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)