Inside The Doctor's Lounge

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Richard Berry, founder of Maple Health Direct Primary Care, to discuss the realities of building and scaling a successful direct primary care practice, as well as the long term future of primary care as models that avoid insurance gain momentum in the primary care space.

They discuss:

• How he grew his direct primary care practice from a solo operation into a multi-clinician, multi-location business, and what factors have made his practice so successful
• How membership pricing, clinician preferences, and differences between physician and PA services can help practices attract patients with varying needs and budgets
• The most common myths about the DPC model amongst the physician community, and which ones he think have merit and those that are false
• His advice for physicians looking to dip their toes into DPC as well as for physicians thinking about taking the next steps towards scale, including the importance of protecting the work-life balance that attracted physicians to the model in the first place
• How the growing popularity of the DPC model could create challenges for access to care, and what primary care may look like in a decade

This episode is brought to you by UpToDate®. Grounded exclusively in peer-reviewed UpToDate content, Expert AI delivers evidence-based AI recommendations with clear reasoning and traceable sources. * Plus, as a PSG clinician, you can save 15% with code PODP, and as a PSG resident, you can save 20% with code PODR when you purchase an annual or longer personal subscription.

† Visit http://utm.io/pod to subscribe.

* Products are not available in all countries.

† These offers are valid for a limited time and are subject to change.

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram account!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Rana Awdish, a critical care physician, author of the best-selling books In Shock and After Shock, keynote speaker, and healthcare communication educator, to discuss how her near death experience resulted in an intentional (and wildly successful) side gig journey to highlight the importance of humanity in healthcare communications.

They discuss:

• How her experience as a critically ill patient revealed the unintentional conflict between how physicians and care teams communicate and the impact on patients’ experiences
• The tension between the increasingly corporate structure of healthcare and the ability to form meaningful relationships with patients, and how AI may help or hurt the doctor-patient relationship
• How writing In Shock and After Shock allowed Dr. Awdish to share her experiences, advocate for cultural change in medicine, and build a very successful career around a mission she deeply believes in
• The importance of being intentional about what opportunities you pursue once your side gig has taken off in order to retain focus on the mission that got you there and the legacy you want to leave
• Practical ways physicians who are passionate about a cause can pursue related side projects, and why meaningful impact doesn’t always require a large audience or national platform

You can find more information about Dr. Awdish’s books and work at https://www.ranaawdishmd.com/

This episode is sponsored by our financial advisors database at Physician Side Gigs. This curated list of sponsors was made based on recommendations from physicians in our communities. They’re familiar with student loans, 1099 income, private practice ownership, and everything in between. If you’d like someone to help get your finances organized, or to help make sure you’re on track to meet retirement goals, check out http://www.physiciansidegigs.com/financialadvisors.

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram account!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Joshua Guttman, associate professor of Emergency Medicine at Emory University, and founder of Peachtree POCUS, to discuss how he transformed his expertise in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) into a multifaceted physician side business of education, consulting, advising, and industry relationships, while continuing his career in academic medicine.

They discuss:

• How his passion for point-of-care ultrasound evolved from a clinical interest into a realization that the demand for his expertise in an underserved niche — the administrative, operational, and reimbursement challenges of implementing POCUS programs — had significant entrepreneurial potential
• How he has transformed this expertise into multiple revenue streams, including consulting for hospitals and physician groups, industry partnerships, educational courses, and sponsored medical technology content
• Why developing a recognizable personal brand and becoming the go-to expert in a narrow area can be more effective than trying to appeal to everyone, and how physicians can and should build their brands and credibility outside traditional academic circles
• The importance of navigating institutional policies, conflicts of interest, and professional boundaries when launching a business alongside an academic medicine career, and the safety net and value that staying in clinical medicine provides
• Practical advice for physicians looking to monetize their expertise without formal business training, including books and AI tools that he finds valuable to improve client communication and refine his offerings, as well as how to validate market demand and transition to an entrepreneurial mindset

This episode is sponsored by our mortgage lenders directory at Physician Side Gigs. If you’re a physician looking to buy your first home out of training, purchase a new home, or refinance your existing mortgage, we’ve curated a list of physician loan & conventional loan lenders who work specifically with doctors and who were recommended by members in our communities. Find lenders in your state by visiting https://www.physiciansidegigs.com/mortgage-lenders-for-physicians

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram account!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Morgan Cheatham, Partner and Head of Healthcare and Life Sciences at Breyer Capital, and Medical Genetics resident at Harvard, to discuss his fascinating career path as a venture capitalist while simultaneously pursuing medical training.

