Thriving Practice with Tracy Cherpeski

The 10x Mindset: How This CEO Scaled Her Medical VA Company by 600% in Three Years, Featuring Beth Lachance, EP 201

Beth Lachance has built something remarkable. As the founder and CEO of Global Medical Virtual Assistants, she's scaled her company from around 200 to over 1,350 medical virtual assistants in just three years, all while helping medical practices nationwide solve their biggest challenge: administrative overwhelm.

In this episode, Beth explains how medical virtual assistants work as an "insourcing" solution rather than outsourcing, providing practices with HIPAA-compliant professionals who have medical backgrounds and bachelor's degrees. She breaks down the cost-effectiveness of the model ($525 per week per full-time VA), how it improves patient care and staff morale, and why it's suitable for practices of any size.

Beyond the business model, Beth shares raw insights about scaling a company, including her philosophy of planning for 10x growth instead of 2x to avoid constantly rebuilding infrastructure. She discusses the importance of having the right people in the right seats, embracing mistakes as learning opportunities, and not getting paralyzed by over-analysis.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

How medical virtual assistants create "sufficient support" rather than just basic help

The mindset shift from virtual "assistants" to virtual "professionals"

Why insourcing beats outsourcing for medical practices

Planning for 10x growth instead of 2x to build scalable infrastructure

The cost breakdown: $525/week per full-time medical VA vs. traditional hiring

How proper support systems improve patient reviews and staff retention

Why Beth moved from 200 to 1,350 team members in three years

The importance of cultural fit over high performance in hiring

How administrative burden contributes to physician burnout

MEMORABLE QUOTES

"We are not brought into a medical practice to take jobs that are already in place. We're really brought in as additional support."

"Don't look at what you look like when you double. What do you look like when you 10x? So that you're not reimagining this all over again."

"Don't be afraid to make a mistake. Trial it. If you made a mistake, you just go back to the drawing board and go at it another way."

"They're virtual professionals. They have a bachelor's degree. They are smart. They take initiative. You're minimizing what their level could potentially be when you think 'virtual assistant.'"

"This is insourcing. You are bringing additional staffing into your practice, but remotely."

"If you don't handle even the minutiae, like the little problems, you'll scale them with you."

CLOSING

Whether you're running a solo practice or managing a multi-location operation, Beth's insights remind us that growth doesn't have to come at the expense of quality care or team wellbeing. Sometimes the answer isn't working harder - it's working smarter by building the right support systems from the start.

Bio:

Beth Lachance is the founder and CEO of Global Medical Virtual Assistants, a company that provides HIPAA-compliant virtual staffing solutions to medical practices nationwide. With over 22 years of leadership experience in the surgical device, pharmaceutical, and specialty pharmacy industries, Beth combines deep healthcare knowledge with entrepreneurial expertise to solve administrative overwhelm in medical practices.

A former Division I gymnast at the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, Beth has scaled GMVA from a small team to over 1,350 skilled medical virtual assistants. Her mission is to free healthcare professionals from administrative burden so they can focus on exceptional patient care while building sustainable, thriving practices.

Beth is passionate about empowering women in leadership and driving innovation in healthcare operations.

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200 Episodes Deep: Season 9 Kicks Off with New Vision for Healthcare Practices – A Special Snack Episode, EP 200

Episode 200 marks a significant milestone for the Thriving Practice Podcast, celebrating not just the achievement but the entire healthcare community that has grown alongside it. Tracy and Miranda offer an intimate look at how the podcast has evolved, what drives their content decisions, and the exciting changes coming in future episodes. This behind-the-scenes conversation reveals the heart behind the podcast and the movement it has become.

Key Highlights:

The podcast's evolution from experimental project to community movement

New content formats including association partnerships and episode series

Introduction of beta sponsorship program to expand reach and production quality

The importance of balancing 10,000-foot strategic vision with actionable implementation

How listener feedback, especially love for "snack episodes," shapes content direction

The democratic nature of the podcast as free, accessible support for all healthcare providers

Memorable Quotes: "Momentum is our friend. We can take our hard earned wisdom and build from that... it feels like a movement."

