Docs Outside The Box - Ordinary Doctors Doing Extraordinary Things

Imagine if the same amount of research and development that goes into creating the newest iPhone went into fixing electronic medical records. I would definitely be all for that. Although not the entire EMR, my next guest, has made it his passion to create a solution for one of the most critical aspects of patient care in the hospital: the sign-out process. Frustrated that there was more technology in his iPhone compared to the process of handing off vital information about patients, Gautam created Medisas – an electronic version of the sign-out process/sheet that you can access across multiple platforms including your smartphone. We get to learn about Dr. Sivakumar’s company as well as the spark in 2011 that led him to leave his surgery residency and start programming Medisas in his childhood bedroom. He had the option to either sink or swim, and swim he has – six years later Medisas is now in some of the largest hospitals in the US. Dr. Sivakumar grew up in London and attended the famous Newcastle Univers

This night-owl doc spends his days creating fantasy worlds for his books in the genre of LitRPG. LitRPG is the combination of science fiction writing with role playing video games. This genre has quickly amassed a huge following that spans all over the world. On this episode, Dr. Aleron Kong takes us on his journey from being just a fan of of LitRPG to earning the moniker “Father of LitRPG.” In a short period of time, Dr. Kong has authored 6 books in his series Chaos Seeds Saga. He’s doing this all while keeping busy as a nocturnist (internal medicine) in Atlanta, Georgia! This episode absolutely threw me for a loop – role playing games (a.k.a RPG) and science fiction is definitely not my forte. Aleron touts that me may be the only person to have stayed within the Morehouse system for all phases of his education and career. He attended Morehouse College for undergraduate studies, then obtained his medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine. Afterwards, he completed his internal medicine training with Mo

Network marketing is a popular side-hustle among people who are not medical professionals. For various reasons, doctors have been slow to pick up this form of business. On this episode, we get to explore the ins and outs of network marketing with Vicki Chan, MD. Besides being an amazing ophthalmologist, she currently runs a network marketing business with skin-care company Rodan+Fields. What first started off as turning her nose to the idea of network marketing, has now turned to a lucrative hustle that she now embraces. We get real in this conversation! She gives us a first-hand account into her self-imposed pressures of going part-time as an ophthalmologist, as well as the feedback she’s received from her colleagues on network marketing.  Dr. Chan obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California, then went across the county and completed her medical school training at Johns Hopkins Medical School. While in medical school she met Dr. Peter Kim – you know, from Episode 13 (An Anest

This episode I’m choppin’ it up with the anonymous and famous physician blogger Physician on Fire! Started back in January 2016, Physician on Fire is a website on personal finance, early retirement, medicine and everything in between. From humble beginnings to now one of most visible physician personal blogs out there – it really has been amazing to watch the growth of his website. Talk about practicing what you preach!! Physician on Fire has become financially independent at the age of 39!  Physician on Fire graduated from undergrad and medical school from the University of Minnesota. He currently practices in Minnesota as an anesthesiologist. Things to pick up in this episode: What it means to be financially independent  What the meaning of F.I.R.E. means  The difference between wealth and income  His advice for medical students and residents to start on the path to financial independence  Simple strategies of investing  His thoughts on Roboadvisors vs. Financial Advisors vs DIY How he answers #imnotjusta

Drs. Jamil & Idries Abdur-Rahman To educate, inspire, entertain. That’s the motto of our next guests – Drs Jamil & Idries Abdur-Rahman. They are the talent behind the popular TwinDoctorsTV website and YouTube channel. Both are board certified Ob/Gyn docs, both practice in Chicago, and if you haven’t noticed – they are identical twin brothers. On their YouTube channel you’ll find a host of topics ranging from Beyonce’s recent delivery of twins to marijuana and its effect on breast feeding. Take a look for yourself and you’ll find a bunch of short medical tips that will both educate and entertain at the same time. Prior to this they were both on Season 22 of “The Amazing Race” on CBS and we get to hear how this experience inspired them to form Twin Doctors TV. Since then, they haven’t slowed down and can be found in various media outlets including: Ancestry.com Television ad campaign The Tom Joyner Morning Show “The Doctors” on CBS Glamour Magazine, Huffington Post, Self Magazine They both graduated f