They discuss:

• Why he rejects the idea that physicians must pursue their careers sequentially and how “parallelizing” clinical medicine and investing allows each to inform the other
• Why medical students interested in entrepreneurship, finance, or industry should explore those paths early rather than waiting until the demands of residency make experimentation more difficult
• The shift from traditional evidence-based medicine toward precision medicine and “N-of-1” care tailored to an individual patient’s genetics and phenotype, and how AI will help transform and accelerate this field
• What he looks for when evaluating healthcare investments, and why he is willing to accept greater regulatory or commercial risk when a technology could meaningfully improve the probability of therapeutic success
• The realities of simultaneously practicing medicine, investing, and building companies—and the tradeoffs physicians should consider when designing a multidimensional career

This episode is brought to you by UpToDate®. Grounded exclusively in peer-reviewed UpToDate content, Expert AI delivers evidence-based AI recommendations with clear reasoning and traceable sources. * Plus, as a PSG clinician, you can save 15% with code PODP, and as a PSG resident, you can save 20% with code PODR when you purchase an annual or longer personal subscription. † Visit http://utm.io/pod to subscribe. * Products are not available in all countries. † These offers are valid for a limited time and are subject to change.

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram account!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Leeda Rashid, former Senior Physician at the FDA’s Digital Health Center of Excellence, to discuss the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in healthcare and what physicians need to consider before incorporating AI tools into clinical practice.

They discuss:

• How physicians can move beyond asking whether AI is simply “good” or “bad” and instead become more sophisticated consumers of the technology entering their clinical workflows
• The journal club like questions physicians should ask before adopting an AI tool, including its intended use, training data, performance metrics, subgroup analysis, and real-world outcomes
• Why an AI tool being “FDA authorized” or “HIPAA compliant” doesn’t necessarily mean it is appropriate, accurate, or effective for every patient or clinical scenario
• How physicians should think about what liability falls on them when using AI in patient care—and why Dr. Rashid suggests treating AI more like a resident whose work still requires attending oversight
• The rise of “shadow AI,” as clinicians turn to unvetted tools when institutional approval processes fail to keep pace with rapidly changing technology, and why healthcare systems need formal AI governance, ongoing performance monitoring, and the ability to quickly disable algorithms when problems arise

This episode is sponsored by our insurance agents directory at Physician Side Gigs, which includes resources for various insurance products, including disability, life, malpractice, home, and auto insurance. This curated list contains brokers who have been used by thousands of members in our communities. Find insurance agents by visiting https://www.physiciansidegigs.com/insurance-agents-for-physicians.

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram account!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Howie Mell, an emergency medicine physician with decades of experience in emergency services, to reflect on how emergency medicine—and healthcare more broadly—has changed throughout his career.

They discuss:

• What people often get wrong about the purpose of the emergency room, and why the appeal of emergency medicine isn’t necessarily the adrenaline, but the “zen” of controlling chaos and knowing your team can handle whatever comes through the door
• How electronic medical records, administrative requirements, insurance pressures, and the need to justify medical decisions have changed the way emergency physicians practice
• The impact of the growing influence of corporate interests and private equity in the emergency room, and in healthcare more broadly
• The disconnect between public perceptions of physician wealth and the realities of medical training, student debt, long hours, and the personal sacrifices involved in practicing medicine
• What has kept Dr. Mell passionate about emergency medicine after decades in the field despite the many changes and challenges

This episode is brought to you by our accountant database at Physician Side Gigs. If you need a CPA or tax strategist who understands doctor finances, we’ve curated a list of accountants and tax advisors familiar with the unique issues doctors face. Whether you have high W-2 earnings, 1099 income, are a private practice owner, or invest in real estate, explore the list at https://www.physiciansidegigs.com/accountants.