"From the perspective of above the mountains, nature is doing what it does, and it's handled... nothing can be insurmountable for us."

"This is on demand, it's always going to be free... It's evergreen and it's fully democratic."

Closing: This milestone episode captures the genuine passion driving the Thriving Practice Podcast. As Tracy and Miranda look toward the future, their commitment to serving healthcare providers remains unwavering, with exciting developments that promise to deepen the impact of this thriving community.

Miranda’s Bio:

Miranda Dorta, B.F.A. (she/her/hers) is the Manager of Operations and PR at Tracy Cherpeski International. A graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design with expertise in writing and creative storytelling, Miranda brings her skills in operations, public relations, and communication strategies to the Thriving Practice community. Based in the City of Oaks, she joined the team in 2021 and has been instrumental in streamlining operations while managing the company's public presence since 2022.

Tracy’s Bio:

Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Tracy Cherpeski International and Thriving Practice Community. As a Business Consultant and Executive Coach, Tracy helps healthcare practice owners scale their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing. Through strategic planning, leadership development, and mindset mastery, she empowers clients to reclaim their time and reach their potential. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Tracy serves clients worldwide and is the Executive Producer and Host of the Thriving Practice podcast. Her guiding philosophy: Survival is not enough; life is meant to be celebrated.

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The Movement We're Building (And You're Invited) Season 8 Finale, EP 199

In this Season 8 finale, Tracy reflects on eight months of breakthrough conversations and authentic connections while revealing what's been happening behind the scenes. She shares favorite moments including Dr. Ruth Mannschreck's inspiring time freedom story, Jennifer Raams' insights on emotional intelligence, and David Ford's MedWay innovation. Tracy discusses her surprising passion for addressing the clinical-to-CEO skills gap and announces expanding partnerships with medical associations in California, Georgia, and beyond as they build toward the global Thriving Practice Community launch.

Key Highlights:

The overwhelming success of authentic "snack episodes" with Miranda

Dr. Ruth Mannschreck's journey from forced practice reduction to time freedom mastery

Partnership expansion with medical associations across multiple states

The critical importance of "switching hats" between clinician and CEO roles

Behind-the-scenes look at building a global practice owner community

Preview of Season 9's deeper CEO development focus

Episode 200 milestone celebration announcement

Memorable Quotes: "The moment you open your practice, you become a CEO, but nobody ever tells you that."

"Practice owners are absolutely starving for authentic connection and real, unscripted conversations."

"The gap between clinical excellence and CEO thinking is so much wider than I initially realized."

"You became a CEO the moment you opened your practice - Season 9 is about helping you fully step into that role with confidence, community, and clarity."

"We're not just creating content - we're building a movement."

This season finale captures the momentum building in the practice owner community while setting the stage for even greater impact in Season 9.

Tracy’s Bio:

Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Tracy Cherpeski International and Thriving Practice Community. As a Business Consultant and Executive Coach, Tracy helps healthcare practice owners scale their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing. Through strategic planning, leadership development, and mindset mastery, she empowers clients to reclaim their time and reach their potential. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Tracy serves clients worldwide and is the Executive Producer and Host of the Thriving Practice podcast. Her guiding philosophy: Survival is not enough; life is meant to be celebrated.

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The Chief Complaint Driving Healthcare Providers to Burnout (And the Intensive That's Changing Everything) - A Special Snack Episode, EP 198

Tracy Cherpeski shares insights into the Practice Growth Readiness Intensive, a four-week program designed to help healthcare practice owners move from feeling overwhelmed to gaining crystal-clear direction. This snack episode reveals the market gaps driving demand for this intensive format and the measurable outcomes participants can expect.

