Briefly describe your personal history:
I’m from a large and loving Boston Irish family. My grandfather, Joseph Wadden, was a renowned doctor in Cambridge, Massachusetts and he was my first teacher.
I was led into the field of medicine myself through the window of Tibetan Buddhism. Up until that point, I had only been studying “sciences,” and I just couldn’t seem to make the bridge between Western science and the healing arts. Finally, I designed my own major at the University of Massachusetts integrating medical anthropology, Buddhist scriptures and biology. I’ve been on that same path ever since, first working as a Peace Corps volunteer in the middle of a jungle right in the remote part of South America where no one would believe me when I told them that men really had walked on the moon.
I lived in Cambridge myself for a few years after Peace Corps, working in a health spa and soaking in the culture. Moving to Seattle was a big move for me. I left everything radically behind once again, and I longed for Boston. Slowly, however, I have settled into the vibe of this city, and after my four years of Bastyr, I stayed on, building a practice. I’ve now been here for about 10 years.
Briefly describe your practice (business model): My one and only business model is: building community. All of my patients have been referred to me from their friends and loved ones. I’ve been in practice now for about seven years, and I continue to have a full and thriving practice. I’m open to seeing anyone for any condition. I’m always confident I can help on some if not most levels, and I must say, I’ve had many difficult cases. I keep my heart open and I trust that the people who need to see me will somehow find me. So far so good.
How is natural medicine accepted in your region? Here in Seattle, there is an inherent trust in natural medicine. I think there has been a global movement to all things natural. Often my patients find me after being on an allopathic ride where they have been led more deeply into a hole. Finding the source of the problem is not easy. It requires great attention, wisdom and time. Natural medicine is making a name for itself because of the many dedicated people who pour their whole souls into their work. It will continue to rise and shine.
What do you find to be the most interesting aspect of practicing? I am always learning. I am always reading and finding out more and more. I wish I had time to write a book. I’d call it: cultivating the light body. I find that the body responds to vital energy, and the more I practice, the more I have reverence for that part of the body that is light. DNA is a light system. The endocrine system is a light system, deeply related to the chakra system. I feel that acupuncture points create sacred geometry around the body that feeds into this luminous system. Practicing is notmaking me perfect, but it is leading me to an ever more quantum knowing of the nature of perfection. If I can offer a bridge to a more authentic way of living for each of my patients, then surely their health will return.
What do you consider your winning business strategies? I pour energy into my practice at all times. I do take Sundays off, and some Saturdays, and I’ve taken some great vacations recently, but more than not, I’m working. Ask anyone who knows me ... I work all of the time. It takes that to be successful. This isn’t part-time work. If I’m not seeing patients or calling them back or e-mailing them, then I’m doing research, writing an herbal formula or planning a class. (Oh yes, teaching is a good strategy. It encourages me to read and evaluate what is relevant, useful and interesting.) I’m like a channel for information that I can pass on.
What keeps you motivated to practice? I get to witness small miracles every day. I love seeing people move beyond that which weighs them down: pain, illness and all of the various things that keep people awake at night worrying. I love offering people peace of mind and freedom from pain. That really allows me to face these long days with fresh enthusiasm.
What is/has been your most useful resource? Yoga ... and my family ... and Ken, my sweetheart, who not only listens to all of my ideas on quantum physics, energy and ancient Hermetic mystery teachings, but usually has already thought of them himself. He’s much smarter than me, so I consider myself lucky to have found him. He helps me through my ideas, like that the periodic table is based on music and light, and he’ll go get one of his notebooks and show me Einstein’s theories on the subject. I get a lot of love and support from my family and from Ken. I’m lucky.
What’s next for you? Where would you like to place your energies? I really would like to get more into teaching. I lectured last year at four of the acupuncture conferences and I am a teacher of Acutonics sound healing. We all have so much to teach each other, and I feel we need to really come together to turn this world around. I mean, let’s face it. We can talk and talk about healing and medicine, but if we don’t begin to get very creative, very fast, then we are all facing the last breath of our mother earth. We need to think big thoughts. We need to plan collectively. Healing our water; using sound vibration to reorient the molecules that restore air quality; embracing technology based on quantum physics, like superconductors -- that, by the way, operate much like DNA with high-spin metals and sound frequency, magnetics and light. These are all ideas that need to be woven into our medicine. We have so much to do and, thus for me, teaching is a great way to bring great minds together. I’m hoping also to write that book.
What are some of your interests/hobbies outside of medicine? I enjoy hiking. I love skiing, practicing yoga and walking on the beach. I hope to get more into playing music. I love to sing, and I recently wrote my first song: “Lay down your arms brothers.” Oh, and I can bake a great pie!
Susan Wadden, MS ('98)