Dr. Bill Dorfman - Father. Mentor. Influencer. Brilliant.

SPECIAL ISSUE

January 2021 Issue 118.1

Dr. Bill Dorfman Father.

Mentor.

Influencer.

Brilliant.

World's Most Famous Dentist Giving Back

Pg 01

CONTENTS

01

WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS DENTIST: DR. BILL DORFMAN

10

THE RESILIENCE OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY

18

23

EDNA HUDSON: A FRONTLINE HERO

MASK KILLER: THE ANSWER

JOIN OUR MARKETING SCHOOL FOR DENTISTS SO YOU WENT THROUGH MANY YEARS OF SCHOOLING AND MEDICAL INTERNSHIPS TO GET WHERE YOU ARE AND ONLY TO REALIZE NO ONE REALLY TAUGHT YOU HOW TO BUILD A SUCCESFUL PRACTICE AND ATTRACT ENVIABLE AMOUNTS OF NEW PATIENTS.

WE HAVE YOU COVERED

LET'S GROW TOGETHER

READ MORE

117 | 2 | 2 118 | 1 | 1

WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS DENTIST GIVING BACK

By Brianna Connors

01

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

Dr. Bill Dorfman is a man of many talents, achievements, and passions whose early experiences and willingness to overcome obstacles has led him to create many projects with deep roots to his family and foundation. Driven by his belief that helping people achieve a great smile is vital in boosting their self-esteem and promoting a happy life, Dr. Dorfman has spent 40 years in the dental industry, creating some of the brightest smiles and happiest lives.

Relating his decision to become a dentist back to an unfortunate accident during his childhood, Dr. Dorfman explains that it was as if the “writing was on the wall.” As a result of an accident at age 3, Dorfman lost his upper front baby teeth and required multiple surgeries to ensure the proper development of his adult teeth. During his many subsequent visits, his curiosity about the profession grew.

118 | 1 | 1

Esther Williams His dental career began in 1983 after graduating from the University of the Pacific Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco as one of the youngest graduates ever to receive a doctorate degree. After completing a two-year residency program at a dental hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland, Dr. Dorfman moved back to the United States and began his own aesthetic and general dentistry practice in the Beverly Hills area.

At the age of 29, Dr. Dorfman had the opportunity to work with his first celebrity patient, Esther Williams, who was one of MGM's biggest silver-screen stars. Not only did this opportunity result in a lifelong friendship with Williams, but it also thrust Dr. Dorfman into the spotlight, which attracted other celebrity patients. In the following years, he worked with many celebrities, including Anthony Hopkins, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Mark Walhberg, Kathy Bates, Eva Longoria, Katy Perry, Usher, and Paula Abdul — making him perhaps the only person who can say he has a professional relationship with Hannibal Lecter, Mia Thermopolis, and The Wolverine.

Dr. Dorfman and Paula Abdul

02

| Â TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

118 | 1 | 1

Because of his distinguished career in dentistry, Dr. Dorfman has also been a featured dentist on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover” and the Emmy Winning CBS talk show “The Doctors,” where he was a recurring guest co-host. Additionally, he is the author of The Smile Guide and the New York Times bestseller Billion Dollar Smile.

Dr. Dorfman also co-founded Discus Dental, Inc. through which dental products and equipment have been developed and distributed to over 100 countries. Some of these products include the groundbreaking Nite White, Day White, BreathRX, Brite Smile, and Zoom!

Dr. Dorfman and Kathy Bates Dr. Dorfman helped grow Discus Dental from zero to over $1.3 billion dollars in sales.

It became the largest global tooth whitening company before being sold to Philips in 2010.

But by far, his favorite passion project is founding and contributing to the LEAP Foundation (Leadership. Excellence.

Accelerating Potential), a non-profit organization dedicated to building the next generation of leaders. Through LEAP, Dr. Dorfman helps bring together over 400 top student leaders from around the world to UCLA's campus for annual summer motivational programs. The LEAP Foundation, created to inspire and guide the next generation, is a week-long experience where attendees ages 15-25+ are exposed to interviews with celebrities and professionals who explain how they have built successful lives, careers, or companies.