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram account!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Amit Mehta, an interventional pain physician and founder of ABM Pain Consultants, who transitioned from traditional private practice to an independent 1099 model. He shares how his model of working across synergistic private practices and building out a personal injury and workers’ compensation practice has allowed him to reduce overhead, increase revenue per procedure, and build greater flexibility into his work.

They discuss:

• How physicians can structure mutually beneficial relationships by providing specialized services within other practices while leveraging the practice’s existing infrastructure and referral network, instead of carrying the overhead of their own traditional practice
• How reducing overhead and diversifying practice locations can create greater control over schedule, income, vacation time, and overall work-life integration
• The economics of personal injury and workers’ compensation medicine, including how reimbursement can be significantly better than Medicare and traditional insurance – and what doctors should know how about how liens, MedPay, workers’ compensation payments, facility fees, and paid depositions work
• How to build and scale a personal injury practice, as well as the autonomy, efficiency, networking, and business skills required to succeed
• Why physicians should keep the long-term exit strategy on the radar—including ancillary income, investments, and the challenges of creating transferable value in a physician-owned private practice

This episode is sponsored by our financial advisors database at Physician Side Gigs. This curated list of sponsors was made based on recommendations from physicians in our communities. They’re familiar with student loans, 1099 income, private practice ownership, and everything in between. If you’d like someone to help get your finances organized, or to help make sure you’re on track to meet retirement goals, check out http://www.physiciansidegigs.com/financialadvisors

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram account!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Ashley Caravelli, a family medicine physician and menopause specialist who recently launched her own cash-pay telehealth practice, Axis Precision Health. She shares a behind-the-scenes look at going from an idea to actually seeing patients via telemedicine in just six months—and the business, legal, operational, and marketing decisions she had to make along the way.

They discuss:

• How to take a telehealth practice from idea to launch in 6 months, including setting up a business entity, choosing an EMR, building a website, securing malpractice coverage, and navigating licensing, local telehealth, and legal requirements
• How to keep startup costs and overhead low by determining what you actually need, shopping around, negotiating, and deciding what to DIY versus outsource
• How to structure a cash-pay patient experience, from discovery calls and transparent pricing to memberships, labs, prescriptions, and ongoing care
• Why word of mouth and your existing network can be more powerful than paid marketing when finding your first patients—and how social media, email lists, and physician directories fit into the strategy
• The financial realities of starting a telemedicine practice, including startup costs, calculating your break-even point, and using other income streams to reduce the pressure to become profitable immediately

This episode is brought to you by UpToDate®. Grounded exclusively in peer-reviewed UpToDate content, Expert AI delivers evidence-based AI recommendations with clear reasoning and traceable sources. * Plus, as a PSG clinician, you can save 15% with code PODP, and as a PSG resident, you can save 20% with codePODR when you purchase an annual or longer personal subscription. † Visit https://http://utm.io/pod to subscribe.

* Products are not available in all countries.

† These offers are valid for a limited time and are subject to change.

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram account!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Aaron Broadwell, rheumatologist and President of the Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations (CSRO), to discuss the dangers of the proposed changes to payments for same-day E&M services and procedures in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. They also dig deep into not just how to advocate against it, but broaden the discussion about making the overall pot for physician compensation bigger rather than pitting physician specialties against each other.

