The Reasons for My Practice

Balance.

That incredibly elusive ideal, the quest for which we must never cease.

We exist in a state of duality at our simplest form. The human condition is, I believe, bound to the concept of balance between opposing states in order to thrive. This is not a state of static equilibrium, but a subtle, dynamic and constant adjustment to center ourselves at our place of personal best. Not only is balance a critical concept in medicine, but it is an essential philosophy in life.

In medicine, the concept of balance can be seen in examples such as numerical ranges for normal physiology, on a lab report for example. In the personal human experience, the concept of balance can be seen in examples such as time spent at work vs. time spent with family.

I have arrived, through my journey in medicine, at the exciting realm of integrative medicine, due to my quest for personal balance. This decision has been influenced by 3 main factors:

· Personality

· Experiences

· Perspectives

Personality

I am naturally curious and an eternal student. I am driven to learn as much as I possibly can about any encountered subject that I feel requires exploration.

I am thoughtful. My preferred approach to patients is an initially conservative one, which allows me to take incremental steps in the process of discovering the right treatment approach for my patient’s unique circumstances.

I am committed. Once I embark on a quest, whether it is an educational goal or a patient’s diagnosis, I am driven to continue my pursuit for answers with resolute focus.

Experiences

I have lived and worked in a variety of cultures across the world and see life and health from various angles. I am blessed to have had the sound structure of a British medical education which was complemented and enhanced by the fast pace of US postgraduate medical training giving me the ability to draw from both western medical cultures.

I was raised in a South- East Asian culture with its plethora of sounds, flavors, and values. This was woven into my early life in the UK and then childhood in an expatriate society within the Arabian Gulf. This gave me the experience of living in a “mini- United Nations” and the ability early on to seek the best out of all people and cultures, and cherish differences.

My pivotal roles in life include daughter, sister, wife and mother to four amazing children. For me, family is the greatest gift in life, and hardest earned as many patients tend to concur! My practice is built around conserving my balance in medicine and in my family, so that I may give of my best to every one of my patients. This is especially important to me because the therapeutic encounter involves not just the exchange of facts but the transmission of positive healing intention, which can only come from a place of personal balance.

Perspectives

I believe in, and practice interconnectivity. We cross the paths of others for a reason, there is always something to be learned, I consider those who I meet to be a gift from life. I believe knowledge must be shared to be of any use.

I maintain that thorough healthcare cannot be rushed, it must be detailed and systematic. Time, along with choice are two of life’s greatest blessings, given to all. My aim is to serve my patients in claiming this. Health is one component of life, a significant one to be sure. My wish and life’s work is to see every one of my patients lead fulfilled lives through better health, wherever their path takes them.

My view is that there is validity in many safe and effective medical practices across the world. Modern Western or conventional medicine, is but one such culture amongst many others which include not only eastern traditions such as traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, but also alternative western models such as naturopathy, western botanical medicine and Functional Medicine.