Latest / Coffee Playdate Podcast with Dr. Olga Deengar / Where There’s Gratitude, There’s No Fear Ep 45: Dr. Pradnya Mitroo on Private GI Practice
Transcript
- Dr. Olga Deengar: Welcome to the Coffee Playdate Podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Olga Deengar and today I have a very special guest with me, Dr. Pradnya Mitroo Welcome! Pradnya Mitroo: Thank you, Olga. It's nice to be here. Dr. Olga Deengar: I'm so excited for our conversation today, but before we dive in, I have to ask, do you drink coffee? Pradnya Mitroo: I actually do not drink coffee. I drink tea. I've been drinking tea since I was really young and just continued doing that. Dr. Olga Deengar: what what's your favorite tea? Pradnya Mitroo: So it's black tea with cardamom in it and no sugar. Dr. Olga Deengar: I love that. Amazing. Okay, we're gonna jump in into our first game. It's a rapid fire questions game. I'm gonna give you an answer between one or the other. Just choose the answer that feels most aligned. And you don't have to give an explanation. Just go with your gut instinct. Pradnya Mitroo: Sounds good. Dr. Olga Deengar: Here we go. First one. Breakfast before tea or tea before breakfast. Pradnya Mitroo: Tea before breakfast. Dr. Olga Deengar: Cool. Colonoscopy Day or Clinic Day? Pradnya Mitroo: Clinic Day. Dr. Olga Deengar: The microbiome or the mind-gut connection? Pradnya Mitroo: Microbiome. Dr. Olga Deengar: and the last one here is a fascinating rare case or a straightforward case with a great outcome. Pradnya Mitroo: Fascinating case. Dr. Olga Deengar: Cool. All right. Awesome. The next game is similar to this one, but we both take a sip from our coffee cups if we get the answers right. Here we go. First question is a smoothie for breakfast or a savory breakfast? Pradnya Mitroo: Smoothie for breakfast. Dr. Olga Deengar: I'm gonna say savory breakfast. Okay, no sip. Next question is listening to a podcast in the car or music in the car? Pradnya Mitroo: Listen to a podcast in the car Dr. Olga Deengar: Yes, me too. Cheers. Pradnya Mitroo: Yeah. Dr. Olga Deengar: Next one, bookstore browsing or online shopping for books. Pradnya Mitroo: Bookstore browsing. Dr. Olga Deengar: I'm gonna say online shopping. And the last one here is being known for expertise or being known for impact. Pradnya Mitroo: Being known for impact Dr. Olga Deengar: Yes, me too. Cheers. Pradnya Mitroo: Right. Dr. Olga Deengar: All right, perfect. So Pradnya, I'd love for our listeners to get to know you a little bit better. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and the work that you do? Pradnya Mitroo: Sure. so I am a gastroenterologist. I live in Fresno, California. I actually grew up in New Jersey, on the East Coast. And I say somehow I ended up in California. but we love it here. and so I have a private practice. We're actually one of the few large private practices still around in California. and I'm very proud of that. we have six gastroenterologists on our side, another six and another, so they're twelve gastroenterologists with APP, so pretty large practice and have a strong footprint here. And we really love taking care of our patients and having that impact that we were talking about earlier. Dr. Olga Deengar: Yeah, that's amazing. Did you always think that you were going gonna go into private practice after graduating medical school and going through fellowship and everything? Pradnya Mitroo: Yeah. So actually, no. I I did my training at Mount Sinai in New York and I actually picked GI because at Sinai, I mean that's it's like the Mecca of of GI, right? you could see what an impact you had on these I B D patients 'cause that's where Burrill Crohn was of Crohn's disease and so it was a very large I B D center, like Jerry Waye who's like the considered the king of endoscopy, you know, w was there. So I it had a pretty large impact on me and that's actually how I ended up part of why I picked GI. Although I knew I was going along that line because one of the things that had pulled me into medicine was that my mom had a lot of GI issues, you know, as I was growing up. And it really affected our lifestyle. And i in many ways she didn't get the care that she needed. And I always thought, I wanna create something different. that provides the care for women that I know that they that they need. And so in my mind, that that was always always there. And so when I I got to Sinai, it was like the perfect, you know, perfect thing. Like I was already interested in GI. I saw all these GI patients, worked with some amazing mentors, and decided that, you know, that's what I wanted to do. When I went to do my residency and fellowship in in Philadelphia, I was at Thomas Jefferson. I actually really loved the research part of it as well. So I actually had thought that I would probably stay in academics. in fact, I did a master's program during my residency and beginning part of my fellowship in clinical trials research. And I thought I was actually gonna run the clinical trials there originally. yeah, but it didn't turn out that way. I got married and we and I I still could have done it, but I realized that. politics and everything that that entailed was not the right thing for me. It wouldn't create the right impact that I wanted. and a lot would be dictated to me. So that's actually when I decided that if I want to make the impact that I want, I need to do my own thing. And we ended up moving to California and I started in a I joined a solo practitioner, which you know it was unheard of on the East Coast. I mean in the on the East Coast everything was bigger, bigger practices, but I actually joined a solo practitioner, this was 2007 and Dating myself. and and I really loved what I was doing. I mean, it like very, very fast. I had a very large patient population, mostly women. And to this day, 90% of my patients are women because women prefer going to see a female gastroenterologist and I love it. and then the rest of them, the other 10% is their sons and husbands that I have. Dr. Olga Deengar: