As a double board-certified pain management physician and anesthesiologist, Dr. Nikesh Seth has his hands full. But in addition to building trusting relationships with his clients, Nikesh also runs his own practice, Integrated Pain Consultants in Scottsdale Arizona, and manages to find time to spend with his wife and two young children. In an age where we are constantly connected and working upwards of 50-hour weeks, maintaining a positive work-life balance can be difficult, so we asked successful entrepreneur, medical professional and family man, Dr. Nikesh Seth, how he got to where he is and how he manages it all.
For Nikesh Seth, building productive habits and cultivating a work-life balance began with a solid foundation. Dr. Nikesh Seth began his journey at the John Hopkins University, where he studied biomedical engineering and pre-med, followed by medical school at the University of Arizona School of Medicine. He then completed his residency in anaesthesiology at the University of Texas, followed by an interventional pain management fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago. In 2011, Nikesh Seth returned home to Scottsdale Arizona, where he founded Integrated Pain Consultants in 2016.
Q: What led you to find such a unique facility?
Throughout my extensive medical training, I saw many doctors who specialize in pain management. Pain specialists work collaboratively with patients to perform comprehensive medical assessments and then develop individualized treatment plans. My primary goal is to help patients regain control of their life by ensuring they receive quality care and long-term support.
Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to
follow in your footsteps?
I believe formal education is a primary component of both personal and professional success. Earning a degree from a quality institution is essential to obtaining the necessary knowledge to provide proper patient care. However, medicine is not just about academic achievement, but also compassion, which is sometimes lacking nowadays. I firmly believe that success does not just come to you. You need to work for it and earn it and not be afraid to fail.
Q: Which habit has made you the most productive as an entrepreneur?
I am an excellent multitasker and I tend to perform various tasks at once where possible. By doing so I am able to enhance my productivity and get more done in a shorter time frame. However, when I am at the hospital, I ensure 100% of my attention is given to my patients. I value patient care and would never sacrifice the integrity of my practice.
Q: Work-life balance is important. What do you do in
your spare time?
I have two young children, so one of my favorite things to do outside of my
professional obligations is to spend quality time with my family and nurture my
little ones. I also aim to incorporate a sufficient amount of physical activity
into my daily schedule. I often play a game of basketball, which I find is a
great way to relieve the stress that comes with being a physician and operating
my own business.
Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?
My advice to my younger self would be to slow down and enjoy the road to success.Quite often individuals put all their time and effort into their end goals that they forget to appreciate the path. I believe it is essential to welcome the process because you are going to be in that profession for a long time.
Q: What do you find most satisfying about your
practice?
There is nothing more satisfying than gratitude from a patient. Simple gestures
such as receiving a thank-you card means a great deal to me. Likewise,
individuals who claim to have no more main means that I have succeeded in
performing my job correctly. Knowing that I continuously help patients on a
daily basis is what keeps me motivated each day.
Q: What are your long-term
goals?
A long-term goal I hope to achieve is being able to strike a balance between my
personal and professional life. Up to this point, I have worked extremely hard
to establish myself in the medical field and have put forth all efforts into
building my practice. However, despite my professional achievements, I need to
ensure I spend sufficient time raising my family. I think a healthy balance is
fundamental to managing stress and keeping my mental health I check.