We were lucky to catch up with Doni Wilson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Doni, thanks for joining us 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.

I started my own practice almost immediately after graduating from Bastyr University and finishing my residency. I moved to New York right after 9/11 and was working in Chelsea inside a chiropractor’s office but running my own practice. I had also started working in the office of another naturopathic doctor in Connecticut because I wanted to get even more experience in practice, and ended up doing that for almost five years. When my marriage ended, I moved offices in Connecticut and that pushed me to a next level where I began to hire staff and really run my practice. Prior to that, I was more of an independent contractor in different offices but now, I was running the business as Dr. Doni Wilson, ND, with multiple locations.

The first five years in practice, my daughter was also young so my mindset was more concentrated on being a doctor while letting someone else run the business. When my daughter was around five-years-old and my marriage was ending, I realized that I was ready to take on being both a business owner and a doctor at the same time. That transition of switching gears pushed me to meet with a lawyer and incorporate my business and then hire my own bookkeeper and staff to assist with scheduling. I also had to decide what to do about location. Most people have a single office location but I decided that I wanted to have three locations. My staff worked virtually while I would rotate between the offices.

At that same time, I was offered a full-time position with a successful, well-established company so I had to make a decision of whether I would take this role with benefits or do I go on my own with my practice? One important factor that influenced my decision was knowing that I wanted to represent my own ideas and be under my own business. It was a challenge to go between two different states (New York and Connecticut) and deal with different taxes and different scopes of practice. However, I would say that I wouldn’t have done anything differently. Being in different offices was exciting and one location would have felt boring to me.

To young professionals, I like to tell them how I worked for five years in someone else’s office and learned a lot by observing, including their errors. It also taught me what I wanted and what I liked or didn’t like. If someone has the opportunity to work in someone else’s practice, I would encourage them to do so as it was truly invaluable to me. At a certain point, I just knew it was time for me to go on my own. Just get yourself out there and start somewhere! Don’t limit yourself to just one possibility.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a naturopathic doctor, certified professional midwife, and clinical nutritionist who helps patients reverse challenging health conditions like fatigue, anxiety, autoimmunity, fertility issues, MTHFR-related concerns, and HPV/abnormal paps. My Stress Recovery Protocol identifies how stress uniquely affects you as an individual and uses epigenetics to reoptimize your health. I help people recover from the stress they’re experiencing and then master it through my Self C.A.R.E. Method. I think of myself as helping people who are not getting helped otherwise.

I tend to look at things from the big picture and problem-solve. One of the things I’m most proud of is making a lot of contacts right from the beginning. When I came to New York from the West Coast, I didn’t know anyone so I wanted to meet people in my profession. I ran the nonprofit organization for naturopathic doctors for over a decade so we could meet and help one another. I decided to write and self-publish my first book in 2013 because I saw one of the best ways of marketing myself and establishing my credentials was in a written form. I feel very proud that I was able to put my protocols and research into the book and self-fund every part of it. A lot of my colleagues might just focus on practicing and seeing patients but I want to bring more awareness as to what is the optimization of health and wellness and move the advancement of medicine forward.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Being a part of the nonprofit organization meant that I was in contact with colleagues and those within the industry. I also took every kind of speaking opportunity and pushed myself to do things I was uncomfortable with. I would just push myself and figure out how to give presentations, meet with the medical society, and be interviewed on TV. I didn’t know how to write a book but I decided I was going to do it. I pushed to get myself out there and get out of my comfort zone. Even writing blogs and launching my podcast were not comfortable things to do but I did it. Sometimes, things don’t seem easy at the moment but once you do it, you realize you are capable. With that, my reputation grew.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As a migraine sufferer at 21-years-old, no matter where I turned, no doctor, pill, or specialist could solve my seemingly unrelenting pain which made me feel defeated, exhausted, and overwhelmed. After diagnosing myself and treating myself, my migraines came to a stop and I also underwent an emotional-spiritual transformation. Throughout all of this, I was also taking care of my young daughter, going to three different offices, running my practice, and running the nonprofit organization all at the same time. My resiliency came from getting up each day and finding my passion which includes the way that healthcare happens. When people aren’t getting the help they need, I want to let them know that help is available out there and they don’t have to suffer in silence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://doctordoni.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdoniwilson/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drdoniwilson/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doctordoni/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/glutenfreedoc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DoniWilsonND