Time With The Boss

Dr. Kristin Oliver
Bluetail Medical Group
Website: www.bluetailmedicalgroup.com
Industry: health care

Education: Bachelor of Science from the University of Notre Dame, Doctor of Medicine from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Master of Public Health from the University of Missouri

Family: husband, Dr. Todd Oliver, and two children

What is your mission?
To provide patients a viable and high-quality biologic alternative to surgery for many orthopedic diseases and injuries.

What was your first job?
Washing dishes for a Friday night fish fry — handwashing!

What was your worst job?
The aforementioned first job.

What led you to your industry?
The realization that viable alternatives to surgery exist in the realm of biologics. This realization came at the same time medical device companies offered new technologies to capture the stem cells and concentrated platelets necessary to make it happen.

What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
Launch an offshoot corporation, Bluetail Affiliates. This new business offers our protocols and knowledge to fledgling businesses/physicians across the globe. In return, we are able to use their outcomes data to show the efficacy and safety of autologous stem cell and platelet-rich plasma treatments.

Who is your industry role model?
Dr. James Andrews, who is known as the pre-eminent sports medicine orthopedic surgeon in the United States. Our dream is to be the regenerative orthopedic equivalent.

How do you try to differentiate your business from others in your industry?
By remaining honest with our patients while staying state-of-the-art. We can help with many conditions, but others we cannot. Creating false expectations is unfair to patients and their families. As forerunners in the field, we are able to remain abreast of new research and technologies.

What’s the hottest trend in your industry, and are you going to jump on board?
The hottest trend is to advertise that autologous stem cells can “cure” a variety of diseases from Parkinson’s disease to COPD. We are not going to jump on board with these practices. The FDA in December specifically set forward a set of guidelines outlawing such treatments and claims, stating they were unsafe and unproven. We support the FDA’s ruling and look forward to solid research while continuing to offer proven solutions to our clients.

What’s the hardest part of your job?
Nothing — it is the best job in the world.

What’s the best part?
When a patient tells me I changed their life — crazy stuff!

What best advice would you share with new entrepreneurs?
Don’t be afraid to follow your dream, but always have a solid business plan in your pocket.

What’s your favorite place in St. Louis?
The Botanical Garden.

What book is on your nightstand?
“Plum Island” by Nelson DeMille.

What has made you successful in your industry and in St. Louis?
Determination, hard work and the love of every patient who puts their trust in me.

What do you like to do in your free time?
What free time? Just kidding — exercise, garden and fish.