Hidden Gems: Meet Zhiling Trowbridge of Integrative Wellness Grand Rapids

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zhiling Trowbridge

Hi Zhiling, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a family medicine physician and graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine. I received my Bachelor of Arts at Swarthmore College. I started volunteering for Americorps after college graduation and worked at a local community health center in Berkeley, CA. I started learning more about integrative medicine and acupuncture there and when I started medical school participated in the Holistic Healer’s specialty group through the American Medical Student Association (AMSA).

I practiced primary care for over 10 years in Massachusetts, New Zealand, and Michigan.

I became especially interested in acupuncture during my family medicine residency and studied acupuncture through physician program at Harvard Medical School. I later apprenticed with acupuncturist for 1 year.

I began my own private practice, integrative medicine and acupuncture in 2021.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was sometimes challenging to learn two fields with differing philosophies at the same time. Also finding ways to incorporate the two worlds of conventional medicine and integrative medicine in a practical manner in a clinical setting took some time to finesse. I had wonderful mentors along the way and did a clinical fellowship in integrative medicine in Lawrence, MA. This gave me hands on training that helped develop my skills in acupuncture, food as medicine, herbal therapy, and functional medicine.

Navigating the healthcare system itself can also be challenging. The ways that conventional healthcare is set-up can be a pathology in of itself making some integrative therapies inaccessible or unaffordable. The business of healthcare can be particularly focused on bottom-of-the-line profitability. It has had limited insight in supporting healthcare choices from a cost-savings standpoint or lowering health burden across a population.

The integrative clinic in Lawrence, MA I worked at had group visits for the locally underserved community that provided integrative techniques like food as medicine, mindfulness practices, and massage. These integrative groups were privately funded through a community donor. One of my first acupuncture clinics in Grand Rapids at a local community health center was also funded by a private donor who supported treatments to patients on medicaid and medicare.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Integrative Wellness Grand Rapids is a woman-owned private practice that provides integrative medical care for the local community. I’m the acting medical director and owner. We also have contracted naturopathic doctors that see patients one-on-one or virtually. We provide a holistic approach to care that focuses on assessing root causes to presenting health problems. Many of our patients are under care of their PCPs or specialists and they are seeking additional care through our integrative services to improve quality of life or lower prescription medication burden. Some common ailments we see are: IBS, symptomatic menopause, premenstrual syndrome, migraine, weight and blood sugar control problems, natural fertility support, chronic pain, autoimmune disorders.

We support a holistic and complementary approach and try to partner with patient’s PCP’s and specialists to a design a health plan to support the patient’s health goals.

The acupuncture clinic at IWGR is focused on providing medical acupuncture for patients who are struggling with chronic pain including: low back pain, neck and shoulder pain, joint issues, migraines, other neurological concerns. Mental health concerns supported by acupuncture include: anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Gynecological concerns such as PMS, menopause, pelvic pain can also be well supported with acupuncture.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love providing education to the local community, either directly to the public through social media and blog positing or educational lectures at medical conferences or specialty and primary care offices.

I think that sharing new perspectives on health is a way to learn how to improve on our current healthcare systems and find the best way to help our patients heal.

Since starting an integrative medicine private practice in Grand Rapids, I’ve had an opportunity to meet more of the holistic healers in the local community. My two business managers Kelly Peterson ND and Nicole Cain ND MA have been supporting patients through naturopathic care for a total of 20+ years and has done an amazing job educating and changing peoples lives through naturopathic medicine approaches.

Pricing:

• Please call our offices for more information or book a complimentary 15 minute phone call to learn about our services.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://integrativewellnessgr.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zhilingtrowbridgemd
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zhilingtrowbridgemd