Theodore Wissink, MD, Attending Physician

Description

I grew up in Minnesota, where the Mayo Clinic was a central part of my hometown’s culture. Because of that, I had the opportunity to meet physicians from around the world who were dedicated not only to helping people live better and longer lives, but also to serving the communities in which they worked. That experience shaped how I approach medicine today.I enjoy meeting my patients where they are and working alongside them to find a path toward a healthier life. I pursued an Integrative Medicine fellowship at Andrew Weil’s Center for Integrative Medicine in Tucson, Arizona during and after my Family Medicine residency. Since then, I have become increasingly interested in combining the best of traditional allopathic medicine with a variety of integrative modalities to support health and healing.This interest led me to further training in Lifestyle Medicine, specifically evidence-based behavioral approaches such as nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress management. I use these practices to help patients positively impact chronic medical conditions and their overall health. Through my Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine work, I have trained in several modalities for treating chronic conditions, including medical acupuncture. I have also used group medical visits in my practice, which offer patients longer and more frequent visits and additional support in their healing process.Several experiences have shaped my medical career. When I began medical school at the University of Minnesota, the U of MN Center for Spirituality and Healing had recently launched, providing core curriculum on non-traditional modalities for treating medical conditions and supporting provider well-being. Early in my residency, I also had the opportunity to participate in a pilot program through Andrew Weil’s Center for Integrative Medicine, where I received training in non-allopathic approaches to healing.Outside of medicine, I take every chance to get on my mountain bike in the woods when the weather allows — especially when my family or my dog can join me. In the winter, I recharge by skiing. I have also been involved with Ultimate Frisbee as both a player and a coach at many levels and try to stay involved as much as I can.