BALANCING MEDICINE WRITING & WELLNESS: AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. RACHEL
In this exclusive interview with Dr Rachel, we delve into the inspiring journey of a clinical medical doctor who seamlessly balances her roles as a writer, speaker, and wellness expert. With a passion for helping people achieve better health, Dr Rachel combines her extensive medical background with a deep understanding of nutrition and integrative medicine. Known for her practical approach, she is the author of several acclaimed books, including ‘Practical Medical Procedures at a Glance,’ ‘Medical School at a Glance,’ and ‘How to Promote Wellbeing: Practical Steps for Healthcare Practitioners’ Mental Health.’ We caught up with her to learn more about her work, her innovative Clear Mind Method, and her upcoming collaboration with Lisa Pelloso at the “Reaching Optimal Wellbeing & Nutrition” retreat at Villa Porto Rapallo.
Hi Dr. Rachel, as an active clinical medical doctor, writer and speaker, how do you balance all these roles? What do you enjoy most about these different aspects of your work?
I really enjoy all of the different areas that I’m fortunate enough to be involved in. Working with people to help them feel better obviously underpins all of them. Each one is really just a different version of this. Clinically, the people I work with tend to be acutely more unwell, and I have a broader range of tests and tools to help them with more immediate, personalised treatments, where as the books and speaking roles tend to be related to situations where people can apply what I am offering to themselves and whatever their situation is. Like any working mother there is a bit to balance, but I find that having clear priorities and motivations can really help – as can lovely early morning starts!
Your 3 books, ‘Practical Medical Procedures at a Glance’ and ‘Medical School at a Glance’, and ‘How to Promote Wellbeing:Practical Steps for Healthcare Practitioners Mental Health’ have been well-received, including being named British Medical Association’s Young Author of the Year. Can you tell me more about them?
All of them have a focus on providing practical steps, in an effective and efficient way. We are all busy, and stressed, and so I wanted to respect people’s time by trying to deliver maximal help that really works in a succinct way. And this is really the philosophy behind The Clear Mind Method, too – a1-1 programme that I have developed. It’s all about actionable, evidence-based steps that can actually fit into busy lives, and get results.
Can you tell us more about The Clear Mind Method?
Of course! It’s a scientific system to beat burnout, overcome overwhelm and soothe stress, that is based on research and evidence, and is particularly tailored for busy women, like us! If you’re feeling like you a have a never-ending to-do list, a mind that buzzes on overtime, not enough energy and even your sleep is starting to be affected, then this is for you. The 1-1 version Clarity involves weekly sessions with me, and we focus on optimising your Mentality, Motion and Micronutrients through little changes that compound over time to give big results.
You have a diverse background, including degrees in Biomedical Engineering, Physiology, and Medicine. How have these fields intersected in your work and contributed to your approach to integrative medicine?
All of these areas actually have significant synergy, with the common threads of how bodies work, and how to make them work better, weaving throughout them. I’ve also completed post-graduate studies in neuroscience and functional medicine, so it’s great to have a really extensive arsenal of different treatments to help the people that I work with.
What inspired you to collaborate with Lisa Pelloso for the “Reaching Optimal Wellbeing & Nutrition” retreat at Villa Porto Rapallo?
Nutrition is such an important aspect in our overall health and wellbeing and so I was very excited to be working with Lisa given her expertise, focus and energy in this area. I’ve also studied aspects of it as part of my functional medicine studies, as I was raised learning the importance of nutrition - in fact, my incredible mother carried out the groundbreaking research around glycaemic index for her PhD! The idea of being able to work with people in such an immersive environment means that it is really beneficial for behaviour change and connection – it’s just a wonderful bonus that the location is so beautiful too!
During the retreat, you will focus on optimising physical and mental health through innovative approaches. Can you share what attendees can expect from your sessions?
I’m really looking forward to sharing ways that evidence-based health information can be actually applied in daily life. So the focus is really on actionable steps that over time compound to really great health benefits. I’ll be covering ways to include these in even the busiest of lives! I’ll be covering some of the steps from The Clear Mind Method, which, as I’ve mentioned, looks at strategies to optimise our mentality, motion and micronutrients to overcome overwhelm, beat burnout and soothe stress.
What are some of the innovative techniques or insights you’ll be introducing to help attendees achieve their wellness goals?
A rather obvious place to start, but one we often skip, is what it is that we want to achieve, and why we want to achieve it. These things can be highly personal motivators, and getting clear on them can really help us to make -and stick to- the little steps that will get us there.
How does the setting at Villa Porto Rapallo enhance the retreat experience and support the objectives of your sessions?
It’s a really beautiful place. Really serene. And it gives people a unique opportunity to remove themselves from their usual location. Locations often trigger habits, and so being in a fresh place can help to lay foundations for new, great behaviours.
What key takeaways do you hope attendees will gain from your involvement in the retreat, and how can they apply these insights to their everyday lives?
I hope that people will take away some actionable steps, that they feel empowered to use in their lives, and an awareness of next steps if they want to build on these. The whole retreat is really about action and behaviour, and how to carry these on in daily life.
What excites you the most about this retreat and the opportunity to work alongside Lisa Pelloso and her team?
Meeting all of the wonderful participants, hearing what their hopes and goals are, and helping them see a way forward to achieving them.
Dr Rachel's dedication to blending science with practical, actionable wellness strategies makes her a standout expert in the field of nutrition and integrative medicine. Her involvement in the “Reaching Optimal Wellbeing & Nutrition” retreat at Villa Porto Rapallo promises to bring transformative insights to all participants, helping them achieve their wellness goals.
If you're ready to experience a holistic and immersive approach to nutrition and wellbeing under the guidance of Dr Rachel and Lisa Pelloso, then send us a email and book your spot at Villa Porto Rapallo now.