Ask the Author: A.J. Seiffertt
Answered Questions (3)
A.J. Seiffertt
the book i'm working on now (and why it's still in early stages after 2 years) is an attempt to start from the philosophical ground of traditional ecological knowledge/indigenous ecological knowledge - from time immemorial indigenous communities have understood we are part of the earth and the way to take care of ourselves is to take care of the earth with the same care and respect - my philosophy has been near to that my whole life (but coming from a strong bias with lots of holes in it given my background) --- i only learned from indigenous scientists in the last 5 years or so (bc of all the awful predictable reasons), and it's really clarified and helped me explain feelings i had that european science had no way of even putting into words. my other long time ground has been buddhist philosophy (of varying shades), and after attending a silent meditation retreat with mostly people of color, that was an attempt to blend indigenous wisdom with buddhist mindfulness and compassion practices, i have had hope that compassionate growth is possible for humans. so. still in stewing/brewing/listening/note taking stages.
A.J. Seiffertt
lol, my origin story, definitely a telenovela (absolutely unnecessary family secrets, secret siblings, hidden/lied about paternal parent, religion doing awful things to people, no one talking to each other, and everyone afraid of my very well intentioned but frighteningly fierce and emotional mother) - lots of drama but, you know, a story almost every family has, so, relatable!
A.J. Seiffertt
oh my gosh thanks! and thanks for asking :)
way back in 2015 i interviewed to teach at my med school, and the head of internal medicine said i was not allowed to teach "integrative medicine" 3 separate times during the interview - i had already agreed earlier in the conversation when i said i was fine making sure to prioritize the internal medicine topics i would be responsible for... so after the 3rd time i asked him if he understood that i meant "helping students know how to ask questions and listen, and to have an understanding of options available to explain to patients clearly about different things that might help (food choices, exercise types, sleep, meditation/stress management)" - in order to actually treat/slow progression of/reverse 80% of internal medicine issues (chronic largely preventable and/or modifiable illnesses)... and he essentially said we don't have time for that, they need to pass the boards, get into good residencies, and make our school look good. i get the world he was coming from as an elderly white male internist, and i get that he saw me as a hysterical younger woman (i certainly didn't feel respected or heard at all as a fellow internal medicine physician), but obviously i disagreed, so i couldn't work there, and i was so frustrated by that whole exchange that i thought publishing a few essays might help students learn things that could help them talk to patients and actually connect them and their patients to thinking about the planet/ecology as something that they affect and affects them... I wrote 10 over the course of 3 months, and my amazingly patient editor helped it all go together into a book! I'd like to write a second, more on effective global policies that help both people and the planet, but I haven't had any time off in several years. i currently work in an FQHC in sonoma county, CA, and maaaaaybe will get to take a sabbatical to write in a couple more years :)
way back in 2015 i interviewed to teach at my med school, and the head of internal medicine said i was not allowed to teach "integrative medicine" 3 separate times during the interview - i had already agreed earlier in the conversation when i said i was fine making sure to prioritize the internal medicine topics i would be responsible for... so after the 3rd time i asked him if he understood that i meant "helping students know how to ask questions and listen, and to have an understanding of options available to explain to patients clearly about different things that might help (food choices, exercise types, sleep, meditation/stress management)" - in order to actually treat/slow progression of/reverse 80% of internal medicine issues (chronic largely preventable and/or modifiable illnesses)... and he essentially said we don't have time for that, they need to pass the boards, get into good residencies, and make our school look good. i get the world he was coming from as an elderly white male internist, and i get that he saw me as a hysterical younger woman (i certainly didn't feel respected or heard at all as a fellow internal medicine physician), but obviously i disagreed, so i couldn't work there, and i was so frustrated by that whole exchange that i thought publishing a few essays might help students learn things that could help them talk to patients and actually connect them and their patients to thinking about the planet/ecology as something that they affect and affects them... I wrote 10 over the course of 3 months, and my amazingly patient editor helped it all go together into a book! I'd like to write a second, more on effective global policies that help both people and the planet, but I haven't had any time off in several years. i currently work in an FQHC in sonoma county, CA, and maaaaaybe will get to take a sabbatical to write in a couple more years :)
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