Healthy Wealthy & Smart

Happy December to the Healthy Wealthy and Smart family! On this episode, I welcome Tricia Brouk on the show to discuss the elements of a memorable talk. In addition to working in the entertainment industry, Tricia Brouk applies her expertise as a director and writer for film, television and theater to the art of public speaking. She’s the executive producer of TEDxLincolnSquare and has choreographed Black Box on ABC, The Affair on Showtime, Rescue Me on Fox, and John Turturro’s Romance and Cigarettes. The series she directed, Sublets, won Best Comedy at the Vancouver Web-Festival. She’s written two musicals, a play, a sitcom pilot, and a feature film. She’s been featured in Inc. Magazine, Huffington Post, Broadway World and has been a featured guest on Leaders In The Trenches, Ultimate Leadership, EO Fire, and Weekly Alignment. She also hosts the podcast, The Big Talk on iTunes, where she interviews people who talk for a living. In this episode, we discuss: -Tricia’s simple formula to make a powerful talk -How to craft a raw and meaningful story -Introversion and ways to overcome stage fright -The importance of communicating expectations for success -And so much more!   Over her career, Tricia has been able to work on a variety of projects by maintaining confidence in her talents. Tricia recommends jumping at any new opportunities that present themselves and that, “It was all about saying yes, being challenged and not being afraid of failing.”   To create a powerful and meaningful talk, Tricia advises, “Inspire what you have to offer without selling what you have to offer.”   The most powerful talks use stories and a point of view that are unique and authentic to the speaker. As a result, “You disarmed the audience by sharing something about yourself, by showing up and being vulnerable.”   For those wanting to improve their public speaking, Tricia suggests that, “You have to flex the speaking muscle just like you flex the bicep.” To gain more comfort on stage, there is no substitute to practice. Tricia recommends gradually pushing boundaries, starting with family and moving on to co-workers, as she has found that, “Repetition is everything.”   For more information on Tricia: Tricia Brouk draws on experience as a TEDx organizer, a writer, director and choreographer in film, television, and theater to help you bring your life-changing talk into focus. Her unique point of view will get you onto the big stage and guarantee you an unforgettable big talk every time.   I view public speakers through the same lens I do an actor. You have something important to say and it’s my job to help you find the way to say it with truth, confidence, vulnerability, awe, compassion and courage. With the help of my direction and guidance, I’ll bring your life-changing speech into focus, while giving you the unique insight into what makes an unforgettable big talk. I’ll break down your script just like I do with a film or play. I’ll identify the arcs the beats, and if what you are saying is actually what you mean to say. I’ll identify what you need to do for your big talk or your Keynote, as they are very different. Once I do that, we’ll work together on clarifying, specifying and performing your big talk through blocking, repetition, and simple techniques I use with actors.   My goal in the room is to create a safe space so you can drop in. When you are working on the material, I’ll help you find new and interesting ways to communicate your very important talk. Once we find those, together, I will help you maintain the integrity and consistency of the performance so you can be free to talk to the audience, like you’re talking to a friend. I will help illuminate the importance of what you, as a speaker, want to say and how you communicate that information so that your audience leans in.   Resources discussed on this show: Tricia Brouk Website Tricia Brouk Twitter Krumping is language. | Brian HallowDreamz Henry | TEDxLincolnSquare The Big Talk Website Gift: 4 Ways To Inspire Your Audience, Create Adoring Fans and Organically Drive New Business Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen    

On this episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Melissa Morrison about her journey following a concussion. Melissa Morrison is the International Bestselling author of the book, Unstick Your Stuck. She is a Certified Co-Active Professional Coach, a Certified Neurosculpting Facilitator and a speaker. As a TBI Thriver Life Coach she works with TBI survivors to find their new normal so they can heal and gain their life back personally and professionally. In this episode, we discuss: -How Melissa’s concussion symptoms impacted her daily life -Melissa’s experience with medical providers following her concussion -Why Melissa became a life coach and began her work with TBI survivors -The various components of neurosculpting -And so much more!   Symptoms of a concussion can often go unnoticed at the time of injury. From Melissa’s experience, she states, “I didn’t think it was that bad. It was something that I thought would just go away.” Melissa was unable to receive appropriate medical management of her concussion leading to greater harm to her psychology. She states, “That was hard for me to look in the mirror and not see anything… There was a disconnect.”   