Dr. Gillson obtained a PhD in Chemistry (Analytical Atomic Spectroscopy) in 1985 and worked in Research and Development for an instrument manufacturer for three years before obtaining an MD from the University of Calgary in 1991. He spent six years as a Family Practitioner and two years as a staff physician with Jonathan Wright, MD at the Tahoma Clinic in Kent, WA, where he maintained special interests in steroid hormone testing and Multiple Sclerosis.
Dr. Gillson founded Rocky Mountain Analytical in 2002, a private-pay Functional Medicine testing laboratory in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.Since that time he has lectured extensively for various organizations in North America including ACAM, the Canadian Society for Orthomolecular Medicine, Professional Compounding Centers of America as well as A4M. He has lectured for the Fellowship in Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine (formerly FAARFM now MMI) and for the Master’s Program in Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine offered by the University of South Florida.
Rocky Mountain Analytical (RMA) was acquired by LifeLabs LLP, a Canadian public conventional medical testing laboratory in October 2013. Dr. Gillson remained as the Medical Director of RMA until July 2023. He currently hangs out his shingle as a Functional Medicine consultant.
Dr. Gillson has a keen interest in hormone restoration therapy and consulted for several laboratories on steroid hormone testing in saliva and urine, prior to starting RMA. He has gained extensive knowledge over the years developing a wide variety of tests to support the practice of Functional Medicine, including hormone testing in saliva and urine, testing of elements in hair and urine, urine growth hormone and dried bloodspot vitamin D metabolite testing, and IgG food sensitivity testing.
Dr. Gillson has experienced the challenges of clinical practice firsthand, understands the role of the laboratory in the practice of medicine, and has solid expertise in the nutritional/integrated approach to medicine on both the practical and theoretical levels. He enjoys using his unique background and skills to help his professional colleagues solve clinical problems using laboratory testing. Currently, he maintains a keen interest in the intersection of bile acids with steroid hormones and the role of the hepatobiliary axis in hormone synthesis and metabolism.