Q&A With Dr. Dov Rand of Healthy Aging Medical Centers NJ
Dr. Dov Rand is a specialist in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. As the founder of the Healthy Aging Medical Centers, he maintains a focus on helping patients attain their highest possible level of health throughout all phases of their life. His practice is dedicated to providing the benefit of new and emerging medical studies to his patients, with a pledge that all administered treatments stem from peer-reviewed medicine. Dr. Dov Rand has received numerous accolades for his ongoing contributions to studies, conferences, and research that lead to innovations in treatments available to patients. The integrity behind this mission is evident in the approach he takes with the treatments he offers. If he is unable to support a form of treatment with an article or medical journal, then he will not recommend or prescribe it. That standard of ethics conveys Dr. Dov Rand’s commitment to his patients and his practice.
At his practice, the doctor and his staff provide treatments that touch on many different areas of health including weight loss assistance, bio-identical hormone therapy, anti-aging services, and more. The broad spectrum of treatment options available at Healthy Aging Medical Centers are designed to conform to the needs of each individual patient and their unique medical needs. Unlike other practices that push a particular treatment of specialize in a single procedure, Dr. Dov Rand offers treatments based upon the patient and not the illness. One example of this philosophy in action can be seen through his expertise in treating erectile dysfunction with emerging methods such as shockwave therapy and nutritional supplementation. His treatment philosophy stands in sharp contrast to the widespread “pill for ill” approach which often focuses on the treatment of symptoms rather than underlying problems. Instead, he engages in health optimization from preventative and regenerative standpoints, teaching patients how they can create and sustain a lifetime of optimal health for themselves.
Dr. Dov Rand prides himself on his ability to act as a role model for his patients and enjoys leading a healthy and active life. He maintains his physical health through engagement in yoga, martial arts, strength training, and cardiovascular exercise. He also focuses on eating healthy and taking a regimen of supplements designed to support his wellness goals. To stay mentally active he writes, reads literature and scientific texts, and attends professional conferences. These activities not only keep him sharp but also help him to accrue the knowledge he uses daily at his practice. The doctor’s attention to his own holistic health shows his patients the importance of maintaining their health as opposed to simply treating their illnesses.
The doctor attended Rutgers University for his undergraduate studies and went on to attend medical school at Howard University. He completed his residency at the world-famous Albert Einstein Medical Center after interning at the Saint Barnabas Medical Center before starting Healthy Aging Medical Centers over 15 years ago. We sat down with Dr. Dov Rand to get to know about him as a person, his practice, and how innovation is essential to succeed in the ever-changing landscape of healthcare.
To what do you attribute your success from a business standpoint?
I think continuously learning new information is key. I attend conferences and read books quite often to further my professional development. That kind of thing is engaging for me, I get excited to learn about new developments in the field. Because I pursued something I was passionate about, it really doesn’t feel like work. And it allows me to better care for my patients. Bringing them the benefit of new scientific information is a complete shift for many of them, it allows them to be healthy in ways that would sometimes not otherwise be possible.
What is the one thing you recommend everyone do in their career?
Again, I’m a big believer in continuing education. That doesn’t have to mean school, the internet is a great resource. Studies, articles, anything you can get your hands on. Your peers can be a great source of information as well. It’s important to stay abreast of your field.
I believe that doctor’s should be especially committed to constantly expanding their knowledge base. Throughout my own career, I have participated in studies, conferences, and research that have led to some amazing results. Using those opportunities to work with my peers has always allowed me to improve as a doctor and consequently improve results for my patients.
Where did you get the idea for the Healthy Aging Medical Centers?
I’ve always been fascinated by health and nutrition. It’s an area of life that is so fundamental to who we are, it’s almost the most basic way in which we define ourselves. If we don’t have our health, it becomes such a primary focus of our day to day experience, and nutrition plays a huge role in that. The specialization of medicine is something that can make treatments less effective. Patients are often referred to different practices for different treatments. That ultimately increases costs and frustrates patients. At Health Aging Medical Centers, we take pride in being able to offer our patients a multitude of options all under one roof by having a staff of well-rounded practitioners whose expertise is not confined to only one specialty.
Beyond that there are so many aspects of health that lie beyond what is covered in a more traditional doctor’s office. When I first began in medicine, I was astounded by all of this research out there that was just being ignored by mainstream practitioners. So I felt it was incumbent upon me to take this information I was gathering and use it to help people improve their lives through health optimization. Taking that on allows us to offer innovative procedures with advanced technologies that simply aren’t an option at other practices. I believe that is a testament to our commitment to our patients.
What makes Health Aging Medical Centers Different than a traditional medical practice?
At Healthy Aging Medical Centers we take a holistic, patient-focused approach. Mainstream medicine is very industrialized. Though investments into medicine have led to tremendous research resulting in miraculous treatments sometimes that makes doctors take macroscopic approaches to treatment. In medicine, there is rarely, if ever, a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. That’s why our team of medical professionals examines the holistic health of a patient instead of focusing on acute symptoms. Getting to know a patients dietary patterns, family history, and overall health is essential to identifying the pathology of their illness. With that deeper understanding, we can customize an effective and a patient-focused treatment plan that centers around the person and not the illness.
Innovation is another aspect of what makes our treatment models so unique. I spend a lot of time examining peer-reviewed research on innovative treatments just as I focus on researching a patients medical history. Knowing what treatments are available in respect to the unique medical history of each patient is something that I believe truly sets us apart from other practices.
I’m proud to know that patients see the effort we put into that research. That research keeps us on the cutting edge new treatments. Investments into technologies and training that allow us to perform procedures at the forefront of the changing landscape of medicine. While other practices may view shock wave, hormone, or nutritional therapy as alternative procedures, we believe that there is no alternative than to offer our patients whatever options we can to treat themselves.
