The American Health Council has welcomed Dr. Bonnie McLean, O.M.D., A.P., M.A., B.S.N., as ” Best in Medicine” in recognition of her extensive experience in the specialty field of Integrative Medicine.
The alternative and holistic healing movement has grown exponentially within the past decade. More individuals are adopting natural healing practices into their treatments as a means of better understanding the source of their ailments, and how to heal the mind along with the physical body.
As the movement has grown and developed in America, individuals practicing more traditional forms of healthcare have collaborated with holistic healers as a means of finding an all encompassing treatment plan for their patients. Patients are also learning about the power of communicating with healthcare professionals in all fields when it comes to their experiences, so that they can gain a greater understanding of what’s happening to their bodies and the impact it has on their mind and spirit as well.
Dr. Bonnie McLean is a healthcare professional who has melded these two worlds of healing as her career developed. Starting as a nurse in the 1960’s, Dr. McLean watched first-hand how the industry has advanced, and took it upon herself to learn about the holistic medicine movement and the ways it could better the lives of not only her patients, but herself. Through this extensive educational experience, she was able to open Spirit Gate Medicine, her own integrative medicine practice.
Dr. McLean originally graduated from Duke University School of Nursing in 1967 where she received her B.S. She earned her Masters in Counseling from Pepperdine University in 1977. Her postgraduate education, according to her website, includes certification in Orthopedic Acupuncture from the Emperor’s College of Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica, Ca. and a Doctorate in Oriental Medicine from the California Acupuncture College in Westwood, Ca. While Dr. McLean has extensive experience in the healthcare industry, her passion for helping and healing others started much earlier than her educational journey.
The multitude of experiences Dr. McLean has endured in both her personal and professional life led her to the position she’s in today: an integrative healer. Dr. McLean explained how hardships in her personal life also led her to experiencing the benefits of holistic medicine/healing, and created a desire to learn more about the many ways individuals heal around the world, beyond just traditional Western medicine practices.
Dr. McLean spent many years traveling all over the world to learn about these ancient practices from the places that they originated. She was seeking knowledge of shamanism and shamanic healing specifically so she’d be able to work more with her patients on a spiritual and emotional level.
Dr. McLean’s extensive experience in both western and holistic medicine has given her an encyclopedia of knowledge when it comes to listening to her patients and finding the most beneficial healing treatment for them. She explained how collaboration with other individuals in the medical field is also crucial when it comes to healing the mind, body, and spirit as one.
When it comes to finding the best treatment options for her patients, Dr. McLean says compassion and communication are crucial. Beyond open and honest communication, Dr. McLean places a major emphasis on love and compassion at Spirit Gate Medicine. Many individuals complain that the healthcare industry as it currently stands is too fast-paced, and leaves patients feeling like they’re not really being listened to or valued, so Dr. McLean prioritizes showing each of her patients how much she cares about helping them heal.
Dr. McLean is truly setting a precedent when it comes to compassion and integration in modern medicine. There is no one-solution approach to healing, regardless of what you’re specifically going through. Sometimes an individual just needs to hear that someone else cares about their experience and how they can make life easir for themselves. Dr. McLean wanted to leave readers with an overall message about growth and healing that almost all of her educators have told her throughout her nearly six decades working in healthcare.
Mastrota, E. (2022, February 3). Healing Through Love And Communication: How Holistic Healing Is Advancing Healthcare For Everyone.. The National Digest. Retrieved April 7, 2022, from https://thenationaldigest.com/healing-through-love-and-communication-how-holistic-healing-is-advancing-healthcare-for-everyone-dr-bonnie-mclean/
