Return To Health (Pando Health Groups)

What is it that makes my medical practice special? Why would someone come to me rather than continue with their regular doctor(s)? Why would someone spend cash on a medical consult rather than go the regular route and stay in the medical system? These questions are extremely important and relevant to my new medical practice. I am attempting to offer a service that is not currently available within "the system" or anywhere that I am aware of. I am a "regular doctor" by training and have practiced in the "system" for nearly 20 years. However, it became very clear to me early in my career that standard medicine only offered the tip of the iceberg of what true healing involved. During my first 20 years of medical work I learned that healing and getting well involved so much more than brief office visits, prescription medicines and medical procedures. I went on an extensive, learning journey in the world of healing and learned great lessons. I explored the worl...

The most important part of the work I do comes from the history. I need to know (1) the person and (2) the diagnosis and how it came to manifest in the person and (3) How the person perceives of his or her condition and what beliefs they have about their situation. Getting to know the person and the ways that they interact with the world is paramount. I want to know the basics -- their personal history, what they do for work and play, their career, their habits, their family(both family of origin and current family). I want to know their medical history and family medical history. I really value hearing about their support system -- friends, family and who they feel they can turn to in times of stress. As a doctor, I need to know about their diagnoses both past and present. I review their medicines and experiences with medicines in the past. I really value hearing about how their interactions with the medical world have gone in their past. I review tests and the evaluation leading to t...

At the very heart of what I wish to offer people is a wide variety of options and choices that are customized to the beliefs and values of each individual. There is never just one path to healing; health for one person may look quite different in another. It is here that the medical system is sometimes limited. The rapid and widespread growth of alternative and complementary medicine speaks to this issue. One size does not fit all. People need customized approaches that fit who they are and what they value. By truly getting to know the people with whom I work, I can offer customized care plans that can allow them to be successful in reaching their goals. Further, general approaches to healing(ie psychology or acupuncture) can be quite different experiences depending on with whom one is working. Finding the right person(the one with whom you connect and respect) makes all the difference when trying to get well. As an example, let's look at coronary artery disease. At the root of th...

Yesterday, I described part of the service (my approach to behavior change) which I provide when people come to see me as a doctor. Today, I would like to explore a very different yet very integral part of my practice. End of life care is a big, black box for so many Americans and it can be scary and quite overwhelming. As everyone seems to have a different path medically, spiritually and emotionally when our time comes, it seems difficult to even talk about this topic. However, in my experience, the more openly we face and discuss the inevitable end of life, the better the process seems to go. In fact, bringing conscious awareness to this phase of life can actually allow the time to be meaningful, fulfilling, and relatively free of the suffering we associate with it. That it is not to say that there is not some struggle and difficulty associated with "leaving the body" and our lives. There always is a major challenge with this time of life but when it is approached with a ...

I am now open for business. I have started seeing patients in my new office and in their homes. Actually doing the work has made it abundantly clear that this is the work I am meant to do. So what is it that I offer? By allowing for time in a relaxed setting, we(the client and I) are able to explore their situation in a depth and fullness that is just not possible in brief office visits. The history and development of the patterns and habits that make up the individual's life can be explored and understood. The emotions and thoughts that go along with the behaviors also come to light. By listening with full presence and bringing attention to not only the story but the beliefs behind the story, we can begin to uncover the roots of the patterns that can lead to "stuckness" or repetitive, unconscious and undesirable behavior patterns. We all learn behavior patterns in our developmental years as part of our maturation that allow us to cope with our emotions and situations. Th...