Dr. Jamé Heskett

Since a young age, I've been drawn to challenging environments where I could make a meaningful impact on people's lives. As I approached the end of high school, while my peers were poring over college brochures, I found myself on the path toward joining the Peace Corps. However, influenced by the perspective of my peers, I shifted gears and pursued pre-med at the University of California, San Diego. This marked the beginning of my journey intertwining medicine with a commitment to service.

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During my time at UC San Diego, I initiated a meal program for the homeless, repurposing surplus food from university cafeterias. Later, I volunteered at Martin Luther King Hospital in South Central Los Angeles, where I served as a translator in the ER and assisted infants experiencing drug withdrawal. These experiences solidified my dedication to combining medical practice with humanitarian service.

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Subsequently, my medical studies led me to George Washington University in Washington DC. It was here, amidst the AIDS crisis and the rise of managed care, that I witnessed first hand the societal and political impacts of a healthcare system failing low-income populations. There, I co-founded REFORM, a health care publication advocating for the preservation of the role of primary care physicians ensuring access, continuity and quality in Community Heath Care.  Determined to find a residency aligned with my passion for serving the underserved, I was fortunate to match with a program in Seattle, focusing on family medicine. I chose this specialty because it allowed me to form lifelong connections with my patients, spanning from birth to geriatrics and everything in between—a practice I believed in wholeheartedly.

 

In Seattle, I sought advanced training in natural medicine and homeopathy, disciplines highly valued by the community I served, though not widely accepted within the medical establishment at the time. Frustrated by the resistance to integrating these approaches with conventional medicine, I graduated at the top of my residency class but felt disillusioned with traditional medical environments. 

 

Out of this frustration, I founded Wellpath—a vision for holistic women's health and well-being. When I presented my business plan to my colleagues, I faced skepticism and discouragement, even being told by influential figures to expect failure as holistic approach to medicine was not well accepted yet. Despite these challenges, I raised $1 million from the Seattle community, signaling a strong belief in the need for a more comprehensive approach to health and well being long before this was ever in the general lexicon. 

 

However, on the brink of committing to a long term lease in Seattle, I had a profound realization that this city was not where I was meant to build my future. This uncertainty marked a pivotal moment that eventually led me down an unexpected path—one that mirrored my earliest aspirations of serving the most underserved, akin to my initial ambitions with the Peace Corps.

 

Leaving Seattle behind, I stumbled upon a serendipitous opportunity in New York City—an ad for a day spa on the Upper East Side. This momentous decision marked the beginning of my 24-year journey practicing in NYC, which encompassed writing a book, becoming a brand ambassador for several global beauty companies, a stint on QVC and many media appearances both in print and on television, navigating personal challenges including divorces and a child with a rare disorder, all while having the privledge of serving thousands of the most amazing women in NYC, and around the world (and a few hundred awesome men as well!).  

 

Throughout this journey, I learned humility and resilience in facing crises like 9/11, financial downturns, and COVID-19 shutdowns. I experienced the highs and lows of entrepreneurship in one of the world's most dynamic cities, all while remaining steadfast in my commitment to women's health and well-being.

Today, older and wiser, I am proud to have stayed true to my purpose of service. I am eager to share my ongoing projects with you—stories of interest, sources of inspiration, and perhaps opportunities for collaboration.

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