Meet Dr. Diane A. Thompson, Medical Doctor and Radio Host

Dr. Diane A. Thompson is a physician, author, speaker, and radio host of the popular and syndicated Health Talk with Dr. Diane MD, which is aired on FMG Radio, Blog Talk Radio, and most recently on "Atlanta's Incredible Radio" 1570 AM WIGO. Her goal in having a radio show is to share inspirational health information that could change people's health and inspire them to live a successful life.

Learn more about Dr. Diane by visiting her website as well as her Facebook page.

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?

As a child, I suffered from Asthma. An asthma attack can give the scary sensation of catching your last breath. During those moments, a visit to the emergency department or pediatrician's office always seemed to make things better. Those early experiences caused me to associate a doctor with making people's lives better, and that was exactly what I wanted to do with my life.

When I first arrived in this country from Jamaica, my mom and I experienced many challenges, including not having a home in which to live. This experience along with many other obstacles made it feel as though medicine was not feasible. I still loved the idea of being a part of a person's health and helping to improve their life, but I wanted to do it without the time and money it would cost to pursue medicine. I decided to become a nurse instead. Although nursing provided great experiences, I found myself still thinking about going on to pursue medicine. After many years as a nurse and accepting that life should not be lived with regrets, I returned to school and studied medicine.

2. Why do you choose to address more than just physical health?

Simply because human beings are complex and health is not simply about being physically healthy. I have often said if a person is physically healthy yet his or her relationships are in dis-array, he or she will be unhappy, stressed, and in my opinion, not truly healthy. When I look at the person in his or her healthiest state, I take a holistic view in order to see how everything impacts on his or her health.

3. How did you first get involved in hosting a radio show, and what do you most enjoy about doing your show?

I became aware that some of my patients who struggled with their health and wellness either didn't have adequate information, had information that was incorrect, or had the correct information but were not motivated to take action. I started a program of community health talks called "Health Talk with Dr. Diane MD," as a way of sharing information with people with the hope that I could help to prevent many of them from becoming patients. This allowed me go out to the communities and reach many more people all at once. Hosting a radio show simply provided another vehicle to share information to a larger audience with goal of improving health and changing lives. The radio show, Health Talk with Dr. Diane MD was born, and is now aired on FMG Radio Network, "Atlanta's Incredible Radio" 1570 AM WIGO, and Blog Talk Radio. The interviews are also available on iTunes and are uploaded to my YouTube channel, DrDianeMD, so people may listen at their leisure. We are also in the process of moving to other markets.

4. Would you give us some examples of things people can learn from listening to your show?

I think the great thing about the show is that it shares health information with an inspirational twist. It is not punitive, and it meets people wherever they are. As a health professional and radio host, I am able to have conversations with health experts and thought leaders in order to get the answers to questions most people want to know. I interview guests who are experts in their fields, and we cover information on many diseases, stress, diet and weight management, fitness, skincare, hair care, relationships, spirituality, money management, and purpose and passion. We also cover the latest health news and research findings that impact your health and life. After listening to the show, you will learn new health information and you will become inspired to take action and improve your life.

5. If you could give people just three pieces of advice to improve their health, what would you say?

First, I would say it starts with a decision. We know that we can preach health until we are blue in the face, but nothing will happen until the person decides. It is important that listeners understand that health is wealth, and making healthy changes is an important investment that is not always easy. I would also recommend for people to take small but consistent steps. If a person has never worked out, deciding to go to the gym every day for two hours daily is a big goal that he or she is unlikely to keep, and this may lead to frustration. When baby steps are taken with consistency, that person stands a better chance of succeeding. Finally, get an accountability partner. If you are not accustomed to eating healthily or exercising, it is easy to fall off the wagon and not get back on. Having an accountability partner provides someone who can help keep you honest and provide encouragement, which will increase you chance of succeeding.

Thanks, Dr. Diane!

