The Road Less Traveled in Medicine - My Journey

“La vie doit avoir un courrant. L’eau, qui ne coule pas, se corrompt.” ~ Lamartine

~ Life must have a current. The water that does not flow, becomes stagnant.

I recall being apprehensive back in 1995, preparing for entrance interviews at medical schools across England. At that time, the” buzz phrase” that we were supposed to be prepared to discuss was “ the Human Genome Project”. I did not feel well suited to elaborating on this novel and exciting field of research then, nor was I aware of the recent birth of Functional Medicine, the modern paradigm of a roots up approach to healthcare that would enthusiastically take up genomic information and run with it.

Many of us have defining questions in our lives. I was presented with one in the winter break of my first year of medical school over twenty years ago, by a family friend at a social gathering prompted, I believe, by the recent diagnosis of colon cancer in his mother. The question presented went somewhat like this;

“You’re in medical school now. Tell me, what can I do to promote and extend my life and health?”

I was really stumped, at that early stage of my career, I had not yet covered pathology let alone clinical management of any disorder or health. I filed that question away, certain that I would find the answer by the completion of my degree in Medicine. To my disappointment, I realized I had graduated without being adequately trained in addressing this vital question, with the concept of “health” being brought up in only one didactic teaching session over five years. I realized I had received excellent training in disease, disability and death management or prevention, but not the same in health promotion. I continued my conventional training in clinical Medicine in the UK and completed it in the US which had only added exposure to the “preventative physical”.

In the ensuing years where I took a break in my career to raise my children, I continued my search, pursuing training in alternative modalities including reiki (2nd degree), wet cupping therapy, ayur-veda and I also took the boards in Internal Medicine and Integrative medicine. On attaining my diploma from the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine (ABIHM), I came to the conclusion that I needed a framework within which I could deliver integrative care. Having been introduced to Functional Medicine through the ABIHM and appreciating the clarity of the framework, I decided I wanted to study this modality in depth and my interest in academics steered my path towards the Master of science program in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine at the University of Western States. Following graduation, I was asked to join the teaching team in the Program. Concurrently, I completed my training in medical acupuncture in order to complement my knowledge and practice of cupping therapy.

My interest in this field from the outset has been one of academic curiosity; the extent of my belief was to keep an open mind and assess new concepts based on the subjective experience of my own scientific training and ethical standing. I have long held that science is not the truth, but merely an observation of the truth by fallible human beings, therefore not being able to prove a theory at present does not automatically preclude existence. Rather, it highlights our current limitations and need for future discoveries. This need must be tempered with the highest possible levels of ethics and objectivity. The quagmire I have come to realize is that even “objectivity” can represent an illusion (e.g. limitations of randomized controlled trials and meta- analyses). Yet the quest to approach the truth must never cease.

As I reflect on how my career in medicine has come back full circle, Inotice that I’ve laid my filed away question to rest. My journey has led me to grow as a human and as a physician, and I am honored to be able to share my vision in medicine.