03

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

When asked what led him to founding LEAP, Dr. Dorfman replied, “I’ll go back to the beginning… There was this iconic insurance salesman from Hunt, Texas, whose nickname was Itsy Bitsy Walter Hailey. He was this little guy who was a powerhouse, and as it turned out, many of his clients were dentists.What he soon realized was that even though these guys were amazing dentists, they knew nothing about business or running a practice. It was a completely different skill set, one that was not taught in schools back then, so he started a program called Dental Boot Kamp where he and his partner, Steve Anderson taught dental teams how to work as a team, how to be productive, and how to be profitable.

118 | 1 | 1

Dr. Dorfman and Anthony Hopkins [As a result of the program's success], some of the people that went to Dental Boot Kamp said, 'you know, I wish there were something like this for my high school or college kids to go to and learn these skills'.

So, Walter and Steve created a program and asked different people to come as mentors.”

Asked to be a mentor himself, Dr. Dorfman attended the program to talk about his dental career and experiences on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover” and being a New York Times Bestselling author. Touched by how impactful the program was for the students, he returned for numerous years before taking it over upon Walter’s passing. It was then renamed LEAP and remade into a nonprofit organization. “[LEAP] has nothing to do with dentistry. It’s about life skills and teaching things like public speaking, networking, study habits, and how to apply for a job. It’s very comprehensive, and kids who go through the program will tell you that LEAP changed their lives. It's really profound and one of the things that is so near and dear to my heart.”

Dr. Dorfman and Garth Brooks

04

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

118 | 1 | 1

Throughout his life, Dr. Dorfman has exemplified the key principles taught at LEAP's annual summer program.

This establishes the importance of — and proven success behind — these principles and makes them extremely personal. Going back to his beginnings when he was nearing graduation from the University of the Pacific in San Francisco, Dorfman said that he began to assess his life and the next steps to be taken into a dental career.

“Basically, I was in dental school about to graduate, and I'm 24 years old. I [started to think], you know, I've never traveled. I've never been anywhere or done anything except school. The idea of opening a practice and being tethered to it until I retire without ever really seeing the world scared me,” he admitted. That was until he heard about a clinic in Switzerland that accepted those with American licenses. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to practice dentistry while also traveling. The only problem was that the clinic only had one position open and somewhere near 400 applicants. Knowing that his chances of getting into the Switzerland program were slim, Dr. Dorfman began an initiative that would later become one of the founding principles taught at the LEAP Foundation.

For more information about LEAP please go to www.leapfoundation.com

05

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

118 | 1 | 1

Willingness of Success “One of the things we teach at LEAP is that successful people are willing to do the things unsuccessful people are not willing to do,” said Dr. Dorfman, “So, I started sending letters of recommendation from every professor in my dental school that I was friends with, and the letters were stellar! Do you know how I know? I wrote them all!”

One of the important pieces of advice he passes on to the students who attend LEAP is that asking a professor to write a letter of recommendation can take up a lot of time in their already busy schedules. An alternative request is to offer to write the letter themselves and have the professor personalize it, which Dorfman's professors chose to do. On top of sending letters of recommendation, he started to call the Director of the Switzerland program every week. “Now that doesn't sound like such a big thing, but back then, in 1983, making longdistance phone calls was not as easy as it is today and VERY expensive,” said Dorfman.

Regardless, he would send in another resume at the start of each week and call to follow up, make sure it was received, and talk with the Director. Then, one day, his persistence paid off, and something different happened.

“I tell my students that you will have lifedefining moments, and sometimes you plan them, and sometimes you don't. This one was spontaneous. I don't even know where it came from, I was on the phone with [the Director], and I really felt that he wasn't interested at all, so I said ‘can I take you to lunch?’"

Dr. Dorfman and Michael Strahan

06

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

118 | 1 | 1

Despite the reality of being in San Francisco and having no money to travel to Switzerland, he promised the Director that he would be there. The week after graduation, having borrowed the money, he traveled to Switzerland with the hope of being hired. “It worked!” Dorfman told Top Doctor Magazine, “Apparently, I was the only one out of 400 applicants that did what I did, and he hired me. It changed the trajectory of my life; I learned how to ski, I made amazing friends, I became fluent in French, and above all, it was an amazing experience.”

Copy Genius And Build Relationships When he returned to LA from his time working in Switzerland, Dr. Dorfman recognized that the area already had many established cosmetic dentists. To build his own practice, he would need to set himself apart.

As a result, he embarked on another initiative that would later become the second valuable lesson he teaches to the students who attend LEAP.

“I called five of the most successful dentists that I could find and asked if I could shadow them even though shadowing wasn't even a thing back then.

