Women In Wellness: Dr Ann-Marie Wong of Medverde On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Pick up a book instead of your phone at the end of the day. Reading soothes the soul and calms the body. People that tend to read before bed get a better nights rest. Do this as opposed to scrolling through your phone which causes overstimulation and decreases sleep efficiency.
As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Ann-Marie Wong, MD.
Ann-Marie Wong, M.D. is Medverde’s medical marijuana doctor specializing in pediatric medical marijuana. Dr. Wong is a native to Miami, Florida. She received her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, then finished medical school at the University of Miami. Dr. Wong completed her internship and residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Dr. Wong moved to Beijing in 2000, to work at the Beijing United Family Hospital for several years, then back to New York City to work at the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center in Chinatown. After living in Amsterdam for a few years, she moved back to Miami, to work at Pediatric Associates for the past 9 years.
Dr. Wong is now Miami and Medverde’s #1 medical marijuana doctor at Medverde’s medical marijuana clinic. She accepts all patients and specializes in pediatric medical marijuana.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
I’ve been a practicing pediatrician for 24 years now. But when Florida was legalized for medical marijuana at the end of 2016, I was approached by some other physicians to start a medical cannabis practice. Our collaboration did not pan out, but it led me to explore medical cannabis and spend time with doctors in Oregon and Michigan, which was fascinating. I was especially excited about the possibilities of treating children with CBD and cannabis and in seeing positive results with childhood conditions.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
The most interesting part of my journey, which may seem contradictory to my specialty as a pediatrician, was getting the opportunity to also see adults and older patients. Medical cannabis may treat and help diverse conditions from anxiety and sleep issues to chronic pain and digestive issues. I find adults and senior patients may have multiple conditions improved using cannabis and have been able to wean or stop some of their other medications. Coming from a Western medicine background, then starting to use medical marijuana has been an eye-opener into alternative treatments. Also, watching and following patients whose quality of life is significantly improved from natural medicine has been gratifying.
Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Biggest mistake when I was first starting is not asking more help and guidance from those who are more knowledgeable about business. As a health care provider, our focus has just been taking care of patients. Making the jump to start my own clinic, I was mainly concerned about patient care. One thing I would have changed is getting more business advice.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
Working at the clinic I am able to open up a world of possibilities for so many patients that have been suffering for far too long. Whether they have a condition that can be cured or healed through Cannabinoids, or have been taking prescription drugs that have had harmful side effects. Medical marijuana has become a fantastic alternative for many patients that want more options than pharmaceuticals. The medical community has witnessed the positive effect this plant based treatment has had on patients. Both children and adults now have the possibility to return to a sense of normality after diagnosis. Today, it has been proven to help with a variety of symptoms including epilepsy, Cancer, Chronic Pain, MS, ADHD, Anxiety, Migraines, Arthritis and over 30 other common issues Americans are facing daily.
We still are trying to change the stage of medical marijuana. At times people need some convincing that his is not just a recreational drug, but a serious option for patient relief. I have patients thanking me all of the time for helping them get their lives back and live pain free or anxiety free. For the children that I treat, this job is even more rewarding because I am able to see them grow and flourish with this new treatment and live the lives they deserve.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.
– Pick up a book instead of your phone at the end of the day. Reading soothes the soul and calms the body. People that tend to read before bed get a better nights rest. Do this as opposed to scrolling through your phone which causes overstimulation and decreases sleep efficiency.
– Your body is sending you signals, listen up! Our culture is always seeking for the next quick fix. But often times you body is just telling you it needs more or less of something, instead of a pill to quiet it down or numb it. It’s quite simple really. Have a headache? Perhaps you need more water or your body is responding to something you ate. Stomach ache? Are you getting enough fiber? Or perhaps having a reaction to dairy. If we take time to listen to our bodies, we often find the secret to wellness.
– Meditate. Whether it’s 5 minutes or 20, take time each day to calm your mind and meditate. Our day to day lives are so hectic and we are connected more than not. That’s why it is more important than ever to take some moments to just sit in silence and recenter.
– Spend time with people you love. Pick up the phone, make a video call, grab a coffee together — just be sure to carve time out of your schedule for those most important to you. Try to remove all distractions and enjoy the moment.
– Move your body. Our bodies function best when we build motion into our daily lives. It promotes digestion, gets our organs working, boosts serotonin and can help you sleep better too!
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
If I could start a wellness movement to affect as many people as possible, I would promote the simple suggestion of “listening to your body.” It applies to many things, such as eating only until you feel full, and going to sleep when you’re tired. If certain foods, make you feel sluggish or bloated, then don’t eat those foods.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
Five things I wish someone told me before I started:
1. Devote yourself whole-heartedly to your business. Don’t spread yourself thin by too many endeavors.
2. Put yourself out there, even if it is uncomfortable.
3. Get advice and help in areas you feel are your weakest.
4. Don’t get discouraged when business is a bit slow. It will pick up again!
5. Be kind to yourself and take some time for self-care.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
Mental Health is one of the most important causes for me, since I see that need the most in my area of practice with CBD and medical cannabis. My patients often times share quite a bit with me, then leave and say it was like a therapy session. I find it particularly heartbreaking since I have some friends who have passed due to mental health issues. And, I also see how mental health not only affects the patient, but their family and friends.
What is the best way our readers can follow you online?
Readers can visit my website at www.medverde.com, or follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/medverdeinc or Instagram at www.instagram.com/medverde_inc/ @medverde_inc
Thank you for these fantastic insights!
Women In Wellness: Dr Ann-Marie Wong of Medverde On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.