What do you examine in patients that other doctors might not?
Patients that visit Healthy Aging Medical Centers share a lot of stories about their treatment at other practices. I have found that other doctors are quick to write a prescription for disorders like erectile dysfunction because of the prevalence of treatments in the mainstream. While those treatments can certainly give patients results, they often masked over-arching problems with their health. A patient’s vascular system is one facet of their total health that we focus on with patients afflicted with ED. So many patients suffering with this illness assume that their hormones or libido are what’s causing their symptoms. However, vascular issues like high blood pressure, venous leakage, and high cholesterol can be the cause of ED. Those issues are symptomatic of the need for patients to improve their vascular health through lifestyle changes addressing their diet, fitness, and stress levels. A holistic examination of our patients helps our team identify bigger issues leading to ED and other illnesses. Addressing those issues allows us to treat ED by improving the overall health of a patient instead of just treating them for an illness.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I get up early to work out and eat breakfast. Then I spend the majority of the day at the office working with patients or researching their medical history. I come home from work but usually still have a few work related things to catch up on — calls, emails, things like that. I often end the day with some reading for pleasure or professional enjoyment.
Dr. Dov Rand, How do you work to grow your business?
Everything depends on quality. I’m dependent on my patients for referrals, but that has never been a problem because once people see that you’re knowledgeable and passionate about providing care, they want to send friends and family to you. People get excited to work with someone who’s devoted to keeping them healthy and who wants to give them the full benefit of what modern medicine can offer. Once they realize how much of a role emerging scientific research can play in their own lives, they want their loved ones to benefit as well.
What do you do to bring your ideas to life?
My focus is always on being the best doctor I can be. With a focus on education and spending ample time with my patients, I’m able to provide a level of care many people aren’t used to. Once they see that, they take the whole thing much more seriously and we really start to see astonishingly positive results.
Can you name a failure you’ve overcome?
I honestly don’t really think of things in terms of failure or success. Everything’s a learning experience. If I ever feel like things are sluggish or not going how I want, I refocus my energy and direct myself onto a new path. If we ruminate on past difficulties, they can take over our thoughts and drive future actions. Instead, I prefer to be thankful for the challenges I’ve experienced in life and for the ways in which they’ve allowed me to grow as a person.
Is there a specific trend in your field that excites you?
The potential of stem cells is mind-boggling. Regenerative medicine will continue to gain momentum and it’s going to accomplish big things for healthcare in the not too distant future. Genetic markers are also an interesting area of research as they can really help us tailor our care to a patient’s specific needs.
Is there a piece of software or service that helps you do your work?
Google scholar is such an important one for me. I’m always using it to look up the latest research in my field. It’s actually quite amazing how exhaustive of a resource the internet has become. Practically the entirety of human knowledge is available online if you know where to look. For someone who values the accumulation of knowledge, being able to access that information is priceless.
What’s a good book you’ve read recently?
“Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand. It gives an insight into the incredible heights we can attain when we put our minds to it. Truly inspiring.
Dr. Rand, Do you have any advice for your younger self?
Believe in yourself and don’t just blindly trust what others tell you. Do that, and you’ll be able to navigate life in a manner that is authentic to your goals and who you want to become. With that type of guiding force in life, success is inevitable.
Do you have an opinion that isn’t a widely held belief?
A lot of doctors are practicing some form of preventative medicine, but I truly believe it is the key to health. The old saying is that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but that’s really far truer than most people think. Building healthy habits and anticipating health issues that may present later in life are a critical part of staying happy and healthy into old age. If you work to make healthy lifestyle choices, you are taking huge leaps and bounds towards optimizing your aging and wellbeing.
Do you have a business idea you’d give away to our readers for free?
Health is something everyone needs but lots of people have no information about. Starting some kind of means of distributing health information to large segments of the population would be a great place to start. As someone who’s passionate about health, I’m constantly seeking out that information but I understand that’s not true for most people. Some means of sparking that interest in others could be truly revolutionary. Once people start seeing the very real benefits of taking an interest in health, they are likely going to spread that message to others.
What’s your favorite quote?
“Success does not consist in never making mistakes, but in never making the same one a second time.” — George Bernard Shaw. I really love that one because it speaks to the importance of learning as we progress through life. No one is perfect, and we all make mistakes, but learning from those mistakes is the marker of someone growing wiser as they age. Those who don’t learn from their mistakes are bound to just repeat them constantly through life.
Last question for you Dr. Dov Rand. Can you tell us the best $100 you’ve spent lately?
I took a trip to Martha’s Vineyard on the ferry. It was so relaxing and it was a great way to spend time with some of the people I care most about. There’s something so rejuvenating about the sea breeze and being able to immerse yourself in natural beauty like that. Great stress reliever, which of course contributes to health and wellbeing as well. I guess even when I’m on vacation I never take off my doctor’s stethoscope, so to speak.
Closing Thoughts
Dr. Dov Rand’s insights convey the importance of choosing a medical provider whose focus is on the well being and health of his patients. Those intentions are at the core of what has made Healthy Aging Medical Centers a vanguard of patient-focused and innovative treatments which are aimed at optimizing a patient’s health as a core component of their treatment. Dr. Rand’s commitment to research and innovation are a few of examples of how to design a business model that allows practitioners to succeed in the constantly shifting, highly competitive healthcare sector. With a philosophy rooted in commitment to patients, learning, and growing Dr. Dov Rand’s insight provide lessons for emerging doctors and practices that can be catalysts for their professional development.
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