Here is the video version of this text.

It’s been a long time since I updated you or did much in the anti-trafficking space at all. January was National Human Trafficking and Awareness month in the USA, so I had a few engagements going on and you can check out that update at this link. As February rolled in, I was preparing a podcast season, working on the Hands that Heal Chapter, and starting to reach out to organizations I connected with in January.

However, in mid-February I lost my job  <SURPRISE!>  at the practice where I had been working full time – terminated for “business reasons”, not for patient endangerment or anything like that. The other pediatrician was also let go (!?!?!). According to my contract I had two more months of employment. I spent the first couple of weeks working through the 100 different options I immediately thought of. To be honest, moving back to Asia and joining the Free Burma Rangers was tempting! In fact, some of my patients just assumed I had had it with America and decided to quit and move away again.

After praying and talking and consulting and really seeking God and what he put in my heart, I knew that I hadn’t come all they way here, made the connections I’ve made in the medical freedom and transgender movements, not to mention the renewed love for the practice of medicine all led me to realized that starting my own practice was the way to go!

So, after a couple of months of getting over the shock of what happened, finding the way forward through the fog, and working full-time while developing my own practice, I’ll be set to open in a couple of weeks! I have some really good people around me helping me to set this up and it’s exciting!

The good thing about going to a direct primary care model of practice is that I’ll have more flexible time to spend on Relentless work and other life things in general. Instead of spending hours a day charting for insurance compliance, I’ll be spending that time researching problems to help my patients.

For SURE setting up and running my own business and practice is a TON of work! But I hope that things will calm down soon and I can get back to focusing more attention on the things I’m passionate about, and have more flexibility to work on Relentless.

On a personal note, I tore a hamstring and haven’t been able to run or do much working out since mid-November, so my regular stress-relief mechanism has also been out of commission. That, however, seems to be finally improving as well.

I know so many of you regularly pray for me and for Relentless and the work that I do – thank you! For those who continue to give – yes, it is helping now more than ever! I appreciate you! Especially since you haven’t heard anything for a while and I haven’t been able to do or post much. Thanks so much! I will get back to it soon!

If you want to stay in touch regarding my new practice, please shoot me a note by email and/or stay tuned on Facebook and LinkedIn where I do most of my posting. Things are moving quickly! Exciting!