Michael Jerkins, MD, M. Ed – What They Don’t Teach You In Med School (But Should)

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, more affordable, and designed for how we actually learn today? In this episode, Dr. Jerkins opens up about the parts of his training that now feel obsolete, the lessons hidden inside six-figure student loans, and why AI might just be the assistant doctors didn’t know they needed.  

How do you stay human in a system that sometimes forgets you are one? What would you change if you had a magic wand—and what does ska music have to do with any of it? Dr. Jerkins shares honest reflections, practical ideas, and plenty of humor in a conversation that reminds us why medicine needs both heart and reform. Tune in for a thoughtful look at what it takes to practice with intention in a world that’s constantly evolving.