On today’s episode I get to chop it up with the creator of the Facebook Physician Moms Group (PMG) –  Dr. Hala Sabry. Frustrated and without anyone to really turn to with her questions about medicine and motherhood, Dr. Sabry created PMG in 2014 as a safe space for other physician mothers to ask questions and find support.   Fast forward almost three years, PMG now finds itself as one of the largest Facebook groups with over 65,000 members. Dr. Sabry obtained both her D.O. and M.B.A. from the New York Institute of Technology – College of Osteopathic Medicine. She currently practices Emergency Medicine in Southern California. Things you’ll learn from this episode: How her father’s foreshadowing after the September 11th attacks started her path into medicine Her thoughts and insecurities about how her male coworkers viewed her dedication while she was pregnant How the feeling of sacrifice to become a doctor came back to haunt her How she handled negative public media scrutiny with PMG and the most recent presi

On the 25th episode of Docs Outside the Box, you get to hear from Dr. Kevin Pho – creator of the popular website KevinMD! If you have never heard of KevinMD then you’re definitely not living outside the box, because this website has been named the web’s top social media influencer in health care. What started off in 2004 with humble beginnings in the early days of blogging has now turned into a site with over 3 million page views, and over 250k followers on Facebook and Twitter. Trust me, if you’re a doctor and want to make a name for yourself writing or with social media – YOU WANT TO BE PUBLISHED ON THIS SITE!! Although the site has grown immensely, Dr. Pho has remained true to his mission – to provide a medium for front-line physicians and healthcare workers to speak honestly about our healthcare system. He’s a well sought after public speaker traveling through the country speaking at high profile events. His website has been cited in numerous major media outlets such as: CNN, The New York Times, and Forbe

For some time now, technology has been both disruptive and a force for change to even the most stubborn of industries. Dr. Paula Muto hopes that what Uber has done to the taxi industry, her company (UberDoc) can do to healthcare. UberDoc is a web application that makes it easy to connect patients with surgical specialists without referrals, insurance paperwork, or even long wait times. Obviously, this is only for patients who need specialists in a semi-urgent manner. Went to the ER and told you need your Gallbladder taken out as an outpatient? How about you broke your ankle and now you need an outpatient orthopedic surgery referral. These are common issues that can be complicated by not knowing which surgeon to go to, not knowing which surgeons are covered by your insurance, and having to wait weeks to see a specialist – I think we can all relate to this!! Dr. Muto got her undergraduate degree from Amherst College and then went to medical school at the New York Medical College. She completed her General Surge

Another solo episode. This one I discuss the top 3 themes I’ve observed throughout all of my Docs Outside the Box interviews. Make sure you share this one! Music: Venomous/Dope Rap Instrumental/KYU Tracks SUBSCRIBE: iTunes | GooglePlayMusic | Stitcher The post 023 – Top 3 themes of success from my guests appeared first on DOCS OUTSIDE THE BOX.

You never know where you’ll  find inspiration.  I found some inspiration in the weirdest of places recently – on call during nightshift. I was challenged to put the script away and basically just freestyle a show. Music: Venomous/Dope Rap Instrumental/KYU Tracks SUBSCRIBE: iTunes | GooglePlayMusic | Stitcher The post 022 – 5 Minutes of Positivity appeared first on DOCS OUTSIDE THE BOX.