Key Highlights:

The number one complaint from practice owners is always time, followed closely by burnout and isolation

Most clients don't see bottom-line changes for 90 days, but the intensive provides immediate clarity and a strategic roadmap

Ideal participants have at least one year of practice ownership experience and are financially stable enough to invest in growth

Physical changes often appear first - better sleep, reduced tension, faster decision-making

Average client ROI is 10x within 12-18 months, with most recouping their investment within 90 days

The program bridges the gap between clinical excellence and business leadership confidence

Memorable Quotes: "There's such a difference between clinical excellence and confidence and business excellence and confidence."

"A lot of times once we get to know somebody, they'll confess later: 'Yeah, I feel like I don't really know what I'm doing,' and that's incredibly difficult for any highly trained professional to admit."

"You set the tone for the culture of your practice. And that can have an incredibly positive impact on your entire team, and that goes out to your patients and that ripples out to your community."

This episode offers a rare glimpse into the methodology behind helping healthcare providers reclaim their time while building thriving, sustainable practices. Whether you're feeling stuck or ready to scale, Tracy's insights provide a clear path forward.

Miranda’s Bio:

Miranda Dorta, B.F.A. (she/her/hers) is the Manager of Operations and PR at Tracy Cherpeski International. A graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design with expertise in writing and creative storytelling, Miranda brings her skills in operations, public relations, and communication strategies to the Thriving Practice community. Based in the City of Oaks, she joined the team in 2021 and has been instrumental in streamlining operations while managing the company's public presence since 2022.

Tracy’s Bio:

Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Tracy Cherpeski International and Thriving Practice Community. As a Business Consultant and Executive Coach, Tracy helps healthcare practice owners scale their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing. Through strategic planning, leadership development, and mindset mastery, she empowers clients to reclaim their time and reach their potential. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Tracy serves clients worldwide and is the Executive Producer and Host of the Thriving Practice podcast. Her guiding philosophy: Survival is not enough; life is meant to be celebrated.

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From Prohibition to Profit: How One Entrepreneur is Connecting Doctors and Cannabis Patients Featuring Aspen Noonan, EP 197

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Aspen Noonan, founder of Elevate Holistics, a pioneering telemedicine company connecting healthcare providers with patients seeking medical cannabis recommendations across 18 states. Aspen pulls back the curtain on this highly regulated but often misunderstood industry, sharing insights about entrepreneurship in the cannabis space, the complex patchwork of state laws, and innovative ways healthcare providers can support their patients while creating new revenue streams.

Key Highlights

The Business Model: How Elevate Holistics streamlines the medical cannabis recommendation process with 2-hour turnaround times and comprehensive support systems

Regulatory Landscape: Why cannabis laws vary dramatically between states and how entrepreneurs must constantly adapt to survive

Recommendations vs. Prescriptions: The crucial distinction that affects liability, insurance coverage, and provider participation

Provider Opportunities: Affiliate programs and educational resources that allow healthcare professionals to help patients without directly handling cannabis recommendations

Industry Insights: Why Oklahoma has 2,000+ dispensaries and how medical cards create value even in recreational states through tax savings

Personal Stories: Aspen's journey from 10 years on ADHD medication to cannabis advocacy and the life-changing patient stories that drive her mission

Future Outlook: Potential for insurance coverage, employee benefits, and the role of states' rights in cannabis policy

Memorable Quotes

"Change is the only constant in my world. The ability to pivot in this industry has been what stands the test of time."

"Cannabis used to be the first thing you tried. You used to try plants first, and then you would go to science. Now it's the opposite."

"I think cannabis can be seen as a crutch. When you break a leg, you need crutches. But when you're introducing alternative medicine, you use it for a little while and see what else can I fix?"

"This industry is highly regulated, but not enforced. The blame goes to a lot of different places."

Closing

Aspen's work at Elevate Holistics demonstrates how entrepreneurs can build meaningful businesses while navigating complex regulatory environments and genuinely helping people access alternative healthcare options. Her insights into the cannabis industry reveal opportunities for healthcare providers to better serve their patients while exploring new revenue streams in this rapidly evolving space.