Meet Jerry Jones, Marketing Expert

Based in the Willamette Valley, Jerry Jones is an expert on professional practice marketing with nearly 20 years of experience. He spends most of his time developing marketing and advertising strategies for his limited number of private clients and ClearPath Society Members. He helps clients with writing, creating, designing, and tracking results for various new patient/client attraction and patient/client retention marketing campaigns.

1. As someone who is not a dentist, how did you first become interested in the business of dentistry?

After completing my undergraduate degree, I spent a couple of years in Washington, DC. I worked as a staffer for a US Senator and decided to return to the west coast, where I contemplated attending graduate school, but in the interim, got sidetracked by working for a dentist on his nationally-circulated newsletters. Since the focus of his newsletters was business in nature, it appealed to me--in particular, the marketing side--which is the driver of all business. A few short years later, I actually bought one of his companies. I quickly grew it and sold it a handful of years later, to a former employee. And, a few short years after that, the call was strong to return and I did. Today, after having re-launching my original business, we now work with hundreds of dentists and financial planners all over the world on helping them grow their practices through smart, reliable, direct response marketing.

2. What are some of the unique marketing challenges faced by dentists?

The average patients (and most dentists) have it in their minds that dentists are selling pain and the high cost of health care. So, it's often perceived as an uphill battle. It's two strikes before they even step up to the plate.

However, dentists are also selling beauty and cosmetic/smile enhancement and health solutions. Most dentists don't view themselves as solution providers to some of the most challenging cosmetic hurdles most of us have. Almost everyone wants an improved smile and most certainly a healthy mouth. To be successful in dentistry as a business, it takes a marketer to get the patients to raise their hand/create interest, an artist and skilled clinician, a salesman's skills to present the solutions, and, a business mind to connect the dots to ensure the process gets repeated. It's not complicated. However, most dentists are too narrowly focused on the technical and artisan approaches, leaving all other aspects of the business to chance. After all, only a small percentage of dentists have business degrees. They went to dental school, not business school. That's where my company comes in to play.

3. What inspired you to write your book, 24 Common Mistakes Doctors Make That Destroy Their Business(es) and Retirement?

As a businessman, I've made every one of them. They were easy to write about, and, my members and clients quickly understand them since so many have also. The book shares my struggles in business and helps build a collaborative bond and potential relationship with those who read it.

4. Would you tell us a little bit about your ClearPath Society and what it offers?

The ClearPath Society® is an association of like-minded, success-oriented individuals aligned to help each other create and maintain a high-profit, low-overhead, low-stress, lifestyle business.

Among numerous privileges, members receive unrestricted access to dentistry's most significant source of constantly evolving, trusted, and proven patient attraction and retention strategies--the lifeblood of business.

Members get access to exclusive turn key new patient attraction and retention solutions.

These include turn key fully-customized patient newsletters, postcards, free standing inserts, newspaper ads, Yellow Pages ads, monthly patient offers, and more.

I continue to create unique patient attraction strategies to include hundreds of new patient ads, office marketing strategies, and patient retention systems for ClearPath members. Members receive a license and royalty-free access to the enormous catalog of ads I have produced for members. The ads and systems are all fully-vetted, at SofTouch Dental™, prior to release for member use.

Members also participate in an annual gathering designed to emulate and improve upon Napoleon Hill's Mastermind concept. And I provide dentists with a decision "lifeline": an always-open resource available exclusively to members to receive feedback on ideas, thoughts, and dental business strategy.

More information is available at www.ClearPathSociety.com.

5. Do you see your goal as helping entrepreneurs become involved in dentistry or helping dentists become stronger entrepreneurs--or both?

No question, both. There's a strong need and place for both in dentistry. With having entrepreneurs more involved in this segment of the healthcare industry, it will grow quickly and reach more potential patients. Plus, the advancement of technology breakthroughs will no doubt occur far faster. There's a place for solo practicing dentists in dentistry and always will be. There's also a place for group practice, big box chain organizations, and, even franchise organizations. At Jerry Jones Direct and through my ClearPath Society®, we’re actually bringing to market a hugely successful dental office model that brings forth the best of both worlds. Your readers can learn more at www.WellnessSpringsDental.com.

Thanks, Jerry!