Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison DiBarto Goggin.
Hi Alison, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have been passionate about health and wellness my whole life. After injuring my shoulder in high school swimming, I became obsessed with learning about physical therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic. After graduating from Logan College of Chiropractic, I had my own practice as a chiropractor for a few years.
But after leaving chiropractic in 2014, I wasn’t sure which direction I wanted to take my life. I took some time off to focus on growing my doTERRA essential oil business and supporting our team. I knew that I wanted to create a practice that would serve my patients on a deeper level. I wanted to be able to provide my patients with a safe place to share their health issues and goals. Where they knew that they wouldn’t be told their issues were all in their head or that their blood work was fine and there were no options for support.
I launched Little Black Bag Medicine in 2016 with a focus on serving women who needed answers for their anxiety, autoimmune conditions, gut and hormone health. With health care changing so quickly, it was easy to start a virtual practice where I could meet my patients on their schedule. My family was happy because they got to spend more time with me, and my patient’s children were happy to not be brought to another office. With new types of testing being available for hormones, gut health, genetics, and so much more, I was able to create my dream practice from home!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I was lucky that in 2020 my practice was already virtual, and we could rely on the systems that were already in place. However, my health was my biggest struggle. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, an autoimmune disease that attacks the lining of the intestines. As my health declined over three months, I couldn’t find any doctors who would help me. I was turned away at hospitals, doctors laughed in my face and refused to treat me. It took months and almost cost me my life, but I was able to find a supportive team that saved me.
I have learned so much about my health, the traditional and alternative medical fields, and how we can use the best of all the options available to us. As a patient, I know how important it is to have doctors truly listen to you and understand your needs. I learned how difficult and debilitating autoimmune diseases are as a patient and a physician and I have much more compassion and understanding for those who are also suffering. I had to take time away from my businesses to focus on healing myself, which was difficult to do. But it is also important that everyone puts themselves first in their healing journey.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a licensed chiropractor and graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic. I have multiple certificates in functional medicine, nutrition, and functional testing. My functional medicine practice offers virtual consultations and home lab testing. Anyone can make an appointment online for a free health assessment.
I love working closely with my patients. My programs are set up so we have consultations every two weeks so we can monitor progress, continue to make improvements, and see results quickly. Most of my patients come to me with significant anxiety, hormone imbalances, and autoimmune concerns and our goal is to figure out why. By creating personalized plans and doing detailed testing, we get to the root cause of their issues without guessing. I don’t believe in giving the same program and protocol to every person. My patients are unique and deserve personalized attention.
What were you like growing up?
I was a very focused learner growing up. I loved to read and write, and I still do! I always knew I would be working in the health field, I wanted to be a physical therapist until I was introduced to chiropractic. I fell in love with the holistic view of the body and I studied Traditional Chinese Medicine in China.
Contact Info:
- Email: DrAlison@LittleBlackBagMedicine.com
- Website: www.LittleBlackBagMedicine.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/alisondibartogoggin
- Facebook: Facebook.com/LittleBlackBagMedicine
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCptfOyClomsb40nWetuJPKA
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/alison-dibarto-goggin
Image Credits
Christie Blecher @ Servant’s Art Photography
