The Future Is Now
FirstHealth of Andover Celebrates 10 Years in Andover and 18 Years in the Merrimack Valley

So much has occurred in all of our lives and the world at large over since FirstHealth of Andover opened its door in January 2000. While the mission of offering solutions for our community’s healthcare needs through the best of Integrative Medicine has stayed the same, the methods and collaborations have evolved to reflect a growing desire to use these emerging medicines. One dramatic evolution is shown with the use of acupuncture. I was asked to author The Idiot’s Guide to Acupuncture and Acupressure, which was published in 2000. Pearson Education, who published the Idiot’s Guide series at that time, saw the global popularity of acupuncture and following the series’ own mission of offering the public its first primer on a new topic of interest, published the book ten years ago.

Acupuncture had reached a milestone of showing enough current and future global growth to attract the attention of a major publisher of educational books. I’m happy to say the book is still in print, sales continue to occur all over the globe and they’ve asked me to submit a proposal for an updated revision. While my writing is no better than mediocre, the enthusiasm for acupuncture and the solutions these therapies can potentially bring to our healthcare system have gained more interest.

We’ve seen our medical collaborations substantially increase over the decade. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) continues to include acupuncture as a topic of study, while many medical practices regularly refer to clinics like ours around the country. The popular media showcases acupuncture as in pitcher Randy Johnson using acupuncture in the big leagues, “So You Think You Can Dance” contestant 19-year-old Hayley Cloud praised acupuncture for helping her with a disc injury in her back allowing her to compete.

Returning the Favor

I was fortunate to have had high quality mentors, who took an interest in my personal and professional growth. I was inspired by their skill and caring. This kind of well rounded education is difficult to find in any vocation. I made a promise to myself years ago that if I was ever in a position to assist practitioners with a positive and enthusiastic learning environment that I would repay my teachers by helping others to achieve. I’m excited to say that many of this region’s most notable and successful practitioners began their careers in one of the seven clinics I’ve operated over the last twenty-five years. I also must report that I still believe that they taught me more over our association. Patients at FirstHealth have noticed a steady stream of student/interns from such collaborations as Natural Standard, Northeastern, Mass College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Merrimack College and The New England School of Acupuncture.

Our Future Is in Collaborations

When I began practicing acupuncture and Chinese Medicine back in the mid 80’s, the cultural descriptive phrase was Alternative Medicine. Twenty five years later the term Integrative Medicine is a more accurate reflection of the way we work with conventional medical providers to find solutions for challenges and help assist in better patient outcomes. Not much either or these days. Patient care is defined more often by increased communication and collaboration with other medical professionals. When I first began practice, it was rare to get a direct referral from a medical professional. Now, while satisfied patients still top the list of referral sources, medical professionals are second. This reflects a continued positive evolution in general public awareness towards acupuncture and Integrative Medicine that is also bolstered by medical professionals from many disciplines reaching out to find effective options for their patients. FirstHealth of Andover is often called by media as experts to comment on stories about healthcare issues. We provide knowledgeable and inspiring speakers to area hospitals, support groups, medical office in-services and a growing number of corporate wellness programs.

It certainly is awe-inspiring to witness the growth of Integrative Medicine and the continued evolution of FirstHealth of Andover.  We have many interesting opportunities and challenges ahead. We will continue to bring the latest programs and highly skilled practitioners to the clinic, so we are always well positioned to be part of the solution for your own healthcare challenge. I’m excited about the next ten years!

- David Sollars, M.Ac., Lic.Ac., H.M.C