What if you love taking care of patients- but just not in the current healthcare system? You’d love to find a way to practice medicine on your own terms. To actually help people heal, and improve their health without having to sacrifice their own health and well-being in the process.
In this episode of the Life After Medicine podcast, I interview Dr. Amie Skilton, a naturopathic doctor who has built a virtual functional medicine practice.
You’ll learn about:
- The problem with constantly seeking out more credentials and education and how to leverage the expertise you already have as a healthcare professional
- Creating a virtual practice with multiple revenue streams and digital assets
- Building credibility, trust, and connection among your online community
I hope you enjoy learning all about what’s possible for you when it comes to online business.
Use the audio player above to listen, or tune in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
STARTING POINT OF HER CAREER
As a Naturopathic student, Dr. Amie Skilton worked part-time at a health food shop in New Zealand. The experience allowed her to gain hands-on experience with herbal medicines, vitamins, and minerals. She developed a mentoring relationship with a local clinician whose client would shop in the shopping center where she worked. The clinician offered her a job at her clinic, which was her first paid employment, and she was being trained by someone with 20 years of experience ahead of her. Amie worked with the clinician for a year before experiencing burnout and feeling like she was doing her patients a disservice by limiting herself to the way her mentor wanted her to practice.
She then set up her first business, a home-based clinic, and started seeing patients full-time. Managing her own business meant that she had to wear multiple hats. Despite her love for the field of naturopathic medicine, there were instances in her career where Amie considered leaving because it was not working for her. She stepped back from clinical practice and studied beauty therapy, given her interest in women’s hormones and skin disorders. Amie was inspired to make her own skincare products, given the lack of effective, non-chemical skincare products available on the market. She started making her own skincare for herself and her clients. But, her training in beauty therapy was a mixed bag; she didn’t get everything she wanted, but at the same time, she also learned things she didn’t expect and that gave her a deeper understanding of the skin and the impact of ingredients on health, endocrine disruption, and other issues.
MASK OF PROFESSIONALISM TO THE BETTER VERSION OF HERSELF
When Amie was younger, she developed a preconceived notion of what a practitioner should be like. She believed that she had to speak, look, and dress in a certain way and that she could only disclose a certain amount of personal information before it became unprofessional. She found that this limited version of herself was not serving her or anyone else well.
As she began presenting on stage and on TV, she found that the persona she had created for herself was not truly her. She realized that when people put pressure on themselves to be a certain way, no one around them can relax and be themselves either. As she relaxed into being the fullest expression of herself, she found that she felt more connected, as did the people around her. The more she became the best version of herself, the more she attracted aligned clients who made her work feel easy and fulfilling.
PROFESSIONALISM VS AUTHENTICITY
Amie stressed the significance of being sincere and authentic when practicing medicine. She argued that putting on a mask of professionalism would make it harder for a clinician to assist patients. Using her own personal experience as a patient, she discusses how it taught her the value of being open and honest with her healthcare practitioner. When seeking medical care, patients need to feel supported and unjudged, yearning for the freedom to breathe freely, be who they truly are, and openly and fearlessly discuss their condition. Although patients may find this level of vulnerability challenging, it is vital to provide the best care possible.
She acknowledges that patients may experience prejudice and discrimination and that the healthcare system might be flawed. She stated that having more degrees, qualifications, certificates, and training does not guarantee success as a clinician. While those factors are significant, they do not guarantee clinical success. She believes being sincere, real, and caring is the key to success.
FEELING OF NOT GOOD ENOUGH
Amie spoke about the tendency for people to constantly seek out education and credentials in order to feel competent in their line of work. She thought about how this way of thinking had prevented her from dealing with her feelings of inadequacy. Amie advised you to reach your goals sooner rather than later, since, once you are successful in your practice and can work fewer hours, you will have more time to pursue your studies and do so in an area that you are interested in. Also, it will improve your self-assurance and give you the opportunity to put into practice what you already know, which can help you learn better.
She suggested that while you will undoubtedly make mistakes and that there is no way to completely escape the issues that come with the job, you must push through them in order to succeed.
FINDING HER BALANCE
As an introvert, Amie found it difficult to practice and physically hold space for others. As a result, she took a year off from her job. Yet during the course of six months in 2016, she gave 52 lectures and conferences both domestically and abroad. Also, she produced their magnum opus, which focused on instructing medical professionals in the internal and external management of skin disorders. given the difficulties of their workloads and their seminars. She thus became burnout and wanted to give up on everything. Since she has been employed by the company for ten years she has the option of taking three to four months off or even up to twelve months of unpaid leave. She made the decision to take a 15-month break and refinanced her investment property to better her financial situation. She unknowingly moved into an apartment with toxic mold, which left her traumatized, so the break did not proceed as planned. She was unable to complete the majority of her goals during her break because of burnout.
