Alan Mills, ND, LAc, FSA ('01) and Lisa Canar, ND ('01)
Interviewed Winter 2002
Where are you currently placing your energies?
We are busy with two related projects. After months of work with dozens of advisors, we are finishing the planning phase for building a network of twenty family-oriented holistic health centers across the country. Each center will provide truly holistic healthcare, integrating a holistic medical clinic with a therapeutic spa, a learning center, a whole foods restaurant, a natural products retail store and apothecary, a research facility, and a meditation hall. The centers will be paired. One will be in a metropolitan area (the first will be in Bellevue, Washington) and one will be in a nearby rural location for retreats (the first will be on the Olympic peninsula, south of Port Angeles). The Bellevue center is scheduled to open in Spring of 2004. That's our first project.
Our second project is to implement a small 'alpha' site to test the infrastructure, services, marketing strategy, etc. of the larger centers, and to establish a guest base for the larger centers. Our test site, Calyx Natural Health, has opened in Kirkland, with all of the services of the larger center except the restaurant. We have added our first employee, and are now seeing guests.
Our long-term aim is to redefine quality healthcare in this country. Toward this end, we are also planning to establish a health insurance company specializing in holistic medicine, and to form an alliance with a hospital network for catastrophic care. After all that is done, we retire.
What do you find to be the most interesting aspect of practicing?
The people. They always bring a gift. For example, our web site CalyxNaturalHealth.com has a place for people who are suffering to request a healing meditation. Recently a young woman requested a meditative prayer. She had just become homeless and had a number of physical and psychological difficulties. Two days after we began our morning healing meditations for her, she gave us a call. "I don't know what you guys are doing,' she said, "but it sure made a big difference in my life." What a gift she gave us.
What are your overall marketing strategies?
First, the concept of our holistic centers is unique and provides an approach that appeals to people; it fills a market void. Second, we provide our guests with multiple entry ways to holistic health; they can start from where they are comfortable, and then take many small easy steps toward optimal health. One group will be attracted to the spa, another group will enjoy the restaurant, another the yoga classes in the learning center, and so on. Eventually, people in one group will cross over to another area, thus building our clientele for the whole center.
What keeps you motivated to practice?
First of all, our guests motivate us; truly helping people makes the difficult work worthwhile. Secondly, we are motivated to improve the dismal state of the healthcare in this country. And we now know how to make a great impact; when our centers are fully operational, about two million people will visit every year. That's exciting.
What types of CEU topics would you be interested in seeing Bastyr host?
Topics related to energetic medicine and the healing impact of spirituality; these topics were not integrated into our curriculum. Also, we would attend insurance and practice management seminars. A forum of successful alumni to discuss practice management challenges would be beneficial.
Suggestions for speakers?
Holistic MDs such as Andrew Weil, Robert Anderson, Richard Gerber. We also need to hear from researchers such as Robert Becker, MD.
What are some of your interests/hobbies outside of healing?
The way we are approaching healing, there really is no 'outside'; we believe that healing involves all facets of living. We are enjoying deepening our meditation and yoga practices, as well as having more time to spend with friends and family.
Alan Mills, ND, LAc, FSA ('01) and Lisa Canar, ND ('01) 