About
Dr. Poorvi Pfenning is a board-certified family and lifestyle medicine physician in Newnan, Georgia. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia in 2013 with a Bachelor of Biology and a minor in Anthropology. She went on to earn her medical degree from Wake Forest School of Medicine in 2017. Her Family Medicine residency training took place at the University of Colorado, where she completed her program in 2020. She holds board certification in Family Medicine since 2021 and earned her Lifestyle Medicine board certification in 2025. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians, and the Direct Primary Care Alliance.
Dr. Pfenning brings deep expertise across mental health management, women's health from menarche through menopause, dermatology, sports medicine, obesity medicine, and LGBTQ+ care including PrEP and gender-affirming care. She is passionate about lifestyle medicine as a primary tool for lasting health change, using evidence-based interventions before reaching for a prescription pad. A first-generation immigrant who came to the United States from India after losing her father as a young child, she built Vital Roots DPC to define her own version of what it means to thrive — as a physician, a mother, a wife, and a person. VoyageATL Magazine recognized her as a Hidden Gem of Atlanta, and she has shared her story in a podcast about building the practice she always wanted to run.
Education & Training
Undergraduate
University of Georgia, class of 2013 — Bachelor of Biology, minor in Anthropology, Summa cum laude
Medical School
Wake Forest School of Medicine, class of 2017
Residency
Family Medicine, University of Colorado, class of 2020
Certifications
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Pfenning right for?
Dr. Pfenning works well with adults and families seeking a primary care physician who takes time to understand the full picture. Patients managing chronic conditions, hormonal changes, weight, or mental health benefit from her lifestyle-first approach. Women navigating perimenopause or menopause, patients pursuing weight loss with or without GLP-1 support, and individuals working on nutrition, sleep, or substance use reduction find a strong clinical partner in her. She also serves the LGBTQ+ community, including patients seeking PrEP or gender-affirming care, and maintains a designated safe space practice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Pfenning specializes in family medicine, lifestyle medicine, women's health, mental health, dermatology, sports medicine, and obesity medicine. She treats anxiety, depression, ADHD, hormonal imbalances, perimenopause and menopause, acne, eczema, psoriasis, and chronic conditions. She also manages shoulder, hip, and knee joint injections and provides LGBTQ+ care including PrEP and gender-affirming services.
Dr. Pfenning leads with lifestyle medicine before prescribing pharmaceuticals. She focuses on whole foods nutrition, sleep, stress, and evidence-based behavior change as her primary tools. She uses traditional Western medicine and medications when appropriate, but treats them as secondary to lifestyle interventions. She does not prescribe narcotics for chronic daily pain, benzodiazepines for chronic daily use, or z-drugs for chronic nightly use.
Yes, Dr. Pfenning holds two board certifications. She earned board certification in Family Medicine in 2021 and in Lifestyle Medicine in 2025. Both reflect her commitment to evidence-based, whole-person primary care.
Dr. Pfenning earned her undergraduate degree summa cum laude from the University of Georgia in 2013. She then attended Wake Forest School of Medicine, graduating in 2017. She completed her Family Medicine residency at the University of Colorado in 2020.
Yes, Dr. Pfenning provides affirming, knowledgeable care for LGBTQ+ patients. She prescribes PrEP and offers gender-affirming care. Vital Roots is a designated safe space practice.
Dr. Pfenning practices lifestyle medicine in a strictly evidence-based way. She only orders cost-effective, research-supported tests. She recommends affordable supplements like B12 and Vitamin D, and she focuses on whole foods over supplement stacks. Her goal is to help patients harness their own motivations for lasting habit change, not to sell them on a program.
Yes, Dr. Pfenning provides dedicated perimenopause and menopause management, including hormone replacement therapy when appropriate. This service falls under the Elevated membership tier, which includes monthly lifestyle follow-ups focused on hormonal and overall wellness goals.
Yes, Dr. Pfenning manages GLP-1 medications for appropriate patients as part of the Elevated membership. She pairs medication management with intensive lifestyle support, including nutrition guidance, meal planning, and behavior change strategies. Her approach prioritizes thoughtful, responsible prescribing rather than medication alone.
Elevated members can book a 2-3 hour in-person session with Dr. Pfenning that includes a grocery store visit and in-home pantry setup. Each session costs $450. Dr. Pfenning uses these visits to translate nutrition goals into practical, real-world food choices tailored to each patient.
Yes, Dr. Pfenning accepts new patients at Vital Roots Direct Primary Care. Patients enroll directly through the practice's SigmaMD portal. The original Founding Member discounted spots have been filled, but both the Essential and Elevated membership tiers remain open for enrollment.
Doctor profile last updated June 11, 2026