Who We Are
The Vital Choice Project (TVCP) is a PENDING 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit dedicated to empowering undergraduate students pursuing healthcare careers. Our mission is to educate future healthcare professionals in holistic healing and functional medicine, challenging the influence of Big Pharma on America’s healthcare system. We believe God created everything we need to be a healthy society! TVCP Chapters advocate for medical freedom, nutrition education, and natural healing modalities, fostering healers, not dealers. Through crowd-sourced grants, we fund students to take nutrition courses alongside mandatory pharmacology classes, promoting a balanced approach to healthcare. We partner with alternative medical training programs outside traditional Rockefeller/Carnegie institutions to support innovative education.
Meet Our Founders
Garrett Pagel and Ashton Portmann, shaped by chronic illnesses, founded The Vital Choice Project to transform healthcare education. Their mission is to empower the next generation of health practitioners to prioritize medical freedom, scientific truth, and proactive wellness over conventional treatment and prescriptions, fostering a healthcare revolution rooted in natural, evidence-based solutions that challenge entrenched pharmaceutical interests.
Garrett Pagel’s journey with chronic illness began after a severe dog attack at age 6, which required multiple surgeries and prolonged antibiotic use. These early medical interventions contributed to his diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) at age 20. Prescribed Prednisone, Garrett faced severe side effects, including deteriorating heart health, prompting him to reject conventional pharmaceuticals. Turning to natural health solutions, he focused on gut microbiome optimization, biohacking, and holistic practices. After just five months, Garrett successfully managed his UC, and four months later, he achieved clinical remission, with no trace of UC even at a microscopic level—demonstrating the transformative power of natural health.
Ashton Portmann was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 5. Ashton Portmann grew up immersed in natural health principles through his father, a successful chiropractor who champions natural remedies and proactive wellness. Defying the limitations of his chronic illness, Ashton excelled as a high school athlete and continues to prioritize fitness as a cornerstone of his health. By integrating holistic practices, he maintains optimal health and inspires others to take charge of their well-being. His commitment to natural health empowers him to educate others on preventing illness through proactive, holistic approaches.