Executive Medicine of Texas
Mark Anderson has used community and media outreach efforts to raise awareness of important health issues and to leverage an international profile for his corporate health care practice based in Southlake, Executive Medicine of Texas. Anderson, who was introduced to medicine during his years working as a veterinarian’s assistant after school and on weekends, has authored three popular books, co-hosts a Dallas-based radio program and hosts a Hogs & Hearts motorcycle rally each year to raise money for charity. “I worked after school and weekends and was involved in everything from office visits to surgeries,” Anderson says of his first view of a practice. Finding veterinary school more selective than the medical school, the young Anderson chose to become a physician. Anderson attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He now practices family medicine at Healthcare Associates of Irving, is co-host, along with Dr. Walter Gaman and Judy Gaman of the nationally syndicated Staying Young radio show, aired locally on 99.9 FM in Fort Worth and 95.5 FM in Arlington. The topics range from Alzheimer’s disease to hormonal therapy for women and the future of medicine. Anderson has written three books, including Age to Perfection: How to Thrive to 100 Healthy, Happy, and Wise and Stay Young, co-written with the Gamans. Aside from his annual motorcycle rally, which last year raised money for Our Children’s House at Baylor Medical Center Irving, and his multiple media commitments, Anderson also visits community groups and nonprofit organizations to share tips on how to stay healthy. He and Gaman also run Executive Medicine of Texas in Southlake, which provides “concierge medicine” primary care, exams and imaging services to corporate executives, athletes and other prominent individuals. What drew you to the health care field? Initially, a veterinarian introduced me to medicine. However, medical school was easier to be admitted to than vet school, so a change was made. Who is your biggest inspiration? In high school, I had a teacher who had such great faith in me and encouraged me to pursue a health-related career, that I decided to accept her confidence in me and pursue medicine. What is your advice for people getting into the health care field? For young people entering any field, the advice is to ‘follow your passion.’ If your passion is health care, then pursue that. Change will happen so fast and furious that it is important to learn, to adapt and to enjoy what you do. – Bill Bowen