Name: Dr. Dianne Stone
Location: Colorado
Company: Dr. Dianne Stone
Professional Industry: Medicine
Job Title: Gynecologist
WIXII-ISM™ FROM DIANNE:
“Shame never motivated anyone to make a positive change in their life. Be kind with yourself and with others.”
DIANNE’S STORY:
Meet our featured Wixii™, Dr. Dianne Stone. She is 58 years old and stepmother to two boys and a girl, ages 29, 27, and 25. She studied medicine at the University of Colorado. She currently is a board certified gynecologist, specializing in women’s health and wellness, and in particular, hormone balance.
Dr. Stone, who is not a natural athlete, competed in first triathlon at the age of 57 and plans on training and doing it again this year.
DIANNE’S CAREER PATH:
Dr. Stone graduated medical school in 1983 and completed her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology in 1987. Since then she has delivered over 1000 babies, performed numerous gynecologic surgeries, and been privileged enough to be involved of the care of women of all ages for the past 27 years. Currently, she has a gynecology practice that focuses on a more holistic approach to health and wellness, specializing in hormone balance.
DIANNE’S MINDSET AND WORK-LIFE MIX:
I’m probably enjoying my work, my medical practice more now than at any time during my career. My practice is currently set up to allow me to spend up to an hour with a patient and this low volume, in-depth approach to women’s healthcare is truly a delight to be involved with.
As I approach 60 (dang, when did that happen?), I’ve been able to move towards a more healthy balance of work and life. In my early years, practicing obstetrics and doing gynecologic surgery I spent long hours at the hospital. Now, with a low volume, office-based practice I’m home at night and on the weekends. I’ve always counseled patients about getting a good night’s sleep—now I can practice what I preach.
Work: how do you “think outside the box” with respect to your work-life potential and opportunities?
Changing from a high-volume insurance based gynecology practice to a low volume practice, where the patient, not the insurance company determines how long a visit should run, has allowed me to provide a whole, new level of medical care. My areas of expertise, hormone balance, weight loss, perimenopause and menopause, female sexuality, and bone and heart health don’t lend themselves easily to the normal 10-15 minute office visit. My extra time with the patient allows me the gift of looking at her “whole” life and this holistic approach lets me individualize care for each patient.
Have you made (or would you like to make) to better manage your work-life mix?
I’m taking a course right now on female spirituality and leadership. One of the best suggestions from the course is to create a morning ritual that combines movement, meditation, and gratitude. I’ve always been one of those people who stays in bed until the very last minute so it’s been a challenge to carve out the time in the morning for this practice. However, the importance of doing this resonates inside of me, even if it’s just 15 minutes at the beginning of every day and my goal is to make it a permanent part of my morning.
What advice would you give an earlier version of yourself?
Don’t worry so much about what people think about you. Just be yourself. Don’t make decisions based on a fear of confrontation.
