10 Questions with ... Daliah Wachs, MD

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Board Certified physician in Family Medicine, oracticing in Las Vegas and owner/operator of Integrative Family Medicine. Host, syndicated talk show and local show for KDWN/Las Vegas. Also heard on KFNX/Phoenix, WZFG (AM 1100 The Flag)/Fargo, KBOZ/Bozeman, and the Big Sky Radio stations in Billings, Harin, and Lockwood, MT.

1. From medicine to radio (while still in medicine) -- why radio? What made you choose to add radio to your career?

I've always wanted to be in entertainment in one form or another, but I didn't begin broadcasting with that intention. When the economy turned for the worse in 2008, I put myself on the air to give free medical advice to the Las Vegas Community. Once I was on the air, I realized what I felt devoid of after years of schooling and making wisecracks at the slide projector: an audience. And what fueled my passion for this was listeners' and patients' response to humor. Once a listener hears that their "radio doctor" occasionaly sits on a hemorrhoid pillow while seeing patients, they realize their ailments may not be so embarrasing, and will hopefully approach their physician and get treated.

2. In talking to callers, what do you think the attitude of the general public is towards the medical establishment today? Do people still hold doctors in high esteem, or do you sense skepticism, or hostility, or a greater interest in alternative theories? Where do doctors stand with the public in 2010?

Physicians have been stereotyped as wealthy, elitist snobs who have God-complexes. I unwittingly have demolished that image of me when I've disclosed on air what I owe in student loans, what I've been reimbursed by insurance companies for a rectal exam, and how I myself need to pray when I make a diagnosis and hope it's the right one. When people realize that a doctor can be human, they have less unrealistic expectations of them (i.e. preventing cancer), and also gain a respect for what the physician has to bear.

I believe there is still high esteem of doctors in terms of their level of knowledge, yet skepticism lies with the relationships physicians may have with pharmaceutical companies and the government. Patients want to feel they have power over choices involving their health and, rightfully so, need convincing of why a particular treatment plan has been chosen. Alternative treatments are still as popular as ever, but I've noticed many listeners over the last decade have found mixed results. So with rising insurance costs, questions about the future of healthcare, and many physicians disillusioned and disgruntled with reimbursments and malpractice, I unfortunately forsee a continued strain of the doctor-patient relationship with less cohesion and more distrust of either side.

3. What's the most common area of concern among your callers? What area of health draws the most questions?

The most common question I receive is how the health care law will affect us, specifically access to physicians, specialists, insurance costs, and brand name medicines. However, the most common health topic is lack of sex drive in women. Men will call more frequently than women asking why their wife of 20-plus years aren't interested. You'd think by the amount of calls on this subject, more are hoping we discover an aphrodisiac rather than a cure for cancer!

4. Do you find that the information available on the Internet has changed how your patients deal with you? Do you find them asking better questions or are they overloaded with bad or misleading information?

I am ecstatic that patients can look to the internet for material. Many times, educating a patient is half the treatment, so if someone surfs a legitimate website and learns, for example, what foods to avoid if afflicted with diabetes, it saves me the 30 minutes in explaining why a hot fudge sundae may not be a wise food choice for breakfast. However, occasionally, I get a patient who will ask me if his hernia would resolve if he did "Kegels" (a vaginal muscle exercise) and I have to just shake my head and tell him to use the computer for Solitare instead.

5. If you had to pick one, either radio or medicine, what do you think you'd be doing right now?

Definitely radio, but while keeping fully abreast of the latest in medicine. I don't know if I could ever close up shop completely because listeners like hearing what I saw in clinic that week, or what's the latest on swine flu, etc. But I could spend all hours of the day in front of a microphone. I love it!!!!

6. Of what are you most proud?

As much as I want to say some of my medical poems... yes, I can find words that rhyme with testicle... I am most proud of the night I delivered twin breech infants. A Native American woman in her late 20's with a poor grasp of the english language came in one evening -- I was doing a 36 hour shift -- in full labor. I didn't have time to ultrasound her to see the position of the baby (she only thought she was pregnant with one) and the child came out breech within seconds of my getting her into a room. I had never delivered a breech before so was pretty excited when I delivered him without complication. As I was trying to deliver the placenta, a less-pink tushie starts poking out, and I'm afraid this one was severely compromised. Trying to get the already flustered nurse's attention I whispered across the room, "we have another," while pulling it out and trying to resuscitate it. The baby girl eventually turned as pink as her brother, and, once I cleaned myself off, I did the dance.

7. Who do you consider your mentors and inspirations in radio and in life?

The list is long so I'll try to be brief. Dr. Dean Edell and Dr. Laura Schlessinger have been huge inspirations in that they paved the way for health talk radio to be successful and entertaining. Jerry Doyle captivates me by his intelligence and wit as does Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Glenn Beck, Mark Levin and Dave Ramsey. As for mentors, Phil Hendrie is one. The man is a genius and has taught me that no subject is too bold for radio. Phil has given me so much advice and has been there for support. Gabe Hobbs and Holland Cooke as well have been unbelievably supportive. But my biggest mentor has been Heidi Harris. She has been there for me week after week with encouragement and advice and I wouldn't be where I am today in radio if it wasn't for her.

8. What do you do for fun?

Spending time with family is the best part of my day. My boys are 10 and 8, so when I'm not nagging at them, or yelling or breaking up a fight, the 30 seconds left in the day is cuddle and tickle time. I also love to sing, workout and collect medical antiques. My syringe from the Civil War used to treat syphillis is my finest piece.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _____________.

...eating chocolate.

10. What's the best advice you've ever gotten? The worst?

The best advice I've ever received was from my mother who encouraged me to go into radio. Her father was in radio and she thought I'd be a perfect fit.

The worst advice was being told to try having my children without an epidural.