My next guest is Dr. Latisha Rowe, CEO of Click It Clinic. Click It Clinic provides practice management support to allow physicians to interact and treat their patients virtually. For those who don’t know, telemedicine is touted as the next frontier in how physicians and patients will interact in the future. With well over 30 physicians in her network, Dr. Rowe and Click It Clinic are definitely a force to be reckoned with to her competitors. After graduating from University of Miami for college, she went north and obtained her MD at Temple University School of Medicine. Baylor College of Medicine is where she chose to get her Family Medicine training. Things to pick up in this episode: Learn about how the fear of failure AND success can cripple you We talk about the quote, “You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you ask for” What’s the buy-in for patients and doctors with telemedicine The difference between partners in business and the employer/employee relationship How she answers #imnotjustadoc   M

Imagine getting a chance to work and do something meaningful with your best friend all the time. My next two guests –  Drs. Gameli Dekayie-Amenu & Chantal Stephens-Archer get to do that on a daily basis with their passion project BestiesMD. Best friends since meeting in college at the University of Chicago, Drs. Chantale & Gameli have used YouTube, blog posts, and public speaking to empower women through health education on a relatable  and sisterly level. Besides being featured in various electronic and print media, they are now jumping into podcasting with their very own – Tea & Cookies Podcast. Dr. Gameli   Dr. Gameli originally hails from Ghana, but moved to the United States at a very young age. She completed her medical studies and Emergency Medicine residency at Rush University and University of Chicago respectively. Currently she practices as a ER physician in the south suburbs of Illinois. Dr. Chantale Dr. Chantale was born and raised in Chicago and went to the prestigious Whitney Young M

I’m bringing back an old friend to Docs Outside the Box – Dr. Drai. Dr. Drai was featured on episode 3 where we talked about his breaking point from a pure clinical practice. Dr. Drai continues to be sought after by media for his medical opinions, but now he’s taking his physician coaching to a larger scale. He is hosting his first ever conference called Momentum in Medicine taking place in Atlanta, GA on April 20 – 22. According to Dr Drai, this is “a conference for medical professional to learn how to monetize their medical degrees and leverage their brand from medicine to mogul.” That’s a lot to live up to,  but based on the speakers he has for this conference – looks like he’s serious! Things you’ll learn in this episode: What role meditation plays in his daily schedule Who is Momentum in Medicine for Which doctors won’t benefit from this conference Why Dr. Drai thinks you need a coach for your career What to look for in a coach MUSIC: Jaytwo/Soundcloud.com/Jaytwomusic SUBSCRIBE: iTunes | GooglePlayMu

On this episode I get to chat with Dr. Bonnie Mason – CEO of Beyond The Exam Room. Through a combination of online and live courses, Beyond The Exam Room (BTER) educates and prepares physicians for things we all should’ve learned in medical school. Wanna learn to read and understand contracts? Check – There’s a module for that!  How about learning all that goes into starting/joining/maintaining a private practice? Boom – There’s a module for that. Interested in personal finance? Check – need I say more?! All of these courses are accredited by the University of Louisville and eligible for CME. She has a knack for giving back. Check out her non-profit organization Nth Dimensions, which boasts the mission of increasing women and under-represented minority representation in the field of orthopedic surgery. Dr. Mason obtained her undergraduate degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She then graduated with her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine, and then went back to Howard University to co

Future Proof MD Necessity is the mother of all invention. Everyone has heard this old proverb. It became relevant again during our economic recession in the years of 2007 – 2009.  Although there were plenty of negative events chronicled during the Great Recession, one bright spot was the rise of the personal finance movement. Numerous blogs have spawned from this movement covering everything from paying off student loans to teaching people how to retire by the ripe ‘ole age of 40.  Baby-boomers, millenials, black or white…you name it there’s a personal finance blog for seemingly every demographic. In this episode, I get to interview Future Proof MD who is a recent entry into the world of personal finance blogs. A self described disciple of The White Coat Investor  (DOTB Episode 6), Future Proof MD started the blog because he wanted a more efficient way to answer common financial questions from fellow medical students and residents. From his Investing 101 series (highly recommended) to his reviews on fin-tech,

