We were lucky to catch up with Peter Swanz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Peter, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back on your career, have you ever worked with a great leader or boss? We’d love to hear about the experience and what you think made them such a great leader.

The best “boss” I ever had wasn’t actually a boss but one of my professors in medical school: Dr. Stephen Messer, chair of the Homeopathic Department. Beyond his incredible knowledge of classical homeopathy, Dr. Messer profoundly shaped my understanding of what it means to be a healer. He emphasized the importance of humanity and compassion when working with people during some of their most vulnerable and difficult moments.

Dr. Messer taught me that how we make someone feel emotionally is just as vital as the physical guidance we provide to improve their health. He showed me that it’s okay to be real and human with patients—whether that means sharing an emotional response or allowing genuine empathy to guide the interaction. His approach was a priceless lesson in the power of authentic, compassionate care.

Peter, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Peter Swanz, ND, FHANP

Dr. Peter Swanz received his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine Degree from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ.

Dr. Swanz was awarded the prestigious Daphne Blayden award for his commitment to Naturopathic Medicine, Academic Excellence, Compassion, Perseverance, a Loving Sense of Humor and a Positive, Supportive Outlook by his colleagues and staff at SCNM (now the Sonoran University of Health Sciences).

He is a Naturopathic Physician with advanced training in classical homeopathy and nutrition serving in pediatrics and family medicine. He is Board Certified and a Fellow of the Homeopathic Association of the Naturopathic Physicians and within his practice, Vital Force Naturopathy, supports individuals on the journey to health by integrating the best of his conventional and holistic medical training. He is passionate about healing and is driven by the desire to see all people be the most healthy individual they can be.

In his practice, Dr. Swanz works alongside patients instead of against their symptoms to facilitate meaningful, long-term changes of the body and the mind. Dr. Swanz believes in empowering people to take control of their own lives by becoming the captain of their own health team.

Through the use of naturopathic, homeopathic, and holistic care, Dr. Swanz is breaking through the limited conventional model of medicine, which treats a list of symptoms and positions the individual as a victim to their health circumstances. A believers in medicine as an art and not just a reductionist science, we recognize that the human body is always trying to move toward a state of homeostasis and that symptoms are windows into the underlying imbalances within the body.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the most significant pivots I had to make in business came after the first year of COVID. Like many in healthcare, my practice volume took a huge hit, and I was uncertain about the future. Rather than trying to push forward as usual, I decided to take a leap of faith and work with a business coaching company. Their guidance helped me transition from a fee-for-service model to a program-based model for health transformation.

This change required a major shift in how I structured the practice. Moving to a program model allowed me to offer a more comprehensive approach to patient care, focusing on long-term health transformation rather than one-off visits. It was also an opportunity to provide patients with a more consistent and supportive framework, which led to better outcomes and a deeper impact on their health journeys.

Beyond the structural shift, I had to confront and change my own beliefs about my value and worth. By moving to a program model, I was finally able to be adequately compensated for my time, expertise, and the unique services I offer. This was both a professional and personal transformation, as it required me to recognize the true worth of my skills and the value I bring to my patients. It was a challenging transition but one that ultimately strengthened my practice and my commitment to holistic health care.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

Yes without a doubt. I’m so grateful to be able to serve and support people the way I do. But if I did it again, I would be more vocal out of the gate about how necessary a holistic approach is for health and healing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vitalforcenaturopathy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vitalforcenaturopathy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vitalforcenaturopathy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterswanznd/
• Twitter: https://x.com/zendoctor
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/zendoctorND