Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Pearlman.
Hi Michelle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a board-certified gastroenterologist, obesity medicine specialist, physician nutrition specialist, and certified menopause practitioner who has always believed that food is medicine — but that the healthcare system doesn’t always make it easy to practice that way.
I began my career in academic medicine at the University of Miami, where I started the medical weight management program. Over time, I realized that lasting health transformation requires more than prescriptions — it requires education, empowerment, and community. That realization inspired me to cofound Prime Institute in Coral Gables with my twin sister, who is a Urologist. Prime Institute is a concierge-style practice focused on evidence-based nutrition, metabolic health, and hormone optimization.
My passion for integrating technology and lifestyle medicine also led me to co-found ByteMD, an AI-powered nutrition and gut health platform that helps users identify food triggers, optimize protein intake, improve gut health and minimize GLP-1 side effects.
Today, I combine my background in internal medicine, gastroenterology, obesity medicine, and menopause care with my love of fitness and patient education to help people not just live longer — but live better. My mission is to transform “sick care” into true healthcare by showing that lifestyle isn’t alternative medicine — it’s essential medicine.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not — but every challenge shaped the path I’m on today. Like many physicians, my journey required moving every few years for school, training, and work. Each transition came with new environments, new expectations, and often, the need to rebuild both personally and professionally from the ground up.
For years, I thought I had landed my dream job in academic medicine. But over time, I realized that the traditional system often limits how deeply we can connect with patients and practice true preventive care. That realization forced me to take a huge leap of faith — leaving the security of a university role to build something of my own.
Starting Prime Institute and later ByteMD was both terrifying and liberating. The pivot required courage, resilience, and a willingness to redefine success on my own terms. But it also gave me the freedom to align my work with my purpose: empowering people to take control of their health through evidence-based lifestyle medicine.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
ByteMD is a physician-founded digital health platform designed to transform the way people understand and manage their gut health. As a gastroenterologist and obesity medicine specialist, I saw firsthand how often patients struggled to connect what they eat with how they feel — especially those on modern GLP-1 medications, where nutrition plays a key role in managing side effects and optimizing results.
Our app helps users track meals, GI symptoms, and medications in real time, then uses intelligent pattern recognition to identify trigger foods and provide personalized recommendations. It’s not just another diet tracker — it’s a precision-nutrition tool that bridges the gap between medicine and daily life.
What sets ByteMD apart is our clinical foundation. My co-founder, Dr. Nathaniel Ernstoff, and I built the platform to bring evidence-based nutrition to the forefront of gut and metabolic health. We combine symptom tracking with curated food recommendations, education, and actionable insights that can be shared with healthcare providers.
We’re especially proud of how ByteMD empowers users on GLP-1 medications to fine-tune their nutrition to minimize common side effects like nausea, bloating, and constipation, while supporting sustainable fat loss and muscle preservation. Our goal is to make science simple, accessible, and personalized — so users can finally take control of their digestion, energy, and long-term health.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The quality that’s been most important to my success is consistency. There are plenty of days I don’t feel motivated — but I show up anyway. Whether it’s in medicine, business, or fitness, I’ve learned that discipline and repetition are what create real results. Consistency builds momentum, and momentum builds confidence. It’s not about being perfect every day — it’s about being present, doing the work, and trusting that small, intentional actions compound over time. That mindset has carried me through medical training, entrepreneurship, and every major pivot in my career.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bytemd.app/
- Instagram: ByteMD.app
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-pearlman-m-d-44686a13b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@bytemd?si=mWBFqHWAqmvJ35dU
- Other: https://www.primeinstitute.us/