They each said the same thing to me… 'You're not like other students”.

While most students would sit and watch the dentist drill on teeth, Dr. Dorfman would come into the clinic early and follow the entire process. From observing patient behavior entering the practice to how they engaged with forms, listening to the receptionists at the desk, following along with the doctor as he designed a treatment plan, and taking note of office managers, Dorfman learned what he wanted to implement in his own clinic.

04

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

07

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

118 | 1 | 1

“I took everything I learned from those five offices and put it into my office,” said Dorfman, “On top of that, I have my secret weapon, Sue Hartzler.”

Upon opening his dental office, Dr. Dorfman sent out announcements to everyone in his life at the time. Following up on one of the announcements inviting her to be a patient, Sue Hartzler, a former high school classmate, came into the office one day. In their conversation, Dr. Dorfman learned that she was working as a publicist - getting PR for her clients and helping them grow their businesses. He hired her, and within a couple of months, she had him listed in the Los Angeles Magazine as The Best Dentist in L.A.

“It was one of the greatest breaks [for me],” said Dorfman, “The second biggest break was meeting my future business partner and life-long best friend, Robert Hayman, at a charity event and creating Discus Dental with him.”

Through LEAP, Dr. Dorfman has communicated the importance of fostering successful business, mentoring relationships and the art of connecting in the entrepreneurial atmosphere. For example, the summer event for the program culminates on Friday with what is called the Mentor Workshop. At the Workshop, students get a chance to sit at a table with a mentor — people like doctors, lawyers, firefighters, artists, screenwriters, actors/actresses — and ask questions about their career and profession. Some of the past speakers at LEAP include Anthony Hopkins, Mark Wahlberg, Paula Abdul, Eva Longoria, Kathy Bates, Usher, Michael Strahan, Apolo Ohno, Hannah Brown, Bibop Gresta (the founder of Hyperloop), and many others.

Give Back Believing strongly in the philosophy of “paying it forward,” Dr. Dorfman lives his life under the belief that no one should go through this world without making it better. When an individual's career has taken off, that person should give back to the community — a principle he has demonstrated many times over.

Dr. Dorfman's words of encouragement and advice for the next generation of dentists is that they should help people no matter the difference that help might make. The one thing that Dr. Dorfman hopes people understand from looking at his life is that he is leaving a legacy of giving back because doing so brings him feelings of joy and gratitude.

08

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

When asked what he is most proud of, Dr. Dorfman replied, “I would say personally my 3 daughters.

Professionally, the fact that together with Discus Dental, The Crown Council, and Country Singer Garth Brooks, we have raised over $44 Million for children's charities through the Smiles For Life Initiative; and finally LEAP. It's a program that teaches things that [students] don't learn in school. One of which is appreciation. We give them a pad called I Appreciate Notes, and they fill it in with things that they appreciate.

Before the pandemic, out of 400 students, I would get 400 I Appreciate Notes. These notes would say things like “I really appreciate you and the team because LEAP changed my life.’

And I know that it did. It is definitely a life-changing experience, and 99% of the students say that. The reason why I say only 99% is because the 1% say 'LEAP saved my life'... LEAP isn't a one and done. We encourage the students to stay active and join mastermind groups and continue listening to our podcasts. It's a really beautiful family.”

09

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

Looking Ahead

118 | 1 | 1

When he isn’t working at Century City Aesthetic Dentistry, Dr. Dorfman spends his time working with LEAP, staying active with his strict fitness regime, skiing, and developing new products for the dental industry. He shared with Top Doctor Magazine that two new products will be launching in 2021. “I cannot tell you [specifics] about them; they are secrets! But one is what we’re going to call a category killer in take-home tooth whitening and the second is a really fun product that I’ve been working on for years that’s finally coming to fruition,” said Dorfman. Additionally, it can be expected that Dr. Dorfman will be returning to television networks as he is in talks with a TV talk show host about doing a recurring segment. If anyone would like to reach out to him, Dr. Dorfman is available on his Instagram page @drbilldorfman and responds to 100% of his direct messages.

In closing, Dr. Dorfman left us with his life mantra: “When life gives you an opportunity, don’t take it… master it.”

The Fortune Law Firm You earn the money. We’ll help you keep it. And grow it.