One of the turning points of Melissa’s journey was when she was able to express herself freely and feel as though she was in a safe environment. With the help of her physical therapist, Melissa found that, “There was actually a chance after this that maybe I could heal… She understood what I was going through… She really listened to what was going on.” For concussion management, Melissa advises all medical providers to, “Really slow down and listen because a lot of times the processing of the person with a concussion is slower than it was prior to… Really taking the time and believe them. Believe what they’re saying.”   Melissa’s life path was altered following her injury in a direction that has led her to pursue her passions. Despite the hardships, she remarks, “Having this concussion was a wakeup call from the universe.”   For more information on Melissa: I am Melissa S. Morrison, CPCC, CNSF, CFE.   I am a recovering accountant and a brain injury thriver who found my passion as a life coach and an author. I specialize in working with people who want to stretch the edges of their comfort zone by transforming and taking the lead in their lives. As a traumatic brain injury survivor, I understand what it means to personally transform. I am living proof that you can step into your truth no matter what circumstance you face in life.   I obtained my coaching certification from the Coaches Training Institute as a Co-Active Professional Coach. I am a Certified Neurosculpting® Facilitator from the Neurosculpting® Institute, aimed at improving lives using neuroscience through education of overall brain health and re-wiring old stories through meditation.   My career background in leadership and business in auditing, consulting, and fraud creates a unique viewpoint as a life coach. As a Certified Fraud Examiner, I am equipped with the tools to recognize and eliminate the personal fraud we all hide behind.   I excel at being creatively curious with clients, bringing my strong intuition and awareness into the space and bringing the energy and fun we need back in our lives.   Here is me. I am loving, caring and powerful. On the other hand: I’m blunt; I’m bold; I’m a risk-taker. I am also driven, curious, inspirational, and intelligent. Honesty is number one and I plan to give that to you in all the work we do together. I want this to be interactive; to start conversations.   Resources discussed on this show: Free copy of Unstick Your Stuck Melissa Morrison Facebook Melissa Morrison Website Coach Training Institute Neurosculpting Institute Email: Melissa@melissasmorrison.com   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen    

On this episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, I welcome Dr. Christian Barton on the show to talk about exercise for patellofemoral pain. Dr Christian Barton is a physiotherapist who graduated with first class Honours from Charles Sturt University in 2005, and completed his PhD focusing on Patellofemoral Pain, Biomechanics and Foot Orthoses in 2010. Dr Barton’s broad research disciplines are biomechanics, running-related injury, knee pathology, tendinopathy, and rehabilitation, with a particular focus on research translation. Dr Barton has published over 40 papers in Sports Medicine, Rehabilitation and Biomechanics journals, and he is an Associate Editor for the British Journal of Sports Medicine. In this episode, we discuss: -Why exercise is so important in treating patellofemoral pain -Exercise prescription principles for optimizing therapeutic programs -Muscle power and its role in absorbing load during activity -Utilizing graded exposure to address fear around movement -And so much more!   The current literature shows, “Exercise is the key intervention, along with education” for patellofemoral pain. Although uncertainty exists around specific exercise prescription parameters, Dr. Barton has found that, “The exercise that probably should be provided is primarily hip and knee based on current evidence.”   Dr. Barton is a proponent for conservative management over injections and surgical interventions for patellofemoral pain and encourages all clinicians to, “[make] sure that patients take this on board and you stop them from looking for quick fixes.”   While strength and power deficits will exist for individuals with patellofemoral pain, other factors such as recovery expectations and fear of movement can further impact clinical presentation and intervention. Dr. Barton stresses, “Ultimately, you need to treat the patient in front of you.”   For more information on Dr. Barton: Dr Christian Barton, APAM, is both a researcher and clinician treating sports and musculoskeletal patients in Melbourne. He is a postdoctoral research fellow and the Communications Manager at the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre. Christian’s research is focussed on the knee, running injuries and knowledge translation including the use of digital technologies. He has written and contributed to a multitude of peer-reviewed publications and is a regular invited speaker both in Australia and internationally. He also runs courses on patellofermoral pain and running injury management in Australia, the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. He is on the board of the Victorian branch of the Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Association, and a guest lecturer at La Trobe University and the University of Melbourne.   