By, Felicia Nelson, Christina Velez, and Mark Egan 7/19/21
A pioneer in the field of internal medicine, Dr. Vincent J. Felitti has over 50 years of experience with extensive knowledge in the areas of childhood trauma, the genetic disease Hemochromatosis, and obesity. Here at The Relationship Foundation, Dr. Vincent Felitti is our mentor and an inspiration to us all. He has spent a greater part of his life, serving as a co-principal for the ACEs Study. ACE stands for “Adverse Childhood Experiences.” ACE is a major, ongoing, retrospective, and prospective study, involving over 17,000 middle-class Americans. The study examines the categories of ACEs and their relationship to adult health, well-being, and social functioning. We are honored to support his mission by helping people to make sense of the ACEs they may have.
History
Dr. Felitti is well versed in his field of study. His credentials include: earning a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in 1956, completing graduate studies in Bacteriology at the University of Minnesota in 1958, and obtaining his medical degree from John Hopkins in 1962. Felitti was inspired by his family, many of whom were physicians, and dedicated their lives to the medical field as well.
The ACEs Study stemmed from observations made in the mid-1980s, in an effort to research obesity at the KP San Diego Department of Preventive Medicine. This program was created to help people struggling, to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Felitti was curious to learn why nearly half of the people in the obesity clinic dropped out within the course of 5 years. It was shocking to learn that adverse childhood experiences within the test group were very common, regardless of race, ethnicity, or social background. One participant, in particular, started to lose weight, however quickly regained the weight once she received unwarranted attention from men. Felitti learned that this woman was molested by her grandfather as a child, and intentionally created an unappealing physical appearance. The ACEs Study found that people who had difficult or adverse experiences in childhood had a greater risk of both physical and mental health problems during adulthood. Many of the participants at the obesity clinic who dropped out, were struggling to cope with experiences from their past, which contributed to them having a substantial increase in their weight gain.
Approach
During a recent interview, Dr. Felitti was asked, “How well are these ACE interviews being integrated into physician practices, medical school curricula, therapist and counselor training?” Dr. Feliti responded with, “There’s a tremendous resistance to it and one reason is personal ghosts are being awakened”. Moreover, Felitti describes how many physicians, teachers, and administrators have been abused in various ways, and do not want to revisit their own past. In spite of this, Felitti has been persistent in helping millions of people get to the root of their physical, and mental health issues. His study brings awareness to the world by creating a sense of compassion and understanding when it comes to building relationships. Methods such as Nonviolent Communication gives people the words to express their needs and wants while communicating with empathy and understanding. The ACEs study has provided a basis for fostering strong and lasting relationships.
“The magnitude of the problem is so enormous and treatment approaches are so difficult and costly that you can spend the rest of your life becoming the next Mother Teresa or Albert Schweitzer and you’ll be so busy helping people that you’ll never notice you’re just nibbling at the edges of the problem leaving the vast bulk unrecognized and untouched. So if anything meaningful is to come out of this it’s going to be coming out of what we call primary prevention…” Dr. Vincent Felitti
Dr. Felitti’s research has shaped the medical industry in a major way. Today, more physicians are asking questions to better assist their patients such as “What happened to you?” rather than “What’s wrong with you?” At The Relationship Foundation, we strive to have more teachers and administrators, asking these questions.
We believe that having the ability to communicate using NVC methods is essential in building healthy relationships. The ACEs Study will continue to be a pertinent resource in helping with mental and physical health.
Resources
Our Parent Workshops explore the perception of relationship dynamics. The instructor guides parents through key points and helps them define their relationships with a focus on needs and feelings expressed without judgment. Most importantly, the workshop provides parents with the tools to strengthen their relationships with their children and to foster their child’s personal development and sense of self-worth and well-being.
Book your workshop here: https://checkout.square.site/buy/KATLVMGNY4GVULL2ROWWQSTA
“If you were to ask me what my thoughts are on the most effective public health advance that I can think of in current times, I would say to figure out how to improve parenting skills across the nation.” Dr. Vincent Felitti
