Q&A with Cathy Rosenbaum

Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Dan Monk Senior Staff Reporter

Cathy Rosenbaum’s bio at Captivatingspeakers.com describes her as a “Christian holistic clinical pharmacist” who believes “Americans are worshiping at the pharmacy altar and drugs are ruining our lives.”

Rosenbaum is founder and CEO of Rx Integrative Solutions Inc., a consulting firm that tries to help clients find nonpharmaceutical remedies for what’s ailing them. From dietary supplements to herbal remedies, relaxation techniques to healthy-lifestyle coaching, Rosenbaum is searching for ways to keep people healthy naturally.

The Illinois native has been a pharmacist for more than 35 years. She also holds an MBA from Xavier University and works full time as a clinical effectiveness and safety officer at Bethesda North Hospital. She is the Cincinnati chapter chairwoman of the American Holistic Medicine Association and frequently speaks on the benefits of holistic medicine.

Rosenbaum spoke to Senior Staff Reporter Dan Monk about her holistic philosophy and what led her to move beyond a traditional viewpoint.

Q: How did you go from “pharmacist” to “drugs are ruining our lives?”

A: The change happened about 10 years ago for a couple of reasons. One, I had a chance to go to China and study herbal remedies. I came back from that … curious, did a deep dive and kept learning. At the same time, my father began a health journey that lasted about nine years. I saw miracles. We grew together in our understanding of what was available and what was out there. When he died, in no uncertain terms, I found a mission or a calling. I believe that Americans are truly worshiping at the pharmacy altar. We have to keep moving the arrow back to basic lifestyle, focused on emotional and spiritual health.

Q: How is spirituality part of the equation?

A: I would say if somebody really understands mind, body, spirit health, they immediately begin to start thinking outside themselves. This is something I saw in China. They’re thinking about communities, their stewardship of the earth. They’re thinking about their relationships. So, health becomes a transition to the intangibles or mysteries of life.

Q: What brought you to China in the first place?

A: I had prayed to God for guidance on where I was supposed to go after I finished an MBA program (in 2001). I wanted to start a business but didn’t know what to do. The mailman brought an offer from People to People. It’s something that President Eisenhower started in the late ’50s. He felt people would be more apt to get to know each other if the population, instead of the governments interacted. They try to pull together professionals and people of similar interest to make these journeys. There were 22 of us on my trip, physicians, PharmDs, researchers. I had no idea it would be such a life-changing experience. I felt it was divine intervention.

Q: You said you “saw miracles” in your father’s health journey. Can you elaborate?

A: On four different occasions, he defied logic, defied medicine and was cured with whatever situation he was dealing with. I did not understand his strength. I could not imagine anyone going through the level of suffering he did, but I realize now he was not alone. God was a part of his healing.

Q: So, how did you turn that into a business?

A: The business model is, I see patients by self-referral or referral from physicians. What I’m trying to do is honor the health goals of clients. We ask a list of questions. I’ll sit with a client for an hour to an hour-and-a-half, then go back and write a summary of my recommendations. I’m not practicing medicine. But I’m helping people be evidence-based and safe in their nonmedical interventions. We’ll focus on exercise. We’ll do a prescription medication review, a dietary supplement review. There’ll be recommendations on nutrition, sleep, hygiene. There’s an exercise plan, emotional health plan, spiritual health plan, social health plan. With a client’s permission, I also send that written report to his or her physician.

Q: What does it cost and how is it covered?

A: Everybody pays out of pocket. I charge $150 for the initial screening, $100 a visit for recurring sessions. Most people see me once.

Q: Do you think holistic medicine will be embraced by health care payers someday?

A: It’s kind of happening now. Companies are offering positive incentives to stay healthy. This type of service I provide will fit very well in that environment. There’s a need for someone to come and help decipher the huge needs for prescription medications and how to use supplements more effectively. And it’s not all about supplements. Putting wellness and prevention programs into corporations, that will grow too.