Aaron Hartman, MDFunctional Medicine Specialist | Clinical Researcher

Dr Pamela Smith | From ER Pioneer to Personalized Medicine_ A Doctor's Journey

20 Nov 2024 · 1 min

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0:51

Dr. Pamela Smith recounts her career beginning in emergency medicine—working with Ron Crome, a founder in the specialty—and describes a personal health turning point: chronic insomnia unresponsive to many physicians, a saliva test she performed in the Midwest 35 years ago, and symptomatic relief after starting progesterone. This experience motivated her shift toward personalized medicine, focusing on identifying causes rather than only treating symptoms.

Questions this video answers

Ron Crome (described as 'the father of emergency medicine').

11 doctors.

The first saliva test in the Midwest, 35 years ago.

Progesterone (she said: 'Started on progesterone, slept like a baby').

Chapters

The specialty of emergency medicine actually started in Detroit. And so I got to work for Ron Crome, himself, the father of emergency medicine. I thought I would never leave, until one day, I could not sleep. I literally went to 11 doctors, and none of them could help me. They all take a sleeping pill. I went to a conference, and there I was. Second seminar, second slide. Women without progesterone frequently have insomnia. I did the first saliva test in the Midwest 35 years ago. Started on progesterone, slept like a baby. And then I realized I loved emergency medicine. But I had another calling, and it had to do with looking at the cause of the problem and not just treating symptoms, which is why I love personalized medicine. You get to look at the cause.