Read More

TEL 1-855-904-1047

118 | 1 | 2

THE RESILIENCE OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY Servants in the Seasons of Storms

By Graham Shuler & Brianna Connors Resilience is described as the act of quickly recovering from difficulties to spring back into action. Commonly associated with the strong, the leading, and the pathfinders - at its etymological core, resilience is an action, a state of mind, and a character trait. Trials of health within the human experience highlight those in the medical community as one group that embodies resilience, perhaps better than many others.

With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical community faced a storm of perilous confusion that would exacerbate existing weaknesses and create opportunities for healthcare

10

| Â TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

professionals to honor their oaths in a time of great need. This cornerstone of society answered the call to take the battle head-on. Despite many obstacles and constant attacks, the call for the medical community to stand with the People and never surrender was heard.

Countless businesses have been affected that caused many practices to close. Urgent care centers and other practices lost substantial business while hospitals struggled to function with the additional load and constraints. Through acts of resilience, healthcare professionals within these entities are recovering from their difficulties and springing back into action.

118 | 1 | 2

The face of resiliency is embodied by friends, neighbors, and loved ones who all serve in the medical community. The People who have looked to the medical community, those afflicted and plagued by COVID-19, have remained resilient in their pursuit of life. Resilience may have been a perceived rarity before, but the fire forges of COVID-19 have tempered resilient, brave individuals. The medical community is united by common problems that require a combination of training and discernment to overcome concerns across this society.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a lack of consensus of best practices and politicking that detracts from the medical community's ability to perform their duties. Despite challenges of confusion, closures, and increasing demands for service, medical professionals have faced the realities of individual patients daily.

Dr. Lali Sehkon, a Neurosurgeon practicing at the Reno Orthopedic Clinic, commented to Top Doctor Magazine, saying, "Here's what we know... it's worse than the flu was with the deaths somewhere between World War I and World War II. We are now using the emergency room and hospital room as an emergency ward." He went on to caution of the lack of consistency found among medical professionals leading to further concern.

11

| Â TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

118 | 1 | 2

"Every week, the picture seems to change," said Dr. Sehkon. This results in those same professionals relying on their abilities to research and intuitive awareness to understand the dynamics of individuals and the general welfare in real-time - both of which come at the hefty cost of increasing staff burnout. Also speaking on the irregularities of COVID-19, Dr. Max Zaslavsky, a dentist in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, continues to portray the irregularities of COVID-19 that play like a film script. Dr. Zaslavsky provides perspective on the failings of the public trust that restrict the communication of counsel from the healthcare community. He exclaimed, "Weird when there is a mask shortage, and my barber is selling masks." Healthcare professionals have been quick to understand the inversion of these times as Dr. Zaslavsky points to the strange reality that "Lysol is like a black market - really tough." Dr. Zaslavsky responded to COVID19 through a range of adaptations that include a UV Light in his HVAC system. In navigating the onslaught of patient concerns, Dr. Zaslavsky echoed the staff shortage warnings, "Do they have covid or just the sniffles? Getting hygienists has been really difficult down here (In Florida)."

Lo-Wei Bruno, a nurse practitioner in the Infusion Clinic of Mountain View Hospital, told us, "COVID-19 has had an impact on everyone in every industry. The Infusion Center has been completely operational throughout the pandemic, but we had to make some adjustments, like extensive screening for symptoms of patients and their families." Entities with limited resources have struggled while other systems have been able to navigate their operations. She told us her group is "very satisfied" with the amount of protection the administration at Mountain View Hospital has provided.

Dr. Josh Renk is a prosthodontist with a creative background that has empowered his practice to reconstruct and generate smiles for his patients. Sharing in the fragility of patients, he began to wipe down anything his patients' touch and implement screening practices - however, seeing one patient at a time has not changed how he runs his practice.

12

| Â TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

118 | 1 | 2

Ranges of experiences such as Dr. Renk's graphic design training give medical professionals a storehouse of ingenuity. Another doctor who exemplifies this is Dr. Cesar Solano, who is originally from Chicago. Solano was first trained in El Salvador, where his family is from. Following his return to the United States to pursue a career in dentistry, he worked his way up from humble beginnings as an assistant to the owner of a lab. After selling the lab and going back to school to get his dental license, Dr. Solano became an associate and is now a Clinical Director in the Fresno and San Francisco areas.

Dr. Solano explained that the pandemic must be addressed in two ways. First, from the perspective of running a business, and second, from a public health standpoint.

