PRACTITIONER PROFILE
Celebrating 30 + years of ATMS membership
On Sunday , 13 November 2022 , the ATMS Board recognised practitioners who have been members for 30 + years at the AGM which was combined with the Optimise Your Practice Seminar .
It was a great celebration recognising their dedication to the natural medicine industry and also their ongoing support of ATMS . Commemorative pins were presented to members who were able to attend in person . All members who have reached this milestone will receive a special pin to mark this achievement as recognition from ATMS .
Past Presidents Maggie Sands and Bill Pearson presented these awards to recipients during the AGM and were also honoured to receive their 30 + year membership pins marking their dedication to the natural medicine industry .
ATMS is proud to have served these members for over 30 years and looks forward to continuing to provide support and resources for all its members .
Pictured : ( Right ) Past presidents Bill Pearson and Maggie Sands ;
( Below ) Members of 30 + years were awarded commemorative membership pins at the AGM .
Honour Roll : Profiles of Practitioners with 30 + Years of ATMS Membership
Betty Ladner
What has kept you practising for 30 + years ? Being able to help people get their lives back , which is the result of better health . Also I enjoy helping people . Having had health problems myself at a younger age and it was natural health and naturopaths who helped me regain my health , so I do understand how patients feel when not well and frustrated with the conventional treatments .
What have been the most important changes to natural medicine you have seen during your career ? I think it is sad to have dedicated genuine health suppliers go out of business because of the increased costs imposed on them .
What changes in natural medicine would you most like to see ? Certainly to have naturopaths recognised by the government and patients being able to claim on their health funds , for preventative medicine to be more acknowledged . The level of illness in society seems to be increasing at a great rate putting so much pressure on the medical system . If only it was accepted what a great contribution we make to the wellbeing of people and certainly an incredible financial saving to the health system .
What advice do you have for today ’ s emerging practitioners ? Listen to your patients . When they first arrive I found that they just want to talk about their condition . The more we can find out about their personal issues is such a help in knowing which is the most accepted way of helping them . Of course our intensive testing - however we diagnose is so important but patients have told me how they appreciate me spending the time explaining their condition . Also to give them a treatment list , dietary requirements or any information on paper to take home , as especially very ill people find it difficult to remember . A phone call to them a few days later particularly to the very ill is also appreciated . We all like to know someone cares .
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