The Story of My Heart: From Healing To Passion

My journey towards founding Curate Health is deeply personal and rooted in significant chapters of my life. It all started at 17, when I was diagnosed with Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), a condition where a hole in my heart allowed oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to mix, reducing the efficiency of oxygen delivery in my body. Despite minimal symptoms, doctors recommended surgery to correct the defect. So in the summer of 2001, Dr. Goldman performed my open-heart surgery, pausing my heart for over 40 minutes. While the surgery was successful, the recovery was challenging. Waking up weak and unable to move was a stark contrast from feeling perfectly healthy before the operation. The pain, the struggle to clear my lungs every day, and the slow reintroduction to normal activities like walking and stair climbing marked a challenging journey.

This experience profoundly shifted my perspective on health. The sudden loss of vitality made me appreciate a healthy, functioning body. Months of rehabilitation taught me the importance of physical health and resilience. This was when my passion was ignited. It wasn't just about regaining my health but understanding and recognizing its value we commonly take for granted. I wanted to share this realization with others, to inspire a passion for personal health that could prevent others from experiencing the same type of loss. I was left with a scar on my chest, once a source of shame, became a symbol of my journey and my dedication. It reminds me daily of why I do what I do… it all comes from the heart.

Growing up as a child in a Chinese family, my parents strongly influenced my career path, steering me toward becoming a doctor. However, the choice of what type of doctor was mine to make. With a natural dexterity, I loved working with my hands—repairing furniture, toys, and electronics. I even considered dentistry. However, as my curiosity about the human body deepened alongside my passion for strength training, I realized my fascination with the musculoskeletal system. This ultimately led me to Chiropractic, a profession that blends manual therapy and rehab exercise, and perfectly aligns with everything I am passionate about. I couldn’t have found a better dream job.

As I began my journey as a chiropractor, I had the privilege of working in several various multidisciplinary clinics. While these settings offered the convenience of diverse services, I felt something was always missing - true collaboration among practitioners. I always envisioned a clinic like a team of superheroes, combining strengths for optimal outcomes. This is the essence of the Interdisciplinary Healthcare model, representing the gold standard in healthcare in my personal opinion.

Throughout my practice, I noticed patients were often treated as mere collections of symptoms, while neglecting their individual complexities. This reductionist approach led to suboptimal health outcomes. As my passion for optimizing care deepened, I recognized that health encompasses physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions—forming the 5 pillars of health, with each pillar equally significant and all interconnected. To truly cultivate health, we must nurture all five pillars.

These insights inspired me to establish Curare Health - a holistic interdisciplinary clinic dedicated to placing genuine teamwork at the core of our practice. Our mission is to empower individuals through a patient-centric, whole-person approach, mapping personalized and comprehensive health programs, and treat each individual as a whole.

A holistic approach recognizes that each patient is a unique individual with a complex interplay of physical, emotional, social and other factors influencing their health. Rather than focusing solely on isolated symptoms, our goal is to address the root causes of health issues and consider a patient’s broader health goals. This comprehensive approach fosters deeper connections between practitioners and patients, leading to more personalized treatment plans that resonate with the patient's values and lifestyle. By integrating various modalities and disciplines, we aim to enhance all five pillars of an individual’s health, promoting greater health overall outcomes. Additionally, by educating and empowering individuals to understand their own health, we aim to inspire patients to take an active, confident role in their own healing journey. At Curate Health, we are committed to this philosophy and believe that fostering open communication and collaboration among practitioners will truly transform the healthcare experience, ensuring every patient receives the well-rounded support they deserve for optimal health and wellness.

It goes without saying that what surrounds us shapes us, and we, in turn, shape the world around us. In keeping with a holistic view of health, we cannot deny that our individual health is directly connected with the health of our environment as well. At Curate Health, I knew that caring for the environment and those around us needed to be one of our core values. As a healthcare provider dedicated to enhancing the well-being of my patients, I recognize that a person’s health cannot be viewed in isolation; it is fundamentally connected to the health of our environment and the social fabric of our communities. A holistic approach recognizes that improving individual health is intertwined with our efforts to foster healthier environments and communities. By promoting sustainable practices and advocating for the well-being of our surroundings, we contribute to a comprehensive approach that allows individuals to lead healthier lives. This is what encompasses better care.

A clean, healthy and sustainable environment is essential for fostering optimal health, as it directly impacts the quality of air, water, and food we rely on for our well-being. When we prioritize sustainable practices, we not only contribute to a healthier planet but also cultivate thriving communities where individuals can reach their fullest health potential. Our commitment to environmental stewardship means that we actively seek out eco-friendly solutions in our clinic operations, what we source for supplies and ingredients, and how we deliver treatments. We believe that by caring for our environment, we are taking meaningful steps toward reducing the factors that contribute to illness, reducing the burden of disease, promoting improved health outcomes, and fostering resilience within our communities for a more vibrant future for everyone. Together, we can create a positive impact that extends beyond our clinic and into the broader community. This is how we curate health.