Christian is currently studying a Master of Communication, focussing on journalism innovation. He is an Associate Editor and Deputy Social Media Editor at the British Journal of Sports Medicine, as well as Associate Editor at Physical Therapy in Sport.   Resources discussed on this show: Christian Barton Twitter La Trobe University Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Blog The International Patellofemoral Research Network Proximal muscle rehabilitation is effective for patellofemoral pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis How can we implement exercise therapy for patellofemoral pain if we don’t know what was prescribed? A systematic review IPFRN Exercise Guide 2016 Patellofemoral pain consensus statement from the 4th International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat, Manchester. Part 2: recommended physical interventions (exercise, taping, bracing, foot orthoses and combined interventions) Hip rate of force development and strength are impaired in females with patellofemoral pain without signs of altered gluteus medius and maximus morphology La Trobe University Blog: Hip muscle rate of force development is impaired in females with knee cap pain   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen    

On this episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking to many attendees at the Private Practice Section Annual Meeting in Chicago as few weeks ago. I asked people to answer 2 questions: 1) What was your biggest take away from the day? 2) How do you think it will change the way you practice?   This short and sweet episode is a great recap of the PPS meeting and I hope it will inspire you to attend next year! Resources mentioned in this episode: Mel Robbins Sally Hogshead Jamey Schrier Private Practice Section   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!  Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!  Xo Karen

LIVE from the Net Health Event at the Private Practice Section Meeting in Chicago, Sturdy McKee joins me on this episode to discuss finding your core vales and your vision as components of business management. Sturdy is a business coach, entrepreneur and business owner who also happens to be a physical therapist and private practice owner. As a business coach and instructor, Sturdy brings the practical knowledge of owning, operating and growing businesses, combined with extensive training and learning, to clients who want to improve their business operations and achieve their personal and business goals. In this episode, we discuss: -Current challenges facing the physical therapy profession -What is a vision of meaning? -The top three qualities Sturdy looks for in job candidates -How to motivate employees with Key Performance Indicators -And so much more!   Sturdy stresses that a vision for your business should be put into practice daily in order to get your team members fully aligned behind it. He stresses, “You don’t want core values to be aspirational. You don’t want them to be things you hope for and want to do some day—They need to be actual rules you live by now.”   New physical therapy graduates are skilled in treatment and clinical judgment, however, they have had limited opportunities to develop softer skills such as communication and developing patient rapport. Sturdy advises new graduates, “You don’t go work on the strongest muscle group, you work on the stuff that isn’t.”   Coaches of athletic teams share many similarities with business leaders and many coaching tactics can be applied to business management. Most importantly, Sturdy has noted that, “[Coaches] don’t focus on the outcome, the metric, what they focus on is the process.”   For more information on Sturdy: Sturdy is a business coach, entrepreneur and business owner who also happens to be a physical therapist and private practice owner. His “Why” is to help people succeed. He has a special place in his heart for physical therapist entrepreneurs and private practice owners. As a business coach and instructor, Sturdy brings the practical knowledge of owning, operating and growing businesses, combined with extensive training and learning, to clients who want to improve their business operations and achieve their personal and business goals.   Sturdy created and taught “Clinicient University”, a 2 day business crash course for Clinicient client owners and operations executives. Attendees of this 2-day course realized an average increase in revenue of 8.9% in the first 3 months following attending with the top of the range at 22%. Sturdy has served as an EO Accelerator Mentor, helping business owners define their vision, mission and values, as well as achieve their business goals. He spent the last year building a team of business coaches at Clinicient, an EMR & Revenue Cycle Management company for physical, occupational and speech therapists.   Sturdy finds immense satisfaction in coaching and working with business owners and executives to help them achieve their business and personal goals.   Resources discussed on this show: Jim Collins: Big Hairy Audacious Goal New Zealand All Blacks Kelly Duggan LinkedIn PPS Conference Sturdy McKee LinkedIn Sturdy McKee Twitter   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes! Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart! Xo Karen    

