Tapas Talks hosted the second event of its 2026 season on May 4 at Allegheny Country Club, drawing another inquisitive audience to explore the evolving landscape of holistic health and wellness through the lens of functional medicine.
The evening featured board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and certified Functional Medicine practitioner Sandy Cooper. With a career spanning service as an Air Force nurse to a decade at Magee-Womens Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Functional Medicine, Cooper brought a wealth of clinical expertise to the stage. She was joined by Sandy Campbell, who facilitated an engaging dialogue centered on the “whole-person” approach to healing.
“Our goal with Tapas Talks is to bring expertise that is both timely and deeply relevant to our neighbors,” said David Genter, vice president of Tapas Talks Programs. “Tonight’s conversation on functional medicine provided a roadmap for how we can all take a more proactive, informed role in our own long-term health. It was clear from the audience engagement that this is a topic that resonates deeply within the Sewickley community.”
A primary focus of the evening was the distinction between functional medicine and conventional acute care. While traditional medicine often prioritizes the suppression of symptoms, functional medicine operates as a “root-cause” science. It views the body as an integrated system rather than a collection of independent organs, seeking to identify why a dysfunction is occurring in the first place.
The discussion covered key areas of wellness, including nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress management. It also highlighted how functional medicine goes beyond the biological aspects of health to consider the mental, emotional and spiritual factors that can influence overall well-being.
Cooper emphasized that while healthy lifestyle habits are the foundation of good health, functional medicine also uses advanced diagnostics to uncover issues that standard blood work may miss. This approach allows practitioners to develop personalized plans aimed at achieving long-term health and vitality rather than short-term fixes.
An integral component of Cooper’s program is helping patients connect to their “why” — the deeper motivation behind improving their health, whether that means playing with grandchildren, traveling, or pursuing new interests.
She noted that while modern science has made it possible to live longer, functional medicine focuses on helping people live not only long lives, but healthy and fulfilling ones.
“Transitioning to functional medicine was a transformative turning point in my career,” said Sandy Cooper. “It allows me the time and the tools to truly partner with my patients. Opening Practical Health here in Sewickley has been incredibly rewarding because it provides a space where we can focus on root-cause healing and sustainable wellness. I am deeply grateful to my patients for inviting me into their health journeys.”
As part of its mission to give back, Tapas Talks continues its tradition of directing event honorariums toward local organizations that strengthen the Sewickley Valley.
“We are so appreciative of Sandy Cooper for her insightful commentary and to Sandy Campbell for her masterful facilitation of such an important topic,” said Fran Merryman, founder and president of Tapas Talks. “Their contribution tonight does more than just inform our audience; it directly supports our neighbors. We are proud to announce that the evening’s honorarium will be donated to the Sewickley YMCA Food to Families Program, which provides food boxes to individuals and families and helps remove barriers to accessing healthy, nutritious food — a mission that reflects our shared commitment to the health and well-being of this community.”