Today we’d like to introduce you to Patricia Thomson.
Patricia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have a Ph.D. in Biology/Environmental Toxicology and worked protecting human and ecological health against toxic substances. I left that field and became a CEO for several nonprofits for 25 years raising money and awareness for many causes. I discovered the healing effects of a plant-based diet and became certified in teaching plant-based nutrition. I teach classes in nutrition and cooking to reverse and prevent diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, obesity, thyroid, fertility issues to name a few. Many of these diseases have causes stemming from our lifestyles. I left nonprofit to start TS Wellness, a health and wellness company dedicated to helping to improve the health and wellness for the community and workplace through plant-based nutrition. I founded the Food as Medicine Summit & EXPO, the first ever plant-based Summit here in the DFW area. I booked the Richardson Civic Center for April 24-25, 2020, secured over 27 leading plant-based experts and 30+ exhibitors who will all come together this year to help educate the DFW metroplex on the importance of diet and lifestyle in determining your health and wellness. I continue to teach classes throughout the year wherever there are people interested in learning how to improve their health through the food they eat.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. I left a great career to begin work in a field that I have great passion for. There was trepidation on how to financially support myself during this period. Starting a conference from nothing and in an area that was not as receptive to the idea of a plant-based lifestyle was a little unnerving. Learning how to do everything by myself from the bookkeeping to the advertising and marketing, to the logistics of putting something like this on, planning, organizing has been a challenge since I was used to having staff at my disposal.
Please tell us about Food as Medicine Summit & EXPO.
My company is called TS Wellness and I focus on helping employers and the greater community to introduce the concept of using food as medicine in their lives. Simply by changing someone’s diet has led to those individuals moving past ailments and diseases that have held them captive for years. Empowering others to take control of their health and wellness and to really assess what kinds of food will help them do this. Teaching others how to plan, shop and cook their meals, how to navigate the wealth of information out there and glean out what is accurate. I specialize in teaching nutrition and cooking classes for those who are interested in improving their health through the power of plant-based nutrition. I will come in and do a two-hour nutrition and cooking class letting the attendees help cook and of course sample everything I make. I provide recipes and resources for them to take what they learn and apply it to their lives at home. I am very proud that I am bringing the Food as Medicine Summit & EXPO to the DFW area so that I can greatly expand the audience and the reach of this important life-saving and life-changing information. This Summit is the first of it’s kind here in DFW.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I believe I would have left my profession earlier so that I could have had a greater impact earlier. But I do believe the time is right now for people to be more receptive to exploring a plant-based lifestyle.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.foodasmedicinesummittx.org; www.tswellness.org
- Phone: 8175010174
- Email: Patricia@tswellness.org
- Instagram: TS.Wellness ; foodasmedicinesummit
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patricia.thomson.50364
- Twitter: TS Wellness@tswellness_org
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