The Alimond Show
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The Alimond Show
Aruna Kola - From Immediate Care to Holistic Health Advocate at Health Assure Medical Associates
Imagine transitioning from the fast-paced urgency of immediate care to the nurturing environment of a primary care setting. That's the journey Dr. Aruna Kola of Health Assure Medical Associates in Leesburg embarked upon, a move that speaks volumes about her devotion to holistic, preventive health care. This episode presents an intimate conversation with Dr. Kola, who shares the stark contrasts between the medical cultures of India and the US, as well as her philosophy of cultivating deep-rooted relationships with her patients. By embracing a smaller patient panel, she ensures meticulous attention to each individual's story, transcending the bounds of their medical charts to form a more comprehensive understanding of their wellbeing.
Our discussion doesn't just skim the surface; we peer into the core of Dr. Kola's aspirations and the innovative strategies she employs to foster a thriving community both within and beyond her practice walls. From the pride of being lauded in the 'Best of Loudoun' awards to the delicate art of maintaining a robust presence on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, Dr. Kola's narrative is a poignant blend of personal fulfillment and professional evolution. It's a peek behind the curtain at the life of a healthcare advocate committed to leaving a legacy of compassionate care, and a testament to the power of stepping outside one's comfort zone to embrace personal growth and community connection.
I am Aruna Kola. My business is Health Assure Medical Associates. Again, I've been a physician for more than 15 plus years, but I set my foot in Leesburg about three years ago. I took over from a retiring physician practice. Before that I was working at an urgent care. So I love the place where I am right now, and my patients love me too, so that's a mutual thing.
Speaker 2:Awesome. And is it just like general health or like what do you?
Speaker 1:It is a primary care practice, but I would say it's more like a comprehensive wellness program kind of a thing. So I do have only a smaller panel of patients instead of like a regular traditional primary care where you have like more than 2,000 plus patients. So in this practice I get to have up to 600 plus patients. But right now I have a smaller panel and I love the smaller group better because I can definitely do what I love, because I do have more time to spend with my patients.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:With the past experience, what I have like I have seen like 60 to 80 patients in a day. There were days where I felt patients felt more like numbers to me, which I felt like I wasn't doing the right thing for the profession, what I choose, and I didn't want to do that. So it was like okay. So I was like you know, there should be something different. So that that's when I pursued this.
Speaker 1:This is an MD VIP affiliated. You know practice. So MDVIP has been in the business for more than 20 plus years. Again, I think it's slowly growing. It's in more than 44 states. So it is mainly focused on patient-based. So it's more like you being a physician, you're available for your patients all the time. Because you do have a smaller panel, you get that time to spend with the patient. Absolutely, I do offer this comprehensive wellness program which includes like a vast test. Like you know, it's more preventive focused. It's like being more proactive than reactive. Preventive focused it's like being more proactive than reactive. It's like I always believe in this philosophy like you should go to doctor not because you're sick, you should go to doctor so that you don't become sick. You can prevent it. So I think with this current setting, I do have enough time to spend with my patients, all my physicals and everything. I do spend almost 90 plus minutes with my patients.
Speaker 1:Oh wow, I'm sure they appreciate that they do. They do and I do have all kinds of, you know, patients like ages ranging from 25 to, like 92, I would say it's fun. It's fun to you know, be where I am right now and I really love what I'm doing right now.
Speaker 2:I can tell like just the smile on your face, the way you describe it and you getting to be with your patients, it shows through.
Speaker 1:Yes, it's not only, like you know, I come from a background like I'm from India, like I did my med school back in India, I did my residency, post-graduation everything here in New York, so I can see the difference. Like you know, back at home we know our physicians as a person. Like you know, we have this relation like you know. You know them Like as a matter of fact, I visited India last year and I get to meet my you know my pediatrician. Like you know I'm talking about pediatrician, not even physician, and he's like, oh, aruna is at home, like let me meet her. So I think that's kind of missing.
Speaker 1:And I agree, you know time is a factor right now. But if you can do that, it's like not only just seeing your patients as patients, but getting to know them as a person. I think that really makes a difference. And you know I get I take that time as an opportunity to get to know them. And you know I hear so many amazing stories of my you know older population, like you know their patients who worked with the government, you know CIAs like I have all those stories which I was like wow, so like yeah.
Speaker 2:And now I know you have won Best of loudon. What was it last year?
Speaker 1:last year.
