Ten Lessons Learned from Fifty Years in Health Care

Jun 29
6 min read

Updated: Jun 30

Dr. Paul Goldberg at the Goldberg Tener Clinic promoting an article titled ‘10 Lessons Learned from Fifty Years in Health Care’ about chronic illness, healing and restoring health

Paul A. Goldberg MPH, DC, DACBN, DCBCN

Founder and Consultant to The Goldberg Tener Clinic

This past December marked fifty years of my involvement in health care. I have gone through a number of stages of learning like all of us. Over time I have modified some beliefs and practices to fit the realities of life and to effectively help patients who are individuals very different from each other. It is incumbent for us all to continue to learn and that goes doubly if you are a health care practitioner helping others with chronic problems emanating from a wide range of causes.

I have had the opportunity to learn through clinical experience and academic endeavors, working for the U.S. Public Health Service, being a University Professor for 38 years, speaking at conferences, having had rheumatoid/autoimmune disease in my twenties and through clinical practice working with thousands of patients in different settings since 1976. Working with each person and learning from their issues has been an invaluable education. Over the years I have learned important lessons, ten of which I would like to share with you now.

Lesson Number I: Every journey to reversing chronic disease should begin with...The Essentials of Health.

I started my career in health care working to overcome rheumatoid disease. Part of this was working and living at a Natural Hygiene Institute in Florida where I later become the health director. Here, people came to regain their health... by living, studying and practicing the essentials Nature provides, e.g. fresh air, sunlight, wholesome food, fasting, long hours of sleep, avoidance of toxic materials, humor, relaxation, purpose, activity, emotional poise. These are some of the essentials that allow us to overcome complex health issues without the interference of treatments, therapies, pills, potions, drugs, or other factors outside of the gentle hand of Mother Nature who provides for us if we have the wisdom and patience to employ her. There are many sophisticated advanced medical technologies that have their place, but they cannot replace the biology of healing and employing what our bodies require the most.

The Essentials of Health properly understood and applied are critical keys to maintaining health in the healthy and restoring health in the chronically ill.

When addressing the Essentials of Health, the occasional person will respond...”. I already knew that". Yes, they may have known that but knowing and doing are very different from each other. Dr. Tener and I begin our journey with each patient by exploring health essentials as they have been applied or not applied in their lives over the years. It is just the beginning of our journey with a patient, but it is an important first step to explore in our quest for health restoration of each of our patients.

Lesson Number Two:

Choose Your Doctor Wisely

A competent doctor, meaning teacher, will take time to know the patient and allow the patient to know him or her. He or she will serve as a teacher not just someone handing out treatments...someone that listens and cares for us as the individuals we are. It is also important that while a good doctor can be critical to our recovery, in time we want to gain the knowledge to largely be our own doctor, to turn health care in time into self-care. Therefore, a doctor should help you recover your health and then give you the tools to help retain it on your own, as much as possible.

Lesson Three:

Moderation in Good Things

All good things in moderation. No single factor restores the health of all patients. Not diet alone nor any kind of pills. The body has multiple inter-related needs. Recovery from chronic disease requires a comprehensive approach, individually applied to each person.

Lesson Four:

Nutrition is More than Food

Nutrition is not just about food. Nutrition is about all the factors that nourish our body. This includes not only the choice of the right dietary factors to consume at the right time but also analyzing and taking the appropriate steps so those foods consumed are properly digested, absorbed, assimilated and the waste products eliminated and excreted. What we have taken in our bodies over the years of our lives that is interfering with our health is also important to recognize and address. Environmental toxins, excessive stress, lack of sleep and rest, allergies, deficiencies and digestive issues must be recognized and addressed for our nutritional status to be optimized.

Lesson Five: Purpose.

We need purpose in our lives, a reason(s) to get healthy. Something to devote our lives to. Getting healthy alone is a worthy goal but it alone is not sufficient...we also need something that motivates us to restore our health. To be out of pain, to actively engage with our work and hobbies, to serve others, to care for our families, to be of service to our neighbors, animals, friends, our spiritual lives.

Lesson Six:

Kindness.

We all make mistakes and have weaknesses. No one is infallible. Be kind to yourself. Accept that you are only human. Forgive your weaknesses while attempting to overcome them. In addition, demonstrate kindness to others, both people and animals at every opportunity you can. This will help you become healthier. Really! The Golden Rule of Rabbi Hillel and Jesus to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is an excellent place to start.

Lesson Seven: Be cautious with treatments.

There are a plethora of treatments that come and go. Be cautious. Understand what caused your disease and address those causes. A lack of treatments did not cause your health issues. At The Goldberg Tener Clinic we focus on uncovering causal factors, removing those causes and then supplying the right essentials to create overall health and vitality as opposed to "treating disease".

Lesson Eight: Don’t focus on just eating and emptying out.

Life is not just about filling up and emptying out! Direct attention to your eating habits and your bowels but don't make either of them the focus of your life. Diet is only one part of being healthy. As for your bowels, learn how to take care of them and then leave them alone. You mind your business and let the bowels mind theirs. When all your health needs are met your bowels will have the best opportunity of responding positively.

Lesson Nine:

Make the most of each day.

Live each day as if you knew you were going to die soon, as regardless of your age you might do so. If there are any acts of kindness to others that you have thought about doing, do them now. The past is gone. Tomorrow is but a dream. Today is real. Try to do a good deed daily. I was taught that as a Boy Scout, and I try to make application of it as a Senior Adult.

Lesson Ten: Patience

Have worthy goals, including health goals. Then be patient. Rome was not built in a day! Have faith in the path you have chosen back to good health altering it as you go along as needed.... remember that just as it takes time to become chronically ill it takes time to restore good health once it is lost. When you are ready to begin your journey, we are here ready to assist you. 📞 Contact the Goldberg Tener Clinic: If you are struggling with chronic health issues, contact our clinic to schedule a complimentary phone consultation with Dr. Tener to learn how we can help guide you through the recovery process. Click here to learn more about becoming a new patient at the Goldberg Tener Clinic. For fifty years, the Goldberg Tener Clinic has been helping the chronically ill improve their health. Shown below are a series of before and after pictures of patients who have sought our assistance, illustrating the excellent outcomes that are possible. Press the arrow on the right to move through the series.