4 - First Job, First Negotiation: Lessons from a Rural Family Doc

Stepping into practice as a young physician can be daunting, especially when it comes to negotiating contracts and building a team in a rural setting. In this episode, Dr. Lee Sharma welcomes Dr. Anesia Allen, to discuss how she navigated these challenges with confidence and clarity. Dr. Allen shares her journey of negotiating her first contract, securing key terms like protected time off, and ensuring her team aligned with the community’s needs. 
From working with a medical contract attorney to drawing on mentorship and her experiences as an Auburn cheerleader, she offers practical strategies for young physicians to advocate for themselves and their patients. This episode is essential listening for medical students, residents, and early-career physicians looking to establish their practice with purpose.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

1. Seek Expert Guidance – Hire a medical contract attorney to review your contract and learn what to look for, ensuring terms like salary and hours align with market standards.
2. Define Your Non-Negotiables – Clearly outline must-haves, like protected days off or team composition, before entering negotiations to maintain work-life balance and patient care quality.
3. Take Time to Reflect – If possible, take a break after residency to research opportunities and clarify your goals, allowing you to negotiate from a place of confidence and clarity.

About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

About the Guest:
Dr. Anesia Allen is a family medicine physician practicing at a medical and dental clinic in Lynette, Alabama, a rural community where she serves as a primary care provider. A graduate of Auburn University, where she was a cheerleader, and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, she completed her family medicine residency at Cahaba Heights in Birmingham, Alabama. During her internship, she received a scholarship from the Board of Medical Examiners for a rural health program, reflecting her commitment to underserved areas. Dr. Allen’s early career has been marked by her ability to negotiate confidently, drawing on mentorship from Dr. Lee Sharma and lessons from her cheerleading experience, where she learned perseverance and teamwork after not making the team on her first try. Passionate about community-focused care, she actively builds teams that connect with local patients and mentors peers navigating contract negotiations.

Website:  https://www.medifind.com/doctors/anesia-g-allen/257401986 
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/anesia-allen-b25096287

About the Host: 
Dr. Lee Sharma – A gynecologist in Auburn, AL, with a master’s degree in conflict resolution and over 30 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1993. A physician passionate about helping colleagues address conflicts and thrive in medicine through practical strategies and open conversations.
Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma: 

Email: [e-mail]

Website: https://www.eastalabamahealth.org/provider/lee-sharma-md-obstetrics

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