Gregg Schellack

Sticking to the schedule and plan can be very good for maintaining high productivity levels.

 

Dr. Gregg Schellack is an orthopedic surgeon based in Crescent City, California. He is currently affiliated with the Sutter Coast Hospital. Prior to fulfilling his current role, Dr. Schellack attended Loma Linda University for his residency program as well as the Des Moines University, College of Osteopathic Medicine for his medical school studies. He further completed a successful internship at the Naval Medical Center at San Diego.

Where did the idea for your company or organization come from?

I came up with the idea to become an orthopedic surgeon when I was fairly young. I sustained several injuries during High School football and interactions with a local Orthopedic Surgeon led me to this particular field of medicine. I always had great respect for this surgeon and was intrigued by how he was able to help people with musculoskeletal injuries.

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

Well, I do not have a lot of typical days due to the fact that every new day is an adventure of its own. Sometimes, I deal with dozens of patients and there are times when I do not interact with a single one. Nevertheless, I set mini objectives to make sure that I am staying on track with my work.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I communicate with my associates staff and try to figure out a way to make something happen. I really enjoy hearing other people’s ideas and perspectives on the issues at hand.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The technological advancements made in the field of medicine. When you consider all the changes in medicine, just look at some of the new research methods that lead to important treatment discoveries.

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

I try not deviate from my schedule or change my ‘routine’ way of doing things. Although it may not be as fun to plan every second of every day, it helps minimize the risk of forgetting to do something, or doing something in a different way that ends up leading to an inferior result.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would encourage my younger self to spend more time studying data analytics. I think that the knowledge of Big Data is the one thing that my career is missing.

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

The field of medicine will always be operated by humans and robots will never replace us. This is because we need to have the human factor present to guide robotics and engage human sense.

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

I look for ways to improve my existing set of skills. I mentioned that I do not possess an in-depth knowledge of data analytics. Well, fortunately, I have been taking time to study this concept and turn my flaw into a strength.

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

Treating my patients the same way that I would treat my family members has helped me maintain high retention and satisfaction rates.

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

I failed to gain admittance to medical school on my first attempt. I had not yet completed all of the pre-requisite coursework and underestimated the competition level of applicants. I never let this happen again. This setback helped me find a new depth of focus and commitment to my career in medicine. I graduated near the very top of my class in Medical School and never looked back.

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

Not really an idea, but a philosophy. Love thy neighbor, love thy patient. The human factor of compassion and empathy will help drive any endeavor you take towards success.

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

I purchased and subscribed to a custom-made alarm phone app for my iPhone. The reason why it has been very helpful is that it also works as a sleep monitor that reviews one’s quality of sleep. After using it for a few weeks, I have to say that it helped me get more rest and fall asleep faster.

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

I use Google’s online scheduling system all the time. It helps me get a quick glance at all of my upcoming activities as well as send notifications to those who are attending certain events with me.

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

“The Patient Will See You Now” by Eric Topol. It is a great piece that discusses how we are taking back control of healthcare from the government.

What is your favorite quote?

“Wherever the art of Medicine is loved, there is also a love of Humanity.” By Hippocrates Being a doctor goes beyond diagnosing, you have to be able to see the human being in front of you, understand them, and put yourself in their shoes.

Key learnings:

• Communicating with one’s associates is a great way to bring ideas to life.
• Sticking to the schedule and plan can be very good for maintaining high productivity levels.
• Learning how to navigate Big Data is very useful for people in professional fields.

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