Speaker 2:Congratulations on that, that is amazing, and I guess that shows through too, that your clients and your patients are just like love the work that you do. Yes, they do and then are you also on the one for this year as well?
Speaker 1:yes, currently, as the final round of voting is going on. Yes, uh, yeah, I'm, I'm in the final round.
Speaker 2:How does it feel to like win that? Do you feel like recognized?
Speaker 1:Yes, definitely recognized One, making me feel like I'm doing the right thing and makes me more responsible. I would say to keep up. You know, whatever I'm doing right now, to keep up with the good work. And I think I always believe, like as a kid, my mom always used to say like you do the right thing, you know everything else falls in place. Like I, I, I. It didn't resonate to me at that point, but now I can definitely see that I love that.
Speaker 2:And now for any entrepreneur, any business owner who's listening right now and they're wondering how do I get on the best of Loud and like, what is the process like? Or how do you even get to be a nominee?
Speaker 1:So your patients. Again, any of your clients can nominate you on there. Once they nominate you you get that. You know information from the Best of Loud in itself and then you know you just have to promote yourself and make sure you tell your clients or patients are like hey, I'm on this, thank you for nominating, and then go ahead and they will vote for you. Like, there is a voting period for the first round and the first round, I think, goes to usually in April, beginning of the April, and the final round in the end of the April to May. Yeah, if you make it in the first round, the final round in the end of the April to May. Yeah, if you make it in the first round, the final round, you make it to a top five and then you are on roll for the winner or top three. Yeah, that is awesome.
Speaker 2:Congratulations, thank you. That is a small feature there. That's amazing, thank you. And now can you tell me a little bit about your story? I know you grew up in India, so tell me the story, the journey, a little bit of how you got here to Virginia, because you went to school in New York, right? So tell me a little bit about that, right, right, right.
Speaker 1:Well, I was born and brought up in India. I was born in a small place called Kakinada. I will tell you a backstory there a little bit. Yes, it's the place you know. Where I was born is like where my mom and dad were as kids, and it's the same hospital where I was born went to like medical school too.
Speaker 2:So that was kind of a full circle so like, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1:So, yes, growing up, yes, we were a middle class family, but my dad had his job with the government of India, but my mom kind of worked herself through some businesses and she always said, like you know, don't go for easy, go for hard. I love that. That's going to make you, you know, stand out. You know you're, you're made for something bigger. So ever since I was like 70 years old, I think, I know that I'm going to be a physician. I didn't know anything else. Well, during high school, I kind of felt like maybe I want to be a pilot for a few months.
Speaker 1:That's so different. Right, yeah, so different, but I never, you know, moved away from physician, you know, moved away from physician pathway. I would say, yes, it wasn't an easy one, because it not only includes how smart you are, but you also need to have that amount of money to go to the school. So I did have my own battles, but I think when you give your 100%, things fall in place. So, yeah, luckily I got some scholarship. So, thank God, no loans for there.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I can definitely feel that. So, yes, yeah, through that battle, I went through the medical school and and then I met my husband during a medical school, but he is entirely in a different pathway. He's an engineer. So, okay, he's the reason why I'm here, like he's the one who wanted to pursue his career here. Okay, so he's the one who came here first and then I followed him and then, yeah, yeah, he kind of set the path for me and I shouldn't say less. He kind of helped me out to be what I am today.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, yeah, what a great person yeah yes, he is, and I can still remember the days of my residency, my on-call schedule like yeah, pregnancy during residency oh wow the baby yeah, that's that's. Yeah, that's that's no less. So I should give credit to him, and I will yeah oh, that's so cute, I love that.
Speaker 2:And now, um, did you guys come here, I guess, to Virginia, northern Virginia?
Speaker 1:so uh, after uh, new York, I worked there as a hospitalist and, uh, before I moved to my residency I was in Maryland for a little bit. So I always visited Virginia during that time. We had like family friends here. I always loved the weather here. It's like it has all the four seasons. It's like it feels different every single time yeah exactly.
Speaker 1:So, like you know what, if I get settled, I'll settle probably in Virginia. So so little steps by little steps, from New York to Maryland, maryland to Virginia. So we moved here about seven, eight years ago.
Speaker 2:Okay, and how?
Speaker 1:old is the baby now? Now, my older one is 10 and the younger is 7.
Speaker 2:Okay, two Adorable yes, yes. And what do you guys like to do together as a family?
