Today we’d like to introduce you to Jan Badertscher.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I did a lot before medicine. I have a minor in Geology and a BS degree in Electronic Engineering, but I did not feel that I was meeting my potential. I enjoyed my colleagues but I knew I could not be happy and stay working in the electronics industry. I spoke with my son’s before making any final plans. At that time, my youngest son was serving a mission in Michigan, I told him my plan and why through email. He wrote back and said “Mom, you have been treating family and friends as long as I have known you, it’s about time you got legal”.
The urging for change became stronger, so, I started taking the additional required classes for medical school before work, during lunch, and in the evenings at BYU. There was a lot of pushback from friends and family who told me I would never be accepted, that I was “too old”. At the age of 49, I started medical school at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Henderson, Nevada. I completed the 4 years of training and was accepted to train in Miami, Florida for residency.
Three years later, I graduated and returned home to Utah. I had sacrificed a lot and had missed family time and milestones. Four of my six grandchildren where born while I was away and I wanted to catch up for the time missed. However, after numerous interviews, Utah was not ready for me. I took a job with the Duck Valley Shoshone / Paiute Reservation in Owyhee, Nevada to give me a paycheck and allow me to plan my next move. I gained a deep love and respect for my friends in the First Nation family. I still keep in touch with a few of my friends from that experience.
A family friend then invited me to start spending 1 week a month with an Integrative Medicine doctor in Provo. After 4 months, the doctor asked me to cover the office while he went on vacation for 2 weeks. A month after he returned, he went out on medical leave and never came back. I saw his patients for 14 months until his wife made the decision to close the clinic. I had 1 month to find a clinic location and negotiate the purchase of the charts. Back To Basics Wellness, PC was born and I opened my clinic in Payson, Utah on December 6th, 2016.
Opening a clinic is not easy and doctors do not get rich doing it, but I have great joy knowing that I am able to make a difference for my family and patients.
I am active in community and professional organizations. I serve as Vice-President of the Timpanogos Gem & Mineral Society and I am currently the Education Chairman for the Utah Osteopathic Medical association. I have been a volunteer in the Boy Scouts of America for over 30 years and was a Geology & Medicine Merit badge counselor until 2023.
I love my family. I have 2 sons, 2 daughters-in-law, 5 granddaughters, a grandson and 2 foster granddaughters that I am hopeful will someday join our family permanently.
If you see me fishing, wondering in the desert, or at the grocery store, feel free to say “Hi”.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Medicine is not a smooth or straight path. Leaving my family was my hardest struggle. It was hard competing with classmates who were the same age or younger than my own children. The coursework was not too hard, it was the social aspect that was isolating. I had more in common with the professors, but meaningful relationships were not possible in that environment. On rotations, I was frequently older than the preceptor and sometimes patients would only talk to me and ignore the real doctor in the room. Some rotations were more uncomfortable than others. I choose to share my talents to survive. I volunteered in Scouting in both Henderson and Miami. I took my jewelry making supplies and sewing machine with me. I ended up teaching wire wrap jewelry making to several people in Nevada, did custom work for colleagues and tailored scrubs for my fellow residents in Miami.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I actually chose the company name while I was in Residency. I registered the name and business with the state in 2014 using a room at my friends Optometry office for my original address.
I believe medical care is more than a 5 minute visit. Patients need to feel comfortable discussing their concerns with the doctor and knowing that they are being listened to. New patient appointments are 1 hour long and most follow-up visits are a 1/2 hour. You can discuss more than one problem in a visit because the reality is that most concerns are actually interlinked.
Because I was older when I went to medical school, I already had 40+ years of life experience that has included herbology, essential oils, homeopathy and trigger point release. In the office, I use Osteopathic, Allopathic, Integrative and Complementary medicine modalities. I see quite a few patients for male / female hormone management, hypothyroid / Hashimoto’s thyroid management, and numerous other patient concerns. I have an interest in traditional healing modalities and as I learn and become confident in those skills, they will be implemented in the office.
I am certified as a Cannabis physician, however Cannabis is not appropriate for everyone, so I work with patients to understand when it is appropriate and what non-opiate options are available that may be more effective.
Some of the unique services that I offer include a Radio Frequency Vaginal treatment (Votiva) that addresses incontinence and pain with sex, I use a “Shock Wave” system (The DUO) that is effective for erectile dysfunction, female orgasmic / clitoral dysfunction, and musculoskeletal pain. I prescribe various supplements and compounded formulas including Testosterone therapy for genital Lichen Sclerosis.
As a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, I am trained in musculoskeletal therapies including manipulation. I treat the whole body to help patients achieve musculoskeletal pain relief.
My goal is to “Educate, Motivate, and Empower” my patients to be active participants in their wellness journey and to treat or guide them as appropriate.
How do you think about happiness?
I love exploring the mountains and deserts collecting my rock treasures. I enjoy making those treasures into pieces of art to share as gifts for family and friends. I enjoy the challenge of currently rebuilding my rock saws and grinders so I can do even more. This grounds me and keeps my scientific curiosity sharp, my engineering thought processes fit while allowing me to express creativity through my gemstone creations.
If I cannot go rock collecting my other happy place is Scofield Reservoir. I love fishing and soaking up the sun at my parents’ cabin. I do not like being cold, so I prefer places where the sun is warm and abundant.
Pricing:
- DUO Treatment Male/Female (6 treatments) – $ 2500
- Votiva (incontinence, 3 treatments) – $ 2500
- Osteopathic Manipulation – $ 132
- Skin Tag removal up to 15 tags – $ 132
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.b2b-wellness.com
- Facebook: Back To Basics Wellness, PC
