‘Doctored’ prescribes a dose of reality

Thrive Center intern and future chiropractor Josh Budzinski holds up the "Doctored" documentary movie poster after helping to bring the documentary to the Castleton Campus.  

Photo Contributed by Lisa Donohue 

Thirty years ago, Lisa and Joe Donohue would have been called quacks, charlatans, or frauds. Some have even carried that opinion well into the 21st century. But time and time again, people in their profession have done incredible things for people in pain.

Lisa, a part-time faculty member at Castleton, and her husband, Joe, are the co-owners of a holistic health center in Wallingford, Vt. called the Thrive Center of the Green Mountains.

Joe is a doctor of chiropractic medicine and Lisa holds a certification in health and lifestyle coaching and is a licensed massage and bodywork therapist. The Thrive Center offers chiropractic care, massage, lifestyle coaching, holistic health education programs, stress reduction products and much more.

The two have a strong commitment to educating their community on all the options they have when it comes to health.

On April 15, with the help of Thrive Center intern and Castleton health science major Josh Budzinski, they came to campus to show a documentary called “Doctored.”

The movie aimed to shed light on traditional western medical practices that make a habit of prescribing medication for any and everything under the sun, needed or not.

And believe it or not, it educated viewers on a real life conspiracy. In 1987, the American Medical Association was found guilty of conspiracy to contain and eliminate the profession of chiropracty.

For those who don’t know, chiropracty is the practice of treating diseases by manipulating the spinal column to correct misalignments and relieve pressure.

The main goal of the film was to show viewers that medication or surgery isn’t always the only option, and this is the same goal that the Donohues work toward every day at the Thrive Center.

“What I get excited about is just the plethora of health and healing opportunities that people are learning about at younger ages,” Lisa said. “That’s why I teach, you know? I just want to pass batons and assist people to understand that there is more than one way. There’s a much bigger picture of health.”

Lisa feels that this documentary “gives a true picture about the realities in health care today,” and hopes it will be considered for a future Soundings event.

Being a chiropractor for 15 years, Joe has seen his practice do things for patients that seemed impossible.

For example, he has treated pediatric patients with chronic ear infections who were scheduled to have tubes put in their ears.

“With a [chiropractic] adjustment, ears drain, fever resolves, surgery’s cancelled,” he said matter-of-factly.

“There are many forms of natural or conservative care that tend not to get the exposure that maybe they should get as first lines of treatment,” Joe said.

Budzinski has spent a lot of time shadowing Joe over the course of his internship this semester and was a huge part of bringing the documentary to campus.

“I think it reinforces where the mindset of our generation is already going and puts some proof behind it,” Budzinski said.

However, he doesn’t believe a shift in our country’s health is change likely to be made in one generation, but he hopes to contribute to that change.

In September Budzinski will be following in the footsteps of his mentors and attending Chiropractic school in Missouri.

“[This was] a fantastic project for Joshua to be a part of as he strides toward Logan Chiropractic College,” Lisa said. “I always want students to reach more…and be better than me…because I'll be watching for their due successes to come,” she added.

Lisa was extremely appreciative of her fellow Castleton professors who encouraged their students to attend the documentary showing, as well as the supporting partners for the event; The Bakery, Evening Song Farm, The Thrive Center, Sentinel Pines Orchard, The Castleton Athletic Training Club, and the Castleton Campus.

To learn more about the Thrive Center and your healthcare options visit facebook.com/ThriveCenteroftherGreenMountains.

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