She made the decision to switch to telehealth appointments and move her practice online. She admitted that she ought to have put up more effective processes and guidelines for her virtual practice. Amie advised spending time planning and setting up a suitable structure for virtual practice, obtaining input from colleagues, and considering choices like administrative assistance. By doing this, you may manage your workload more effectively, prevent burnout, and give your clients greater service. She was considering how her health had deteriorated as a result of exposure to mold and the onset of type 3 Alzheimer’s disease. She found balance by prioritizing her time for patient work and other activities and managing her schedule on a quarterly and monthly basis.
She appreciated the flexibility and independence she has created for herself, which has enabled her to avoid a full-time job and pursue building biology subjects following her traumatic experience.
ON CREATING HER ONLINE BUSINESS AND OTHER REVENUE STREAM
Her first goal was to spread knowledge about the underlying causes of chronic skin conditions, the true basis of health, and having beautiful skin. She wanted to make her life simpler and provide support to her clients by offering a hybrid curriculum that combined one-on-one work and pre-recorded courses. Amie developed a course called “Mold Proof Your House” that incorporated what she had discovered as a result of her mold experience after identifying the fundamental principles of human health that can’t be compromised. She recognized the need for guidance as individuals dealt with their own personal experiences. Those who take the course learn how to prevent mold from growing in their houses, how to treat it medically and environmentally, and how to evaluate properties to make sure they avoid a water-damaged structure.
Since mold causes the brain to get so irritated and disturbed, she thinks it is far kinder to store the information in a place where clients may revisit it again. She also created other courses, like “EMF Proof Your Home,” as non-native, non-ionizing radiation. She has created digital assets that she can market, which is somewhat passive now. She looked at them every year to think of ways to improve and upgrade them. But ultimately, once the creation was done, she had a product she could sell that didn’t require her time and energy. Once she got to a certain point, she diversified and became more creative. She started creating things purely for fun and because she saw a need for it, not necessarily as a commercial decision, although it would eventually become commercially beneficial. That’s where the membership came in for her.
CREATING A COMMUNITY
Amie noted that a membership or community organization can be a method to interact with individuals on a more personal level and that social media is not the best platform for providing medical advice. Although she believes that a free Facebook group is a wonderful place to start, she also built a paid membership program as a way to support a group of people while still respecting their time. Due to her background and education, she is able to communicate her expertise in original ways with a wider audience. She underlined the value of forming connections with community members because doing so can increase one’s credibility and gain one’s trust. Additionally, having a warm audience to share new offers, test ideas, and receive feedback can accelerate growth and revenue.
FINDING YOUR PASSION AFTER FEELING BURNED OUT
For people who feel stuck in their current professions, she provided valuable insight into alternative career paths for individuals who are feeling stuck and burned out. She reminded us that the world is full of possibilities, and individuals should take the time to explore all options available to them. By doing so, they can make an informed decision that aligns with their passion and brings them joy and fulfillment*. “Don’t let burnout dictate what your next step would be, take a break if you can.”* she added. It’s important to choose a new path from a place of empowerment rather than desperation. She mentioned that it is essential to figure out what makes you excited and makes your heart happy and hopeful. Take time to figure out how to deliver your gifts and expertise to the world in a way that feels good to you too.
We are approaching the 100th episode of The Life After Medicine podcast and are celebrating with a giveaway of an Apollo Neuro Wearable Stress Relief Device ($350 value).
We will be holding a raffle on Thursday, May 11th, and announcing the winner of the Apollo at the start of the 100th episode. We will also be in touch with the winner via email to determine the shipping address.
Each person may have up to FOUR entries in the raffle. Here are the four ways you get your name entered into the raffle.
- Complete the listener survey below (one entry)
- Leave a review of The Life After Medicine podcast & share the screenshot below (one entry)
- Share a screenshot of your favorite episode of The Life After Medicine Podcast to your IG story and tag @lifeaftermedicinepodcast (one entry)
- Comment on the “GIVEAWAY” post of @lifeaftermedicinepodcast IG account and tag 5 friends. ** will be posted the week of April 17th (one entry)
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