Brad Stahlheber

Appreciate the opportunity to learn from failures and mistakes and learn from those incidents to become a better person.

 

Brad Stahlheber is a trained and expert anesthesiologist with a passion for helping others around him. He has been working in the medical field for many years and accumulated a ton of professional experience. He graduated from the College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2004 with Oklahoma State University. In addition, Brad Stahlheber graduated from his residency with the Oklahoma State University Medical Center in 2008. Upon completion of these academic achievements, Brad felt confident and ready to dip his toes in the field of medicine.

The first position Brad Stahlheber enjoyed was serving at St. Francis South in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He acquired a wide array of hand-on experiences and learned a lot from his coworkers and supervisor. From there, he moved onto Muskogee Community Hospital where he served for 6 years. During that time, he achieved the position of Chief of Anesthesia. Dr. Stahlheber led the department for three years before seeking another challenge to shoulder.
In 2015 the opportunity to become part of a specialized team presented itself. This team paved the way for Brad Stahlheber to help people in a way he knows his impact is realized. Currently serving as the anesthesiologist at St. John Medical center in Tulsa has enabled him to work alongside an Orthopedic Surgeon with a specialty in complex surgical procedures for the spine. Here Dr. Stahlheber serves both as the pain manager for each patient and a voice of comfort before surgery. He is a staff anesthesiologist with St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In his free time, Brad Stahlheber enjoys regular trips for snow skiing, running, riding a bike, and spending time with his girlfriend.

Where did the idea for your company come from?

As an undergraduate, my degrees focused on biology and chemistry. Initially, my goal was to become a pharmacist. When the time came to take the PCAT, I also chose to take the MCAT. When I was accepted to medical school, it was clear I was not going to be a pharmacist. The residency required me to select a specialty. That’s when I evaluated my options more closely and realized that the anesthesiology requirements closely resembled what I had learned in chemistry and biology. It was and still is a great fit.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

This varies each day. I wake up early and report to the hospital by 6:30. We go over the surgical report at 7, and that pretty much establishes how my day will progress. Each patient needs a new patient care plan, and each situation needs contingencies. That is what I focus on when we aren’t in surgery.

How do you bring ideas to life?

As a team, we discuss an idea evaluate all of the options available to us in order to decide our best course of action. Once we are able to identify a specific path that is both effective and positive for the patient, we implement it. We never want to rush decisions and we always want to make sure that whatever we pursue is in the best interest of our patients.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I am fascinated by medical robotics. The advances are extensive and only after working with them at St. John was I able to appreciate how much so.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I am meticulous. It has been shared with me that this attention to detail might be over the top for some, but I believe in not only accomplishing a task but doing it well. That in mind, every patient I see has a customized plan already set out before they go into surgery. This enables me to make time for them when they need it the most.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell younger Brad Stahlheber to not to take everything so seriously. Appreciate the opportunity to learn from failures and mistakes and learn from those incidents to become a better person.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Anything is possible if you put your mind to it and believe in yourself. Anything!

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

No matter what you are doing, check and double check your work. It is always better to complete a project the right way one time than it is to do the same project a hundred times the wrong way before getting it right. As mentioned before, we always plan as a team before executing a plan. If we want to get the best results for our patients, we have to strive to do things right the first time. Checking your work ensures you don’t miss a step that could be crucial to the success of the endeavor.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

I believe that always being diligent and planning ahead for each and every patient has allowed me to be successful. Every patient I visit and work with has an advanced plan tailored for them specifically. This ensures each patient is cared for with the most attention placed on their needs.

Be diligent about your work and believe in what you do and things will come together.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I applied for medical school and was initially turned down. I reapplied later and was accepted. By being persistent instead of giving up after the first rejection, I was able to accomplish my dreams.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

That is a good question. I would suggest that someone take the time to create an application for the Play store or Apple that allows people to prepare for their surgery in advance. It would operate like a checklist and a reminder by checking in with them in the days and hours ahead of the event. Something that would allow people to list the date and time of their surgery and the app would not only remind them of this but also if it is a surgery that will require an overnight stay they could have reminders about what to pack and what medications to have on hand. Helping people manage a difficult time is always beneficial.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

The best 100 dollars I have recently spent was at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant in Las Vegas, NV. Hell’s Kitchen served the most amazing food.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

I would be lost without my calendar. It is great for keeping me on track and providing me with reminders when they are needed.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

I would strongly suggest that everyone reads the Uncommon Life by Tony Dungy. This book is full of daily affirmations that are both uplifting and supportive. It is worth reading each and every day.

What is your favorite quote?

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny” – C.S. Lewis

Key learnings:

● I am meticulous and detail oriented with every case
● I made my dreams come true
● I love knowing I can care for and help others alleviate pain

Connect:

bradstahlheber.com