In Memoriam: Roger Billica, MD
A Pioneer in Space Medicine and Frequency Specific Microcurrent
It is with profound sadness that we share the unexpected passing of Dr. Roger Billica, a cherished colleague, friend, and extraordinary contributor to the Frequency Specific Microcurrent community.
Dr. Billica’s career was defined by his commitment to advancing human health in the most challenging environments. As Chief of Medical Operations for NASA’s Space Program at Johnson Space Center from 1991 to 2001, he supervised the medical aspects of over 60 space shuttle missions and the NASA-Mir joint program. In 2019, he was inducted into the National Space Technology Hall of Fame for his pioneering work in developing the health care system for the International Space Station.
After leaving NASA, Dr. Billica brought his vast expertise to integrative medicine, founding Tri-Life Health in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he specialized in functional and preventive medicine. It was here that he discovered Frequency Specific Microcurrent and recognized its profound potential.
Setting the Standard for FSM Education
From 2010 to 2016, Dr. Billica served as FSM Advanced Faculty, teaching practitioners how to integrate FSM into comprehensive treatment strategies. As Dr. Carolyn McMakin said when presenting him with the inaugural Faculty Excellence Award in 2023: “It’s difficult to overestimate the difference that one person has made in the community that we call frequency specific microcurrent.”
When a core group of advanced faculty left in 2011, Dr. Billica stepped forward, filling the gap for five years. His presentations set the quality standard that FSM advanced faculty continues to strive for today.
His Contributions to FSM
Dr. Billica’s teaching covered critical topics that expanded the scope and understanding of FSM:
- FSM in Complex Patients (2010)
- Autoimmunity (2011)
- Applications for FSM as Part of Adjunctive Cancer Strategies (2012)
- The Use of FSM in Biotoxin Related Illness (2013)
- The Autonomic Nervous System (2014)
- Molecules of Behavior (2014, 2016)
A Master Teacher and Clinician
Dr. Billica had a unique gift for making complex information accessible. He taught practitioners not just what to do, but how to think—how to filter a patient’s story through antecedents, triggers, and mediators to understand where key imbalances reside.
His core teaching principles remain foundational to FSM practice:
- Treat the person, not the numbers
- Treat the person, not the MRI
- Consider biochemical individuality and nutrient synergy
- Integrate FSM into a comprehensive approach: take out the bad stuff, put in the good stuff, consider genetics
Dr. McMakin captured his teaching excellence perfectly: “He has a talent for making really complex information look simple. But then he presents enough detail that you know that it’s not as simple as he makes it sound—but he doesn’t want to scare you.”
A Colleague and Friend
Beyond his clinical excellence, Dr. Billica was known for his warmth, humor, and deep commitment to helping practitioners provide better care for their patients. His presentations were marked by both scientific rigor and an ability to connect with audiences through stories and, yes, his signature jokes.
Dr. Billica’s influence extends far beyond the six years he taught at our conferences. He changed how we think about FSM, how we approach complex patients, and what excellence in clinical practice means. Every practitioner who learned from him carries forward his legacy of compassionate, thoughtful, integrative care.
Remembering Roger
The award Dr. McMakin presented to Roger in 2023 was meant to represent “a small part of the gratitude that we all owe to Roger Billica.” Today, that gratitude remains, even as we mourn his passing.
Dr. Roger Billica’s contributions to space medicine, functional medicine, and Frequency Specific Microcurrent have improved countless lives. His teaching, his paradigms, and his commitment to excellence will continue to guide FSM practitioners for generations to come.
Below you will find Dr. Billica’s presentations from FSM conferences, preserved here so that his wisdom and insights remain available to all who seek to provide the best possible care for their patients.
“The best clinician is not the one who knows the most, but the one who never stops learning and always puts the patient first.”
— Roger Billica, MD (1952-2025)