Jon Stojan
Image credit: Keystone Advanced Therapies
Summary: Dr. Scot DePue, founder of Keystone Advanced Therapies, is redefining patient care through ketamine therapy, combining innovation with empathy to impact lives.
Few can argue against the fact that healthcare is one of the key fields prone to constant change. Medical pioneers always challenge conventional boundaries to create new healing pathways that positively affect individuals and communities. Dr. Scot DePue, a physician who has devoted over eight years to advancing the use of ketamine therapy, is among these visionaries.
After graduating from the University of Delaware and the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Dr. DePue became an intern in internal medicine, followed by service as a general practitioner in the United States Air Force. This military experience refined his clinical skills and ingrained a sense of discipline and purpose, guiding him through his career.
The medical professional pursued a residency in emergency medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital after his tenure in the Air Force. He worked with the Yale Psychiatry Department during this time, gaining exposure to mental health care. Looking back, Dr. DePue believes this overlap between emergency and psychiatric medicine defined his expertise. He thrived even in high-stress environments while addressing his patients’ emotional and psychological needs.
Reflecting on one of the pivotal moments in his career, Dr. DePue points to the height of the opioid epidemic in the early 2010s. He encountered a devastating case while working as an emergency physician. It involved a young man who had overdosed on fentanyl and couldn’t be revived despite hours of effort, leaving behind a grieving family, including two young children. The emotional toll of this experience motivated Dr. DePue to combat the opioid crisis.
The determined doctor founded a Suboxone clinic to help individuals overcome heroin addiction. As Dr. DePue’s passion for aiding people to recover grew, so did the small venture. Challenges were bound to present themselves, however. The founder encountered unforeseen professional difficulties that showed the limitations of traditional healthcare systems toward the end of his emergency medicine career. These experiences prompted him to explore alternative approaches that could offer patients more personalized, compassionate care.
Dr. DePue’s exploration opened his eyes to the potential of ketamine therapy. “It aligned perfectly with my vision of holistic, patient-centered treatment,” he supplies. The seasoned healthcare expert has always been interested in ketamine because of his extensive experience with the medication during his emergency medicine career, where it was used as a pediatric sedative. He observed its ability to induce calm and reduce distress in controlled settings.
“I realized that besides sedation, ketamine can also be used to address conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain,” Dr. DePue shares. He then dived into the therapeutic application of ketamine. He pursued advanced training through the Ketamine Academy, which has a program that teaches medical professionals the latest evidence-based practices in ketamine administration. This educational journey complemented his hands-on experience and enabled him to develop protocols tailored to patients’ needs.
It’s significant to emphasize that Dr. DePue stands out for his dedication to creating a safe and nurturing environment for his patients. This commitment is evident in the approach employed by Keystone Advanced Therapies (KAT), the clinic he established in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. The clinic exudes an atmosphere prioritizing comfort and trust, with features such as reclining chairs, personalized music, and calming art.
Essentially, KAT reflects its founder’s philosophy. It combines evidence-based treatments with a compassionate, patient-centered ethos. It’s hardly surprising, therefore, that KAT has grown to serve over 2,500 patients. The clinic rightfully earned the trust of individuals seeking innovative treatments for chronic pain, depression, PTSD, and other conditions.
Dr. DePue looks forward to contributing more to the broader understanding of ketamine’s therapeutic potential. As the founder of KAT, he aims to break new ground and offer solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in mental health and chronic pain management.
Media Contact
Name: Chad Schaner
Email: [email protected]