We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful ASARE CHRISTIAN. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with ASARE below.

Alright, ASARE thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

The journey to establishing Aether Medicine was sparked by a series of pivotal moments and realizations over my eight-plus years of practicing as a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor. Treating patients with conditions like spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, and chronic pain, I observed a common thread: a fundamental lack of understanding of pain, not just among patients but also within the healthcare community. This insight shifted my focus towards educating both my patients and colleagues about the nature of pain—that it’s both a sensory and emotional experience, which might not always correlate with visible tissue damage. This was a revelation, especially in cases like fibromyalgia, where traditional imaging offers little insight into the patient’s suffering.

Another critical observation was that the most significant improvements were seen in patients who were otherwise healthy. This underscored a truth I intuitively understood and learned through medical training: health is the cornerstone of effective therapy, whether it be pharmacological or not. It led me to pivot my practice towards prioritizing overall health as a means to address pain, laying the foundation for Aether Medicine.

Moreover, I aimed to redefine the dynamic between physician and patient in pain management. Moving away from a paternalistic model to one where patients are empowered with knowledge and tools to manage their pain before it overwhelms them was crucial. Understanding what initiates pain and what perpetuates it is vital, as many patients are lost in the cycle of treatments without grasping the root causes of their continuous discomfort.

Exploring beyond conventional diagnostics and treatments, like MRIs and physical exams, which often fall short of pinpointing the exact origins of pain, became a part of our ethos. Pain is complex and multifaceted, requiring a deeper, more nuanced approach to treatment and understanding.

Embarking on this venture was also a personal and professional growth journey for me. I sought to learn how to create and lead a business, communicate effectively, and make a meaningful impact. Despite the initial struggle with the business aspects of running a practice, this endeavor has been incredibly enriching. It’s illuminated how much there is to learn about fostering health, as opposed to merely treating illness—a distinction that was not emphasized enough in my medical training or early career, which focused primarily on addressing sickness and saving lives.

Aether Medicine represents a departure from traditional healthcare models, focusing instead on the physiological basis of health and offering patients alternatives not typically covered by insurance but supported by science. By concentrating on cellular health—from mitochondrial function to the integrity of cell membranes—we aim to address pain at its root, promoting overall well-being.

This practice, and the journey here, has been a path of continuous learning and growth. It’s not only about treating patients but also about understanding and addressing health at its most fundamental level. I’m grateful for the opportunity to pioneer this approach, enhancing patient health and contributing to broader solutions in society while evolving personally and professionally.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Dr. Asare Christian, a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician and the founder of Aether Medicine, located in Wayne, Mainline Philadelphia, PA. At Aether Medicine, we specialize in regenerative and integrative medical practices with a focus on cellular health to enhance pain management, athletic performance, and healthspan. Our approach starts with the understanding that the root of health, disease, and even mortality begins at the cellular level.

In creating Aether Medicine, my goal was to address the shortcomings I observed in traditional pain management practices. Too often, there’s a heavy reliance on medications, injections, and surgeries without adequately educating patients on the underlying causes of their pain or empowering them with knowledge and strategies to manage their conditions effectively. This conventional approach neglects the importance of nutrition, physical therapy, and other modalities that can significantly contribute to patient recovery.

Our practice stands out because we strive to understand and treat the comprehensive nature of pain. We look beyond merely alleviating pain signals to explore the root causes and contributing factors of chronic pain, employing a wide range of treatments from cellular and regenerative medicine to integrative and functional medicine. This holistic approach ensures we address not just the symptoms but the underlying issues, aiming to improve our patients’ overall health as a pathway to solving their pain.

Our expertise spans across physical medicine and rehabilitation, pain management, regenerative medicine, integrative and cellular medicine, and much more. We treat a variety of conditions, from acute and chronic pain to musculoskeletal diseases and neurological issues, always with a focus on anti-aging and longevity.

What truly sets Aether Medicine apart is our comprehensive assessment and treatment strategy, tailored to each patient’s unique needs and circumstances. We recognize that health and pain management must be personalized, acknowledging the differences in treatment responses between individuals of varying ages and health conditions.

Our office environment reflects our philosophy, with rooms dedicated to meditation, nutrition, exercise, and sleep, reminding patients of the core elements of a healthy lifestyle. We believe that a well-rounded approach to health can significantly improve pain outcomes, making Aether Medicine not just a clinic but a sanctuary for healing.

