OUR STORY
About
Tree of Life Integrative Family Medicine
OUR MISSION
Empowering You to Lead Your Own Health Journey
Our mission is to empower patients to become active participants in their own health journey, while providing compassionate, evidence-based care rooted in respect, education, and hope.
OUR APPROACH
Our Holistic, Root Cause Approach
At Tree of Life Integrative Family Medicine, healthcare goes beyond simply treating symptoms. Our approach combines evidence-based primary care with lifestyle medicine and integrative healthcare principles to address the whole person, not just the disease.
We recognize that physical health is closely connected to emotional well-being, nutrition, sleep, stress levels, movement, relationships, and spiritual wellness. Rather than focusing only on medications, we work with patients to identify and address the root causes of illness whenever possible.
Every care plan is personalized to your individual goals, medical history, lifestyle, and preferences, because we believe in personalized care, not a one-size-fits-all model.
Your personalized treatment plan may include:
Nutrition counseling
Lifestyle coaching
Stress reduction strategies
Medication management
Exercise recommendations
Sleep optimization
Guided meditation
Mindfulness practices
Preventive screenings
Collaboration with specialist
Supplement recommendations, when appropriate
Conventional medical treatments
Meet Your Provider
Dr. Shakeilla Smithbey, MD
Board-Certified Integrative & Family Medicine Physician in multiple states
Dr. Shakeilla Smithbey (formerly known as Dr. Howell and Dr. Shabazz) is a board-certified physician in Integrative and Family Medicine with over 10 years of clinical experience. As the lead integrative medicine physician at Tree of Life Integrative Family Medicine, she works collaboratively with each patient's specialists to deliver whole-person, coordinated care.
Dr. Smithbey earned her medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and completed her residency in Family and Social Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York. She went on to complete a two-year fellowship in Integrative Medicine through Stamford Hospital (Stamford, Connecticut) and the University of Arizona, deepening her expertise in evidence-based, whole-person healing.
Imani Patterson-Simms, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Imani Patterson-Simms is a Certified Physician Assistant with a Master of Biomedical Science in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Toledo. She brings nearly a decade of experience in urgent care, occupational medicine, family medicine, and telemedicine, delivering high-quality, compassionate care.
Imani is passionate about treating the whole person—addressing physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors to support long-term wellness. Known for her empathetic and patient-centered approach, she is committed to building trust and empowering individuals to take an active role in their health.
Outside of medicine, Imani enjoys traveling, journaling, and spending meaningful time with her husband and children.
Subscribe to
Dr. Smithbey on YouTube
We'd love to invite you to check out Dr. Shakeilla Smithbey's YouTube channel! She's just getting started, but creating this channel has been a passion project — another way to educate, encourage, and help people beyond the clinic.
We hope the videos resonate with you and support you on your health journey. If you have any comments, suggestions, or topics you'd like us to cover, we'd love to hear from you!
Thank you for your support, and we hope you enjoy the content.
Click to subscribe!
Watch this video to learn more about Dr. Shakeilla Smithbey
(formerly Dr. Howell / Dr. Shabazz)
HEALING WITH HOPE
Faith-Centered, Compassionate Care
We believe healing involves more than the body. Our faith-centered approach means every patient is treated with dignity, encouragement, and hope, alongside clinically sound, evidence-based medicine. This is healing with hope: practical, professional care delivered with genuine compassion.
WHO WE SERVE
Care for Adolescents, Adults, and Seniors
We currently provide care for adolescents age 12 and older, including adults and seniors, as a 100% telehealth practice licensed in the following states. As additional state licenses become available, this page will be updated.
Become a Partner in Your Health
Book a visit today and start building a personalized care plan with Dr. Smithbey.