Bio:

Aspen Noonan is the CEO of Elevate Holistics, a telehealth platform connecting patients with medical cannabis recommendations across 18 states. Since becoming CEO in June 2024, Aspen has been driving the company's ambitious goal of helping one million individuals obtain legal access to medical marijuana. With deep expertise in cannabis industry regulations and a commitment to holistic health, she has positioned Elevate Holistics as a leader in making medical cannabis accessible through streamlined online services and comprehensive patient support.

Find Aspen:

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Why Your Patients Need More Than Medical Care: The Functional Nutrition Solution Featuring Andrea Nakayama, EP 196

In this enlightening conversation, Andrea Nakayama breaks down the often confusing world of functional nutrition and explains how it can transform healthcare practices. Rather than focusing on restrictive diets or one-size-fits-all protocols, functional nutrition takes a personalized approach that considers each individual's unique history, physiology, and circumstances. Andrea shares how practitioners can integrate these services into their practices to better serve patients with chronic health issues, while working collaboratively within appropriate scopes of practice.

Key Highlights

What functional nutrition really is: A systems-based approach focused on individual experience rather than dietary protocols, guided by the principles that "everything is connected, we are all unique, and all things matter"

The three-tier framework:

Tier 1: Non-negotiables (sleep, digestion, blood sugar balance)

Tier 2: Deficiency to sufficiency

Tier 3: Dismantling dysfunction

The "three roots, many branches" model: Addressing genes, digestion, and inflammation as the root causes while symptoms and diagnoses are the branches

Scope of practice collaboration: How functional nutrition practitioners can work alongside medical providers to fill gaps in care without overstepping boundaries

Making nutrition accessible: Moving away from expensive testing and supplements toward a way of thinking that can be democratized for all income levels

The bike lane analogy: Understanding your personal "path" versus "poison ivy" - what foods and choices work for your individual physiology and circumstances

Business integration options: How practices can incorporate functional nutrition through hiring trained practitioners, referral networks, or additional training

Patient empowerment: Helping individuals understand their personal "mediators" - what makes them feel better or worse - rather than following rigid good/bad food rules

Memorable Quotes

"We may be asking too much of our doctors... when we ask them about nutrition, that's an out of scope question."

"If somebody's having an issue with compliance, I say we didn't match the pacing of our recommendations to that person's aptitude to be able to take them on."

"Your body is likely more functional than it's not. It's doing a lot for you. And when it comes to a functional practice, we're fine tuning the dial."

"We're not replacing [medical care] - food is better, lifestyle should do it. We're augmenting all the different things that person is experiencing."

"It's not about a protocol, it's about making steps forward and working within frameworks that help people know where to start."

"We can't walk a very narrow path for a very long time, and we shouldn't."

"When we know our mediators, we're making the decisions, we're not farming out our agency for somebody else to tell us we're good or bad."

Bio:

As the host of the 15-Minute Matrix Podcast and the founder of Functional Nutrition Alliance, Andrea is leading thousands of students and practitioners around the globe in a revolution to offer better solutions to the growing chronic illness epidemic. By highlighting the importance of systems biology, root cause methodology, and therapeutic partnerships, she helps historically underserved individuals reclaim ownership of their health.

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Truly Passive Income Podcast

How to Buy Future Days Off Featuring Clint Harris, EP 195

Former medical sales professional Clint Harris discovered that financial independence alone wasn't enough - he needed time and location freedom too. After building 14 Airbnbs that replaced his income but kept him essentially on call, Clint pivoted to truly passive investments. Now a General Partner at Nomad Capital, he helps others break free from trading time for money through alternative investments like converting vacant big box stores into storage facilities.

Episode Highlights

The Three Pillars of Investment Success: Time, experience, and money - and how to partner with others when you only have one of the three

Why "Saving Your Way to Retirement" No Longer Works: The impact of inflation and fiscal policy on traditional retirement strategies

The Millennial Storage Boom: How 34% of the population is driving demand for climate-controlled storage as lifestyle extensions

Independence of Purpose: Moving beyond financial freedom to create time and location independence

The 2008 Wake-Up Call: Why market volatility at the wrong time can derail decades of traditional investing

Community Impact: How converting vacant buildings revitalizes small towns while generating returns

Vertical Integration Strategy: The importance of controlling every aspect of the investment process

Memorable Quotes

"Financial independence is really not what I was after. I'm looking for financial time and location independence."