They discuss:

• What CMS is proposing for Modifier 25 compensation changes and why reducing payment for the lower-valued same-day service by 50% could have major consequences for not physician practices, but for patients
• The very real – and dangerous – consequences of requiring patients to return for procedures on a separate day on wait times, costs, and delayed or missed diagnoses
• How continued Medicare reimbursement cuts could further threaten the sustainability of independent private practices, accelerate practice consolidation, Medicare and insurance opt-outs, and the loss of community care options for patients
• The Patients First Act and the larger problem of forcing specialties to compete for reimbursement within a fixed Medicare physician payment system
• How physicians (and patients!) can advocate effectively against changes regardless of whether they have time to lobby Congress in person

Anybody wanting to submit a comment before the commenting period closes on 9/14/26 should go to https://www.regulations.gov/document/CMS-2026-2377-0002/comment

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram accounts!

This episode is brought to you by the Physician Side Gigs attorney database. If you need someone to review a contract, help with employment issues, are dealing with compliance or healthcare fraud questions, estate planning, or even immigration matters, we’ve curated a list of local and national attorneys who work specifically with physicians. Visit https://www.physiciansidegigs.com/attorneys to learn more.

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram account!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Saurin Patel, cardiologist and co-founder/Medical Director of MD365, a multi-specialty primary care and cardiology group. They break down CMS’s proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, and what the changes could mean for physicians, private practices, and the future of healthcare reimbursement, both good and bad.

They discuss:

• What the proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule reveals about CMS’s broader push away from fee-for-service and toward value-based care
• Proposed changes to G2211 payments, and why physicians participating in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) could see greater reimbursements – and how ACO models and value based care models work
• Why proposed changes to remote patient monitoring (RPM) could make existing programs difficult for practices to sustain
• Why CMS’s latest proposals may finally signal that telehealth is here to stay and how greater certainty could change the way practices invest in virtual care
• How proposed Modifier 25 changes could reduce reimbursement for same-day E&M visits and procedures, particularly for procedural and surgical specialties, and create widespread issues for access to care
• The larger questions these proposals raise about Medicare reimbursement, declining physician payments, and the future of independent practice

Anybody wanting to submit a comment before the commenting period closes on 9/14/26 should go to https://www.regulations.gov/document/CMS-2026-2377-0002/comment

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram accounts!

This episode is sponsored by our mortgage lenders directory at Physician Side Gigs. If you’re a physician looking to buy your first home out of training, purchase a new home, or refinance your existing mortgage, we’ve curated a list of physician loan & conventional loan lenders who work specifically with doctors and who were recommended by members in our communities. Find lenders in your state by visiting https://www.physiciansidegigs.com/mortgage-lenders-for-physicians.

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Christine Li Wan Po, board-certified family medicine physician and owner of Pinnacle Health, to discuss what it’s like to leave traditional employed medicine and build a direct primary care (DPC) practice.

They discuss:

• Why she transitioned from a high-volume, insurance-based practice to direct primary care — and how it has helped her to maximize the joy in the doctor-patient relationship
• Why direct primary care doesn’t automatically mean more income or better work-life balance, and common misconceptions about the model
• The financial realities of starting a DPC practice, from funding startup costs and building a patient panel to determining membership fees – and when you can finally pay yourself
• The unexpected challenges of becoming a DPC practice owner, including staffing, business operations, and setting boundaries around availability
• The pros, cons, and limitations of the DPC model, and why she’s ultimately happy with her decision to make the switch

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram accounts!

This episode is brought to you by the Physician Side Gigs job board. Whether you’re interested in exploring jobs with private practices owned by our physician members or hospital systems, our job board features opportunities directly with the hiring company without having to work with a third-party recruiter, allowing you to control your search under your terms. If you’re considering a move or want to list an opportunity, visit http://physiciansidegigs.com/job-board to learn more.

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram account!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Jay Sridhar, vitreoretinal surgeon and host of two popular medical podcasts, to discuss what it really takes to build a successful podcast while balancing a busy clinical career and personal life. Whether or not you’re interested in starting a podcast, the second half of this episode carries valuable insights for any side gig that involves consistent content creation.

