10 Questions: Spencer Nadolsky, DO

Spencer Nadolsky, DO, is a practicing board-certified family medicine physician. After a successful athletic career at University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, he enrolled in

medical school at Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg. He aspired to change the world of medicine by pushing lifestyle before drugs (when possible).

Lifting, eating, laughter, and sleeping are his current first-line medicines for whatever ails patients. "Although, those don't cure pneumonia, unfortunately," he told MedPage Today.

During his time as a UNC Tar Heel, Nadolsky was ranked in the nation's top four heavyweight division wrestlers. Nadolsky said he owes much of his success to nutrition, exercise science, and,

of course, hard work. His goal is to use what he learned as an athlete and apply it to his patients to help them get as healthy as possible using lifestyle as medicine. He now practices in

the Norfolk, Va., area.

This has to be time with each patient. We have been pushed to see more patients daily to increase "productivity," which has decreased the amount of time we get with each patient. This means

lifestyle and preventive medicine counseling goes out the door, and we are left not feeling fulfilled while not giving the patients our best.

2. What is your most vivid memory involving a patient who could not afford to pay for healthcare (or meds, tests, etc.) and how did you respond?

I remember a type 2 diabetic who could not afford her insulin, so she kept getting admitted to the hospital for diabetic ketoacidosis. I had to make some calls, but eventually we got her set

up with an insulin regimen she could afford.

3. What do you most often wish you could say to patients, but don't?

I am pretty honest with my patients. I generally find ways to say anything I want to say to them!

4. If you could change or eliminate something about the healthcare system, what would it be?

It would have to be an increase in preventive care counseling. If it were streamlined where we could offer more effective preventive care, and actually get paid for it, instead of having to

jump through hoops to figure it out, I think it would be much better. I actually want to have a gym connected to my office to allow my patients to use exercise as medicine.

5. What is the most important piece of advice for students or clinicians just starting out today?

I always talk about being resourceful. Don't think you have to know everything all of the time. Know who to call and where to look things up quickly.

6. What is your "elevator" pitch to persuade someone to pursue a career in medicine?

If you want to achieve the highest level of improving someone's health, you ought to be a doctor.

Having patients trust you with their lives and being able to provide them with the tools to live high quality lives.

8. What is the most memorable research published since you became a clinician and why?

There have been a few in the nutrition/fitness as medicine domain that show how powerful it can be. There isn't really any one in particular.

9. Do you have a favorite medical-themed book, movie, or TV show?

I like "Grey's Anatomy" even though it is very far from reality in medicine.

10. What is your advice to other clinicians on how to avoid burnout?

I am fresh out of residency and I already take a day off during the week even though I have big student loans to pay off. I think cutting down on the days worked will allow for less burnout.

Have some fun! This might not be a choice for some of the surgeons out there -- sorry!