The Podcast For Doctors (By Doctors)

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 ra...

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 ex...

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...

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?...

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 t...

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...

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...

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...

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 inefficien...

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...

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....

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 take...

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 liste...

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 advantage...

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? W...

Med-Peds hospitalist, residency program director, and PhD candidate Dr. Ben Kinnear discusses how time-variable training impacts learning amongst students and residents and the importance of evolving medical training to ensure residents are prepared to provide high-quality care for patients. Is time-variable learning the best path forward for quality medical training? Will unionization of hospital...

Entrepreneur Mark Cuban discusses the vital role risk mitigation plays in rising healthcare costs, the effect medical school costs have on access to quality care, and how AI could impact the medical community. Can transparency impact the cost of care? Would offering medical education for free mitigate the proclaimed physician shortage? Does AI make sense as a tool in the medical industry? Mark sha...

Entrepreneur Mark Cuban discusses the importance of transparency in health care and how Cost Plus Drugs is disrupting the market by creating accessible  medications for those who need it. How can health care extend transparency for the greater good? How do pharmacy benefit managers affect the price of your prescriptions? Mark explains the current cost structure inefficiencies and gives an overview...

Surgeon, CEO, author, and professor Dr. Robert Pearl, a trailblazer in the medical community, talks about generative AI and the role it could play in the future of medicine. Can generative AI fill in the gaps within healthcare for patients and clinicians alike? Who is liable as AI enters the workforce? Dr. Pearl dives into the numerous scenarios where generative AI could improve the medical world...

Pediatric nephrologist Dr. Bryan Carmody joins us as we discuss what the future of medical education and residency selection looks like in addition to the rise of doctor unions and potential workforce changes. Is a lottery system the solution to a fair Match? What is causing the increase in unionization among residents and attendings? How will new pathways for IMGs change the doctor workforce? The...

Being a doctor in America can be hard; the hosts of The Podcast For Doctors (By Doctors) know from experience. Join Dr. Michael Jerkins and Dr. Ned Palmer, practicing physicians and co-founders of a national financial platform for doctors, as they have real talk on what matters to doctors and their lives. See more from Dr. Jerkins and Dr. Palmer on  panaceafinancial.com ,  Instagram ,  Twitter , ...