We were lucky to catch up with Leia Rispoli recently and have shared our conversation below.

Leia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

Initially, I had no plan to start my own practice. The opportunity presented itself coinciding the timing of deciding to end employment at a previous practice. There had been several mentors around me, encouraging the consideration of starting my own practice. This encouragement, combined with the support from my husband and family, we decided to take the leap and go for it! I was 4months pregnant at the time, with my 2nd child, so we knew there would be challenges. I also had no background nor significant interest in business and finance, so I needed guidance. I am grateful for incredible colleagues and mentors. I was not shy about asking for help to those that I respected, trusted, and envisioned as those being “successful” in a private practice healthcare sense. My advice: you never know what opportunities may fall into your lap, and it’s always great to take chances outside of your comfort zone; But the best preparation, in my opinion, is to surround yourself with people you trust and respect, with similar ethics to yours.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I knew I wanted to have a career in some sort of caretaking profession, which evolved into wanting specifically a healthcare profession. I enjoyed math and science, and the ability to help people, so healthcare seemed a good fit! Having good role models definitely helped.
Our medical practice is “interventional pain management”, where we see people with pain complaints from head to toe. We offer diagnostic workup, treatment options, and whole-hearted dedication to doing our best to help each patient. We take pride in our ability to genuinely listen and devote quality medical care.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

I believe that the time and hard labor, as well as the financial burdens to become a trained medical doctor, is a long and arduous task. Once training is complete and careers begin, the factors that drive success: whether it be volume, reputation, financial, can burn physicians out. Success, in my opinion, comes from a balance of work and non-work, and being less focused on high volume and financial goals, and more focused on quality of care and patients outcomes.

Any advice for managing a team?

Managing a team and staff can be difficult. I Have been fortunate to have team members that enjoy working for a practice that patients give positive feedback to, which is a positive reward in itself. My staff also feel appreciated, recognized, and protected by me, which is important. We have had consistent loyalty due to these factors and I try to go above and beyond to make each staff member felt heard and appreciated.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.leiarispolimd.com
• Instagram: @dr_leiarispoli