athenista Spotlight: Meet Danny Wong, Small Groups Sales Executive
athenaPulse: What is your role at athenahealth?
Danny Wong: I am a Small Group Sales Executive and am responsible for selling athenahealth services in the Midwest states. Dealing solely with small groups, my focus is on introducing practices with 1-3 doctors to the athenahealth solution. I have been with the company for about five years now in a few different positions, which I feel helps me to attest to the breadth and value of our solution. I started my career at athena in Enrollment Services where I assisted practices with implementing our solutions. I then transitioned to the sales department where I worked as an Inside Sales Executive. In this capacity, I reached out to larger medical groups in an attempt to generate leads and support the outside Sales Executive. Last year, I transitioned into the Small Group Sales Executive role.
aP: What do you do in a typical day at work?
DW: The majority of my day is spent interacting in some fashion with doctors or practice managers of 1-3 doctor practices. Depending on where in the sales process the practice is, my interactions can be quite varied. Initially, I introduce doctors to the athenahealth solution through an interactive web demonstration where I show the doctor or decision maker how the solution applies to an actual practice. Later on, I provide a customized analysis of their practice to show how the athenahealth solution can impact the efficiency of their practice.
aP: What is your favorite part of your job?
DW: Really, my favorite part is showing off the solution through the web demonstrations. Often times, the doctor or practice manager viewing the web demonstration is frustrated with their current situation and looking for an alternative. I also enjoy showing them how our solution was created from the same troubles they are facing in their own practice and how our combination of technology, knowledge, and services addresses those issues and can eliminate their current hassles.
aP: Can you describe your most rewarding experience at athenahealth?
DW: The most rewarding aspect of my job is hearing from current clients about the impact our solution has had on their practice and their lives. My wife is currently in residency at Children’s Hospital Boston and we discuss at length how little training she has received thus far in her medical education surrounding the everyday challenges of being a physician in private practice. As it should, her medical education has focused on providing her with tools to give the best possible care for her patients. However, in reality, succeeding in private practice requires more than just superb patient care. I am proud to be part of a company that provides a solution that allows physicians to focus on the treatment of patients instead of worrying about surviving as a business.
aP: In your experience, what do smaller physician practices gain from joining the athenahealth network?
DW: By joining athenahealth, smaller practices gain a partner that helps them navigate the constantly changing healthcare environment. Our system, with its imbedded payer knowledge, literally guides practices every step of the way to ensure the submission of clean claims. The system is only part of the solution: by partnering with athenahealth, clients gain allies from many different teams that work on their behalf- from the Implementation team setting the groundwork to be successful on the system, to the behind the scenes work of the Operations department, to the Professional Services team that analyzes practice performance, just to name a few. By being able to leverage athena’s combination of technology and services, practices are able to realize efficiencies that they wouldn’t experience on their own or with a standard software system.
aP: What are some of your hobbies outside of work?
DW: When I am away from work, I enjoy playing soccer. We have a pretty solid indoor team at athena that I’ve played with a couple times. I also enjoy skiing, dabbling in the kitchen (I wouldn’t quite call it cooking, but I’m getting better), exploring Boston’s restaurants, and traveling.
aP: What is your favorite vacation spot?
DW: My favorite place that I have visited is probably Hawaii. My wife and I spent two weeks there (one in Oahu and one in Maui) for our honeymoon and it was paradise. My parents have a house on Cape Cod, and this is my favorite spot to escape. Growing up, I spent much of my summers down there and it’s a destination that continues to create great memories.
aP: What is something no one at work knows about you?
DW: I have a lot of close friends at athena who know me pretty well. One thing I don’t think they know is that in my past I could hold my own on the piano and saxophone. I haven’t kept it up but hope I can get back to them in the future.
aP: If you had one million dollars, how would you spend it?
DW: Just a million, huh...well besides taking care of my family and investing for the future, I would definitely make donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Jimmy Fund – organizations that support causes close to my heart. Last but not least, I would buy my wife a couple of bulldog puppies so she will stop nagging me (just kidding, I really would love puppies too, we’re just trying to find the right time).
