Bastyr Graduate Jason Wright Balances a Successful Practice with Voluntary Simplicity

Jason Wright is the first to admit his lifestyle is unconventional. The 1996 master of science in acupuncture and Oriental medicine graduate enjoys a back-to-basics existence on family-owned land where he and his girlfriend live without electricity, running water, telephones or other modern amenities.

"It's literally 'chop wood, carry water,'" he says. "We draw water from our own hand-dug well."

This way of life comes naturally to Jason, as his mother has been practicing a similar lifestyle for the past 15 years. With a free-thinking mother and a father who was an educator in earth and life sciences, Jason grew up with a deep respect for family, nature and earth-a respect which easily translated into a love for natural healing and, eventually, a desire to attend Bastyr University.

"I knew I wanted to be in some area of alternative medicine," he says, "so I decided to start with acupuncture and Oriental medicine…I loved it."

From 1993-96 Jason flourished in Bastyr's multidisciplinary culture, especially enjoying " an abundance of wonderful students and faculty drawn from every tradition."

After a 1-year residency, the university hired him to teach in the clinic and serve as interim acupuncture clinical coordinator. Together with his friend and classmate, Matt Ferguson, MS ('96), he developed and taught a summer elective, Chinese Herbal Preparations.

Although tempted to remain at Bastyr, Jason felt a calling to return to his roots in upstate New York, "to care for the people who had cared for me." So in late summer 1999, he settled near Willet, N.Y.

Licensed in March 2000, the 29-year-old set up his practice at the Invigorations Therapeutic Massage and Wellness Center in nearby Cortland. He was surprised to find competition from two other acupuncturists practicing in the same area. "It definitely helps being a hometown boy. I'm continually getting referrals from relatives and family friends."

Jason finds that occasionally patients are drawn to his practice by the other therapies he offers, accepting acupuncture treatments only after they've learned to trust him. For this reason, he encourages students to diversify, yet avoid "spreading themselves too thin"-something easy to do at Bastyr. "While it's tantalizing to sponge up everything, you can't always absorb it all."

Looking back on his time at Bastyr, Jason now wishes he'd spent more time learning the business aspect of a practice, not just the healing aspect. His advice to graduating students: "Brush up on your tax laws, and learn about deductions."

Despite the business-related challenges, Jason admits his practice is already pretty close to being his "dream job." Working only two days a week, he finds he earns just enough to support himself and his girlfriend living simply on their land. And he has plenty of time to devote to family, friends and music. Currently, he's learning to play the mandolin and banjo.

Although happy with the way things have turned out, there are moments when he misses Bastyr, "especially when I look at my meager library and think about all the resources at the university, the supplies and knowledge floating around." He especially misses teaching. "It expands your knowledge and drives you to get better and better."

Jason's secrets to success? When pressed, he offers: "Keep your focus where it's most needed. That may be your practice, but it may be taking care of your family. Or it may be respecting and taking care of the earth."

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