NIWH Graduate Spotlight Questionnaire

Jill Bates, MS, PharmD
BCOP – Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist,
FASHP – Fellow of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists

Q: What drew you to the Whole Health field and the National Institute of Whole Health?

A: I became a pharmacist to help people—to work with people, and, my favorite thing about my role is getting to know people’s stories. As time went on I found this more and more challenging to experience. Further, as an oncology pharmacist for the Veterans Administration, confronting mortality was commonplace. I was drawn to whole health as a means of renewing my mission to help people and beyond just the physical.

The body and spirit are inextricably connected, so, it doesn’t make sense that healing could take place by focusing on simply the physical. Whole health is relational and utilizes a holistic approach to healing that centers on the person. I find this thought process to be a refreshing approach to healthcare.

Q:  Did the Whole Health training meet your professional goals?

A: Yes, I wanted to understand how to approach care more holistically and what I got was a renewed sense of mission in my role as a pharmacist.

Q: How are you currently applying your training from NIWH?

A: In my current role, I am a precision medicine pharmacist working with providers. However, as a Whole Health Educator™, I get to help people and learn their stories. I am applying the training working one on one with people who are interested in lifestyle change. The eventual application in my role fits nicely with de-prescribing.

Currently, 84% of doctor visits result in some sort of prescription. What would it look like if you could visit with your pharmacist who could provide comprehensive medication management that included Whole Health Education™ to facilitate lifestyle change? I think that would be a very valuable service to offer and one that could allow medications to be stopped as healthy behaviors developed.

Q: Would you recommend the Whole Health training to others?

A: Yes, I think that all healthcare professionals should be familiar with the whole health approach as it has much potential to positively impact the quadruple aim of healthcare.