The Podcast For Doctors (By Doctors)

Practice owner and dentist Dr. ArNelle Wright joins Dr. Michael Jerkins for an honest conversation about what it really looks like to acquire and lead a dental practice. Drawing from her firsthand experience, Dr. Wright shares the financial surprises she encountered post-acquisition and why mental preparation is just as important as due diligence. 

The discussion explores how thoughtful patient communication can make or break a tran...

Board-certified vascular surgeon and chief medical resource advisor at Locum Tenens Dr. Miechia Esco joins Dr. Michael Jerkins for an in-depth conversation on the realities—and misconceptions—of locum tenens medicine. Drawing from a career that spans academia, military medicine, private practice, and locum work, Dr. Esco offers a firsthand look at how locum physicians adapt across diverse clinical environments and why experience, n...

Fourth-year medical student and anesthesiology residency applicant Avery Wooten joins Dr. Michael Jerkins for a candid conversation about navigating medical school on the road to the Match. Avery reflects on her path from UNC Chapel Hill to UCSF, the mentorship that helped shape her journey, and how social media became an unexpected tool for transparency and guidance. 

She shares how she balances clinical rotations, content creation...

Board-certified orthopedic surgeon, social media personality, and former professional violinist Dr. Will Kang joins Dr. Michael Jerkins for an engaging conversation on unconventional career paths, surgical culture, and building a life in medicine that extends beyond the operating room. Dr. Kang reflects on his early years as a classically trained musician, the role of parental influence in high-level performance, and how a career-a...

Quadruple board-certified physician Dr. Gerald Cox joins Dr. Ned Palmer for a thoughtful conversation on personalized medicine, obesity care, and the future of longevity. Dr. Cox reflects on his own childhood struggle with obesity and how it shaped his path from personal trainer to physician, ultimately leading him into concierge medicine where deeper relationships and individualized care take center stage. 

Together, they explore h...

Dentist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Shared Practices Group, Dr. Alex Sharp joins Dr. Michael Jerkins to share how his unconventional career path—from high-volume associate to multi-practice owner and CEO—shaped his philosophy on patient care, business, and leadership. 

He opens up about the lessons learned early in his career, the pivotal moment that pushed him toward practice ownership in Arkansas, and how those experiences in...

Pediatric nephrologist, educator, and “Sheriff of Sodium” Dr. Bryan Carmody joins Dr. Ned Palmer for a candid deep dive into the world of medical education and residency selection. Known for his sharp analysis and willingness to challenge convention, Dr. Carmody offers a four-star review of the medical education system, praising the outcomes, but questioning the inefficiencies baked into the process. 

Together, they explore the ripp...

Dr. Michael Jerkins and Dr. Ned Palmer tackle the pressing issues facing today’s physicians. From high turnover rates and burnout to the appeal of direct primary care models, they explore how doctors can regain autonomy, protect their well-being, and find balance in an increasingly complex and demanding healthcare landscape. They discuss the realities of hospital medicine, the pressures of episodic care, and the systemic factors dr...

Pediatric and preventative cardiologist, endurance athlete, and social media influencer Dr. Derek Weyhrauch joins Dr. Michael Jerkins to share how intense physical challenges, like swimming from Alcatraz and competing in Ironman triathlons, have shaped his approach to medicine, stress management, and patient care. 

He details his journey from medical school to becoming a leading voice in preventative cardiology, emphasizing the powe...

From discovering his calling in veterinary neurology to tackling the realities of practice ownership, Dr. Adam Moeser sits down with Dr. Michael Jerkins for a candid conversation on the highs and hurdles of a veterinary career. He shares how an open mind (and a few detours) led him to neurology, why mentorship and internships are game changers, and what aspiring specialists should know before committing to a path. 

What is the bigge...

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...