Speaker 1:As a family we love to travel, like you know. Whenever we get time we try to go to places. I mean it could be far, could be near, and yeah it's a little tough with kids' schedule and my schedule and everything, but we try to figure it out and yeah, mostly travel and kids are into sports and stuff. Nice, they keep you busy. Yes, weekends are not weekends.
Speaker 2:Weekends are more busier than weekdays, I should say.
Speaker 1:Sometimes I'm like, oh, working is easy then, yeah, being at home, but yeah, they keep my life occupied.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's the right word. And now tell me, what do you like to do on your free time, when you do have those moments, if you even have any free time. Do you like to read a book? Do you like to watch a movie? What do you do?
Speaker 1:Well, I love to exercise.
Speaker 1:That's a good thing. Yeah, that's definitely a good thing. I would say I don't know if it is coincidental like today marks the day of my fitness journey for five years. Oh, wow, tell me about that. Yeah, again, after you know, pregnancy I put on a lot of weight and I was really struggling to lose all that weight and I started having like back aches, knee aches, you know I was like, you know, I shouldn't be feeling this way in 30s. So, like you should, I should do something different. So that's when I started.
Speaker 1:You know, watching the diet, exercising, I would say I didn't say I would not say that. You know, I jumped all the way from five years ago to now. It's a process. Yes, I had my struggles, you know, it's definitely a battle. So I started with twice a week kind of a routine to you know, thrice a week and slowly. Now I would say at this point I'm like six times a week. I try to exercise and I walk, jog, you know anything that is involved activity. I love to do that. Like other than medicine. I can see myself doing something into fitness.
Speaker 2:yeah, okay yeah, I was going to say like what all did you start?
Speaker 1:I would say, with pregnancy I was like I put on up to like 200 plus.
Speaker 2:Oh my yes, yes.
Speaker 1:After that, the slow process I lost 20, 25 pounds, but for the past five years I think I lost 20 more. So yeah, amazing.
Speaker 2:Congratulations. No, it's always so important and I know you're a doctor, so that's important, right, yeah, yes, yeah, practice and preach. Yes, ma'am. But how important is it to you now to pass on your health journey to your kids and make sure that they are aware like be healthy, don't break down at an early age, right?
Speaker 1:Yes, I totally agree with that, but especially with kids, I think they watch, then they listen, so they see you for sure. So I really think I want to be a good example. You know, for my kids they do see me, like you know, working out every day, walking, and they do definitely take that personally and, yeah, I'm pretty sure they're very good with their activity. But I'm a little worried about the health problem in the diet prospect too because you know, I'm not sure if you know about indian cuisine. We have all kinds of very delicious food bread.
Speaker 1:Oh man, I love the naan bread, all the good things which we are not supposed to eat on regular basis, right, Right, but yes, I'm working on that. So to teach them at an early age of you know a good balance of the protein, carbs and fats. So they're too young for them to understand, but I'm pretty sure just by watching they will get that one day?
Speaker 2:Absolutely, no, absolutely. And where do you see yourself in five years, like as a person and with your business?
Speaker 1:Well, I would say I'm very happy, like currently, where I am right now. I would really like to expand it a little bit if possible, but again, but I do not have any idea of like getting another physician on board yet. But I would like to, you know, build a practice where you know people don't hesitate to reach out to their you know physician for any need. Like you know, the best part of the current practice what I have is like you can get the same day or next day appointments with me, which I think every patient should have. That kind of an access to their you know healthcare patient should have that kind of an access to their you know healthcare. I like to work on that prospect too in the next five years, if I can add on anything that is going to improve the quality of life, longevity, I would say that is really important. So that's what I would work on, other than medicine, as I mentioned probably, you know working more on, you know, building lean body mass and talking about that with my patients.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, absolutely yes. How do you feel about health being like the main component of mental health and like just overall, your organs and your body? Do you think that that's like a very important part? That that's like a very important part because I see that you, from your journey and like you, want your, your business to also be like general health, but also with a touch of wellness there, like how important do you think that health is overall for your whole body to be?
Speaker 1:definitely, definitely. That's uh important again, what your mind knows your body sees, and it's the same thing vice versa. But I really believe everything goes in circles. So if your brain is, you know, happy with all the endorphin release from your activity, exercise, even a 10, 15-minute walk, that makes a big difference for the rest of your body and I think that endorphin release to your brain keeps yourself sane. That itself keeps the rest of your body organs, especially the adrenal gland, which is the main thing for your stress hormone release.
