Growing up watching my dad own and operate his own company has given me knowledge of the gains and setbacks of entrepreneurial ownership. I was able to see first hand how the pandemic shifted day-to-day operations. As I think about my dreams of opening my own rheumatology practice, it is important to consider how the pandemic has not only transformed the business world but also the medical field. My dad, James Partridge, is an entrepreneur and is very skilled with people, money, business, and all the qualities that running a program or business requires. He has inspired me to become an entrepreneur as well and has given me the confidence to have these goals and thought processes of my future plan. The aftermath of a pandemic has many implications that change the world of entrepreneurship, but many new advancements as well. The progression of communication in technology, such as telehealth to have doctors appointments 100% online became popular. New businesses in the medical field benefited from this technology to be more efficient and convenient for their patients. I live in the bordering rural neighborhoods of Clemson, SC. Even though there is a big university here, the closest rheumatology office is 45 minutes to an hour away. I will keep this in mind for when I open my practice. The ability to order goods online became more obtainable for delivering medicine, food, and other products, making efficient processes for productivity. Access to these new technologies to start a new business as an entrepreneur can help boost profitability. The pandemic also encouraged many to consider a more flexible work schedule. This allowed employees to flex between working from home and the workplace, creating a positive work-life balance, less stress, and more productivity. Although we have had several advancements, significant barriers still remain for starting a business post-pandemic. My dad taught me to not only look for the good, but to also consider possible setbacks in order to avoid or prevent them, to have more successful outcomes. Finding a building to host a space to start a business is one of the hardest hoops to jump through due to real estate inflation. Other barriers for an employer included labor shortages leading to the demand of higher wages, making it extremely hard to hire staff. Workers gained leverage to request more substantial benefits, higher pay, and more flexible hours, including working from home. Ultimately, starting a business as an entrepreneur after a global pandemic can introduce opportunities such as technological advancements, or barriers such as hiring proper staff, but because of the confidence and knowledge my dad has given me, I am aware of my goals and limits to build my future. I feel confident I can open my rheumatology practice in this post-pandemic era. I want my practice to be a positive environment for my patients, staff and fellow doctors. I have the drive for the challenge and I am willing to be open minded to the changes our world demands.

Growing up watching my parents own and operate their own company has given me knowledge of the gains and setbacks of entrepreneurial ownership. I was able to see first hand how the pandemic shifted day-to-day operations. As I think about my dreams of opening my own rheumatology practice, it is important to consider how the pandemic has not only transformed the business world but also the medical field. The aftermath of a pandemic has many implications that changed the world of entrepreneurship, but many new advancements as well. The progression of communication in technology, such as telehealth to have doctors' appointments 100% online became popular. New businesses in the medical field benefited from this technology to be more efficient and convenient for their patients. This also opens the door for any profession to allow work to be completed electronically from the comfort of their home. I live in the bordering rural neighborhoods of Clemson, SC. Even though there is a big university here, the closest rheumatology office is 45 minutes to an hour away. I will keep this in mind for when I open my practice, and offer the opportunity to provide access to technology such as telehealth. Once businesses reopened and supply shortages were resolved, the ability to order goods online became more obtainable for delivering medicine, food, and other products, making efficient processes for productivity. Access to these new technologies to start a new business as an entrepreneur can help boost profitability. The pandemic also encouraged many to consider a more flexible work schedule. This allowed employees to flex between working from home and the workplace, creating a positive work-life balance, less stress, and more productivity. Although we have had several advancements, significant barriers still remain for starting a business post-pandemic. Finding a building to host a space to start a business is one of the hardest hoops to jump through due to real estate inflation. And while telehealth seems good all around, it also has its setbacks when not appropriately used in the workplace and requires more training for employees. Some patients even may be frustrated that an online appointment still costs the same as in-person. Other barriers for an employer included labor shortages leading to the demand of higher wages, making it extremely hard to hire staff. Workers gained leverage to request more substantial benefits, higher pay, and more flexible hours, including working from home as needed. Ultimately, starting a business as an entrepreneur after a global pandemic can introduce opportunities such as technological advancements, efficiency and flexible work schedules, or barriers such as, finding office space, hiring proper staff, and wage increases. Despite the barriers, I feel confident I can open my rheumatology practice in this post-pandemic era. I want my practice to be a positive environment for my patients, staff and fellow doctors. I have the drive for the challenge and I am willing to be open minded to the changes our world demands.