John has authored 11 books on leadership, self-improvement, business, entrepreneurism and urgent care management and urgent care medicine. His most recent book, Entrepreneur Rx: The Physician’s Guide to Starting a Business is available of his website johnshufeldtmd.com or from Amazon. 

If you’re ready to capitalize on your medical background and achieve your entrepreneurial vision this is the podcast for you. Check out Entrepreneur Rx with John Shufeldt from ForbesBooks.

Website: https://www.johnshufeldtmd.com/

Book Landing Page: https://www.johnshufeldtmd.com/entrepreneur-rx-by-john-shufeldt-md/

Podcast: https://www.johnshufeldtmd.com/entrepreneur-rx-podcast

What area of medicine do you specialize in?

Emergency Medicine and Health Law.

Why did you choose it as your specialty?

It fits my personality, and more importantly, it allows me to help individuals during difficult moments in their life.

What’s exciting to you about your field right now? Any changes you’ve seen recently?

Management of COVID patients and the use of Ultrasound are probably the two biggest changes in Emergency Medicine.

Are there any myths or misconceptions in your field?

That it is like the show ER. We are the health care safety net and thus see and treat a lot of non-emergencies. 

You’re also a “medical entrepreneur.” Can you tell us about that?

I have been entrepreneurial since I was a teenager. I enjoy trying to look just over the horizon to see what will the next iteration of medicine look like.

How has COVID affected your practice or field of medicine?

It has been life-altering for everyone in medicine. The criticality of the patients, the devastation it has caused and effect it has had on patients, their families and healthcare providers has been profound. 

How has COVID affected you directly, professionally and/or personally?

It has made me further appreciate the fragility of life.

Thinking back over the past year, is there a single COVID-related moment that stands out to you in particular?

I believe I took care of the first person we had in the Emergency Department who died secondary to COVID last February. He was a healthy 36-year-old who had been sick for only about 2 days. It was then that we all had the sobering moment that this was going to be bad.

If you could give one piece of advice to people about staying healthy as we move forward through this pandemic, what would it be?

Treat yourself and others with kindness and compassion. Everyone is dealing with this to the best of their ability.

Do you think telehealth will continue to play a bigger role in medicine?

This last year has demonstrated that telehealth has been and will continue to be integral component of the healthcare continuum. 

You have your pilot’s license. What else do you do outside of work, and how has COVID affected it? What are you most looking forward to doing once the majority of us are vaccinated?

I have the good fortune to be able to travel privately which has afforded me the opportunity to travel to and care for indigenous populations across the U.S. In my spare time I like to spend time with family and friends, cook, read, run, work out and travel.