Chi Fountain Integrative Medicine is an organization founded by a patient, for the patient.
The founder, Mikiko Murakami, encountered numerous struggles with the health care system after multiple knee surgeries. Her limitations included her insurance plan, a non-attentive doctor who made her feel less worthy than her MRI, and not being given options outside of allopathic (western) medical care. Disgruntled, curious, and determined, she started researching various models for health care, including the surveying of hundreds of patients and providers. After a year of hard work, and thanks to many consultants in her community, a frustration turned into a vision, which was eventually transformed into a plan!
In 2003, Chi Fountain was born and the organization aimed to: treat, educate, and collaborate with both patients as well as their medical providers in the Bay Area of California. The Chi Fountain integrative medicine team met regularly to discuss patient cases, with Mikiko serving as a health guide to patients and a liaison to providers. The group provided many lectures, workshops, and sliding scale services.
Inspired by the infinite healing wisdom of the human body, Mikiko started osteopathic medical school in 2007. In order to be able to maintain her focus on her studies, in 2008, Chi Fountain was converted to an on-line presence. The team is still around to serve you with excellent services, and the site is now a portal to various health care links. Mikiko misses serving her patients as a health guide, and looks forward to serving her future patients as a physician who can continue to put the “care” back into health care.
Here’s an article written up about Mikiko in Project Dream