There are some people you have the good fortune to meet in life that leave you with a positive, lasting impact and John is definitely one of them. He is the Founder of the Art of Healing in Sandy Springs which practices a holistic style of medicine for the treatment of disease. From Brazil, John studied Western medicine, physical therapy and then went on to study a more holistic approach to medicine in Japan, Thailand and India.
What inspired you or led to your current career?
Because of my father, who I promised to use my medical knowledge to help people and make a difference in the way they treated their health issues, I began to search for a more natural way to heal illness and pain. I got scholarships to study acupuncture, therapeutic massage and homeopathic medicine in various countries and combined that with my knowledge of Western medicine to find this way to heal by reaching the physical, the spiritual and the soul.
What do you love about Sandy Springs?
There is a very welcoming spirit here from the people who make up this community. They are so warm and friendly. The neighborhoods are beautiful with so many trees, it is very family-oriented and there are great restaurants and cultural activities.
Choosing anyone alive who would you like to have lunch with?
Pope Francis – I like his philosophy on life.
What is on your bucket list?
I would like to make an impact on people’s lives even in small ways. If I can help one person live a better life – change the world for one person by a small act of kindness that is what I would like to do.
Who is the most interesting person you have met?
Robert Kikawa who founded a company, CIES Global. He was a physician who saw the problems with socialized medicine and the long wait times for life-saving tests such as MRI, Cancer Scans and Xrays. He figured out a way to use shipping containers to set up mobile offices near the hospitals to help these people for low fees so they could see a doctor and get their needed tests.
What advice would you give to people?
Get up in the morning and have a great attitude. Be grateful and appreciate the blessings in your life. Know the 3 things you can never get back in your life – time, words and opportunities. Spend at least 10 minutes each day deep breathing which is most vital and important to life and ask yourself during that time what’s really important to you.
What is something unique people don’t know about you?
I use to act and I was a musician who played in a band in Brazil.
What makes you happy?
I am healthy and blessed to have great family and friends and have so much joy in my life.
What words come to mind when you think of the word home?
Love, Connection, and Relationship
