Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Haley Panka, co-founder of Panka Natural Health, located in Hopkins, MN, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I run a naturopathic medicine clinic with my husband and business partner, Dr. Jacob Panka. We founded Panka Natural Health in 2018 to provide integrative and holistic healthcare. Our patients are looking for natural treatment options for their health concerns. My focus areas include women’s health, hormones, diabetes, pediatrics, healthy aging, and cancer prevention.

Tell us about yourself

I am a naturopathic doctor. I believe health can be created by identifying and treating the root cause of disease. I perform holistic health evaluations, run clinical laboratory testing, and recommend personalized patient treatment plans. I integrate evidence-informed naturopathic medicine with conventional standard-of-care principles to optimize patient care.

I enjoy educating my patients about the foundations of healthy eating, exercise, stress management, and sleep support. Treatment plans also include recommendations for dietary supplements and herbal medicines. I’m a holistic practitioner who helps people walk through the steps to achieve health.

I am a registered naturopathic doctor by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice. I am trained in primary care and have a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine. I’m also on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Creating and implementing a workplace wellness program for two large food manufacturing companies. My husband and I created, organized, and taught 17 health education classes on the worksite and provided naturopathic medicine services for employees.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Marketing for services and products. There are many ways to market your business, such as maintaining the website, creating email newsletters, writing blogs, and having a social media presence. However, it takes a significant amount of time to create content. My priority is taking care of my patients, but behind the scenes, there are so many other tasks that need to be done.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Talk with someone in marketing about your website and ways to help reach your target audience.
  2. Find ways to generate passive income.
  3. If you provide one-on-one health services, schedule specific weekly times to focus on business administrative tasks, work on marketing projects, and allow extra time to finish your charting. This will help you stay organized and prevent burnout.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.pankanaturalhealth.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/panka.naturalhealth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panka_naturalhealth/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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