On July 1, 2012, as I celebrate 30 years as a pediatrician, it’s interesting to mull over the rewards and difficulties I’ve had along the way, including the many interesting experiences I’ve had caring for children and families.
I entered pediatrics essentially by default. When I entered medical school, I was young and not sure what I wanted to do with my life. School was a struggle for me, and I soon realized my values were not aligned with those being taught by the conventional medical establishment. I contemplated leaving, but after a lot of soul searching, decided to complete the training. To keep me going, I made a commitment to practice holistic or natural medicine when I finished and could choose how I wanted to have a practice of my own.
The time came to choose a specialty. I rejected most of the available choices because something about each field was intolerable. Internal medicine involved way too many drug prescriptions; ob-gyn was, at the time, dominated by mostly chauvinistic males; psychiatry also involved far too many drugs that turned so many patients into zombie-like beings; and surgery was not a lifestyle I wanted.
When I thought of pediatrics, I felt hopeful, and this led to my decision to enter the field. This specialty involves taking care of snuggly infants and helping their parents keep them healthy. I could offer advice on breastfeeding, nutrition, and holistic living. Soon after completing my residency, I knew I had found my niche… a profession where I could work in accordance with my values and specialty I could be part of that would “do no harm.”
Or so I thought.
When I chose to not administer vaccinations on the routine schedule (as desired by many parents), and then refused to take a mandatory flu vaccine myself, I was “demoted” by Children’s Hospital Boston. Because I wasn’t part of a large pediatric group that endorsed pouring drugs such as Ritalin into children with ADD/ADHD, and I refused to enter patients into an online vaccine registry, my insurance reimbursements were slashed. These incidents impacted my ability to accept patients’ insurances, significantly reduced my income and left a bitter taste about medical care as we know it.
While purporting to have the best interest of children at heart, conventional pediatrics now consists of mindlessly pushing drugs and vaccines on children without giving a single thought to the negative outcomes that result. I feel betrayed by my conventional pediatric “colleagues” who harm children with vaccines rather than supporting their own ability to grow up healthy and strong.
I have chosen a different, more personalized way to helping patients get well and stay healthy. Using homeopathy as a primary treatment modality has played a big part in my professional satisfaction. The discipline has allowed me to treat children and adults in a manner that is safe, effective, easy-to-administer, deep-acting and gentle. I love helping children recover with conditions that are challenging to treat. Finding solutions for difficult problems and helping families navigate the often-treacherous landscape of the contemporary healthcare system is what I’ve always wanted to do. There has been nothing more professionally satisfying than watching children get well and off their medications, teaching parents the skills of holistic living, and empowering people to make the healthy choices.
Thankfully the joys have outweighed the negatives over these past 30 years, and providing holistic, patient-centered care is what I thrive on. I have been especially fulfilled since coming to TIMC where I am surrounded by like-minded colleagues who utilize so many different holistic therapies to help people get healthy and stay healthy. I hope to see you and your children soon at our Center where you can begin, or continue, your journey to vibrant health and holistic living.
Thank you Dr. Levatin for standing up to your values and truly helping heal. It’s not easy standing up to male dominated professions and the pressure and money of Big Pharma. You have made the right choice and I’m sure that you have many patients that agree!
I too worked for CHB as an administrative associate, was faced with the mandatory flu vaccine policy ,fought tooth and nail not to be forced to get it. They fired me 4 days before Christmas of this past year. I have no regrets with my decision. I just have such resentment towards them for taking away my rights.
Paula, Thanks for your bravery in standing up for your principles and not accepting an elective medical procedure that violated your freedom and right to choose. CHB should be ashamed. Good luck to you in whatever work you are now doing.
I am really really impressed with your office! I had the good fortune of visiting there a few months ago for thermography. It was awesome, and I have been passing out your brochures to everyone I come in contact with. This article struck a chord with me. I am a psychologist with over 35 years working in the field of developmental disabilities. I am writing an article about my life experiences, including a post doc at Johns Hopkins and the Kennedy Institute, and it occurred to me that nothing has really changed in my 35 years in practice in the field. The individuals are still sent to the psychiatrist for medications to “treat” their behavioral and mental health issues, and I am appalled at the awful quality of their diets. Processed foods, sugar, gluten, salt, fat, and dairy are prevalent! Fresh fruits and vegetables are almost non-existant! I just completed a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University in order to present the credentials to educate caregivers in my field as to the necessity to look at diet and lifestyle changes, not more drugs! I am developing a Food for Life Course to educate and train caregivers and the clients that what they eat has a huge impact on their mental and physical health. As Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine.” It is very inspiring to know that there are doctors like you right up the road! Thank you!