Episode 518: LIVE from ILADS: Dr. James Thatcher - From Childhood Tick Encounters to Leading Wisconsin's Tick Center

Key Takeaways: Dr. Thatcher shares his personal experiences with ticks as a child on Long Island, including his father burning ticks off his head with a match. He discusses his own health struggles with Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, which sparked his passion for Lyme-literate medicine. Dr. Thatcher describes his medical training and the pivotal moment when he discovered the prevalence of Borrelia in New Jersey ticks, shaping his career path. He talks about his transition to Wisconsin to become the medical director of the Aspirus Tick-Borne Disease Center and the unique tick-borne disease challenges in the North Woods region. Dr. Thatcher emphasizes the importance of local awareness, education, and following ILADS guidelines for effective treatment. Podcast Highlights: Childhood experiences with ticks and tick-borne illnesses Personal health journey and discovery of Lyme-literate medicine Insights from medical training and complex patient cases Transition to Wisconsin and leadership at the Tick-Borne Disease Center Challenges and opportunities in the North Woods region Commitment to community education and ILADS guidelines Resources & Links: Follow the latest ILADS updates at ILADS.org Learn more about Dr. Thatcher at ThatchMed.com Stay connected with Tick Boot Camp: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Twitter (X)