Welcoming Dr. Gemechisa to DCIM!
DCIM is incredibly excited to introduce our newest member of our team, Dr. Gelane Gemechisa! During our intensive, six-month search we were fortunate enough to attract many qualified candidates. Ultimately, we chose Dr. Gemechisa because of her impressive qualifications, her commitment to patient care and understanding, and her infectious positivity.
After welcoming her to the team, Medical Director Anjali Dsouza sat with Dr. Gemechisa to discuss her background and why she chose to come to DCIM.
Dr. Dsouza: Dr. Gelane, I am so happy you are joining DCIM. What attracted you to Integrative and Functional Medicine?
Dr. Gemechisa: Thank you Dr. Dsouza. I’m so excited to be here! Honestly, I had several paths to Integrative and Functional Medicine. The first was…birth! As the child of an immigrant family that embraces traditional therapies, my interest in integrative and functional medicine long preceded my desire to be a physician.
But, like many physicians in integrative and functional medicine, including you, personal experience with the shortcomings of the typical medical approach to care pushed me to search for an alternative. What began as a lingering sense in my medical practice that there must be more to medicine than just managing symptoms crystallized into an urgency when I became the patient. I was experiencing debilitating fatigue and searched for answers. My primary care physician told me “There’s nothing wrong.” That was both dismissive and frustrating. I refused to accept that answer, and ultimately, I rejected the approach altogether. I visited an integrative medicine physician, and my conversion was sealed, so to speak. That experience motivated me to bring the same revolution to my patients: Care that focuses on you by doing a deep dive into your history and environment, and then allowing for the time and resources to develop an individualized plan.
Dr. Dsouza: I completely relate to that. Both your dissatisfaction as a doctor with how medicine is typically practised, and how that approach’s failure becomes a motivator for change when you feel it as a patient. I’m happy we found each other!
Dr. Gemechisa: Indeed! After learning about your practice, I had to reach out to see I could find a new home. DCIM’s commitment to the doctor-patient relationship and its willingness to take the time and resources to fully understand the patient holistically drew me instantly. I look forward to working with our patients to bring about their most robust, thriving health!
About DCIM
The team at District Center for Integrative Medicine specializes in helping patients get to the root cause of their conditions. If you’re looking for 1-on-1 help from naturopathic doctors who care, request a free consultation today!
