Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Wade.
Hi Andrew, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Andrew Wade and I am the owner of the Registered Dietitian Group Practice ‘Case Specific Nutrition’. I am a Registered Dietitian by profession, and a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. I started CSN 11 years ago at our first location in Pittsburgh, PA with the goal of providing personalized nutrition education that was accessible and effective. In the first year, it became clear how many people needed support in changing habits, and creating a lifestyle that allows them to not just survive, but thrive. I began accepting insurance to improve access, and traveled all over the city working with various health professionals supporting their clients and helping improve their outcomes. In 2019 while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro I had a realization I wanted to help more people and improve access to care beyond myself. I returned from that trip and began the exciting process of expansion through hiring and training. Fast Forward 5 years and we have expanded to 10 locations and 30 practitioners with advanced services alongside our core habit services such as lab testing, genetic testing, gut testing, all in the name of optimizing client care and outcomes. We are a group even more devoted to the mission of meeting clients where they are physically, mentally, emotionally and financially and work tirelessly to shift the model of healthcare from its current state of survive to thrive. When I am not working on CSN, I enjoy traveling, hiking with my dog, exercising and spending time with friends and loved ones.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing a business has a ton of barriers and obstacles. The most difficult ones I have had to work through along the way are they wild west that is Insurance reimbursement, the careful art of expansion and hiring without sacrificing quality, and scaling our operational systems to support more clients more effectively. Add a pandemic coronavirus and the ever evolving chaos that is the health insurance landscape to the mission, and we have the biggest barriers to the mission of high quality care at scale over the past 5 years.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a Dietitian Group Practice committed to supporting clients in their health, wellness and fitness goals. From athletes and eating disorders, to gut health and chronic disease management, we are here for patients in office and virtually with education, resources and accountability. We are a group of Registered Dietitians, which are nationally recognized medical specialists, and our role is the proactive interventions for your optimal health. We are currently spread across 3 states, and work with a variety of patients from athletes looking to take their performance to the next level, to individuals managing chronic diseases like diabetes and high cholesterol. We also work with individuals troubleshooting gut issues and inflammatory conditions, as well as eating disorders and individuals working on their relationship with food. The reality is most people would benefit from working with a Dietitian. We help people figure out “how” to make new habits stick, and work closely with clients over the period of months and years to build a powerful baseline of healthy habits.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I think I could write a book on this one. There are so many obstacles on the entrepreneurial roller coaster. The most important tip I would give is to develop a growth mindset that helps you celebrate the wins and learn from the losses. Business (and habits) are not perfect. Start with great intentions, a great idea, and then work to make it better everyday. Be open to feedback from your customers, and realize that your business will improve by you taking action, not by sitting on the sideline brainstorming. I think having people cheering for you, and having mentors challenging you are vital parts to success, otherwise the “why am I doing this” can overtake many in tough times. Stay committed to “why” you are in business and keep connected to who you are trying to serve. An impact based business will always have a way forward. Keep learning, keep going!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Casespecificnutrition.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casespecificnutrition?igsh=eGRpbDRzd2xqMGRn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaseSpecificNutrition?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/case-specific-nutrition/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@casespecificnutrition?si=DcWRtCoZ95wpRYQo