On this episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, I had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Ebonie Rio onto the show to discuss tendinopathy. Ebonie is a physiotherapist and researcher with extensive experience in tendon pain. She is a post doctoral researcher at La Trobe University, and completed her PhD in tendon pain, researching “Corticospinal responses associated with patellar tendinopathy and the effect of externally paced strength training.” Her research has changed rehabilitation practise around the world. In this episode, we discuss: -Tendon Neuroplastic Training -Motor cortex changes with tendon pain and the powerful role a metronome can play for your brain excitability -How to utilize time under tension and load to reduce tendon pain -The importance of patient input for goal setting -And so much more!   Ebonie suggests, “We are not winning the battle with musculoskeletal pain. It is so common.” Physiotherapists need to be aware of and utilize the best evidence available to treat the growing problem of musculoskeletal pain. Ebonie believes a skillful examination and evaluation can guide differential diagnosis and she stresses, “It’s critical that our rehab, as we go forward, becomes much more tailored to what we are seeing in front of us.”   Ebonie is a proponent of utilizing isometric exercise in addition to other adjunctive therapies to reduce pain and develop adherence into a loading program. She suggests, “When you see someone with pain, we need a way in. And as physios, we’ve got some really great tools.” Ultimately, to treat tendon pain, the research evidence supports that, “Load is our primary modality.”   Manual skills have a role in the examination but from Ebonie’s perspective the information specifically from palpation is more limited. She outlines, “The problem with palpation is that it is nonspecific. Lots of things are going to hurt to poke.” Due to the nonspecific nature, Ebonie has found that, “Our hands are incredibly important; poking is just not that useful when it comes to diagnosis.”   For more information on Dr. Ebonie Rio: Ebonie is a physiotherapist and researcher with extensive experience in tendon pain. She is a post doctoral researcher at La Trobe University, and completed her PhD in tendon pain, researching “Corticospinal responses associated with patellar tendinopathy and the effect of externally paced strength training.” Her research has changed rehabilitation practise around the world. She currently is involved in a variety of projects investigating tendon pain, especially in the lower limb, however also other areas such as investigating innovative new rehabilitation techniques. Ebonie also still consults clinically, having been previously involved at the Australian Institute of Sport, Australian Ballet, and Winter Olympics.   Resources discussed on this show: Leung et al 2015: Motor cortex excitability is not differentially modulated following skill and strength training. Professor Jill Cook Email: e.rio@latrobe.edu.au La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Centre   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen    

On this episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, Alan Stein joins me to discuss the qualities of great leadership. Alan Stein, Jr. is a veteran basketball performance coach, corporate speaker, podcast host and social media influencer. Alan delivers high-energy keynote performances to develop genuine leadership, authentic team cohesion and true mental toughness. He inspires his audiences to take immediate action and improve their mindset, habits and productivity. In this episode, we discuss: -Alan’s transition from basketball performance coach to corporate speaker -The 3 steps needed to create change: awareness, understanding, reconditioning -The role of a “change agent” in overcoming barriers to change -Important qualities in a great leader: self-awareness, vulnerability, competency, vision -And so much more!   From Alan’s experience, transitioning into a new career does not have to be done overnight and can be developed over the long term. Alan encourages, “Anything good takes time to build.” Alan promotes utilizing your current network to its utmost potential to support new ventures. He believes, “Relationships are one of our most important currencies.”   Change can often result in setbacks which is why many people fear it; however, Alan finds that change is necessary for improvement and growth. He believes that sustainable change is, “daily recalibration… It’s definitely not this linear ramp that is always going up to improvement.”   Being a leader means positively impacting the lives of those around you. Most of the qualities of leadership can be learned, cultivated, practiced and improved. Alan stresses, “Leadership is a choice.”   