They discuss:

• How Dr. Sridhar built two medical podcasts from scratch with no audience, funding, or production experience and why consistency—not perfection—is the key to long-term success in content creation
• Practical tips for planning ahead, batching recordings, and preventing burnout while podcasting, and how delegating is key to making a podcast sustainable
• The unexpected career opportunities that come from building a trusted professional platform, including consulting, speaking engagements, and brand building
• Common mistakes new podcasters make, from choosing a podcast name to episode length and branding, and how to fix them
• Whether it’s still possible to start a successful podcast today—and what it takes to stand out in an increasingly crowded landscape

This episode is sponsored by UpToDate. Unlike many open-source AI tools, UpToDate® Expert AI is built exclusively on the UpToDate clinical content you know and trust. And it is included with every personal subscription in the US.* Access relevant clinical insights with clear sourcing and explainable reasoning to support clarity and confidence at the point of care.

As you use Expert AI to explore clinical questions, you can earn CME seamlessly in the flow of care. † And with UpToDate Pro Plus, state-tagged topics for physicians make it easier to find eligible content that meet your state-specific requirements—so there’s less guesswork and less manual tracking.

Plus, as a PSG clinician, you can save 15% with code PODP, and as a PSG resident, you can save 20% with code PODR when you purchase an annual or longer personal subscription. ‡ Visit http://utm.io/pod to subscribe. These offers are valid for a limited time and are subject to change.

*Products not available in all regions.

† Visit www.uptodate.com/cme for CME details. Physicians may need to self-report credits per state board

requirements.

‡ Proof of status is required for all trainee and student orders.

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram accounts!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Lakshman Swamy, pulmonary and critical care physician and creator of the tabletop game Critical Care.

They discuss:

• How a joke on social media evolved into a globally funded Kickstarter campaign and successful board game, and the creative process of turning a passion project into a real product
• How crowdfunding through Kickstarter can validate a product, build an audience, and reduce financial risk
• The importance of networking, collaboration, and finding the right team to bring creative ideas to life
• Why physicians often struggle with perfectionism—and how embracing iteration actually leads to better ideas and end products
• Practical advice for physicians who want to pursue creative side gigs, build something meaningful, and explore entrepreneurship outside of clinical practice

Learn more about and buy Critical Care: The Game at https://www.criticalcaregame.com/ – Dr. Swamy is a member affiliate partner, and gives our audience a 5% discount with code PSG5.

This episode is brought to you by the side gigs databases at Physician Side Gigs, a tailored matching service available for free to our physician members. If you’re interested in opportunities such as consulting roles, advisory positions, expert witness work, disability & eligibility exams, AI training projects, and others, we help match doctors with open roles. Sign up for our newsletter for alerts of relevant opportunities that fit your background at http://eepurl.com/i8zc3w.

Find more of our content athttp://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram accounts!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. L. R. Huntoon, neurologist, past president of the American Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, and one of the nation’s leading experts on the topic of ‘sham peer review.’ While we believe the vast majority of peer review proceedings are done with patient safety and quality of care in mind, this episode is intended to inform physicians of what they should be aware of if they suspect the process is being used unfairly against them.

They discuss:

• What ‘sham peer review’ is, and how the Healthcare Quality Improvement Act (HCQIA) of 1986 created legal protections for hospitals that have enabled the peer review process to be (occasionally) misused against physicians in a retaliatory manner
• Why whistleblowers, independent physicians that create competition for hospitals, and those who challenge hospital leadership may be vulnerable and should keep their guard up if they suspect that they are being targeted unfairly
• How resigning during an active investigation can permanently impact your career through National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) reporting
• The critical mistakes physicians make when responding to notice or warning signs that a peer review investigation is underway
• How to protect yourself with proper documentation, experienced legal counsel, expert witnesses, and written communication, and resources available through the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS)

You can find more information and resources at https://aapsonline.org/sprarchive/

This episode is sponsored by our insurance agents directory at Physician Side Gigs, which includes resources for various insurance products, including disability, life, malpractice, home, and auto insurance. This curated list contains brokers who have been used by thousands of members in our communities. Find insurance agents by visiting https://www.physiciansidegigs.com/insurance-agents-for-physicians.