yeah. Pradnya Mitroo: And my fa my staff always jokes with me about that. but but it's really been very fulfilling. So I started out in that practice. I did not want to remain an employee. So me and another physician who had joined left and joined another practice about four years later and a few years later, and there we were partners, we were owners. that was really important to me that I was an owner in the practice. and we've grown that practice now to six gastroenterologists with four APPs. And then about two years ago we joined hands with another larger practice because in consolidation there's more safety and power these days. And so we are now probably the largest private GI practice in California. Dr. Olga Deengar: That's incredible. And I love that all of this was driven by your mission to prevent some of the challenges that your mom faced when she was going through the GI issues. I mean, what a strong drive to have. This is really cool. Pradnya Mitroo: Yeah. It was a big why. It was a big why. It makes a big difference. Yeah. Dr. Olga Deengar: Yeah. Well what do you think makes you most proud about being one of the one of the remaining solo practices of GI in California? Pradnya Mitroo: I I think the reason why we've we've really tried to maintain it and you know, honestly, I I I'm not sure like how things are gonna go because things are changing very fast, but is that I think we provide the best quality care and at the best price. it's you know, if you're going into the hospitals, hospital based practices cost patients a lot more. you know, especially with high deductible plans, things like that, when they come to a smaller private practice. Rather than a hospital, everything is less expensive. Their co pays are less, their deductibles, you know, it's smaller. we take them to our outpatient ASCs, which is a lot cheaper than like almost one third the price of going to the hospital for a procedure. So I'm pretty proud of that. I think that's you know, cost is really important these days to to families. And I'm I'm you know really happy that we're able to take care of that. Dr. Olga Deengar: Yeah. that's amazing. We always want to try to bring costs down across the healthcare system anywhere. So this is a really great mission as well. Now, you do you ever think that maybe joining a hospital practice would have been the way to go? Maybe your life would have been different. Pradnya Mitroo: It would have been different, but not better. I would I you know, I I say even now I think if I had to work for a hospital, I would probably not be doing medicine. because I'm I'm sure you know hospitals can be great partners, but the autonomy that you have in terms of taking care of your patients that you have in your own practice, there's nothing like it. And I can tailor my practice to how I want. I can change my schedule. I mean, within boundaries, you know, because I want to make sure that I'm efficient for my staff as well. so I I myself understand, you know, the economics. And so I will make sure that I'm efficient in the time that I'm that I'm there. So, but I can make those choices and having the ability to make those choices for myself, like say my daughter has something going on and you know, I I wanna be there, I can adjust that schedule, but I can also adjust the staff to make sure that. that it that it goes well. So yeah. So yeah, I I wouldn't trade it for anything. Dr. Olga Deengar: Sounds like you have the time freedom and financial freedom that this career path has brought to you. This is great. Pradnya Mitroo: Yeah. It's it hasn't been easy. I mean, obviously, you know, you're taking a risk when it's your own business. and especially the way medicine insurance based practices are these days. every year we get a cut. And so you always have to think about, you know, how are you gonna evolve and how are you gonna innovate to make it in in in the business. and I think that's one of the things that we're never taught. Right? Like you went to med school and yes, GI was amazing and all this. We were never taught how to run a practice, how to be your own boss. we have we have to teach ourselves. the good thing is, you know, a lot more physicians are talking about it now. And so there's, you know, people that can help, good mentors that you can you can speak to. but I think where we really we really need to learn how how to do that. And obviously, you know. Academic centers are not gonna do that. They just want you to work for them. So I think it's it's up to us to learn how to do that and and maintain our our autonomy. Dr. Olga Deengar: Yeah. It's true. We we don't get the business background. We are trained as physicians and we are trained to take care of the patients, but that's where, like you said, you have to venture off on your own to really gain those skills to figure out how to actually run a business. Pradnya Mitroo: Right. Because it it it is a business. And I think when people are in the mindset of, I don't want to think about it as business. And and and that has been the case with some of my older partners. So that's why I've been the one actually running the practice. you you have to remember that if you can't keep this practice viable, you can't take care of those patients the way you want. And I think that's really important. If you don't run the practice, the the business of it well, you will not be able to take care of the patients the way you want. So that's really, really important. And especially as we go forward with new things coming, it's really like I said, important to innovate, know what's coming, anticipate. Those are really important. Dr. Olga Deengar: Yes. What do you think or w what are some of the mindset tools that have helped you get through some of these challenging times? Pradnya Mitroo: so I I really think having a good morning routine is important, to kind of ground yourself, know who you are and where you're going. I always do a gratitude practice in the morning. and I actually even have my staff do it. I have for Christmas, I actually