Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerome Lubbe.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jerome. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am an identical twin who immigrated to the mountains of Northeast Tennessee as a 7-year-old white refugee from Zaire with my parents, older brother, Bi-Polar grandmother, a $100 and two suitcases, I lost my father at 14, and I had my first debilitating migraine when I was 17. Since then I’ve averaged a separate migraine every 3-4 days with chronic, daily pain and fatigue between.
My brothers and I worked with my father in his metalworking foundry daily from age 8-14, and I began working in restaurants at 14 after my father passed away. I worked in various restaurants until 18, and I eventually moved from inbound customer service positions via telephone from 18-20 during undergraduate to a mental hospital third-shift psychiatric technician from 20-22.
I then moved into direct and consumer sales positions from 22-26. I eventually pursued, at 26-31, as a full-time graduate student completing my doctoral/professional degree in 2014. From 31-33 I was a Lead Clinician and Executive Director simultaneously of a multi-state clinic system with 55 employees treating complex neurological cases. I have been in the private clinical practice owner of Thrive Neuro Health and content creator for Thrive Neurotheology since Fall of 2016.
I received an undergraduate degree in Digital Animation and Multimedia/Special Effects. This degree was followed by a doctoral degree in the field of Chiropractic. This was followed by post-graduate work that resulted in a Board Certification in Functional Neurology with specializations/concentrations in childhood developmental disorders, vestibular rehabilitation, movement disorders, neurochemistry, concussion and brain injury rehabilitation.
As a complex neurological patient, I lived in a medical purgatory. On one hand, I encountered a gifted, traditional, medical model capable of triage/damage control but with no answers to a patient who wasn’t a candidate for drugs or surgery. On the other hand, I found an innovative, alternative healthcare model capable of wellness and rehab but without the understanding of how to care for complex cases.
So, I pursued a doctorate in Chiropractic with a post-graduate Board Certification in Functional Neurology. I decided to care for those on the margins who were abandoned, lost, misunderstood in the healthcare arena. I learned that our minds, bodies, and souls are more capable of recovery than we ever imagined. The experience has and still gives me hope.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I have experienced the loss of a father, the loss of my wife’s parents, watched my identical twin lose a marriage after the loss of a child, suffered an average of 110-120 full blown migraines per year for nearly two decades, and raised a teenager from 13-19, whom my wife and I took full guardianship when she was 20 and I was 22. In the midst of all of it I struggled, fought and still found God in the midst of all of it. As a result, I became a clinician who desires nothing more than to ease the hurt of those I encounter. I have learned that some may recover from pain, others may suffer through it, and some may die as a result. I participate by wholistically meeting, serving, and hopefully healing others along their journey in mind, body, and soul.
After years of attempting to resolve/cure my own migraines and chronic pain, I still haven’t succeeded. I have seen patients recover sight, get out of wheelchairs, brain injuries fully healed, hope restored after decades of hopelessness, and yet…I have failed to find my own solution. The nature of this dichotomy between healer and broken patient, faithful believer and skeptic has taught me that sometimes the answer is no. Sometimes we are called to long-suffering and in that perseverance, our character is developed, and eventually, we produce hope. I know that every person I have touched and changed clinically has happened as a direct result of my own suffering, and that doesn’t make it any easier but it has taught me how to cultivate my hope.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Thrive Neuro Health – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Thrive Neuro Health is located in Atlanta, GA where we partner with patients and their families, entrepreneurs, makers, leaders, and communities to achieve their individual goals through optimized brain and body function. I formerly served as the Executive Director for Cerebrum Health Centers, as well as the Clinic Director of their Atlanta facility. I have a passion for equipping, empowering, and encouraging colleagues, entrepreneurs and students to serve their patients, local communities, and their staff through continued training in the practical applications of functional neurology.
My clinical focus is to help patients, such as myself, through Functional Neurology. I am a graduate of Life University and I hold an active diplomate from the ACNB in Functional Neurology. I have completed more than a 1,200 hours of post-graduate continuing education in Functional Neurology with concentrations in Childhood Developmental Disorders (specifically Autism), Vestibular Rehabilitation, Movement Disorders, Neurochemistry, Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation. Additionally, I have been teaching and lecturing to colleagues, entrepreneurs, and students for over 7 years in the core concepts of Functional Neurology as it applies to practical, daily application.
I am most proud of the environment Thrive creates where patients and families feel like part of the community. We strive to create a safe and welcoming environment for those who have been to more providers than they care to count, and so often find themselves dreading a “visit to the doctor”. I am also proud of the way in which we equip our patients to succeed on their own. At Thrive, we create custom home-exercise programs that are unique to each individual with both written and videotaped instructions for easy understanding and implementation.
What sets me apart is that I am the only Board Certified Functional Neurologist within the Atlanta perimeter (ITP).
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Thrive has moved from Downtown Decatur to East Atlanta Village in a beautiful and spacious 2,300 square foot facility. With the increase in space, I am looking forward to bringing in additional like-minded providers and creating a multi-disciplinary integrated practice to serve the Atlanta community.
Additionally, I will be working to establish an Internship and Accredited Residency Program to continue training and equipping new clinicians to excel in the unique work we do at Thrive. There simply needs to be more of us doing this kind of work/intervention.
My wife and I are expecting our second child in the Spring next year and are extremely excited about that. We currently have one child, Bennett, who just turned two.
Contact Info:
- Address:535 Gresham Ave Suite A, Atlanta, GA 30316
- Website: www.thriveneuro.com
- Phone: 770-883-4831
- Email:info@thriveneurohealth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveneuro/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thriveneuro
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
