About
Dr. Josh Starbuck, MD, IFMCP is board-certified in Internal Medicine, certified by the Institute for Functional Medicine, and holds advanced certification in Peptide Therapy from the Seeds Scientific Research & Performance (SSRP) Institute.
In 2021, he founded Makena Health with the vision of creating an innovative, patient-centered practice that integrates the most effective strategies from Internal Medicine, Longevity Medicine, and Functional/Integrative Medicine. His mission is to help patients reverse aspects of the aging process, enhance disease resistance, and optimize resilience for longer, healthier, more vibrant lives.
Dr. Starbuck practices precision medicine, tailoring care to the individual through advanced laboratory testing, genomic analysis, biomarker-driven supplementation, and lifestyle interventions. He emphasizes proactive, preventative healthcare rather than reactive treatment.
He is an active member of Longevity Docs, the Private Physician Alliance, A4M, and the Seeds Scientific Research & Performance Group.
Before establishing Makena Health, Dr. Starbuck spent five years as an Internal Medicine Hospitalist at Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he also served as Assistant Medical Director of the Hospitalist Program and chaired the Utilization Management and Performance Improvement Committees.
Earlier in his career, he practiced at Tufts University/Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, after completing his Internal Medicine internship and residency there in 2015. He earned his MD from Saba University School of Medicine (2012) and graduated cum laude from the University of Massachusetts–Amherst in 2008 with a BS focused on Cross-Cultural Interaction and Public Health Strategy.
Dr. Starbuck’s Experience as a Patient
Dr. Starbuck’s perspective on medicine is deeply personal. In his second year of residency, he returned from a surf trip feeling unwell and short of breath. A visit to the emergency department revealed acute renal failure, leading to a week-long hospitalization, a kidney biopsy, and a diagnosis of IgA nephropathy. He soon began hemodialysis and, thanks to a life-saving donation from his sister, underwent a kidney transplant.
This experience profoundly reshaped his approach to medicine. Having lived through the vulnerability of serious illness, Dr. Starbuck developed a commitment to uncovering root causes rather than simply managing symptoms. That journey—both as a patient and a physician—set him on the path toward longevity, integrative, and functional medicine, and continues to guide his practice today.