Deepa Deshmukh, MPH,RDN,CDCES,BC-ADM.
1. What's your practice focus and what kind of clients knock on your door ?
My practice focus has always been using Nutrition As Medicine to treat diabetes, overweight, obesity, heart disease, cancer and digestive health. I provide culturally adopted tools and training so people of various ethnicity knock on the door.
2. Tell us about yourself.
I could not see my self working in health care system that feeds people what gave them he disease to start with. I wanted to change that. I have been doing this for 18 plus years now and have seen many people change their health outcomes for better by following "Nutrition As Medicine" approach.
3. Tell us the story of a patient who you are most proud of helping.
I have also worked extensively with underserved population and when I get to help a patient who has the minimal resources and they gets better with the support, tools that I provide it feels very rewarding.
4. What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a practitioner in private practice?
Keeping up with the operational demand, finding right admins, people to help and able to provide the patient care at a scale
5. What are the top 3 tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a private practice today?\
The top 3 tips I would give to anyone looking to start, run, and grow a private practice today would be :
- Get started vs procrastinating, treat it as an experiment. I believe in trying vs regretting so I always try new thought specially if I have a gut feeling about it. However try to find your niche and in the beginning do and learn everything by yourself for 3-4 months ( huge learning curve) and then hire someone.
- It is hard work.Patience and resiliency is required, the process is not smooth. You will have to learn to enjoy the failures!
- Know that there is an exit strategy if needed.