Meet the Tribe: Jan Atigbi-Hansen
From Jamaica to Klamath Falls, OnePeak’s Jan Atigbi-Hansen is improving the lives of her community through integrative medicine
Q: Can you tell us about the path you took to becoming a Nurse Practitioner?
A: Growing up in Jamaica, we didn’t have the privilege of many doctors. We relied on home remedies and I’ve always been interested in studying alternative treatments to optimize my own health. I migrated to New York with a business degree as a young adult and worked for various businesses. In 2001, I worked for a phone company next to the World Trade Center. After surviving 9/11, I chose to pursue a career in health care. I wasn’t able to help at the time, but I knew I could help people moving forward – primary care was the way I would do that.
Q: What areas do you think we can improve upon when it comes to primary care?
A: Traditional medicine is not helping people the way that people could be helped. Medicine is not a one-size-fits-all program. To help more people, primary care needs to be multidisciplinary and multimodality. More people need to understand that lifestyle and what you put in your mouth can either harm you or help you. Getting older does not mean inevitable decline. It’s your choice.
Q: Is there an achievement/contribution you are most proud of?
A: Receiving my Ph.D. in Integrative Medicine was one of my proudest moments. My thesis focused on anxiety – a growing concern of many patients – and how a biofeedback system could relieve some of those feelings. It was a lot of work, but I finished in early 2020 and started at OnePeak shortly after.
Q: How do you like to spend your time when you’re not helping patients?
A: Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time studying and using biofeedback therapy to gain a greater awareness of my own body. I also enjoy some gardening, but stick with just flower pots (less mess). The hummingbirds love the flowers too! My Jack Russell, Cassie, tries her best to keep me active by going on daily walks. I also love watching old movies like my favorite ‘Rawhide.’
Q: You’re relatively new to Klamath Falls. What brought you to OnePeak?
A: My husband and I moved to Klamath Falls in March of 2020 – not the best time to be looking for a job. However, OnePeak was one of the only places advertising and growing their practice. Once I saw OnePeak was a place I could use functional medicine, have time to sit and talk with my patients, and most importantly guide patients in the direction they needed to get healthy – I knew this was my place.
Q: What do you love most about OnePeak?
A: I love our supplements! Particularly Vitamin C – your body doesn’t make Vitamin C, so the only way you’re going to get it is to take it or eat it. We can see the true value of supplementation by not only the feedback we get from our patients, but the labs can show us they really work.
Q: What’s your favorite service at OnePeak?
A: I’m a big fan of our Happy Shots. I feel energized within just a couple of hours.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
A: There’s nothing better than running into a patient and seeing them happy. I have one patient who I run into quite often and is always thanking me. She was having trouble sleeping (despite being prescribed sleeping pills from another provider) so we checked her labs and got her on B-complex vitamins. Now she can sleep. We don’t have to be slaves to our ailments; sometimes we just need to identify the source. Seeing someone genuinely smile and thank me is the best part of my job.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: I’d like to be remembered as a helper, but a behind-the-scenes helper. I don’t need to be in the spotlight. I’m like my mother; I just want to help. It’s who I am. I don’t help just because it’s my job. Paid or unpaid, that’s not why I do it. I’m here to guide my patients and promise to give it my all. I have the knowledge and experience to share.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A: Helping more patients at OnePeak of course!
Background
Name: Juet (Jan) Atigbi-Hansen, MSN, FNP-C, PhD, IMD, DHS
Position: Nurse Practitioner at OnePeak Medical Clinic in Klamath Falls, OR
Hometown: Montego Bay, Jamaica
Education: Masters of Science in Nursing from Herzing University (2014); Certificate in the Practice of Functional Medicine from Functional Medicine University (2017); Ph.D. in Integrative Medicine from Quantum University (2020).
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Jan is accepting patients in Klamath Falls for primary care, functional medicine, hormone balancing, medical weight loss, autoimmune disorders, and more.