"If you buy enough of them, you can break this cycle of trading your time for money and paying for other people's days off."

"Independence of purpose is where you go where you want, when you want, do what you want, you raise your kids the way that you want."

"Money can't buy happiness, but what it can buy is ease and options."

"Instead of you getting up and working and trading more of your time for dollars, you can put that money to work. And that money is getting up and out of bed and going to work on the days that you don't feel like it."

"The most important thing is start with the end goal in mind and work backwards. And the end goal in mind should be purpose, happiness, ability to have a positive impact on the people around you."

Closing Thoughts

Clint's story reminds us that true wealth isn't just about accumulating money - it's about designing a life that aligns with our values and gives us the freedom to focus on what matters most. Whether through storage facilities, multifamily properties, or other alternative investments, the key is finding partners who share your ethics and vision, then building assets that work for you instead of the other way around.

The conversation challenges us to examine our own relationship with work and money. Are we building toward independence of purpose, or are we trapped in the cycle of trading time for dollars? As Clint puts it, the goal isn't just to make money - it's to buy future days off and create a legacy that extends far beyond our bank accounts.

Bio:

Clint Harris has a 15-year background in medical device sales. Clint has always been in the business of innovation, and creative solutions. In addition to his work with Nomad, Clint owns a strong multifamily real estate portfolio and built a highly successful property management company from the ground up with an emphasis on streamlining automation and vertical integration. Clint’s core belief is that financial independence, when combined with location and time independence, creates independence of Purpose. He joined Nomad with the goal of sharing that vision with our investors daily.

Find Clint:

Website

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The Clinical Mindset That's Killing Your Practice Growth – A Special Snack Episode, EP 194

Tracy Cherpeski reveals why healthcare providers struggle with the business side of practice ownership and shares practical strategies for overcoming the mental barriers that keep talented practitioners stuck. This candid conversation explores the disconnect between clinical training and business success, offering actionable mindset shifts that unlock breakthrough results.

Key Highlights:

The "hat switching" technique for separating patient care from business strategy

Why imposter syndrome affects even the most successful healthcare providers

How to maintain confidence during inevitable growth plateaus and setbacks

The practical approach to turning unlimited potential into achievable business goals

Why connecting with other practice owners accelerates your success

Memorable Quotes: "When you're seeing patients, you're not thinking about money. Please don't be thinking about money. But while you're on the business strategy side, you gotta track your KPIs, you gotta know your numbers."

"Most of us, even experts, are making educated guesses based on history... but sometimes we're still guessing and we're taking an informed leap of faith."

"98% of the people that we've worked with would still do what they do even if they didn't need to make money, because they love it, because they feel called to it."

This episode perfectly captures the authentic dynamic between Marina and Tracy while addressing the real challenges practice owners face when scaling their businesses. Whether you're just starting out or looking to break through a growth plateau, you'll find practical strategies you can implement immediately.

Miranda’s Bio:

Miranda Dorta, B.F.A. (she/her/hers) is the Manager of Operations and PR at Tracy Cherpeski International. A graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design with expertise in writing and creative storytelling, Miranda brings her skills in operations, public relations, and communication strategies to the Thriving Practice community. Based in the City of Oaks, she joined the team in 2021 and has been instrumental in streamlining operations while managing the company's public presence since 2022.

Tracy’s Bio:

Tracy Cherpeski, MBA, MA, CPSC (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Tracy Cherpeski International and Thriving Practice Community. As a Business Consultant and Executive Coach, Tracy helps healthcare practice owners scale their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing. Through strategic planning, leadership development, and mindset mastery, she empowers clients to reclaim their time and reach their potential. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Tracy serves clients worldwide and is the Executive Producer and Host of the Thriving Practice podcast. Her guiding philosophy: Survival is not enough; life is meant to be celebrated.

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