Speaker 1:So you want to tame that. You should listen to your body. At the same time. I'm not telling everybody to like, oh, go, do CrossFit, you know, do deadlifts. No, but you have to listen to your body. I think you have to build, you know, from scratch. It's just like, you know, taking care of a baby or taking care of a seed from a plant to a tree. So it's a process. So you definitely have to work on it. But I really think when your brain is happy, the rest of the body is happy. So how do you keep it happy? Just keep going.
Speaker 1:Move in some way Exactly, and longevity is mainly dependent on your movement, exercise, sleep, stress management and obviously you are what you eat. It's a diet, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes. And now tell me a little bit about marketing. Are you on any social media getting the word about your business?
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, we do have our own Instagram page. It's healthassurebydrcola. You can look up on Instagram. Health Assure by Dr Kola you can look up on Instagram. And we do also have a Facebook page which shows Health Assure Medical Associates and the Facebook. We do post health contents like contents like what patients can do on a day-to-day basis to improve.
Speaker 1:And we do post some, you know, trivia Thursdays just funny medical questions and stuff like that. Yeah, we started giving like, doing like giving away is like for the patients who got down Right and stuff it was. It was fun, it's fun.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a time consuming process, but I think it pays off, though, because people engage and they get to know your personality a little bit more. So they love that. Let me see a giveaway. I'm going to see if they have a giveaway this week or something.
Speaker 1:I really agree. Like you know, there are patients follow me from a different state Like I have never met them. That's cool. Like oh, Dr Kula, like I love what you're doing, you know personal messages. That definitely has like an added touch, Absolutely.
Speaker 2:I agree. And now do you come up with the stuff yourself or do you have help? I do have help.
Speaker 1:Okay, cool, I do have help. And if I have any you know thoughts, then I put those thoughts in there and then they work on that. That's a great balance.
Speaker 2:I love it. Yes, and now for boundaries, whether it comes with work and life, how do you find time for yourself?
Speaker 1:Well, I would say, as I mentioned before, I worked at a different setting, right, like somebody else was managing everything. So I really have to put in a request and, like you know, I have to take care of this. But now, because being a boss is definitely different, you have your perks, right. Yes, yeah, and I really think that's very much helpful in my situation, especially with the kids. You know, if I have to attend a meeting or an event or like a field day kind of a thing, if I can leave a little early, I can definitely, you know, adjust my schedule.
Speaker 1:And again, as I mentioned, the practice is a smaller practice, so it's not going to be super cumbersome like before. That's right. So, and again, my patients are very understanding and they know that. You know I do have family and you know I live outside the clinic part too, so, and they're very supportive and, yeah, I do organize a little open houses once in a while just to get to, you know, get to know the people in the community or people who are wondering, like should I go?
Speaker 2:Oh look, let me get to know her, yeah.
Speaker 1:I also believe by you know you grow by giving yeah and then that that that's helpful. I would say Absolutely.
Speaker 2:And now, what is like as far as like, I guess, a legacy? What do you want to be known for in your community, or what kind of impact do you hope that you've had in your community?
Speaker 1:Well, I would say I want my people to know, like that, I'm there for them and I want to be their best advocate in any situation, especially the health part, their best advocate in any situation, especially the health part. And I really believe that you know, no matter what you say, what you do, they might remember or they might, you know, forget, but I'm pretty sure they will remember, like, how I made them feel. So I really want them to think that, okay, health is not an easy thing to do, okay, health is not an easy thing to do, but with help, but definitely, you know, adding on the additional.
Speaker 2:You know the care and time that you gave to them.
Speaker 1:Exactly so. I just want them to remember that. Oh, I love that.
Speaker 2:And now for my final question. If you could leave a message to our audience, what message would that be? It can be in regards to anything. It doesn't have to be only health, but if it is, that is okay.
Speaker 1:Well, I would say if you're afraid of something, like if you're fearful to do something, do it, because through that you're going to grow. So if you are at a comfortable spot you're not going to grow, so something's making uncomfortable. That's a good thing that you're growing. So there's a reason they call growing pains. Yes, yeah, I would say, just just go for it. Yeah, take a big uh you know leap of faith and and go do it, and you're meant to do big things. That's what I would say.
Speaker 2:I love that. Thank you so much for being here today with us and talking to me no problem.