The Podcast For Doctors (By Doctors)

Pediatric endocrinologist, mentor, and co-founder of NextGen Pediatricians, Dr. Chineze Ebo joins Dr. Ned Palmer to share how early exposure to medicine through her mother, an OB-GYN doctor, sparked a career dedicated to long-term patient care. She opens up about the moment she knew pediatric endocrinology was the right path, the joy of seeing patients thrive, and the unique challenges facing this small but vital specialty. 

How can...

What do clunky insurance networks and subscription-style doctor care have in common? According to Preston Alexander, they’re both part of the same fixable puzzle. 

Healthcare advocate, writer, and author of The Healthcare Breakdown, Preston joins Dr. Michael Jerkins to explore where the U.S. healthcare system is broken and the quiet, practitioner-led shift already underway. 

They dig into how insurance-driven incentives frustrate doc...

What do boy bands, burnout, and bedside manner have in common? According to Dr. J Mack Slaughter—more than you think. In this episode, emergency medicine physician, musician, and social media creator Dr. J Mack joins Dr. Michael Jerkins to unpack his unlikely path from pop performer to practicing medicine, and how creativity still fuels his career today. 

Dr. J Mack opens up about what led him to leave the entertainment industry, st...

Writer, advocate, and co-creator of the Glaucomflecken universe, Kristin Flanary joins the show to explore the unexpected intersections of humor, healthcare, and co-survivorship. Known online as Lady Glaucomflecken, Kristin shares her journey from casual Twitter banter to public advocacy after performing life-saving CPR on her husband, physician and comedian Dr. Will Flanary, during his sudden cardiac arrest. 

In a system designed t...

Health policy researcher and advocate Dr. Jeral Self joins host Dr. Michael Jerkins to explore one of the most overlooked yet impactful forces in healthcare: policy. With over 17 years of experience, Dr. Self shares what most people, and even many doctors, misunderstand about Medicaid, and why that matters more than ever. 

From school-based health initiatives and rural hospital struggles to the rapid rise of telehealth, this episode...

Pediatric cardiologist and educator Dr. Josh Daily joins the show to unpack one of the most pivotal and pressure-filled decisions in medicine: choosing your specialty. From the subtle influence of faculty feedback to the emotional weight of tough rotations, Dr. Daily shares how emotional and cognitive biases often shape career paths more than we realize. 

In a system that expects clarity before exposure, how can students make inform...

What’s it really like to train in medicine today? Internal medicine-pediatrics physicians Michael Jerkins, MD, M.Ed and Ned Palmer, MD, MPH dive into the results of the Panacea Financial 2025 Annual Residents and Fellows Survey, which captured the voices of nearly 500 medical trainees across the country. The findings? Over half of respondents reported feeling extremely financially stressed—and the stories behind that number paint a...

Internal medicine-pediatrics physician, educator, and Panacea Financial co-founder Dr. Michael Jerkins joins us as a guest to share his journey through medicine. From his early days in Memphis to residency in Cincinnati, Dr. Jerkins experienced firsthand the pressures of medical education, ballooning student debt, and the emotional toll of ICU rotations. 

But what if the system could be different? What if medical school were shorter...

Dentist, practice owner, and entrepreneur Dr. Vu Kong joins us to share his remarkable journey into dentistry and business ownership. Born in a refugee camp in Thailand, Dr. Kong originally planned to pursue mechanical engineering before his father—a former dentist—encouraged him to consider a different path. After graduating amidst a financial crisis, limited opportunities led him from Michigan to Illinois, where he and a friend b...

Dentist, practice owner, and podcast host, Dr. Jamine Ifedi, MBA, joins us to share his journey into dentistry and what he's learned along the way. From taking all the entrance exams (yes, the MCAT and DAT) to choosing dentistry based on test scores, Dr. Ifedi's path was anything but traditional. After hands-on experience in a variety of specialties, a deep dive into geriatrics as a travel dentist, and early dreams of practice owne...

Internist/pediatrician and social media influencer Dr. Tommy Martin shares his perspective on challenges in medical school, the importance of authenticity as a content creator, and the unexpected controversies of medicine in the world of social media. In this episode, he dives into the biggest misconceptions about doctors, the importance of work-life balance, and why filling your own cup makes you a better doctor. 

How does social m...

Pediatric dentist and social media content creator Dr. Judy Yip shares her journey from pre-med to pediatric dentistry in this episode. She opens up about her decision to pivot from the MCAT to chasing her childhood dream of becoming a dentist and how a state-based student loan forgiveness program helped ease the financial burden. 

Is the DAT harder than the MCAT? Why is pediatric dentistry such a fulfilling career? How can pediatri...

In this special episode, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Panacea Financial and practicing physician, Dr. Ned Palmer, MPH, takes the guest seat to share his unique journey through medical training. He and Dr. Michael Jerkins dive into the often-overlooked realities of becoming a doctor—from the evolving role of medical ethics in education to the complexities of student debt and inefficiencies of residency training. 

If you ...

Board certified gastroenterologist, social media influencer, author, and educator, Dr. Benjamin Schmidt (Doc Schmidt), combines his medical expertise with a dose of humor to navigate the evolving landscape of healthcare. In this episode, he explores the impact of social media on patient trust, the rise of self-diagnosis fueled by AI, and the growing frustrations with insurance red tape. 

Can humor and education coexist in healthcar...

Kenedy Dawson, a fourth-year medical student and a passionate advocate for her peers takes us behind the scenes of her journey through the 2025 Match process, offering candid insights into what it’s like navigating this pivotal moment in her career.  

Are virtual interviews enough to truly evaluate residency programs? What changes could make the Match process more student-friendly? Kenedy and Dr. Jerkins compare their experiences, ...

Dr. Graham Walker, an emergency physician, software developer, and the visionary behind MDCalc, shares how he bridges the gap between technology and medicine. Dr. Walker delves into the evolving dynamics of healthcare, highlighting generational shifts among doctors and the rise of employed physicians over traditional practice ownership.  

Are healthcare providers' passion and dedication being taken advantage of? How has COVID resha...

Internist, professor, editor-in-chief, and author, Dr. Danielle Ofri, a prominent voice in the medical world, delves into the complex dynamics of hierarchy in medicine, the emotional burdens that doctors often bear, and the profound impact that active listening can have on doctor-patient relationships. Can humility help prevent medical errors? Are we stretching providers too thin? Can active listening not only improve relationships...

Can market and social norms work to your benefit during negotiations? What are common mistakes to avoid? How do you determine your worth as a doctor? Dr. Josh Daily, a pediatric cardiologist and program director, and Jillian Vestal, a licensed attorney who specializes in doctor contracts explain the struggle many doctors face during contract negotiation and how to equip yourself for more advantageous outcomes. Dr. Daily and Jillian...

Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer at Knownwell, Dr. Angela Fitch discusses the importance of recognizing obesity as a chronic disease, the insurance barriers surrounding access to medication for patients and how the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) could solve the approach to treatment across the nation. Would the passing of TROA eliminate the issues surrounding a carve-out insurance plan? What will the continuation of sellin...