The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

AFTER WHAT seemed like a lifetime of wanting to be doctor and at least 22 years of schooling, Dr Monique Thompson was fortunate enough to realise her childhood dream of becoming a physician and starting her own practice.

Even though this has consumed a lot of her time, effort and energy, Dr Thomspon told Tribune Health she also has the privilege of being the wife of a wonderful man and the mother to two great children. With her life being so busy, she is making it a point not to rush through it and take each day for what it is, a gift.

She said the love she has for her family translates into the work that she does. With every patient she cannot help but think, “What if this was my mother? What if he was my husband?”

“It is this sort of thinking that drives me to care for and treat patients as my own family,” she said. “Some think this is a slippery slope, but that is the essence of who I am.”

Dr Thompson said he started her medical degree in 2008 and graduated in December of 2013.

“Consequently, from my early teenage years I spent every opportunity I had working or volunteering in the healthcare field. So when I was old enough I at least did an internship here in the Bahamas annually. Even after I left for undergraduate studies I returned home to work and volunteer,” she said.

Dr Thompson said 2014 was a transition year for her family, moving from Arizona back to the Bahamas, but by God’s good grace, she was able to start her private practice last December.

By definition, a naturopathic medical doctor (NMD) combines the wisdom of nature with the rigours of modern science, taking a holistic approach to proactive prevention and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment.

Dr Thompson said the profession allows her to learn and practice many different avenues of bringing about healing in addition to pharmaceutical and minor surgical intervention.

She said the job of a naturopathic medical doctor entails a lot because there are so many different modalities or therapies that they use when helping patients. According to Dr Thompson, NMDs function as primary care doctors who work in paediatrics and geriatrics, draw and order laboratory tests, do annual exams, school physicals, prescribe medication, perform minor surgical procedures etc.

In addition to all of that, she said NMDs are extensively trained in the following modalities, and incorporate any number of them into their patient care. They include nutrition (including intravenous therapy), herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (which includes acupuncture), hydrotherapy, environmental medicine, homeopathy, mind body medicine, and physical manipulation.

“I went through several medical professions before coming to naturopathic medicine. I seriously considered being a paediatric cardiologist, then an emergency room physician, and even a surgeon. However, one thing that was missing in those careers for me was that I really wanted to work with people on a mental, physical and spiritual level. I’m not saying that I couldn’t work with individuals on that level in those professions, but one of the tenets of naturopathic medicine is to treat the whole person, and in learning naturopathy you are trained to consider every aspect of the patient,” said Dr Thompson.

For her, naturopathy really fits who she is as an individual. Its philosophy includes treating the whole person, prevention, treating the cause of disease, doing no harm and as a doctor also being a teacher. She said she could not ask for more in a life-long profession.

“The thing I like the most about the profession is how all-encompassing it is. That is important to me because it gives me the confidence to know that I can help any patient that walks in my door. And helping people live and live well is my calling. It’s a strong sense of fulfilment simply knowing that I am doing what I was meant to do,” said Dr Thompson.

She encourages readers to know that naturopathy is simply a different approach to health and healing that is very effective for acute and chronic conditions alike. From knee pain, to diabetes, to HIV/AIDS, or cancer, naturopathy can help, she said.

To women who want to pursue a career as a NMD, Dr Thompson said: “Go for it and do not look back.”

She said when she was pursuing her studies there were a lot of naysayers, with most of it criticism being due to the fact that naturopathy was not understood by many.

“Women, if that is the desire, that is on your heart, do not let anything stop you. You control your destiny. Do not give that power over to anyone,” she said.

Fortunate to have been surrounded by so many loving, positive, influential individuals, Dr Thompson said if she had to point out just one person who made the biggest impact on her life, she would have to name her sister, Onyx Flowers-Russell.

“I cannot put into words what she has taught me, what she has done for me, nor what she means to me. With us being just three years apart, she has been such an excellent role model for me. Growing up behind her, she was a leader and excelled from primary school and continues to do so now as she pursues a PhD in pharmacy. In doing so, she set high standards for me and that has motivated and pushed me to be the best that I can,” said Dr Thompson.