Dr. Jay L. Gruhlkey is Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Direct Allergy, LLC, and a practicing physician in New Braunfels, TX. Widely respected in Allergy and Immunology, he has served as Past-President of the Pan American Allergy Society and has trained thousands of doctors nationwide in allergy testing and treatment through the National Procedure Institute.
Dr. Gruhlkey began his medical career after earning a B.S. in Chemistry from Texas A&M University and an M.D. from The University of Texas Health Science Center–Houston. He completed his Family Medicine residency at Southwest Memorial Hospital, where he was Chief Resident. His contributions to medicine have been recognized with the Mead Johnson Award for Graduate Medical Education and the AMA Foundation Leadership Award. In addition to clinical practice, he consults on medical and legal matters and serves on several healthcare boards.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My day starts around 5.30 a.m. I spend about 30 minutes catching up on emails or anything that came in overnight. Then I work out from 6:00 to 6:30 or sometimes until 7:00. By 7:30, I’m at the office getting things set up before patients or business meetings begin around 8:30. Having that early routine— getting work done, moving my body, and starting the day with focus—sets the tone for everything else.
How do you bring ideas to life?
For me, it starts with writing them down on paper and going through the thought process. If an idea doesn’t work on paper, it probably won’t work in reality. Putting thoughts into writing forces me to brainstorm, organize, and see where gaps might be. Once the plan looks solid on paper, I can put the right pieces in place to make it happen. That’s exactly how we built Direct Allergy.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Artificial intelligence in healthcare. The progress has been remarkable even in a short time. AI has the potential to change how we work, improve our efficiency, and expand our diagnostic capabilities. It’s the most exciting shift in medicine right now.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Consistency. I keep the same schedule every day. I wake up at the same time, set meetings at similar times, and stick to a routine. It keeps me grounded and focused.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Anxiety never solves a problem. Worrying doesn’t change the outcome. The only thing that does is finding the solution. I would tell my younger self to spend less time worrying and more time working toward answers.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.
I still believe solo private practice in healthcare is the best place to be. Many people prefer joining large groups or becoming employed, but I think independence allows us to truly care for patients and make the best decisions for them.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Physical activity. We spend so much time exercising our minds, but neglecting our bodies leads to many of the issues I see in practice. Making time every day to move is essential.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I turn off my phone and email. Those are the biggest distractions. I try to check email at set times instead of constantly, and silencing the phone helps me refocus. Eliminating those interruptions is the fastest way to get clarity.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Prioritizing customer service. Even in healthcare, there’s a huge customer service component to it. There are many problems across industries that come down to poor communication or poor service. If we keep patient experience at the forefront, everything else tends to work out.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I did not get accepted into medical school in my first application. I had to sit down, take it to heart, and really understand what went wrong. I realized I needed more commitment and a better understanding of the process. It taught me to plan ahead more carefully, understand what my goals require, and prepare sooner rather than later.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Since we’re in health care, I’d say expanding access to allergy testing and treatment outside traditional clinics. Healthcare is being delivered in new places, from CVS to telemedicine, and I think there’s real potential in in-home allergy testing and treatment options. That could expand and help many more people.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
ChatGPT is a total game-changer. I’m not a great writer, and I don’t enjoy writing letters or reports. ChatGPT has been a game-changer for me. The quality of reports and letters it produces is amazing. I honestly couldn’t believe it the first time I used it. Now I use it almost on a daily basis.
What is the best $100 you recently spent?
Probably playing golf with my son. He’s studying computer science and running his own startup company. So it’s interesting to hear his perspective on technology and small businesses compared to what we do at Direct Allergy. It gave me both a personal and professional connection, and that was well worth it.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?
I have two books that I really like. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, which I’ve probably read ten times, really explains how to build a strong team and surround yourself with the right people. The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt, which focuses on processes and the “theory of constraints.” It’s framed around manufacturing, but its lessons on efficiency and throughput apply to any business. These two books I really enjoy.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Yellowstone by Taylor Sheridan. I grew up in Texas on a ranch, so it connects with me personally. It combines business, the outdoors, and Western heritage. It’s unfortunate it is no longer gonna be produced, but that would be my favorite one.