David DeAtkine Jr, MD, FACE

The only reason I am still alive and was able to practice my profession until age 79, was and is because of my Doctor David DeAtkin. He has always answered my calls and always seen me on very short notice. Usually less than a few hours. He and his very well trained staff are always there for me and very professional in all ways ! I'll be with Dr DeAtkin until either he quits or I depart this earth!! Thank you Dr. DeAtkin and your great staff for always having my best interest in mind and taking such good care of me!!!!!

It was 18 years ago that my wife, Carla Persons, had to have 4 by pass surgery at St. Vincent's. The surgeon Dr. Richardson, did a great job and i will never forget him for saving her that day. Later during a visit with Dr. Richardson, due to Carla being a Type 1 diabetic, he thought she should join the MDVIP program that Dr. David Deatkine, had begun. What a gift that was due to Carla had never had such a great Diabetic Doctor and all the things that came with being a patient of Dr. Deatkine. They were so many times he had got her well from what she had going on, to high blood sugars , to kidney blood issues, to dealing with her heart. Carla had a heart Doctor, but Dr. Deatkine took all that over for her. Dr. Deatkine took plenty of time with her and how to better manage her BS as well as
any problem she had. There was no waiting to see Dr. Deatkine on our visits and the staff was so great and getting test results was quick and on portal.
Over 15 years of seeing Dr. Deatkine we felt like family. Sadly Carla passed away May 3, 2020 due to massive heart attack and Dr. Deatkine was with her when she passed as he tried to revie her. I will never forgot the care Carla received for 15 years from Dr. Deatkine and his staff. A short time after Carla's passing i asked Dr. Deatkine if i could join his program and thankfully he said yes, so for the last 3-4 years i have been had the honor of Dr. Deatkine being my family Doctor. Each time I have a visit we always talk about Carla and he is so kind to remember her . Thank God for Dr. David Deatkine!!!

I remember going to the seminar for Dr. David DeAtkine to introduce The MDVIP practice to his patients twenty years ago. I knew then no matter what I was following him. He had always been so supportive, caring, and kind. Dr. DeAtkine welcomed me years before this as a hypothyroid person who had been bullied and scared by a previous endocrinologist.
Since joining the MDVIP practice, Dr. DeAtkine has supported me through several personal and medical crises with a kind, understanding, and compassionate heart. No matter what subject I bring up, he has always been very knowledgeable in that area. It is evident that he does he research and stays abreast of new developments in the field of medicine and medications.
His support of me in helping me achieve my life goals has been unmeasurable. Through his guidance and support over the last two years, I have lost over 100 pounds. During this time, he has monitored my medical and personal progress as well as provided support emotional support. I no longer take blood pressure medications nor several other medications that I had taken while overweight. I feel like I have added years to my life, can keep up with my grandchildren, and am a much happier person.
I owe Dr. DeAtkine a deep sense of gratitude for being there for me through the years from his reassurance concerning my thyroid issues, to supporting me through personal and medical crises, and most of all for guiding me and helping me achieve a goal that I never thought possible- returning to a healthy weight and lifestyle. His support and compassion through the years have been immense and have nurtured me into becoming a healthy person again.

I am blest to have a physician that truly cares about his patients and wants to do only the best for them. Rather than mildly encouraging his patients and pushing them to a healthier lifestyle, as he does that too, he also looks for impactful technology and leading edge tests to head off and diagnose early signs of cancer and disease. I am so blest that my doctor felt that it would be helpful to his patients if he participated in a trial of a new blood test that detects over 40 different cancers, that was not even approved by the FDA at the time. But he had taken the time to study and evaluate the effectiveness and felt it was something that could possibly protect his patients. The test would cost the patient $ 700.00 to administer and get the results, but it was an investment that he felt would be worth the cost, if it only found a few of his patients to have positive results. I was one of those patients. My wife had a history of cancer, and wanted to take the Galleri Grail Blood Test. My family had other medical issues, cancer not necessarily being a real risk. However, I chose to take the test and support my wife in hers. Her test came back negative even though she had tested positive for the BRCA gene. Mine however came back positive for esophageal/stomach cancer. My doctor referred me to a gastronenterologist. He lectured me for 15 minutes that he was performing more wasteful tests as a result of these leading edge tests. The day he called with my results, his first words were, "Well i will be damn, you are positive, and I am calling Dr. DeAtkine to get this same test for my wife and me". To make a long story short, my doctor and oncologist that he was close to, wanted to refer me to M D Anderson for follow up. That again is a decision that would save my life, again! Even though after having three different upper GI tests from three different physician, each one of them claiming this was the earliest that they had ever diagnosed esophageal cancer, and not to worry, the result should be positive. In the end, they could not get clear edges with an attempt to take out my tumor through my esophagus. They then determined they would have to remove my stomach in order to guarantee my healing, but it would not require any follow up with chemo and/or radiation, again as a result of my very early diagnosis. But, eventfully, my three month scans revealed that my esophageal cancer had in fact metastasized to my liver. It was then determined that I needed to have chemotherapy, of which I endured, to the point that it almost damaged my liver. But yet my wife and doctors found it the morning of my liver cancer surgery when she asked them why my eyes were so yellow. After treating me for my damaged liver, I then underwent liver resection where they removed 20 % of my liver, finding that the chemo cocktail had in fact killed 100 % of the cancer on my liver. It has now been 5 months since my liver surgery, whereas my first CT scan screeing indicated that I have no more active cancer in my body. I cannot continue to take the chemo regimen as it was what almost damaged my liver in the process. But i remain taking a targeted therapy that is teaching my immune system to identify bad cancer cells and unlock them so that my immune system can attack them. All of this, started with the decision first from my physician that he would not wait until normal cancer screenings would happen before he could help his patients. He first chose to actively take advantage of the technologies he felt would be the best choice. He followed up with connecting me with the right local oncologist while the two of them made the right choice again in connecting me with the best cancer professionals available. Because he chose not to allow patients on his watch to not have the best treatments and best opportunities available for survival. Again, my MDVIP doctor saved my LIFE! And i will forever be grateful! And he has followed up with making himself available by text messages, phone calls and endless encouragement and support from him personally and from his staff, throughout this entire process! My wife and I are truly blest!!! The only part of this that I can take credit in, is the original decision over 10 years ago to be an MDVIP patient AND to follow my doctor's recommendations unequivocally! God divinely put us together so that I have this testimony to share, I am thankful and forever blest! Thank you Dr. DeAtkine that God has blest you with a desire to truly live out your calling, to protect those under your care above all else!