What called you to medicine and opening your clinics?

I grew up listening to hospital stories from my Papa Casey, who was a general surgeon, and I was fascinated by medicine from an early age. By 4th grade, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I have two uncles who are orthopedic surgeons and an aunt who is a radiologist and I remember them attending medical school, doing their residencies, and listening to their experiences in the hospital. I didn’t consider any other career path. I chose anesthesiology because I really enjoy procedures and quick decision making and I knew that someday I would want to have a family. Anesthesiology has been a very rewarding career, where I can still work, but also be present to my children and an integral part of their lives. Not many physician specialties in medicine allow both.

Transitioning into providing ketamine infusion therapy for people with chronic pain and mental health conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and OCD has been a natural segue from hospital-based anesthesia and allows me to form relationships and get to know my patients in a deeper way. I am grateful to be able to help so many people see improvement in their pain and mental suffering. Because I enjoy learning and performing procedures, l am developing a wellness side of my practice where I offer the Jeuveau Neurotoxin treatment for wrinkles, IV vitamin infusions, and other medical aesthetic procedures. This is new and exciting for me and over the next year I plan to expand Vitalitas Wellness with more offerings.

What makes your business, Vitalitas Denver, unique in its approach to ketamine treatment?

Vitalitas Denver is run by highly trained physician anesthesiologists who are experts in the safe and appropriate use of ketamine to treat chronic pain and mental health conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, and OCD. We have been operating since 2016, have a combined 46 years of providing anesthesia to the sickest of the sick patients, have delivered thousands of ketamine infusions, and have refined our treatment regimen based on our experience and research-based best practices. We don’t cut corners by using unqualified staff to administer our infusions and as a result, we have an impeccable safety record. We truly care about our patients and recognize that for most, this is a treatment of last resort and our patients and their families have been suffering greatly for many years. We care about them as if they were our family members and work hard to maximize the benefit and impact of their infusions, which has afforded us higher than typical response rates.

You are the co-founder of a nonprofit. Tell us about that.

I am passionate about the FIRE Foundation of Denver, https://firefoundationdenver.org/ which I started 3 years ago so my daughter, Anna, who was born with Down syndrome, could attend Catholic school with her siblings and friends. I wanted her to have the same educational opportunities as my older four children and attend the same Catholic school because this has been our community for 20 years. I started FIRE Denver with a couple other like-minded families and in 3 years, while I have led this new organization as president of the board of directors, we have given 1 million dollars in grants to support 14 schools in the Denver metro area to provide special education teachers, paraprofessionals, professional development, and learning aides to support children with significant disabilities. Two hundred and seven children with moderate to significant disabilities are able to attend Catholic schools this year due to direct support from FIRE Denver, and this is up from a handful only 3 years ago.

Other than my beautiful family and amazing five children, this is the one thing I am most proud of and it has a tremendous impact on so many family’s lives and will continue to impact many people for years to come. It has been incredible to witness our brave and committed donors financially support this new organization and have faith and trust in the board of directors and schools to be good stewards of their charitable donations. It is beautiful to see so many donors believe in the value and importance of people with disabilities and acknowledge that they belong in our Catholic schools. Anna has attended the same school as her siblings, since she was 3 and is loved and cherished by every teacher, classmate, and family in that school. The impact of FIRE Denver has surpassed my expectations.

What does success mean to you?

Success is living a balanced life with my priorities oriented in the right way and in line with my faith- God, husband, children, work, family, and friends. This is something I am constantly working on and I have taken concrete action over the years to improve myself so that I can be the best mother and wife, as well as friend, family member, and business owner.

I never want my children to feel that my work is more important than them and it is a constant struggle to juggle all of the responsibilities I have with a large family, a busy medical practice, while at the same time making sure I am taking care of myself so I can then take care of everyone else. I rely heavily on my faith, family and friends to help me be my best self. I am starting to see some of the fruits of my hard work as a mother for the last 19 years as my children grow and mature into teens and young adults. Life has its challenges and sufferings, but looking back, they have all happened for me instead of to me so I can live my best life.

What routines help you start your day off on the right foot?

I have the best day when I get up early before everyone else and I am able to say my morning prayers and meditate using my heart rate coherence monitor. I am learning to change my heart rhythm pattern to create physiological coherence; a scientifically measurable state characterized by increased order and harmony in our mind, emotions and body. This is a great tool to ground me for the day. Then, I get my children ready for school, drop them off and head to the gym. I know I have the best day when I say my prayers, meditate, and exercise first. I am learning to take care of myself because when I am healthy both mentally and physically, everybody in my life wins. Another daily habit is positive self-talk and examining negative thoughts that come up. I have put a lot of time and effort into improving my view of myself and others and have wonderful mindset coaches I have been working with for the last few years.

What’s your favorite thing to come home to after a long day at work?

When I come home and my 6-year-old daughter with Down syndrome runs toward me to give me a hug and tells me first - “Hi Mom - I love you too!”, it melts away any stress or difficulty from the day. She is an incredible joy and we are blessed to have her in our lives. She does more for our family than we do for her and I wish everyone who had a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome could realize that these unique and special people are a gift and will change your life and your family’s life for the better. She makes our world a better more joyful place and I have witnessed her transform even the most angry, sad, or lonely person with her smiles, hugs, and authentic human connection. She has an innate ability to connect with people on a very deep level, which does not come naturally to most people.

Dr. Eve Langston, MD is a Physician Anesthesiologist and President and Owner of Vitalitas Denver and Vitalitas Wellness. She’s also the co-founder and Board President of FIRE Foundation of Denver.