For more information on Alan: Alan Stein, Jr. is a veteran basketball performance coach, corporate speaker, podcast host and social media influencer. He has spent the past 15 years working with the highest performing athletes on the planet (including NBA superstars Kevin Durant). Alan delivers high-energy keynote performances to develop genuine leadership, authentic team cohesion and true mental toughness. He inspires his audiences to take immediate action and improve their mindset, habits and productivity. In other words, Alan teaches organizations how to utilize the same strategies in business that elite athletes and coaches use to perform at a world-class level. He is an amicably divorced father of 7-year-old twin sons (Luke and Jack) and a 5-year-old daughter (Lyla) and lives just outside of Washington, D.C.   Resources discussed on this show: Alan Stein Jr Website Alan Stein Jr Twitter Alan Stein Jr Facebook   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen    

LIVE from the Ascend Conference in Washington DC, I am joined by CEO and Co-Founder of Strive Labs Scott Hebert to discuss business metrics for physical therapy practices. At Strive Labs, we're changing the way individuals and health systems manage the most common health condition in the United States: musculoskeletal disease. Our care management platform enables healthcare providers to inform, engage, and empower their patients to reach their recovery goals and avoid chronic injury. In this episode, we discuss: -How Strive Labs manages customer relationships from acquisition to retention -The most important business metrics for physical therapy owners -How to calculate your Net Promoter Score -Crafting relevant email campaigns for current and prospective patients -And so much more!   Promoters are people who are going to recommend your services to friends and family. In order to create a net promoter, you may need to go beyond only satisfying customers. From Scott’s experience, he stresses, “Satisfaction is important. Satisfaction is the foundation of any good business, but what people have started to realize is that satisfaction in many ways is kind of worthless. Loyalty is what’s priceless.”   There are dozens of ways potential clients can stumble upon your services; most of them are via online platforms. Because of this, Scott encourages all practices to maintain an online presence. He has found that, “If they are looking for physical therapy, you need to be able to be present in that local region.”   As your business grows, you may find yourself having difficulties finding ways to scale or automate certain aspects of your responsibilities. If you are wondering if automated email marketing is right for you, Scott suggests, “That moment you start to feel like you’re losing control of things… that could be a moment to start considering it.”   For more information on Strive Labs: At Strive Labs, we're changing the way individuals and health systems manage the most common health condition in the United States: musculoskeletal disease. Our care management platform enables healthcare providers to inform, engage, and empower their patients to reach their recovery goals and avoid chronic injury. Our team of creative thinkers, healthcare professionals, industry experts, and technologists are all working together to develop new solutions for improving the patient experience. In 2017, Strive Labs became part of the WebPT family, and together, we’re going to help rehab therapists obtain new patients, retain existing ones, and get all of them better faster.   Resources discussed on this show: Strive Labs Website Net Promoter Score Survey Monkey Google My Business Mail Chimp Infusion soft Rehab Therapists Give Back Scott Hebert Twitter Strive Labs Twitter   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen    

LIVE from the Ascend Conference in Washington DC, Rick Gawenda joins me on this episode to discuss the CPT codes. Rick Gawenda, PT, is a licensed physical therapist with 25 years of experience and currently serves as the founder and President of Gawenda Seminars & Consulting, Inc. He has provided valuable education and consulting to hospitals, private practices, skilled nursing facilities, and rehabilitation agencies in the areas of CPT coding, ICD-10 coding, billing, documentation compliance, revenue enhancement, practice management, and denial management as they relate to outpatient therapy services. In this episode, we discuss: -The 4 components to determine levels of CPT Codes: history, examination, clinical presentation, decision making -Differentiating the complexity levels of CPT Codes with patient case studies -Challenges with billing higher complexity levels differently than lower complexity levels -Common myths surrounding the treatment of Medicare patients -And so much more!   Therapists are not documenting relevant patient co-morbidities and clinical presentation. Rick finds, “We are underestimating the complexity level.”   Although CPT codes are complex, it’s important for any healthcare practitioner to understand their billing process and avoid the potential for abuse or fraud. Rick finds that our current understanding is limited and can be seen as abuse since, “We don’t know we are doing it wrong.”   