and Rising Star.
Dr. Weston joined Donaldson Health in 2022 with a mandate few had attempted in Columbus: build a functional medicine division from scratch that was clinically rigorous and physician-led rather than a supplement-forward wellness model. Four years later, that division has grown into a seven-person team spanning dietetics, hormone health, gut health, fertility optimization and medical weight management.
Columbus is a potpourri of entrepreneurial spirit, business-minded people and a population who really focuses on health, with the backdrop of phenomenal medical research and healthcare in general.
Her Experience & Influence Reach Beyond Her Own Division
Dr. Weston is dual board-certified in Family and Sports Medicine, holds an IFM certification and brings more than 20 years of clinical experience to her practice, including her own history as a functional medicine patient.
She regularly collaborates with Donaldson's surgical and aesthetic teams, integrating functional medicine principles into pre- and post-operative care and helping medspa patients whose skin concerns trace back to hormonal root causes rather than topical ones.
Demand for Functional Medicine is Rising Close to Home
Since Dr. Weston took the reins in 2022, she's watched demand for
functional medicine in Columbus, Ohio, climb steadily across the region, including right in her own Dublin community. Patients — especially women — are asking harder questions. They want real answers instead of a shrug and a lab result that looks normal while their symptoms persist. They're advocating for themselves inside a healthcare system that wasn't always built to give them the time to do it.
Traditional medicine remains the backbone of a healthy community, and Dr. Weston is quick to say so. But some patients want more time with a provider, and some need it. Functional medicine exists to bridge that gap, not to replace conventional care but to extend it further than a standard appointment may allow.
"A rising tide lifts all ships. So what greater blessing is there than to encourage a fellow female and help them succeed? That's what it's all about at the end of the day."
- Marguerite Weston, MD, IFMCP
Outside the practice, Dr. Weston is a regular speaker at community health events across Central Ohio, from menopause conferences at Ohio State to GLP-1 discussions at local breweries, and a recurring guest on Donaldson's "Asking For a Friend" podcast.
About Donaldson: The Intersection of Wellness & Appearance
Donaldson Plastic Surgery is a Dublin, Ohio-based practice and a proud member of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, with a second location in Lewis Center at Evans Farm. We serve patients throughout Columbus, Ohio and beyond across three pillars of care: Plastic Surgery, Aesthetics and Functional Medicine.
Our functional medicine team is led by Marguerite Weston, MD, IFMCP, alongside board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Jeffrey Donaldson and Dr. Michelle Sieffert, and supported by a team of specialized providers committed to finding the root cause of each patient's concerns, not just treating symptoms.