Speaking directly from his experience as a dentist, Dr. Solano was quick to agree that the training dentists receive to stop diseases such as AIDS or tuberculosis from spreading made adapting to COVID-19 restrictions a little easier.

“A lot of the barriers we [already] used were the same ones we still have to use,” said Dr. Solano, “We just have to put more things on top of those… For example, we have no issue wearing masks all the time.”

The range of experience for the medical community is highlighted by consistencies for Oncologists and Dentists who deal with the infection's seriousness. These subtle and drastic changes in day-to-day operations come with a consensus from these professionals to wash your hands. The challenges of how many people can be inside the offices at one time and how to bring the patients back in safely require adaptation, but perhaps one of the most challenging issues that Dr. Solano and these other professionals have to overcome by ensuring enough PPE is available. Hence, the offices remain open and functional. The chaos of PPE has yielded a search for alternatives to secure the population from COVID-19.

While some doctors encourage holding out for survival to a vaccine, Dr. Renk stated, "people have a lot of mixed feelings on that (vaccine), some people are very for it, and some people are extremely hesitant to get it.

13

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

118 | 1 | 2

There is no information long-term on what it is‌ I feel like anything is speculation at this point; it's turned into a political thing." The delicacy of hesitancy and long-term information are recurring elements for Dr. Renk, who specializes in mouth rehabs, incorrect cases, cancer cases, complicated reconstructions, and problems with implants.

He told us, "Our specialty (Prosthodontist) isn't well known, and the patient is often upset by the time they get to me, so it's difficult to work on a patient who is already upset from the first one." His general practice wisdom is relevant to the healthcare community today exhausted yet encouraged, depleted yet determined, patients battle fear in the unknowns of a novel virus. Specialists like Dr. Renk have counterparts across the healthcare industry with Dr. Jason Emer, a cosmetic dermatologist known for leading usage of lasers and celebrity cosmetics. Their experience with HIV, Tuberculosis, and Oncology training reinforces the seriousness of disease spread, as Dr. Emer reminds, "Removing the negative, like removing a mirror." Dr. Emer claims the new regulations caused a shift in his patients' behavior to go to a practice they trust with protective measures in place. His patients want to do bigger procedures, come less often, do treatments at home, but come in every couple of months for big treatments. For some, COVID-19 has increased accessibility to treatment while others have been unable to receive the treatment they so desperately need.

The confusion of information throughout COVID-19 has continued to tax the public trust.

Consensus on guidelines and politics have retained a rift between ideals - especially the medical and scientific communities.

14

| Â TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

118 | 1 | 2

The approaching tax varies across regions and administrations; as Dr. Emer highlights, "Medicare planning on cutting surgeon reimbursement 15%.

50% goes to overhead, and then the rest goes to taxes. (There is an) inflated idea of income physicians take home. "This reference connects with the massive amount of debt that most healthcare workers take on. The financial frustrations of healthcare workers do not receive due attention.

"News used to be who, what, when, where, and how, the opinion pieces now occupy the same as the reality opinions… (You) can find whatever opinion you want." For those like Dr. Sehkon, who believes we will see "the worst of (COVID-19) in the next couple weeks", the mask, distance, sanitize recommendations are "the cornerstone" in their professional opinions. Cultural and personal differences have fragmented comprehension of COVID-19. Dr. Zaslavsky disclosed that he has had heavy disagreements with colleagues and friends on issues assumed to be in agreement upon. These professionals reflect on the shame of the medical industry, that we are all in this position, that this is not a political issue, and we should be ashamed that medical opinions have been put on the wayside. The arguments between elderly and comorbidity are valid, but not all of the COVID-19 deaths are these causes. "This is a scenario where every decision made was going to be a bad one." Dr. Sehkon The race to treat COVID-19 contrasts our historical health experiences with an unprecedented sense of urgency. Why did we not treat HIV like COVID-19?

Dr. Zaslavsky states, "So close to a vaccine for this but can't figure out cancer for the last 50 years, 1 billion USD into the vaccine but what about cancer?

The intro to every zombie movie is the government vaccine… I'm being facetious, but it's weird to me we are so close with a vaccine for this and can't figure out pancreatic cancer."