Rick outlines multiple ways you can bill to maximize your payments for your treatment sessions but notes that it is important to be ethical. He stresses, “Nobody wants to be on the radar of an insurance company.” And more importantly, “Reputation is everything. It takes a long, long time to develop a positive reputation and it can be gone in a heartbeat.”   For more information on Rick: Rick Gawenda, PT, is a licensed physical therapist with 25 years of experience and currently serves as the founder and President of Gawenda Seminars & Consulting, Inc. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, in 1991. Mr. Gawenda is also Director of Finance for Kinetix Advanced Physical Therapy, a private practice with offices located in Southern California. In addition, he previously worked as the Director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Detroit Receiving Hospital where he was responsible for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services, both in the inpatient and outpatient setting. He has provided valuable education and consulting to hospitals, private practices, skilled nursing facilities, and rehabilitation agencies in the areas of CPT coding, ICD-10 coding, billing, documentation compliance, revenue enhancement, practice management, and denial management as they relate to outpatient therapy services. Mr. Gawenda has presented nationally since 2004 and currently presents approximately 100 dates per year around the United States. Mr. Gawenda is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and Michigan Physical Therapy Association (MPTA). Mr. Gawenda is the Past President of the Section on Health Policy & Administration of the APTA as well as Past President of the Michigan Association of Medical Rehabilitation Program Administrators. Mr. Gawenda is also the author of “The How-To Manual for Rehab Documentation: A Complete Guide to Increasing Reimbursement and Reducing Denials” and “Coding and Billing For Outpatient Rehab Made Easy: Proper Use of CPT Codes, ICD-9 Codes and Modifiers”.   Resources discussed on this show: Gawenda Seminars Episode 175: Making Sense of ICD 10 w/ Rick Gawenda, PT Darci Lynne: 12-Year-Old Singing Ventriloquist Gets Golden Buzzer - America's Got Talent 2017 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Rehab Therapists Give Back Ascend Conference   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen    

On this episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, Dr. Travis Zigler joins me to discuss eye health. Dr. Travis Zigler is on a mission to end preventable blindness. In 2010 he graduated from The Ohio State University College of Optometry with Magna Cum Laude honors. He went on to own two optometry practices in South Carolina specializing in "difficult to fit" contact lens patients and dry eye, but soon found his passion for entrepreneurship. In this episode, we discuss: -Missions abroad with The Eye Love Cares Foundation and the impact of preventable blindness in third world countries -How often should you have your eyes checked? -Selecting the right optometrist/ophthalmologist for you -Surprising factors that affect Macular Degeneration and Dry Eye Disease -And so much more!   Having regular eye exams can also function as a general health screen. Dr. Zigler notes, “An eye exam is the only time that we can actually see live blood vessels and we can actually see a live nerve in the back of your eye. And that can tell us a tremendous amount about your health.”   From Dr. Zigler’s experience, most conditions are a result of many lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise and hydration. He believes, “If we learn how to solve this chronic inflammation problem that plagues the western society, all of us in the US, then it is going to make a huge difference.”   Dr. Zigler believes in a holistic plan of care for all of his patients with most preventable eye problems being a symptom of a systemic problem. He stresses, “Disease is your body’s way of telling you you’re doing something wrong.”   For more information on Dr. Zigler: Dr. Travis Zigler is on a mission to end preventable blindness. In 2010 he graduated from The Ohio State University College of Optometry with Magna Cum Laude honors. He went on to own two optometry practices in South Carolina specializing in "difficult to fit" contact lens patients and dry eye, but soon found his passion for entrepreneurship.   In 2015, he started Eye Love, an eye wellness company with a mission to end preventable blindness. Along with his wife, Jenna, they continue to work part time in optometry and build Eye Love with the goal of eventually opening free clinics in the US and abroad. Because 703 million people are blind due to lack of glasses, they give a portion of all profits back to those who can neither afford nor obtain eye care in Jamaica and South Carolina.   When he's not working on Eye Love or in clinic, he enjoys traveling to Jamaica, running, and playing the ukulele while he drinks his morning coffee.   Resources discussed on this show: Eye Love Dry Eye Syndrome Support Community Dr. Travis Zigler Facebook Dry Eye Community Video Series Eye Love Cares Foundation American Academy of Optometry   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen