Cheryl Sew Hoy: Why GI Can’t Ignore the Microbiome Revolution Any Longer

In this episode of The Scope Forward Show, Praveen Suthrum speaks with Cheryl Sew Hoy, Founder & CEO of Tiny Health, a microbiome testing company that’s redefining preventive care from pregnancy through infancy. Cheryl shares why the first 1,000 days are critical for lifelong gut health, how restoring beneficial microbes matters more than chasing pathogens, and why over 80,000 families are already turning to Tiny Health for answers. Functional medicine has embraced the microbiome faster than GI — but Cheryl makes the case that gastroenterologists are uniquely positioned to lead this revolution. The question is: will the GI community step up before it’s too late?*02:17 - A Founder’s Wake-Up CallCheryl’s journey began with her own C-section baby — realizing how birth mode, antibiotics, and maternal microbiomes shape a child’s lifelong health. This personal story launched Tiny Health.07:17 - 80,000 Families — Real-World ResultsTiny Health has already served tens of thousands. Parents are seeing their kids’ eczema, allergies, and gut issues improve after targeted interventions. The results are hard to ignore.10:09 - Traditional Tests Are Missing the PointStandard hospital stool panels chase pathogens. Tiny Health looks deeper — into beneficial functions like butyrate, GABA, and fiber digestion that actually sustain long-term gut health.30:29 - A Paradigm Shift: From Killing to RestoringMost of medicine (and even functional care) is built on killing pathogens. Cheryl flips the script: start by replenishing beneficial microbes, then address the bad actors if needed.32:01 - Functional Medicine Is Listening. GI Isn’t (Yet).Most adopters today are integrative and functional practitioners. GIs are still skeptical — but Cheryl’s message is clear: when families walk in with data that explains what’s happening, GI needs to lead the conversation, not dismiss it.34:23 - Science Is Catching Up, FastMetagenomic sequencing, functional markers, and AI-driven insights are transforming microbiome testing from “hype” to clinical reality. Evidence is mounting, especially in pediatrics.37:10 - Precision Medicine Is HereForget the daily “probiotic for everyone.” The future is testing first, then tailoring — the exact probiotic, prebiotic, or dietary shift each patient needs. That’s precision GI care.40:29 - The Longevity ConnectionMayo Clinic has already partnered with Tiny Health. Gut tests are moving into mainstream wellness and longevity clinics. Where will GI stand when patients start asking for them by name?44:27 - Infant Gut = Lifelong BlueprintThe first 1,000 days are destiny. Vaginal birth, breastfeeding, and parental microbiomes set the stage for allergies, asthma, and even chronic disease risk later in life.46:44 - A Call to Action for GastroenterologistsMicrobiome testing is no longer fringe. It’s an opportunity for GI to expand its scope, reclaim leadership in gut health, and guide patients with science-backed, personalized care.*#digitalhealth #gastroenterology #thescopeforwardshow #nextservices #gi #future #ai #theshift #microbiome