15

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

118 | 1 | 2

These alternative perspectives are echoed by the alternative treatments in Mountain View Hospital, where Lo-Wei Bruno played a pivotal role in the expansion of the Infusion Center with private rooms for blood transfusions, chemotherapy, biotherapy, antibiotics, and iron treatments, using aromatherapy and music therapy to manage chemotherapy side effects like nausea, pain, and anxiety. Mountain View Hospital utilizes the first scalp cooling device in Nevada, offering cancer patients a way to reduce hair loss caused by chemotherapy. Top Doctor Magazine celebrates Bruno's wisdom,

"So many times patients complain about the wait times for a doctor's visit, if they are at home waiting for a facetime conference with the doctor, it is much less stressful as well as safer. Telemedicine is a great tool that is often used in the clinic setting and in many of our outpatient clinics, such as primary care and cardiology. However, within the hospital, options for telemedicine in our setting, and the ER setting, are limited.".

Accessibility for patients unable to see a doctor has caused delays where medical providers offer preventive solutions. For Dr. Emer and his cosmetic patients, there is less "embarrassment" and the ability to see dark circles and angles through a different lens. For dentistry, Dr. Renk states dentists have to be hands-on while remote examination technology is being designed for dentists to use without patients coming in‌ "I don't think that's possible because a lot of things are tactile in dentistry - you have to look in person for at least what I'm doing." Dr. Emer's specialty practice provides a strong case for serious consideration as he creatively applies his skill, in person, to return smiling structure.

16

| Â TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

118 | 1 | 2

Healthcare professionals come from all walks of life, but their dedication and service render a humble entry point for their character to maintain throughout their careers. This resilient medical community's response-ability is prepared for these challenges through their discipline, training, and research. Dr. Renk cautions,

"Because of how much debt people get into for dental school and residence‌ expecting to make more, but if you get taxed on it, then you pay such a high level of student loans back. It does create a lot of issues. People don't understand how much it takes to do what we are doing. Not just being a doctor or business owner but going into debt."

These medical professionals are persistent and continue to inspire through the practice of their lives.

17

| Â TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

Dr. Zaslavsky breathed, "I'm living my life, but if you've driven in South Florida [you know] people in South Florida are pretty crazy also, could be my last day on I-95, I'm wearing my seatbelt when I'm driving and wearing PPE when working on a patient." The return to logos is echoed with a call for pathos by Lo-Wei Bruno, "There is a certain amount of fatigue that everyone is feeling, being masked all day, and constant, meticulous hand washing, and not seeing an end to this any time soon..." The Resilience of the Medical Community is exemplified by these servants' dedication and professionalism in the storm of COVID-19. Especially, LoWei Bruno's directive:

"I can only speak in medical terms, and saving lives is the priority, and I will do my part to help ease human suffering."

KEY BISCAYNE HOME FOR SALE AT THE EXCLUSIVE GRAND BAY ESTATES 4075 SQFT |5 BEDROOMS | 5.5 FULL BATHS

READ MORE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT 1-855-904-104727

118 | 1 | 3

Edna Hudson: A Frontline Hero

By Brianna Connors Edna Hudson grew up in the small town of Orange Bend near Leesburg, Florida, where she now lives and works.

Graduating in 1982 from nursing school, Edna has thirty-eight years of experience and is currently a charge nurse at the Ambulatory Surgery Unit of Leesburg Regional Medical Center.

18

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

Becoming a single mother at the age of 24 when her husband passed away, Edna’s two sons are now in their forties and following in her shoes. Willie Hudson is a nurse practitioner and works for a neurologist, and Tremaine Hudson, a registered nurse, is working at a rehabilitation facility.“I never said, get into nursing. I never encouraged one way or another. I just let them do what they wanted to do, and it’s amazing how they have centered their life around the medical field because never did I say go into the medical field, but for some reason, they decided to go that way,” said Edna.

118 | 1 | 3

Edna shared with Top Doctor Magazine that her five-year goal is to open a private clinic together in the Leesburg area with her sons, daughter-in-law Sonia, a medical staff credentialing specialist, and soon to be daughter-in-law Lajuana, a doctorate nurse practitioner.

Speaking about her school experience, Edna shared that she was going through earning her two-year degree right after the loss of her husband. Even though it was tough being a single parent and going to school at the time, she recognized the blessing of not having to work, parent, and study all at once because her husband left her financially prepared to go to school. Through school, Edna admits that it was a lot of touch and go, of wondering if she passed and could move on to the next class.

