The Private Life of
Jan F. Baumgardner, M.D. F.A.A.F.P.*
Humanistic physician
EDUCATION
Medical School: Wayne State University at Detroit
Residency Program: Kettering Institute at the University of Cincinnati
Education and Training: BS: University of Detroit Rotating internship: Wadsworth VA Hospital, Los Angeles, CA. OB-Gyn and Pediatrics: Harbor General Hospital, Torrance, CA. Public Health: Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. ...but most of my education has been from my patients!
AFFILIATIONS
AAFP, CAFP, Boulder County Medical Society, Colorado Medical Society, American Occupational Medical Association. Served at several medical schools as Clinical Attending (Teaching) Physican. Torch International, S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A.
BACKGROUND
When I was born in the midwest, the chance of being helped rather than hurt during a visit to the average physician was about 50/50. Science and Technology have improved vastly since then; we now know about 5% of what we need to know! But the caring and professional philosophy of the last generation of physicians has not been improved upon. The majority of physicians I know are moral, caring people. The dreadful chaos in the current systems tend to prevent expression of these characteristics, which is why I prefer to work independently.
I went into medicine for the same reason that many of my fellow students went into religion: to provide a service for the betterment of the human condition. After my training I had the honor of being among the first Peace Corps Physicians. I lived in Guatemala city and served in Latin America (y por eso tuvó el suerte aprender hablar espanol). I became a Family Physician in Boulder in 1968, and practiced a full range of medicine in the community, including 3 years caring for the medical needs of all the Mental Health patients in our Boulder hospitals.
Pursuing my interest in sports and workplace injuries, I completed another residency in Preventative and Occpational Health, serving for 15 years as Medical Director or Clinic director for several local Companies. Throughout this time I continued to teach family medicine and do temporary duty in rural communities in acute need.
In The Private Practice, I encourage patients to take an active role in their own health and healing. I advocate for the resources the internet has to offer, and I am open to using "alternative" therapies that are safe and effective. As a physician I am committed to using every resource available to "cure seldom, impove often, and comfort always."