Find more of our content at http://www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram accounts!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Michelle Mudge-Riley, Medical Director in Global Clinical Development, to pull back the curtain on pharmaceutical industry careers for physicians.

They discuss:

• The biggest misconceptions about physician careers in pharma — and why they’re neither sales jobs nor “backup” careers
• What day-to-day life actually looks like across the major physician roles in the pharmaceutical industry, including Medical Science Liaison (MSL), Medical Director, Clinical Development, Drug Safety, Medical Affairs, and Regulatory Affairs roles
• Why clinical experience is the most valuable qualification pharmaceutical companies seek when hiring physicians, what it takes to be a strong candidate, and why networking is key to breaking into your first pharma role
• General advice for physicians looking to make the transition to nonclinical careers

This episode is brought to you by the Physician Side Gigs job board. Whether you’re interested in exploring jobs with private practices owned by our physician members or hospital systems, our job board features opportunities directly with the hiring company without having to work with a third-party recruiter, allowing you to control your search under your terms. If you’re considering a move or want to list an opportunity, visit http://physiciansidegigs.com/job-board to learn more.

Find more of our content at www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram accounts!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Aaron Reinke, family physician, health tech advisor, and physician innovator, and Jody Tropeano Greene, Head of Content at HLTH. This episode flips the script — Dr. Mehta hands the hosting reins over to Jody, who interviews Drs. Reinke and Mehta about the Physicians @ HLTH program goals and how it has been impactful in helping physicians break into the health innovation ecosystem.

They discuss:

• The history of physician involvement in healthcare innovation and tech conferences, and why physicians who have a meaningful seat at the table is the secret weapon so many companies in the health tech ecosystem need to stand out from competitors
• How the Physicians @ HLTH program came to be, what its goals were, and how it has evolved into a place where practicing physicians can break into health tech through consulting, advisory boards, investing, and entrepreneurship
• How Dr. Aaron Reinke leveraged the HLTH Conference to build an advisory portfolio, expand his network, and begin developing his own AI-powered solutions
• Where they see the trajectory of physicians going in health tech in the future, particularly as AI has lowered the barrier for physicians to build healthcare solutions without large engineering teams
• Practical advice for physicians looking to take their first steps into the health innovation ecosystem, whether through HLTH or otherwise

To learn more about the Physicians @ HLTH program, done in partnership with HLTH and Physician Side Gigs, go to https://www.physiciansidegigs.com/hlth or https://hlth.com/events/usa/agenda/programs/physicians-at-hlth/ . If you’re a physician, join us in Las Vegas in November 2027!

Find more of our content at www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram accounts!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Ami Bhatt, Chief Innovation Officer at the American College of Cardiology and the inaugural Chair of the FDA Digital Health Advisory Committee.

They discuss:

• Why it’s so important for medical societies to be involved in innovation, and how to do it appropriately to navigate conflicts of interest
• How shiny object syndrome can distract us from investing in the more boring, but more impactful, capabilities of AI
• The dangers of ‘half knowledge’ and where AI enthusiasts need to be more careful in bold statements about AI capabilities
• What patients would invest in if they were the ones allowed to deploy capital, and why we need to encourage patients who are trying to empower themselves with health tech
• What healthcare would look like in 10 years if we used technology to fix the right problems

Learn more about Dr. Bhatt at https://dramibhatt.com/.

This episode is sponsored by our insurance agents directory at Physician Side Gigs, which includes resources for various insurance products, including disability, life, malpractice, home, and auto insurance. This curated list contains brokers who have been used by thousands of members in our communities. Find insurance agents by visiting https://www.physiciansidegigs.com/insurance-agents-for-physicians.

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Mark Ayzenberg, an orthopedic surgeon who turned to photography as a respite from residency training. Today, he talks about how photography has created freedom outside medicine, and private practice has created freedom inside medicine, and why entrepreneurship is key to retaining joy in medicine.

