Dr Garcia is an established Psychiatrist with years of experience in the industry. She is well-educated and holds a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Public Psychiatry from the Martin School of Public Health at Columbia University. She also studied at the Psychoanalytic Institute at Columbia University. She is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Board Certified Diplomate, with a sub-specialty in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Due to her training and professional experience, she is well known for her psychopharmacology and patient-centered care skills, which have made her an expert in primary psychiatric diagnosis and managing personality disorders. Dr. Garcia has always had a passion for serving others and got into the profession out of her passion for helping those struggling to restore their lives. Specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry, she understands how those difficulties can translate into and affect her clients’ adulthood. She has expertise in diagnosing and treating bipolar, cyclothymia, rapid cycling, and mixed episodes. She also treats depression, to treating childhood disorders such as ADD, ADHD, and ODD among others. To top it all off, she also offers psychotherapy and opiate use disorder treatments. Dr. Garcia has dedicated her life to helping those suffering from addiction. She firmly believes that before tackling clients’ issues, it’s essential to consider the underlying issues fueling them. Each individual has unique circumstances, so they require various approaches depending on their condition for effective treatment. Her holistic approach considers the whole person – body, mind, and spirit.
Where did the idea for your career come from?
I’m interested in genuinely helping others with their addiction issues as it’s tied with mental health disorders, typically major depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other disorders. This interest developed early in life and pushed me to pursue a career as a psychiatrist. So far, I have made progress in helping people deal with addictions, and I am happy with my career’s direction.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
My time is spent mainly in clinical practice with private practice and hospital clinical work in the emergency department and also the inpatient unit. I have vast experience in hospital clinical work with acute treatment facilities and state psychiatric hospitals.
Having great assistants that keep track of patient scheduling is a must for me to make sure my day runs smoothly. They help provide structure and organization, making it easier for me to plan my day. Before I start work, I always have an outline of what tasks I need to complete and how I’ll split my time between private practice and clinic work. I need this detailed planning to complete everything in such a condensed period. It’s amazing how efficient and productive one can be with proper planning.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I read a lot, and attend various lectures on mental health, trauma and addiction issues. Networking with industry players is invaluable for anyone looking to bring meaningful ideas to life, not just medical entrepreneurs. By engaging and forming relationships with other players in the same industry, there is boundless potential for creativity as you are continuously exposed to different perspectives and expertise. From my own experience with networking, I have been able to come up with new ideas easily and get them implemented quickly – a luxury that many lack from working independently. Networking is a fundamental requirement if entrepreneurs wish to foster real growth. It not only opens up channels for brainstorming unique concepts but also smoothens the implementation process. Ultimately, investment in networking undoubtedly makes for creative success stories in any field of work.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Neurobiology and how structures and chemicals in the brain influence our daily activities. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to advance, it will provide our scientific community with unprecedented insight into the structure and functionality of the human brain. This knowledge about neurobiology will inform breakthroughs in medical research, mental health treatment and technologies that can enhance human interaction with computers. Already, AI’s predictive abilities have opened the door for better approaches to dementia diagnoses and treatments for a range of neurological conditions. As AI expands its capabilities and use in various fields, Neurobiology is poised to become increasingly vital as we strive to replicate neural networks or develop our own organic solutions for complex medical problems. Ultimately, this collision of technology and biology could lead to vibrant new discoveries that help us deeply understand how the mind works and identify strategies to improve mental health and make life easier.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Hard work and perseverance. As an entrepreneur, it is essential never to give up, no matter how difficult a task or problem may be. When challenges arise, it is necessary to remain determined and focused to succeed. Easier said than done, I know; however, trust me when I say that the results are worth the effort. I wouldn’t be as far as I am today without putting in the necessary hard work and never giving up. I’m a psychiatrist by trade now, but starting that journey involved relentless hours and dedication. In other words, despite any setbacks, keeping at it will help you get over any obstacle that comes your way.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I’ve learned that hindsight is 20/20, and in retrospect there’s one piece of advice I would give my younger self: start early. Although it can be intimidating to venture out into unfamiliar territory when you’re inexperienced, starting earlier has immense benefits. Not only do you have time on your side, but you also learn quickly. Over the years, I’ve watched friends stumble in areas that I felt more comfortable in simply because I decided to take the leap at an early stage and get familiar with the motions. If there’s something that young me could use a reminder of, it is that starting early pays off in multiple ways; not only do you gain confidence and experience quickly but also time seems to fly by as you perfect your craft over it.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Nothing comes to mind here.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I believe in the 10,000-hour rule, practice and practice, and you will become better and better at your craft. There’s no magic formula to becoming a pro at something, but I wholeheartedly believe that with practice, anything is possible. Consistent and persistent effort is key: the more you practice, the better you will become at whatever it is you are trying to learn or master. This doesn’t mean you have to be consistently grinding away every single day, however; what matters most is that regardless of how long you practice each session, it must be done regularly and wholeheartedly. Over time, all of your hard work, dedication and perseverance will pay off. Eventually, the skills or knowledge that once felt so difficult to achieve won’t come quite naturally. The beauty in becoming a pro lies in the journey rather than the destination; that’s why consistent practice is an essential part of any good learning strategy.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
I believe we all need a little help now and then and often proceed with treatment without stigma. I’ve come to understand that in order for me to excel as a psychiatrist, actively seeking help from more experienced professionals is an absolute necessity. Accepting that becoming a great psychiatrist isn’t something which can be accomplished purely through self-study has been transformational in furthering my growth. I firmly believe that having the courage and awareness to request guidance boosts not just one’s career, but personal progress as well. Asking for assistance doesn’t imply frailty or lack of confidence – it conveys the willingness to be open and honest with oneself, and shows tenacity. Understanding when we need external support is invaluable. I encourage other professionals and entrepreneurs alike to acknowledge this truth and ask away should they ever feel uncertain or unclear on any aspect of their respective fields.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Not applicable
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Focus on preserving the environment and build business ideas on this as this will help the earth and beings on it! In recent years, climate change has become an issue of increasing intensity and importance. For this reason, any business focused on sustainability is well-positioned to take advantage of the current landscape. This includes everything from companies that focus on renewable energy sources like solar and wind to those that work towards reducing carbon footprints with electric vehicles or increased efficiency. Investing in sustainable practices now can set businesses apart from the competition and yield dividends for years to come, as the public is becoming increasingly aware of our ecosystem’s needs. As their understanding grows and society further emphasizes ecological responsibility, sustainable entrepreneurs have a valuable opportunity to build success while creating a better tomorrow – one powered by safe and responsible energy sources.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I believe in charities for animals, and I greatly believe as human beings we must help animals and give them a voice because they don’t’ have. All animals deserve our help, love and admiration.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
Telepsychiatry has been fantastic in reaching people who are homebound and cannot make it to the Dr. office. It’s one of the many ways technology makes life better for entrepreneurs and consumers.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
That would be, The Wall. It speaks on human will and adaptability and the gift of having animals.
What is your favorite quote?
Accept without thinking – sometimes; we think and try to figure out too much when the focus and our innate ability to feel and trust is already there.
Key Learnings:
- Actively seek help when in need
- Practice makes perfect
- Mental Health is extremely important
Steve (Stefan) Junge hails from Germany and helps with the day-to-day publishing of interviews on IdeaMensch. While he and Mario don’t share a favorite soccer club, their enthusiasm to help entrepreneurs is a shared passion.