19

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

Where one student might spend four hours studying, she would need closer to eight.But thanks to teachers who were attuned to her needs and her desire to succeed, Edna graduated with a two-year degree and returned several years later to earn her Bachelors of Nursing.

“It took a lot for me, but once I got it, I got it. I had an anatomy and physiology teacher who told me that basically, some people get it easy, but for some people, it comes more difficult. You just have to stick with it. And, of course, I was able to.”

118 | 1 | 3

When asked what drew her to becoming a nurse, Edna explained that it is a lifelong goal. At the age of eight or nine, she remembers watching nurses running around in their white hats and uniforms, thinking, “I want to be that when I grow up.” And, 38 years later, nursing is still a passion and joy in Edna’s life. “[Nursing] is a career that I have grown to really love and is one of the things I most value and treasure.

Never in my 38 years of working have I ever said I hate going into work today, and that’s how I know it’s my passion. There is nothing bad I could say about what I do because I love it so much.”

In the past year, Edna has seen drastic changes in the healthcare industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While these changes have been quickly adapted to by the professionals on the medical frontlines, there are potential impacts that could affect healthcare for the foreseeable future if not adequately addressed. A survivor of the Coronavirus herself, Edna believes that one of the biggest concerns facing the medical community is an impending shortage of nurses.

20

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

“I think there will be a severe shortage of nurses because a lot of the hospital personnel I see are getting out of the field. It’s the fatigue that nurses are facing.

They’re thinking if I could do anything besides this, I’m going to get out of it.”

In her management role at the Leesburg Regional Medical Center, Edna has talked to nurses all over the hospital and found a common complaint. They talk about the shortage of personnel, the extreme fatigue they’re working under, and the unknowns that COVID-19 presents. For many, it’s a juggling act of monitoring patients to provide the best possible care, trying to figure out how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, or being the sole financial provider for their families.

Working on the frontlines, Edna advises that the best way for nurses and other medical personnel to protect themselves and stave off a shortage of staff is to take care of themselves - this applies to physical, mental, and emotional health.

118 | 1 | 3

“I think we have to take care of ourselves physically; mentally, we have to give ourselves a check-up and make sure we stay strong. We comfort others all day every day, but no one takes the time to console themselves.”

Amid this year’s pandemic, one of the significant changes seen in the healthcare industry is the advancement of Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) services. For many, these digital platforms were the only way to check in with their patients or were a much-needed means of protecting vulnerable populations against the spread of COVID-19. A supporter of RPM and Telehealth services, Edna believes that it will be a saving grace for patients, families, and the country as a whole.

“It’s state of the art technology to make sure we keep everyone safe, including medical professionals.”

Through Telehealth, it is possible to protect the patient and their family as well.

Unnecessary exposure to the Coronavirus or other illnesses is limited, while those in need of medical attention are still getting an actual assessment complete with visualization, questions and answers, and education, all from the comfort of one’s home. This is especially important for the older demographics of patients who might be in a higher risk category.

In her own mother's case, Edna has found that RPM's monitoring capabilities make physical doctor visits easier and help avoid unnecessary medication. Suffering from severe white coat syndrome, Edna’s mother can experience extremely high blood pressure when in her doctor’s office.

21

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

117 | 1 | 1

117 | 2 | 4

However, because Edna monitors her blood pressure at home throughout the week and establishes a baseline, she can inform the doctor of the actual blood pressure readings. This is just one of the many helpful monitoring tools RPM gives to patients and doctors.

Because of these benefits and more, Edna is an investor for TopDocRX, an RPM company headquartered in Las Vegas, and will be utilizing Telehealth in the private practice she intends to open with her sons.

“It [TopDocRX] is very innovative and very state of the art. I’m so glad to be part of a leading company with Telehealth and RPM. I know that all my patients that come in contact with it are benefiting.”

It was a privilege to speak with Edna Hudson about her life and what she sees on the medical community's frontlines. Having spoken with many of those who have dedicated their lives to helping others, it is apparent that she has a real heart for her patients and the nursing profession. In closing, she asked me to include one of the mantras by which she lives her life and career.

“Duty is a matter of the mind. Commitment is a matter of the heart.”

