We sat down with Dr. Vassily Eliopoulos—known to many simply as Dr. Vass—to unpack a medical journey that spans trauma bays, personal transformation, and a bold new clinic that’s reshaping how we think about long-term health.
Dr. Vass, tell us about your background.
Sure. I’m a traditionally trained physician—did my medical degree at Cornell, then a surgical internship at the University of Colorado, followed by an emergency medicine residency at Denver Health. I spent years in the ER, board-certified in emergency medicine, and I loved the intensity and purpose of that work. But over time, I started facing some personal health challenges—nothing life-threatening, but persistent issues that didn’t seem to improve, even with access to top-tier colleagues and institutions. That disconnect made me start questioning how much the system could really offer when it came to long-term health.
Where did you feel the traditional healthcare system was letting you down?
The biggest example for me was cholesterol. I have a family history—familial hypercholesterolemia—which is common in Mediterranean backgrounds. Over the years, I worked with some of the best lipid specialists in the country, tried all the standard medications, followed the conventional protocols… and nothing really worked. My numbers were never under control.
Eventually, I stepped outside the system and saw someone most of my colleagues might’ve written off as a “quack.” They ran a completely different set of lipid panels—tests I’d never even heard of, let alone ordered myself—and the results were eye-opening. It turned out that based on how my body metabolizes cholesterol, I needed a totally different medication approach.
The test cost maybe $150. It wasn’t covered by insurance, which is probably why I—and so many other doctors—had never used it. But once I adjusted my treatment, my cholesterol dropped dramatically and has been dialed in ever since.
Can you share the thinking behind launching Longevity Health Clinic?
It really came down to integrity. I was living one way and practicing another. I had found tools and protocols that were actually improving my own health—diet shifts, functional diagnostics, lifestyle changes—but none of it was part of what I was offering my patients.
At some point, I asked myself, “Why am I treating myself one way—digging into diet, functional diagnostics, lifestyle protocols—but telling patients something else?” That disconnect just wasn’t sustainable.
So I stepped away. I sold my share in the emergency medicine group and set my sights on a new approach to preventative care—one that integrated regenerative medicine, functional diagnostics, and lifestyle optimization. At the time, it was a pretty unconventional move, and many of my colleagues were skeptical. But today, with the growing momentum around preventative health and performance medicine, that vision is finally becoming mainstream.
What does Longevity Health Clinic offer?
At its core, Longevity Health Clinic is a performance-focused medical experience built around personalized, data-driven care. We start with a full diagnostic workup—blood, stool, urine, mobility assessments, genetic panels, microbiome analysis, and advanced imaging. This isn’t your typical annual physical; it’s a comprehensive snapshot of how your body is functioning and where the vulnerabilities lie.
Most people begin with a one- or two-day immersive diagnostic retreat at our Colorado facility. From there, ongoing support happens through our annual membership program, where we help each client execute on their personalized plan week by week.
Membership & Foundation
From that starting point, we build a fully tailored plan that includes:
Nutrition: A full-time nutritionist helps define your ideal diet based on lab work and genetics—not fads or guesswork.
Movement & Mobility: You’re paired with a doctor of physical therapy to craft a personal strength and mobility program to rebalance your body and prevent injury.
Medical Oversight: A dedicated physician—myself or someone from our team—monitors your progress and adjusts care as needed.
Recovery & Rest: We evaluate and optimize how you sleep, recover, and manage stress—core components of long-term health.
Advanced Therapeutics
For those ready to go further, we layer in advanced therapeutics like peptides, stem cell treatments, ozone therapy, and other regenerative protocols. These are evidence-backed tools that haven’t yet been widely adopted by traditional payers but can be transformative when used thoughtfully.
That said, timing and context matter. As Dr. Vass explains, “If your underlying health is compromised, your natural healing capacity is compromised too—so the result you can expect from a therapy like stem cells is going to be limited.” That’s why Longevity Health Clinic emphasizes building a strong foundation first. Once your diet, movement, recovery, and internal biomarkers are dialed in, these advanced interventions have the best chance of doing what they’re meant to do: accelerate recovery, enhance performance, and help resolve issues that standard care often overlooks.
Outside of Longevity Health Clinic, what keeps you personally healthy?
I stay active with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu—I’m a black belt and still compete at a high level, including winning two IBJJF Masters World Championships. I also climb, kayak, and spend time outdoors. Over the years, I’ve dealt with my share of injuries—two ACL replacements, rotator cuff tears, you name it—but I’m still training and competing pain-free today. What really keeps me going is the foundation: clean diet, strength and mobility training, quality sleep, targeted supplementation, and the thoughtful use of tools like peptides and cell therapies. I’ve personally relied on everything we offer at the clinic. That experience shapes how I practice—I wouldn’t recommend anything I wouldn’t trust for myself or my family. I genuinely believe you can extend both performance and healthspan with the right inputs, and that’s what keeps me passionate about this work.
To learn more about their personalized approach to lasting wellness, check out Longevity Health Clinic's profile on workup.
