Pamela Durgin, ND ('83)
Interviewed Spring 2002
Interviewed with Carl Groom, ND, '84 (not practicing - contract business owner)
How is natural medicine accepted in your region?
Very well. It's accepted and received well but people tend to be reluctant to come for a visit when they find out that it may not be covered under insurance.
What do you find to be the most interesting aspect of practicing?
The people. I love my patients. They are all focused on personal growth. Therefore, it's very therapeutic. It allows me to constantly improve myself while doing the same for others. I find the mind/body and emotional aspects of medicine very exciting.
What are your overall marketing strategies?
In the beginning, I built my practice by word of mouth. And that has not changed.
I practice under my chiropractic license. I went to chiropractic school immediately after attending Bastyr University in order to practice natural medicine in California.
What keeps you motivated to practice?
What gets me going in the morning is that I get to talk to people. I am continually relating to people as I work on them. I learn from them. What I try to remember is that power of healing is found by listening and connecting with patients.
I listen for repetitive topics throughout the day and then create a "topic" or "lesson" of the day. I look for a common thread and relate that to the clients.
What's next for you? Where would you like to place your energies?
My next step is to just keep the new integrated clinic going and growing.
What would you like to see from Bastyr University?
CEUs online. It doesn't even have to be a CEU because we are not licensed here in California. I would like to have access to lectures, something available for docs vs. the general public.
What are some of your interests/hobbies outside of healing?
Being active; gym, hiking, biking with Carl to the beach and skiing as often as we can.
|
