I have been a Physician Assistant for over 15 years. When I entered the field, my purpose was clear: to help those who are suffering and in pain. That passion has never left me. However, the events of recent years—particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic—brought to light a profound disconnect between the values of healing and the growing influence of profit-driven medicine. This disconnect is what has led to what I now understand as moral injury.
COVID-19 hit close to home. Both my father-in-law and mother-in-law passed away during the pandemic. My mother-in-law was a dedicated front-line physician. Losing them—along with four other relatives—was devastating. What made it even more painful was knowing that affordable, accessible treatments existed. Medications like Ivermectin, which had shown antiviral properties and potential to treat COVID-19, were available in the U.S. yet actively suppressed. Physicians who dared to prescribe them were flagged as if they were prescribing opioids, despite Ivermectin being an FDA-approved drug with decades of use behind it. A 5-day supply costs just $20 at Walmart with a GoodRx discount.
These decisions were not grounded in medicine or compassion. They were driven by a system that prioritized profit over people. And that betrayal—by institutions meant to protect public health—was a turning point for me.
But there is a silver lining: COVID-19 awakened a growing number of physicians and healthcare providers to speak out and seek truth. We are no longer willing to be silenced or bullied by those who have never treated a patient, never studied the complexities of the human body, or held a dying hand.
Across the globe, countries with fewer resources but greater integrity have demonstrated the value of preventive care, early treatment, and integrative approaches to medicine. They are prioritizing quality of life, not just quantity of prescriptions.
This is where I stand.
I am, first and foremost, a patient advocate.
I took an oath to do no harm, and I remain committed to that oath. I must stay true to my values—and to my mission.
That mission lies in Integrative, Functional, and Regenerative Medicine.
It’s about optimizing each cell in the body—through the fundamentals of healing:
- Reducing chronic stress
- Prioritizing restorative sleep
- Nourishing the body with whole, balanced meals
- And supporting cellular function with evidence-based therapies such as Ozone IV/IM Therapy and Bio-Identical Hormone Pellet Therapy.
This is the medicine I believe in. This is the future of healthcare. And this is why I continue to serve.