At Aether Medicine, we prioritize education and collaboration, continuously seeking better solutions for our patients. We believe in the power of a holistic care team, incorporating nutritionists, exercise trainers, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and psychologists into our treatment plans. This collaborative approach ensures that our patients receive comprehensive care tailored to their specific needs.

In essence, Aether Medicine is more than just a medical practice; it’s a commitment to improving patient care through education, personalized treatment plans, and a holistic approach to health and well-being.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

The foundation of Aether Medicine is a testament to resilience, especially during its inception amid the 2020 pandemic—a time rife with uncertainty in business and economics. My journey to establishing Aether Medicine was driven by a commitment to addressing the root causes of pain and optimizing health. I transitioned from a well-compensated medical director role at a large rehab hospital to chase a dream of contributing meaningfully to societal health and human evolution.

This leap was fueled by my lifelong aspiration to impact humanity positively through health advancements and personal growth. I immersed myself in personal development and education, leading to the decision to start my own practice. Despite the challenges of securing a location during a pandemic, including facing discrimination and doubt from property owners, I persevered. A helpful realtor eventually led me to our current practice location, embodying my long-held belief that persistence pays off.

Building Aether Medicine required assembling a dedicated team, a process that came with its own set of trials, including mismatched office managers. However, each misstep was a learning opportunity, fostering gratitude for every individual’s contribution, regardless of the outcome.

One of the most significant hurdles was attracting patients and managing the business side of the practice, areas outside my initial interest as a physician deeply focused on patient care and learning. This experience underscored the importance of understanding the business aspects of running a successful practice. Personal development emerged as a crucial element in creating a better business, requiring an open mind and a grateful heart to navigate interactions with clients, staff, and collaborators effectively.

Though initially challenging to attract patients, and despite ongoing struggles, our unique, holistic, and integrative approach to health care, grounded in science and continuous learning, gradually began to resonate. We empower our patients to prioritize their health, extending our impact beyond individual care to contribute to societal well-being.

Financial sustainability was another obstacle, prompting me to work additional shifts as a locum physician to ensure our practice’s survival through its early, non-profitable years. This flexibility and willingness to do whatever it takes underpinned our gradual move towards financial stability.

Today, Aether Medicine stands as a beacon of innovative health solutions, offering services that significantly differ from conventional practices. Our patients’ positive outcomes, especially those who had previously seen no improvement elsewhere, fuel our optimism and commitment to expanding our reach, enhancing our services, and continuing to evolve in our quest to improve health care delivery. This journey, marked by steadfast resilience and unwavering dedication, underscores the essence of Aether Medicine’s mission to transform patient care and contribute to the broader narrative of human health and progress.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

My journey to becoming a successful physician and business owner is deeply intertwined with my extensive medical education and personal growth. My academic path took me from the Medical College of Wisconsin to residency at Johns Hopkins, followed by a fellowship and public health degree at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health. Furthering my education, I delved into artificial intelligence through the MIT Sloan School of Business, which reshaped my problem-solving approach and worldview.

However, beyond these academic achievements, I’ve come to realize the crucial role of self-development in my professional and personal life. My interest in personal growth was sparked during a pivotal moment—finishing my residency and going through a divorce—which led me to question my happiness and emotional awareness for the first time. This introspection revealed a disconnect between my academic successes and my inner well-being, driving me to explore personal development more deeply.

Understanding and evolving as an individual became essential to improving not only my happiness but also my effectiveness as a physician. Addressing my internal challenges allowed me to shift my reaction to daily stresses, such as insurance complications and patient overload, and to design my days to be more peaceful and present for my patients.

Continuous self-improvement, underpinned by the belief that “better has no limit,” has become my ethos. Finding happiness in the present while maintaining a vision for the future is a balance I strive for daily. I attribute much of this mindset to the loving and supportive environment in which I was raised, where my parents instilled in me the confidence to make my own decisions and learn from my mistakes. This foundational belief in self-trust and learning has guided my approach to life and parenting, emphasizing the importance of self-belief and the ability to adapt and grow.

Success in medicine and business extends beyond formal education to include practices that foster a deeper connection with oneself and the world. It involves cultivating a spiritual and meaningful way of living that contributes to advancing humanity and improving how we interact with one another. For me, this holistic approach to life and career is what sets the foundation for true success, blending professional achievements with personal fulfillment and a commitment to making a positive impact on society.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aethermedicine.com/
• Instagram: https://aethermedicine.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aethermedicine
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asare-b-christian-md-mph-801a4948/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/asarec8
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRS4oGsYBbUluM7QhT0fe5g

Image Credits
J Taylor Design LBH Interior Design Co