About Me

Having practiced a plant based diet for over 15 years, Dr. Shayla Toombs-Withers has strived to incorporate her lifestyle into educating her patients in how to improve and overcome their chronic diseases as a Family Physician. She founded the Essence of Health Wellness Clinic in Chattanooga, TN in 2019 so that  she could combine her deep knowledge of medicine, plant based nutrition, and athletic training to provide comprehensive primary care to her patients using a Direct Primary Care Model. Dr. Toombs-Withers earned a Doctorate Degree in Osteopathic Medicine from the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed Residency training in Family Medicine at The University of Cincinnati and Christ Hospital. Her basis for health are in line with two of her favorite quotes “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and “let food be thy medicine.”