DR. JAN PATTERSON
You may know me as a medicine/infectious diseases and integrative medicine physician and professor who has been practicing and teaching for over thirty years. I'm also a podcaster and public speaker.
You may also know me as a wife, mother, believer, essential oiler, bereaved parent, sprint triathlete, gardener, or cancer survivor.
But do you know that I co-authored an Integrative Wellness self-care book, Breath for the Soul?
A little about Me
No one is immune from stress, anxiety, depression, and grief. What if there are methods that empower you to help yourself? Learn to use breath, movement, nutrition, and spirit to enhance your health and wellness. Dr. Jan and Phyllis review these solutions.
Jan lives, works, writes, and gardens from San Antonio and the South Texas Hill Country.
Dr. Jan Patterson (left),
Phyllis Clark Nichols (right)`
My Background
I am a physician and professor of medicine/infectious diseases and am trained in infectious diseases, integrative medicine, and internal medicine. In addition, I’m also an educator who teaches practicing professionals as well as medical trainees, speaking in venues throughout the country and the world.
With many years of experience in health care infection prevention as well as quality improvement and patient safety, I continue to be active in clinical research and author of more than 100 scientific articles and reviews.
During COVID-19, I was an investigator in clinical trials and an active participant in the COVID-19 response for the region.
More about my background...
-
Hardin-Simmons University, BA Biology & Chemistry
-
University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston, MD
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Residency in Internal Medicine
-
Yale University School of Medicine, Fellowship in Infectious Diseases
-
Long School of Medicine at Univ. of Texas Health San Antonio
-
Professor of Medicine/Infectious Diseases
-
-
Harvard School of Public Health, MS in Health Care Management
-
Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy, Aromatherapy Practitioner Course
-
Helms Medical Institute, Medical Acupuncture training
-
Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at University of Arizona, Fellowship in Integrative Medicine
More about me...
“The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food”
Genesis 2:9 (NIV)
My latest work...
I’m an infectious diseases and integrative medicine physician who has been in academic medicine practice for more than 30 years. I’m also a believer, wife, mom, friend, bereaved parent, essential oiler, sprint triathlete, weight watcher, and cancer survivor who has learned that it takes a whole tool kit of support to walk through life. My husband and I raised two sons of whom we are very proud.
Our oldest son is an attorney and working to make life better for others. We lost our younger son to suicide in 2012 when he was 18 years old. He had a caring personality and intelligence with a wonderful laugh and an insatiable love for his friends. This loss is indescribable and devastating. Our faith, family, friends, and meaningful work pulled us through the extremely painful early days of our mourning. Faith and meaningful work continue to be important in this grief journey.
I became interested in essential oils and products through my massage therapist, Jill Sulak. I had no idea how powerful these agents could be. I used them initially for housecleaning, sinus support, and physical discomfort. I started using two oils blends for emotional support--Joy and Valor--and over a period of several weeks I noticed a remarkable change in how I felt and in my motivation, energy, and mood. I wanted to learn as much as I could about these amazing natural compounds, and I became a Registered Aromatherapist.
While conventional medicine can do many great things, it is challenging to treat stress, anxiety, depression, and grief with this approach alone.
I've come to recognize the important role of integrative modalities like breath work, meditation, spirituality, essential oils, acupuncture, and more in health and wellness as they can be integrated into and along with conventional therapies, which I write about in Breath for the Soul.
— Dr. Jan Patterson
I discovered the power of essential oils, and this led me to learn more about other integrative modalities through formal training in integrative medicine. I discovered that integrative therapies such as essential oils, breath work and meditation are very helpful in the continuing grief work and for dealing with life’s stresses. After decades of experience in traditional medicine, I realize the role of traditional medicine when it can be helpful and life-saving. I also recognize the important role of integrative modalities like breath work, meditation, spirituality, essential oils, acupuncture, and more in health and wellness as they can be integrated into and along with conventional therapies.
I’m passionate about sharing what has helped me, including tips and tools for healthy living.
Check out the different parts of my website and my new book, Breath for the Soul to learn more about breath work, essential oils, wellness, infectious diseases, grief, my faith, and more.
Thanks for finding out what I'm about!