Ikigai Health Institute brings the Japanese philosophy of ikigai — your 'reason for being' — into the practice of precision longevity medicine. Co-founded by Dr. Rob Chen and Dr. David Saintsing, Ikigai operates across Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and the Boulder-Denver corridor, with virtual programs available nationally and internationally. This is not a conventional medical practice. Ikigai is built on the premise that the most important years of your health are the ones you can still influence — and that most people aren't getting the data, the guidance, or the accountability they need to do that effectively. Their model combines advanced diagnostics, personalized protocols, and ongoing physician partnership to help members live longer and perform better at every age.

About the Physician

Dr. Rob Chen is a U.S. military veteran, Emergency Medicine-trained physician, and competitive triathlete who co-founded Ikigai after watching colleagues and patients succumb to chronic disease that advanced diagnostics might have caught years earlier. His background in emergency care gave him a front-row seat to the consequences of deferred prevention — and the conviction that medicine's job is to intervene long before a crisis unfolds. Dr. Chen transitioned from acute care into preventive and longevity medicine, developing a practice philosophy grounded in evidence-based science, rigorous testing, and individualized care plans. As a competitive endurance athlete himself, he brings firsthand understanding of how training, recovery, nutrition, and metabolic health interact — and applies that lens to every patient relationship at Ikigai.

Services Offered

• Advanced Biomarker Testing — Comprehensive lab panels including ApoB, Lp(a), HSCRP, insulin, homocysteine, and full hormonal assessment to establish your metabolic baseline.
• Cardiovascular Risk Assessment — CIMT, coronary calcium scoring, and VO2 max testing to quantify true cardiovascular age and risk independent of standard cholesterol panels.
• Metabolic & Hormonal Optimization — Insulin resistance evaluation, thyroid optimization, and evidence-based hormone replacement tailored to your physiology and performance goals.
• Cognitive & Neurological Health — Brain health assessments, cognitive performance tracking, and lifestyle interventions targeting long-term neurological resilience.
• Lifestyle & Longevity Planning — Personalized protocols covering sleep architecture, stress physiology, nutrition strategy, and exercise programming calibrated to your biomarkers.
• Foundations Membership — Core longevity membership providing quarterly physician visits, annual diagnostics, and a continuously updated health roadmap.
• Executive Vitality Program — High-touch program designed for executives and high performers who need elite health optimization with minimal disruption to demanding schedules.
• Performance Lab — Testing and training protocols for endurance athletes and performance-focused members seeking measurable gains in VO2 max, recovery, and metabolic efficiency.

What to Expect

Ikigai Health Institute serves members in person across Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and the Boulder-Denver area, with virtual programs available nationally and globally. New members begin with a comprehensive intake and diagnostic panel. To schedule a consultation, call (720) 375-1493 or visit ikigaihealthinstitute.com. The team is committed to a partnership model — expect a physician who knows your data and your goals.