A Message from Our Founder: Eleanor Thornton

I am sure that many are aware of the phrase “Never forget your roots or where you came from.”  I am inspired each day by this phrase as I remember my own childhood health challenges. I grew up in Chicago, Illinois in a poor community and my family did not have access to health care through a doctor’s office or a medical clinic.  When my mother or any family member would get sick, treatment and care would occur through the use of home remedies rather than traditional medicine.  I witnessed the challenges that my mother faced while dealing with the debilitating effects of chronic disease, all which could have been managed through medical intervention and physician care during the beginning stages of her diagnosis.  Instead, my mother experienced a very poor quality of life due to her health, which I believe was attributed to her lack of quality care. 

I joined the Air Force, at age 19, and later learned I had asthma which had gone undiagnosed throughout my childhood and adolescence. As a result of this diagnosis, I became committed to supporting multiple asthma initiatives for years to come. I have worked diligently with community-based organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions in support of asthma research efforts, directing of clinical services for children and families, as well as the leading of training efforts for asthma education professionals.  

I continue to transform my early healthcare experiences into a company that supports services for underrepresented patient groups, Veterans, and their families. Through Visionary, we have worked to make a difference in the lives of people by bringing diagnoses and treatments of asthma and other chronic diseases to underserved, minority communities, similar to the one that I grew up in, so that others don’t suffer undiagnosed.