gave them a gratitude journal, every one of my staff. and I told them, you know, when you come into the office. Take the first 10 minutes to just breathe and write down the three things that you're grateful for. Doesn't have to be anything, you know, huge, like just the fact that you made it here today or that your, you know, your your child is healthy or you know, anything small. Just write it down. And I think it really makes a difference in everybody's mindset. And and to me, I really live by the thing that where there's gratitude, there's no fear. and so that's been a really important part of my life. Dr. Olga Deengar: Such a beautiful practice. And I'm I'm so glad that you were able to kind of, you know, share that with your staff and everybody in the office. That's wow, that's amazing. Pradnya Mitroo: Yeah. It's it's I I think culture is really important. so just as much as running a business in the economics, creating the right culture in the practice is really important and that's very important for that business. Dr. Olga Deengar: What kind of culture do you think you've created? Pradnya Mitroo: I think I've created a culture where they feel very comfortable to come share, you know, if there's any issues going on, that it's very collaborative, that they're not afraid to come to the manager or to me with something that they think would work better. and not just in my office, but even in our outpatient centers. I think it's really important. it's important for the staff also to. feel like they have some say. it's really good for retention. I think if they feel that they have some autonomy and say, you'll be able to retain them a lot better. and, you know, turnover of staff is one of the most expensive things in a practice. So if you can keep your good staff, that's that's huge. It's golden. Dr. Olga Deengar: Yep, it's a win-win for everybody. Good. Now, was there a time when you've gone above and beyond for either your staff, your family members, to create really an extraordinary experience, something really meaningful. Can you tell me about a time like that? Pradnya Mitroo: I think one of the things that I've I've tried to do with my staff is e every year try to have something where we do like a small like a mini kind of retreat thing for them. sometimes around the holidays where we come together not just as staff, but you know, so that they can get to know each other. we will do some breath work, something mindful. and then, you know do games, things like that for everybody to kinda get get to know each other. I think that really that really helps them bond and and remain together. Dr. Olga Deengar: That's so fun. How many years have you been doing that for? Pradnya Mitroo: I'd say for the past since COVID, I've been doing it because I think when COVID happened, it was a really weird time for our staff. I mean, we, you know, the physicians were not in the office that much. because we were doing a lot of televisits from home and things like that. And I almost felt like the patients were not coming in the office either. And all of a sudden everybody forgot why we were doing this, the why of what our mission is. And and so I started at that time to to meet with them on a regular basis to remind them, you know, this is our mission and it's not you're not just pushing papers, every day you're saving a life. And so from that came this where we try to do something for them every year. Dr. Olga Deengar: That's beautiful. I love that. Now you've already given us a lot of really great tips, but what is one piece of advice that you would give someone else who may be starting out in a similar space? Pradnya Mitroo: I would say have a mentor that you can run things by. I think that's really, really important. I think that you won't see everything. It's it's impossible. and anticipating things is really helpful. And if you have somebody by your side that can kind of who's gone through it and can say, Hey, you know, maybe this is this may not work out this way, but you know, you maybe you could try these two, three other things. I think that's that's really helpful. So my number one piece of advice is if you're gonna be do start your own practice or rather have a have a mentor. Mentorship is so important. Dr. Olga Deengar: Yeah. mentorship is so key. You're right. I mean, I would not be where I am today without my my mentors, their guidance, I mean, the how they show up for you, how they care, the failures that they're willing to share. You know, all of those things, they make a huge difference and help you avoid some of the mistakes along the way, along the entrepreneurial journey that you're on, for sure. Pradnya Mitroo: Yeah, avoiding the the pitfalls. And you know, failure teaches you more than any win. So that's for sure. And so yeah, that's really important. Dr. Olga Deengar: yeah. That's a great picture. And then one last question here. I always ask my guests to give a book recommendation for our aspiring entrepreneurs. Do you have a book recommendation for us today? Pradnya Mitroo: Yeah. I would say for an entrepreneur, one of my favorite books is Who Not How, because it's really the who that matters. And it's it's interesting because in when I first started out in medicine, I didn't really think of that. You know, it was like, yeah, the the business people network, network, you know, because everyone called it that. But it's it's not about that. It's it's about building connections. and and Tony Robbins, who's one of my mentors. you know, he always says an extraordinary life is built on extraordinary connections, not just on extraordinary achievements. And I think it's really important to remember that. It's it's about the connection. So the who the connection really makes a big difference. Dr. Olga Deengar: Yes, I absolutely agree. That's amazing. Well, thank you so much for being with us here today, Pradnya. It was great to see you. And I hope you have a great rest of your day. Pradnya Mitroo: Yeah, great to see you too. Thank you for having me. This is great.