22

| TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

IMS Medical Equipment THIS CUTTING EDGE EQUIPMENT IS PROPELLING MANY DOCTORS TO SUCCESS WHILE OTHERS ARE STRUGGLING IN 2020 WITHOUT IT

Click Here to Learn More

118 | 1 | 4

MASK KILLER: THE ANSWER By: Justin Miller Now is the best time to get serious about your health. With the continuing rise of COVID-19 cases, it is imperative not only for yourself but also for your neighbors to learn what your fever number is. By identifying your fever number, you are in control of your health and can help to control the spread of infectious diseases.

Medical professionals nationwide already recognize the importance of a low-grade fever. Where the problem lies, is the realization that the general public does not yet understand the need for temperature monitoring and the importance of a low-grade fever.

This is why Bob Kocher of Ideal Innovations Inc. and his team have been trying to raise awareness concerning the issue (i.e., What’s Your Fever Number).

It is recommended that you purchase a thermometer that you can use to track your daily temperature. The easiest way to do this is to take your temperature each morning and record the results on a notepad or device.

23

| Â TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

What you must understand is that your average temperature is not the same as everyone else and is influenced by multiple factors.

Such factors include age, weight, pre-existing conditions, and overall health. With this in mind, you can monitor your average temperature and respond proactively when a variation arises.

118 | 1 | 4

If you find that your temperature is naturally 97.5 degrees and wake up one morning with a temperature of 99 degrees, you would know that your body is fighting something because you are actively monitoring your temperature. During the pandemic, this would be an indicator that you need to get tested and quarantine.

Often, rapid COVID-19 tests give false negatives before false positives. This is why quarantining with a temperature of 99 is imperative regardless of the test results, even if your temperature is below the national fever average of 100.4. By quarantining with a temperature lower than the national fever average, you are being proactive in slowing the spread of COVID-19. However, the importance of temperature monitoring goes beyond the pandemic. Temperature monitoring is a lifelong beneficial practice that has the potential to become the most important habit of your life.

Your temperature is an indispensable tool of your body. When you are ill, a fever is one of the few ways your body can warn you that something is wrong. However, your body cannot inform you of something if you are not looking to be informed. If you choose to ignore the warning signs, an illness will not simply go away. By ignoring your temperature, you are increasing the risk of becoming a carrier and spreader.

Slowing the spread of infectious diseases is a group effort. If you want to see change, be the change that you want to see. Global results are only within the realm of possibility, depending on how proactive you are. This works directly into how monitoring your temperature protects your neighbor, just as much as it protects you.

24

| Â TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

118 | 1 | 4

Slowing the spread of infectious diseases is a group effort. If you want to see change, be the change that you want to see. Global results are only within the realm of possibility, depending on how proactive you are. This works directly into how monitoring your temperature protects your neighbor, just as much as it protects you.

As we have already covered, monitoring your temperature daily is an active preventative measure against the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Unfortunately, temperature monitoring is only useful if everyone participates. Active monitoring could eliminate the need for masks and governor mandates. If those who feel ill and have a fever immediately get tested and quarantine, they will not be spreading the virus. This would provide an opportunity for those who have a normal temperature not to need masks or to stay at home. Although, all of this revolves around a group-effort-system of getting tested and quarantining when presenting a temperature of 99 degrees or higher.

Ultimately, the future is in your hands. If you want quarantines to end, promote thermometers, and if you want an end to mask mandates, advocate for temperature monitoring. Because, as long as low-grade fevers are being ignored, there will continue to be an influx of infections. Masks don’t seem to be working to stop the spread of COVID-19, albeit they provide some protection. However, what if a simple thermometer could be the one thing that changes the course of this pandemic? So, pick up a thermometer, start a new habit, encourage your friends to join you, and watch how you impact the world for the better.

25

| Â TOPDOCTORMAGAZINE

A Word from the Editors Top Doctor Magazine is a magazine from doctors for doctors and patients. We cover everything from cutting edge medical techniques and procedures to enterprising doctors, dentists, surgeon, naturopaths, chiropaths, orthodontists and more who are thought leaders within their own medical practice and changing the way we all experience medicine for the better.

We wish to be your one-stop digest for inspiration by other professionals in your field who are making waves and setting trends and if you too are a trend-setter, reach out to us so that we can interview you for your own spotlight within an upcoming Top Doctor Magazine issue!

Brianna Connors

Justin Miller

Derek Archer

Bio

Bio

Bio

1-855-904-1047

Are You in a Cash Flow Crisis?

Many doctors are benefitting from passive income with the TopDocRX.com program.

Take Our Free Quiz to See if You Can Benefit from This Program Get Started