Persistence. My late mother said I was a trying child and I am still trying as an adult.
Dr. Barry Friedberg was born in Philadelphia, PA. He grew up and attended school there all through high school. When it was time to go to college Dr. Friedberg chose Muhlenberg College in Allentown PA. It is there that he received his Bachelor degree in health professions. From there he went on to Temple Medical School in Philadelphia and completed his anesthesia training in Stanford, CA.
Dr. Friedberg has made so many accomplishments, throughout his career. Some of which include, early leader in office based anesthesia (OBA), the development of Propofol ketamine (PK) anesthesia for OBA 1992, made PK numerically reproducible with addition of brain monitor in 1998. He founded SOFA, Society of Office Anesthesia, later merging with SOBA, Society for Office Based Anesthesia.
He was chosen first of 40,000 US anesthesiologists to write & edit the first textbook on Cosmetic Surgery Anesthesia, published by Cambridge University Press in 2007, translated into Portuguese 2009 & Mandarin Chinese 2015.
He won the US Congressional Award of Special Recognition to improve safety of US troops. He was extensively published AND subsequently cited in the literature and anesthesia textbooks as well as Volunteer clinical faculty @ USC & UCI
Dr. Barry Friedberg now lives in Southern CA with an office based anesthesia private practice. He is the founder & president of non-profit Goldilocks Anesthesia Foundation, dedicated to making brain monitoring a standard of care.
Where did the idea for PK Anesthesia Technique come from?
In December of 1991 I heard a lecture about Valium-ketamine for cosmetic surgery. Valium prevents ketamine hallucinations, ketamine produces immobility for local anesthesia injection.
In March of 1992 I substituted Propofol for Valium and reduced ketamine dose from 75 to 50mg.
The original practice was named ‘Cosmetic Surgery Anesthesia’
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I don’t have typical days. Usually my day starts with LinkedIn in early morning. Two-three days a week for about 2-4 hours give anesthesia for office based elective cosmetic surgery. After that, I return home to answer email correspondence
How do you bring ideas to life?
The excitement my patients experience from Goldilocks anesthesia is what helps me. Working with these people, seeing their excitement and happiness keeps me going. I am always thinking about what I can do better just to keep the smiles on everyone’s faces.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
Social media as a marketing platform for idea dissemination. There are so many different platforms in which you can reach out to people, it is truly amazing. The difference between Semmelweiz & me is the internet.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Persistence. My late mother said I was a trying child and I am still trying as an adult.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
Unloading empty soda cans on an assembly line to fill them. I learned, for me, it is better to work
with my mind than my body.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
Trying to effect change in any field is the hardest task anyone could assume. I would have understood the resistance to change sooner.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I don’t view myself as an entrepreneur but more as a visionary for safer, simpler, better, & more cost-effective anesthesia.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
The time spent in my operating room activities are very modest compared to most other colleagues. At 68, I feel it is the right amount for me.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Follow your passion. When you do that your business idea with come with ease.
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter – cost effective communication
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Getting Over Going Under, 5 things you MUST know before anesthesia.
Without a brain monitor, you will be over-medicated by up to 30% more drugs than you need, risking death, delirium or dementia aka ‘brain fog’
Connect:
Dr. Barry Friedberg on LinkedIn:
Dr. Barry Friedberg on Facebook:
Dr. Barry Friedberg on Twitter: @drfriedberg
Dr. Barry Friedberg on Google+:
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.