Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Taylor.
Jen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My name is Jen Taylor and I am a licensed naturopathic medical doctor practicing in Scottsdale, Arizona. My interest in health and wellness stemmed from my experiences in athletics and my own health struggles and injuries. When I was growing up in upstate New York, my mom allowed me to pursue my passion which was playing ice hockey. I played on several competitive teams which introduced me to the importance of proper nutrition, hydration, and physical care. When I was younger, my goals were to show the boys that I could do anything that they could do, and I would someday play college hockey.
My first year of college athletics proved to be my best, but unfortunately, at the expense of my health. Although I helped my team win our league and playoff championships as a freshman, I started to struggle. My next two years would not go as smoothly as a combination of injuries, poorly managed stress, and an unknown side effect to medication left me in pain, physically weak, chronically sick, unable to focus, and depressed.
To make a long story short, in late December of 2008, I hit my lowest point and decided to focus on my health and academics and quit playing hockey. There was something that just made me not feel like myself, and I was not getting the results or answers from conventional medicine. By a weird coincidence or twist of fate, the FDA updated the information on an allergy medication that I was taking several days after I left my team. Under the care of my school’s nurse practitioners, I discontinued the medication and noticed a resolution of the severe symptoms within two days. I was ecstatic and on my road to recovery.
My college had two excellent nurse practitioners who were open to more natural means of care such as nutrition, homeopathy, and chiropractic. Naturally, we looked for alternatives given to a general sensitivity to medications that I was having. Within several months, I was able to resolve most of my allergy symptoms, regain my physical strength, and feel like myself again with diet changes and a few nutraceuticals. Because of the success that we had, one of the nurses encouraged me to pursue a career in naturopathic medicine.
As frustrating as this experience was, I learned the hard way that you can not reach your God-given potential if you fail to take care of yourself or if you are unwell. It has been over ten years since my struggles in college, and I have been able to return to playing hockey and managing my health and wellness concerns without pharmaceuticals.
Being able to do what I love connects me with the community in a way that is unique to me, which has given my life meaning and enjoyment. I became a naturopathic physician because I know from my own experience that the body and the spirit can heal, and every person has the opportunity to live a fulfilling life.
Since then, my views on success and happiness have matured. A decade ago, I believed success was related to numbers and results. I have since realized that there is a deeper meaning to success that is more significant. Experiencing happiness and fulfillment through the work I do has its roots in developing authentic relationships with the patients I care for, and consistently doing the right thing to improve their quality of life. I do my best to care for every person that walks into the office. My goal is to meet my patients where they are and provide them with the knowledge, tools, and support to get them to where they want to go. As a health professional, my main focus is helping people get better.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve had my struggles, but I have also had my green pastures. There were challenges as I transitioned to pre-medical studies and a medical program, because I majored in philosophy as an undergraduate student. I did my best to keep a good attitude and work ethic, and ask for help if I needed it.
Starting in to practice was challenging, but I have been fortunate to work and learn from a several of professionals. I spent my first three years practicing in clinics where I could have quality repetitions to sharpen my clinical skills and learning how to manage a practice. Learning a new skill usually takes me out of my comfort zone, but I know that is temporary and I will get better with practice.
Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
Here is a little bit about Ditat Medical: Di-tat, dē-ˌtät: Latin. To enrich. From ditat Deus —the motto of Arizona
Our mission is to provide safe, individualized, and effective care that enriches health and wellness. We offer a variety of approaches and treatments to improve health, support performance, and heal better.
What excites me the most about what I do is that I can help people improve their quality of life by giving them safer treatment options. What sets us apart from most conventional medical approaches is that we address multiple aspects of a person’s health to resolve their concern. This approach provides synergy and better patient outcomes. For instance, I might have a runner come in with chronic ankle pain from an old ankle sprain. For cases like this, I’ll take a hands on approach with an injectable regenerative treatment, balance the muscles surrounding the joint with myofascial work, and support the healing process with specific exercises and dietary recommendations to help the injury heal better. Keeping everything under one roof saves people time and money.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I have been looking at larger clinic spaces for an open concept IV lounge with a physical rehabilitation area. My goal is to have people walk in and know that they have almost everything under one roof. Whether that’s nutrition, lab tests, integrative care/IVs, physical medicine, rehabilitation or injection care. I will also be adding another provider to the group. With the current COVID-19 crisis, we have had to be adaptable, but it has been worth it.
Pricing:
- IV- Immune C special $99
- $100 Knee Prolotherapy treatment
- Hydration IV -$99
Contact Info:
- Address: Ditat Medical- At McDaniel Chiropractic
8700 E Pinnacle Peak Road Ste 109
Scottsdale, AZ 85260 - Website: www.ditatmedical.com
- Phone: 480-757-7770
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Gabbert Medical
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