Latest news with #Melchor
Int'l Business Times
20-05-2025
- Health
- Int'l Business Times
From a Life-Changing Diagnosis to Changing the System with Pravan Health: David Melchor's Parkinson's Journey
The story of David Melchor is an inspirational one. From facing adversity to self-discovery, he has embraced continuous growth and found purpose. Combined with his innate entrepreneurial acumen, this journey led to the founding of Pravan Health, a concierge medical clinic harnessing the power of prevention and wellness to improve the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities. Today, on a mission to pioneer new frontiers in holistic patient care through a blend of Western medicine and alternative healing, Melchor's philosophy is rooted in his journey with Parkinson's. From a single tremor in 2020 to a diagnosis two years later, this battle was as challenging as it was illuminating. "It was a real wake-up call," he recalls. "The transformation I'm going through is prolific, informing the pillars and values of Pravan Health." Looking at Melchor's life, there is a clear 'before' and 'after' distinction, one marked by a mindset shift from ego-driven to purpose. From a young age, he was a thriving entrepreneur, carving a path of his own. He even turned his favorite hobby—throwing unforgettable parties—into a successful business by the age of 25, overtaking the Caribbean as the owner of multiple nightclubs and venues. As his endeavor expanded to South and Central America, so did his entrepreneurial interests. For instance, by leveraging his connections within the entertainment industry, he was able to build a successful Pan-American technology business that caught the early wave of the 2000s ringtone trend. Undeniably, Melchor's lifestyle was carefree and enjoyable. But the signs of not taking care of his health have eventually started showing, and he knew change was needed. To find it, he traveled to Peru. "I had a successful career, many friends I could travel the world with, and a supportive girlfriend I truly loved," he says. "But there was something missing. I wasn't contributing to society in a way I was destined to." This soul-searching odyssey culminated in a life-changing experience: participating in multiple ayahuasca ceremonies alongside his girlfriend, now wife, during a week-long jungle retreat. It was Melchor's first exposure to psychedelics, and it was transformative. "It was completely different from any other experience. It wasn't about losing control but expanding consciousness and discovering something profound within you," he says. It's fair to say he was curious, ready to delve deeper into alternative healing. During his experience in Peru, he received a clear message that his lifestyle needed to change. Guided by this wisdom, he embarked on a voyage through the alternative medicine realm. There, he found solace and a renewed sense of purpose, with conventional medicine and new medical technologies, enriched with the power of psychedelics. Equipped with this knowledge, he set out to elevate healthcare. What further fueled his mission were the gaps and challenges he witnessed through his wife's lens. In 2004, after meeting his wife, he moved part-time to New York, where she was studying medicine. Every day, he would hear about the system's broken parts, and that's when their combined vision was born: a fusion of his entrepreneurial aptitude and her firsthand healthcare understanding, leaving an eternal impact on the industry. "My wife is not just my partner—she's the reason I stepped into the health and wellness space in the first place," he shares. "She's an extraordinary physician, deeply committed to healing and transforming lives. Watching her work, her empathy, and her precision made me realize the power of medicine not just as science, but as a calling." After extensive research and raising capital, the couple opened Pravan Health's first office in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 2017. Its high-end, concierge membership model quickly took off. Moreover, its preventative care with a focus on wellness attracted patients not only from the island but also from the US and beyond. As the clinic grew, from Melchor and his wife to hundreds of members and practitioners, the pillars Pravan was built on, the spiritual, mental, and physical, became more pronounced. David Melchor and Pravan Team It was a few years later that his life took yet another unexpected turn. A tremor that eventually evolved into an official Parkinson's diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms started with a lack of coordination and slower movement, which quickly alarmed Melchor's wife, who studied medicine. Hearing the diagnosis from the doctor's mouth was scary, completely changing his mindset. "Although the experience in Peru set me on a profound journey of change, there was still more work to be done," he reminisces. "The diagnosis was the ultimate message that set me on the next chapter of the Pravan mission. I focused on getting better, no matter what it took." He learned how to live with the incurable disease. "It wasn't just about healing," he shares. "It was about figuring out how to manage this new reality, one I would be living in forever." What truly helped Melchor find happiness again was the powerful blend of friends and family's support, combined with a fusion of resources. Driven by this philosophy, Pravan expanded from one clinic, building an ecosystem rooted in holistic wellness and community support. Melchor and his wife have since co-founded Pravan Foundation, an organization on a mission to transform Puerto Rico's mental health landscape, and will soon be opening Pravan Longevity Center. The center will offer all modalities that helped Melchor heal under one roof, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, infrared sauna, peptides therapy, stem cell therapy, psychedelic-assisted therapy, and Eastern modalities like acupuncture, yoga, and sound healing, to name a few. This solution will make all-encompassing care convenient for all, marking yet another step in Melchor's grander vision for the future of healthcare: a place where healing happens from the inside out. When most people hear the word "Parkinson's," they think of limitations. For David Melchor, it ignited transformation. Especially in an era when human disconnect seems like an epidemic, individuals like him, people ready to channel adversity into a catalyst for positive change, stand as a beacon of hope for generations to come. "There's still a long way to go, but I've never felt more energized to do what's right," he reflects. "As an entrepreneur, I've always been able to identify trends and drive businesses forward. But before, I was driven by ego. Now, I'm driven by purpose—and that's how personal growth stories turn into legacies."
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Arkansas educators learn marksmanship, experience field training during California Marine Corps workshop
OCEANSIDE, Calif. – On Wednesday, during the Marine Educators Workshop, those from Arkansas who are attending traveled to Camp Pendleton in Oceanside to learn about weapons and the field training recruits would have to do. While at Camp Pendleton, educators went to Edson Range, where they each took part in learning about the history of the range, what would be required from potential recruits during boot camp, and how to shoot with a rifle the recruits would use to train. Arkansas educators experience Marine workshop in San Diego Kelsey Beasley, a teacher at Caddo Academy, said she had a good time learning how to shoot the and she could see her students wanting to learn more. 'I think a lot of our students would enjoy this specifically.' Beasley adds, 'most of our students I believe come from a background of hunting and fishing and I believe they could excel in this.' Gunnery Sgt. Cristoval Melchor, a Senior Drill Instructor, has been leading the Arkansas teachers, among others, during part of the workshop. Melchor is also a native of the Natural State. 'I'm from Northwest Arkansas. I was born in Rogers and I grew up in Springdale,' Melchor said. He also explained it's important for the educators to learn what they can and bring it back to the students in Arkansas, knowing he was once a student there. 'I know our core values of honor, courage, and commitment will resonate really well with Arkansans,' Melchor said. Melchor has served for 16 years and said it's here young people can find purpose and direction. 'We teach them the fundamentals of weapons handling and weapon safety and when they fire that weapon, you can see that newfound confidence they have,' he said. 6 Arkansas teachers learn about life as a Marine Throughout the day, educators also experienced field training through teamwork obstacle courses. Edward Tucker, the Principal of Hamburg High School says he liked when instructors with the Marines talked about the success rate, and he can't wait to share that information when he goes back to campus. 'I want to be able to go back and say this is what it will look like,' Tucker said. 'we want to ensure that every kid when they get out of high school has a definite path or options when they move on to post-secondary education.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
