Most doctors specialize in a body system, a modality, or a list of conditions. Dr. Saunders chose a different path.

"Rather than have a title as a specific type, or modality, of practice," he writes on his own bio, "I consider myself a diagnostician." His clinical philosophy follows directly from that: treatment without a clear root cause does more harm than good. Find what's actually wrong first. Then — and only then — decide what to do about it.

That orientation shapes how he formulates supplements for Barton Nutrition. Every product starts with a question about mechanism: what is the body actually doing wrong, and which clinically studied ingredients address it at meaningful doses? No proprietary blends hiding inactive ingredients. No kitchen-sink formulas.

Dr. Saunders earned his medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in 1992 and completed his Family Practice residency at Northridge Hospital Medical Center. He has spent his career in private practice in Santa Barbara, California, where he runs the Integrative Medicine Center and serves a small concierge patient base.

He is a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) and the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), maintains hospital affiliations with Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, and previously served as medical director of a nursing home — giving him direct experience with the health concerns of aging adults.