Symptom, diagnosis, medication - this classic approach of conventional medicine has proven successful for many acute complaints. However, this model often reaches its limits in the case of stress-related or chronic illnesses that do not have clearly defined causes. This is where integrative medicine comes into play, which can be seen as a useful complement to conventional medicine. This perspective is shared by our interview partner Axel Strittmatter, who is responsible for sales of integrative medicine in Switzerland at Ortho-Analytic AG.
Since its foundation in 1998 as a spin-off of the "Burgerstein Vitamine" company Ortho-Analytic has developed into a pioneer in integrative medicine and is accredited according to the ISO17025 and ISO15189 standards. The company exemplifies the combination of science, technology and a holistic understanding of health - a combination that makes all the difference.
What once began with hair mineral analyses has expanded into a wide range of specialized diagnostic procedures. Today, the company focuses on four core areas: functional stool diagnostics with microbiome analysis, trace element and heavy metal analysis in the environment and humans, as well as food intolerances.
With his multidisciplinary team, Axel Strittmatter pursues the goal of not only treating symptoms, but also analyzing underlying causes and taking preventive action. He emphasizes that integrative medicine can close the gap between traditional diagnostics and modern prevention. A prime example of this is microbiome analysis, which is pioneering in systems biology.
In addition to its technological innovations Ortho-Analytic also through an interdisciplinary team of specialists. The company specifically looks for individual and specialized profiles that often lie outside the mainstream. "We like to evaluate unusual combinations of skills and experience that can enrich our team," explains our interviewee. This approach is essential in order to further expand the company's leading position in the field of integrative medicine.
Axel Strittmatter's working days could hardly be more different. From strategic customer visits to product development and internal coordination: You will look in vain for routine in his role. However, this diversity is not a disadvantage for him, but rather the attraction of his job. Find out more about him in our interview of the month.
Mr. Strittmatter, if you had taken a different path when you were younger, what would you have become?
"My original dream was to become a marine biologist, just like the explorer and diver Jacques Cousteau. From an early age, I had a very strong connection to water and all the creatures that live in it. That's why, as a child, I always brought home all kinds of creatures and creatures from streams and rivers from my excursions. This regularly made my mother's hair stand on end. Later I realized that it was difficult to study "marine biology" in Germany and then find a job, so I ended up in "biology". From there, I found biochemistry and molecular microbiology, an incredibly exciting and fantastic field of research that fascinated and inspired me until the end of my university career."
What is your favorite way to start your day?
"I have to make a clear distinction between my working days and my vacation days. During the working week, I almost always wake up 5 minutes before the scheduled time, my internal clock works very well during the week. I then like to have a cup of tea, listen to music and slowly get up to speed. On vacation, on the other hand, I like to sleep in (which always takes a few days) and am happy to be able to take a nap. Especially if the evening before was long, as I'm a night owl and/or the weather doesn't invite me to do activities in the garden or outdoors."
What does success mean to you personally?
"It feels good for me when our team succeeds in achieving the goals we have set. In other words, if the planning and preparatory work have also made it possible to achieve the goals. Positive feedback from customers is also always something that builds me up or inspires me to give my all again next time. Unfortunately, interpersonal relationships are becoming less and less important in times of optimized daily routines and maximum efficiency. Yet it is precisely this interpersonal exchange that is so important and can also be something incredibly motivating and therefore very beautiful in sales.
What would you work for free for a week?
"This is actually a difficult question for me, as there is very little free time left over in addition to my professional activities as a salesperson. If I can identify with ideas or goals 100%, then I'm very happy to work and get involved "without pay", no matter how long it takes. The only examples I can think of are my activities in clubs, where I regularly help out (to some extent) in my free time. There are (shorter) "work services", it is always very nice to see at the end when things have been newly built, renovated or just modernized, for example. So if something is improved or redone for the benefit of the community, I'm happy to work for free.
What was the best professional advice you ever received?
"The best advice was the recommendation not to delay the step from university to professional life too long and not to plan too late. This advice came at a time when the German university system was being "restructured" from the previous doctorates and academic council positions to the more modern "Master-Bachelor" system. Without this advice from a university partner and manager from industry, I would certainly have delayed my decision to go into industry even longer. In hindsight, however, it turned out that the advice was very valuable, came at exactly the right time and opened up many, many new options that I hadn't even considered before."
We would like to thank Mr. Strittmatter for his contribution to this article.
This interview was conducted orally
Batterman Consulting Basel AG
Executive Search,
Byfangweg 1a, CH-4051 Basel
T +41 58 680 55 55
basel@batterman.ch
