Since my indictment I have transitioned to a new and different type of medical practice in functional, integrative, and regenerative medicine. Our underlying goal is often at odds with the traditional healthcare system, in that we aim to help patients actually get healthy by addressing the underlying causes of their health issues. We do this primarily without prescription medications and procedures, which is the goal of the pharmaceutical company driven medical system. Instead we prescribe supplements, IV therapies, and other alternative treatments to address the underlying disease process, and not just to improve a number like blood pressure or a single lab value. We utilize advanced diagnostic tests and lab evaluations at a level not practiced by most physicians. And we offer other non-traditional, yet proven therapies to address issues such as chronic infections, auto-immune disease, hormone imbalances, joint and pain issues, cancer, and refractory mental health disease.
Over the past ten years I gradually learned about a lot of this as I started a slow (and now painful) transition to functional medicine. Despite its increase in popularity and acceptance and growth among the general patient population, for those directly involved in the traditional medical model, what I do now would be considered “alternative medicine.”
Coincidentally, none of this was anywhere on my radar during medical school nor residency. I never visited a chiropractor growing up, and I had absolutely zero knowledge whatsoever of osteopathic or naturopathic medicine as even an option for education, treatment, training, or practice. In hindsight, I probably should have gone the osteopathic or naturopathic route, as this best fits my mindset of truly helping people get and stay healthy.
Instead I trained intensely and then was moved into the practice of perioperative and peri-procedural anesthesiology. I really enjoyed the training and intent of the field of anesthesiology. However, the practice of an anesthesiologist is quite different in the real world outside of training. Additionally, in my mind the many layers of the healthcare system were all changing for the worse.
Several years into my practice as an anesthesiologist I started learning and training in hormone replacement therapy and other areas of functional medicine. I agreed with the premise that people do not have to suffer in their sickness and disease, and that people deserve to feel better in their advancing age and symptoms. This is not what I felt I did in my practice as an anesthesiologist, despite how necessary and beneficial anesthesia is to our patients. Thus I continued to search for opportunities to help people actually get healthy and continue to feel good. And that’s what led to my demise.
Last year I started an amazing process of learning and growing with a Christian Life Coach named Gary. We have gone through a number of books, exercises, weekly meetings, and now continue with a regular men’s group and more books. This was life changing and much needed. He helped me welcome truth, grace, and that God still loves me despite my sins. And I did some hard work to discover who I am, and how I can still contribute, with my “I am” statement, and writing my vision and mission. These will continue to evolve, but I know that I still have value and can help others. All of this is still a work in progress as I continue the legal process and work towards resolution and reconciliation. I don’t know when that part will end.