They discuss:

• How being in the right place at the right time and saying ‘yes’ allowed him to monetize his photography hobby during residency (and earn 20% of his annual resident salary with his first sale!)
• Tips for building and scaling a photography business, including start up costs, leveling up your skills, marketing, pricing, & distribution
• How he’s juggled his photography side gig through attending life, while securing commissioned projects for homes, hospitals, hotels, and office buildings
• Why freedom, not money, is the real currency that prevents burnout
• His advice for physicians about building the career that lets you keep loving medicine and avoid burnout, and why it’s important not to wait to start

See his work at https://www.phillyphotoart.com/ – Dr. Ayzenberg is a longtime affiliate partner, and gives our audience a discount. Feel free to mention Physician Side Gigs when you reach out.

This episode is sponsored by UpToDate. AI is everywhere in medicine, but not all AI is built for clinical care.

For decades, medical professionals have continued to trust UpToDate as their go to resource for

evidence-based clinical content. Now, with Expert AI, UpToDate is extending its clinical knowledge into an AI-powered experience designed specifically for clinical use. *

Unlike many AI tools that generate answers without clear sourcing, our Expert AI is:

• Developed by clinicians for clinicians
• Grounded exclusively in UpToDate clinical content
• Built to guide clinical reasoning and reflect how you think through cases
• Transparent and traceable, with clear decision-making logic built into every response

Quickly move from symptoms or a clinical question to clear, confident next steps with Expert AI in UpToDate – now included in all personal subscriptions in the United States.

Plus, PSG clinicians can save 15% with code PODP, and residents can save 20% with code PODR on an annual or longer personal subscription. † Visit utm.io/pod to subscribe. These offers are valid for a limited time and are subject to change.

*Products not available in all regions.

† Proof of status is required for all trainee and student orders.

Find more of our content at www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram accounts!

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Susan Trocciola, a cardiothoracic surgeon who trained at Cornell, NYU, and Texas Heart. She now earns over $1 million annually (which is significantly more than her prior employed salary), while taking at least 16 weeks off per year.

They discuss:

• How she successfully transitioned to full-time locums after a cancer diagnosis prompted a major career reassessment, & how it’s more in line with her personal, professional, & financial goals
• Her strategies for setting and negotiating her rates, working with recruiters, & spotting red flags in locums assignments and contracts
• Why she prefers working with a locums company over contracting directly with hospitals
• Who locums life is (and isn’t) a right fit for
• Her empowering messages for all doctors about recognizing that you are the talent, & that you have more choices than you think you might

Find more of our content at www.physiciansidegigs.com, our Facebook communities, and our Instagram accounts!

This episode is sponsored by our financial advisors database at Physician Side Gigs. This curated list of sponsors was made based on recommendations from physicians in our communities. They’re familiar with student loans, 1099 income, private practice ownership, and everything in between. If you’d like someone to help get your finances organized, or to help make sure you’re on track to meet retirement goals, check out http://www.physiciansidegigs.com/financialadvisors

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Kevin Spencer, emergency physician and Co-Founder and CEO of Ring Rescue, a medical device designed to safely remove stuck rings from swollen fingers.

They discuss:

• The long (but rewarding!) process of taking a medical device from idea to market, including funding, prototype, legal, regulatory, and go-to-market processes
• How and why he chose this particular problem that he was seeing in the emergency room to focus on, and what early days of the company looked like behind the scenes
• The realities of getting a medical device actually into hospital systems and practices, and how it transpired that his device was featured on the Pitt by Noah Wyle (!!)
• What he enjoys the most about the entrepreneurial journey, lessons learned along the way, and advice for physicians pursuing a side gig

Learn more about Ring Rescue at https://www.ringrescue.com/.

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This episode is sponsored by the Physician Side Gigs job board. Whether you’re interested in exploring jobs with private practices owned by our physician members or hospital systems, our job board features opportunities directly with the hiring company without having to work with a third-party recruiter, allowing you to control your search under your terms. If you’re considering a move or want to list an opportunity, visit http://physiciansidegigs.com/job-board to learn more.