No guests for this episode everyone!  You’ve heard stories from various doctors living outside the box – this episode you get to hear from me! Learn why I called 2016 the Year of Failure for me I started a locums tenens company called Equal Access Health. It’s not your average locums company. Currently we have great opportunities in OB/GYN and Trauma Surgery! Check out the website to learn more and sign up. Hear my challenge to you to get 2017 kicked off with a bang! Background music: “Free Hip Hop Beat With Hook: Ancestors” by GrizzlysBeatz.com SUBSCRIBE: iTunes | GooglePlayMusic | Stitcher The post 016 – A Year of Failure appeared first on DOCS OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Physician, author, speaker, social media coach, wife, mother, and owner of her own publishing company. Many say it takes superpowers to juggle all of these talents – but my next guest, Dr. Nicole Swiner, will say she’s no superwoman! She truly is living outside the box. In order to drum up more attention for her practice, she started writing medical advice for her town’s  local newspaper. Dr. Swiner’s passions are in women and minority health, stress management, and self care. Years later, with a myriad of columns and articles, she noticed that she covered very similar themes and used this to create her first book: How to Avoid the Superwoman Complex: 12 Ways to Balance Mind, Body & Spirit. Her book focuses on the notion that trying to be “all things to all people” is a large reason why people aren’t truly happy and healthy. Dr. Swiner did her undergraduate studies at Duke University, and obtained her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. From there, she decided Family Medicine was

Dr. Ryan Gray took some time from his busy schedule to be my next guest. He’s a podcasting veteran and if you haven’t heard of Ryan Gray – you’re living under a rock!! He runs the Medical School Headquarters, which is a website that “takes relevant premed topics and creates a one-stop shop for you to quickly get the information you need.” As the host of multiple podcasts – all with a focus on helping premed students become stronger candidates for medical school – he has quickly gained thousands of followers and listeners. Oh yeah and add author his repertoire. His book The Premed Playbook – Guide to the Medical School Interview  is his compilation of over 50 interview questions and answers that premeds can use to crush their interviews!! He even provides one -on-one coaching for premeds. Dr. Gray did his undergraduate studies at the University of Florida, and graduated with his M.D. at New York Medical College. He went on to do an internship at Tufts Medical Center and afterwards became a Flight Surgeon. Thi

On this episode, I get to chat with Dr. Peter Kim. Dr. Kim did his undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University, and then attained his medical degree (MD) from University of Maryland School of Medicine. Currently he is an anesthesiologist in Los Angeles, California. Peter’s session is a bit different than my previous interviews. Why? Well, the common theme shared by my other guests revolved around leveraging our credentials for media presence or achieving financial freedom. Although Dr. Kim loves the idea of financial freedom, his story is about disrupting the real estate industry with his company – Curbside Real Estate . The impetus to start the company came from his frustrations while purchasing a home and wondering why there wasn’t a better way for busy professionals like himself. Curbside Real Estate touts being able to streamline the process of purchasing a home for busy professionals by using a preferred network of realtors and mortgage loan lenders. The company is even touting no private mortgage

My next guest is Dr. Renee Matthews – host of the wildly popular Ask Dr. Renee Show. She has turned her passion for talking about medicine to the masses into her lifestyle. After facing difficulty with getting into an OB/GYN residency, Dr. Renee pivoted onto her networking skills that garnered her opportunities like a XM radio show. She’s now a well-sought after media medical expert, blogger, and national speaker. Oh, don’t forget to add social media guru to her list of skills – she now coaches physicians on how to distinguish themselves through multiple social medial platforms. You can find her at: askdrrenee.info Follow The Ask Dr Renee Show: www.youtube.com/user/AskDrRenee Things you’ll learn in this interview: Her plans to transition from YouTube to network TV Why it’s so important for doctors to embrace social media Her best productivity lifehack How she answers #imnotjustadoc SUBSCRIBE: iTunes | GooglePlayMusic | Stitcher The post 012 – Dr Renee Matthews from The Ask Dr Renee Show appeared first on