Hi, I’m Jeff Taekman.

Before I became a physician, researcher, and Professor Emeritus at Duke University, my passion for health began with a simple comment from my father: “The world’s longest-living people eat yogurt every day.” That early spark launched a lifelong fascination with how food and lifestyle shape our health, longevity, and well-being.

In 2006, I immersed myself in the science of the human microbiome—devouring hundreds (if not thousands) of research papers to better understand how our gut health influences immunity, cognition, inflammation, and mood. What I found changed not only my thinking—but my life. By applying what I learned, I successfully reversed a chronic condition using nutrition and mind-body practices. That experience crystallized my belief in integrative medicine and set a new course for my work.

To deepen that path, I completed a 1,000-hour Fellowship at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, where I focused on evidence-based approaches in nutrition, botanicals, supplements, sleep, stress, and lifestyle medicine. This training allowed me to bridge conventional medical science with holistic practices rooted in prevention and healing.

Today, through HealthHippieMD, I focus on the real-world application of integrative strategies—especially for managing chronic illness, preserving the microbiome, and flourishing in your life. I write and teach about what works, what’s promising, and what’s simply hype—so you can make clear, empowered decisions about your health.

I believe wellness should be practical, personal, and grounded in science—not fleeting trends. That’s why I created Well-IQ, a set of tools centered around a Nine-Dimension Model of Wellness. These tools are designed to give you both clarity and action:

• Wellness Microdoses small, science-backed steps you can use right away to build sustainable habits.
• Seven Day Sleep Challenge: a free example of how Wellness Microdoses work in practice.
• See all the HealthHippieMD | Well-IQ tools explore everything I’m building to help you thrive.

Together, these resources offer a clear picture of where you are today—and the practical steps to move forward deliberately and thrive.

Thanks for stopping by. I’m glad you’re here.

—Jeff

P.S. Curious about my academic work? Visit jeffreytaekman.com or find me on LinkedIn, ResearchGate, Scholars@Duke, or Google Scholar.