Ep300 - 300 Episodes Later: 10 Game-Changing Lessons for Physician Entrepreneurs
BootstrapMD - Physician Entrepreneurs Podcast with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming
Release Date: 07/02/2025
BootstrapMD - Physician Entrepreneurs Podcast with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming
How can military-honed resilience and positive psychology supercharge physician leadership? In this episode of Bootstrap MD, host Dr. Mike Woo-Ming interviews Dr. Christopher Colombo, as he shares his path from elementary school dreams of medicine to active-duty training, and his post-retirement "Lego break" before embracing part-time ICU night shifts and executive coaching. Inspired by a fellow physician's transition, he pursued training in executive and positive psychology coaching to address the personal-professional overlaps that frustrated him—like compartmentalizing life domains...
info_outlineBootstrapMD - Physician Entrepreneurs Podcast with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming
What does it take for a geriatrician to become a healthcare innovator impacting millions? In this episode, Dr. Mike Woo-Ming sits down with Dr. Michael Fang to share his journey from practicing medicine to co-founding Base10, an infection control software that saved lives in 150 nursing homes during the COVID pandemic, generating over $35M before its acquisition. He also co-founded Inosphere, impacting 7M mental health patients in the UK, Ireland, and Scotland. Now, as Chief Strategy Officer at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine and CEO of Rise Health, Dr. Fang is redefining...
info_outlineBootstrapMD - Physician Entrepreneurs Podcast with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming
In this episode, host Dr. Mike Woo-Ming exposes the "great physician money lie"—that high income automatically leads to wealth—and shares transformative insights from the book "The Wealth Ladder." Drawing from his 20+ years as a physician entrepreneur, he explains why many doctors earning $300,000+ live paycheck to paycheck, trapped in lifestyle inflation and employee mindsets. Dr. Woo-Ming breaks down the four levels of the wealth ladder, from financial insecurity to true freedom, and provides a simple formula to calculate your net worth. He emphasizes shifting from trading time for...
info_outlineBootstrapMD - Physician Entrepreneurs Podcast with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming
This episode is sponsored by: My Financial Coach You trained to save lives—who’s helping you save your financial future? My Financial Coach connects physicians with CFP® Professionals who specialize in your complex needs. Whether it’s crushing student loans, optimizing investments, or planning for retirement, you’ll get a personalized strategy built around your goals. Save for a vacation home, fund your child’s education, or prepare for life’s surprises—with unbiased, advice-only planning through a flat monthly fee. No commissions. No conflicts. Just clarity. Visit...
info_outlineBootstrapMD - Physician Entrepreneurs Podcast with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming
This episode is sponsored by: My Financial Coach You trained to save lives—who’s helping you save your financial future? My Financial Coach connects physicians with CFP® Professionals who specialize in your complex needs. Whether it’s crushing student loans, optimizing investments, or planning for retirement, you’ll get a personalized strategy built around your goals. Save for a vacation home, fund your child’s education, or prepare for life’s surprises—with unbiased, advice-only planning through a flat monthly fee. No commissions. No conflicts. Just clarity. Visit to...
info_outlineBootstrapMD - Physician Entrepreneurs Podcast with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming
This episode is sponsored by: My Financial Coach You trained to save lives—who’s helping you save your financial future? My Financial Coach connects physicians with CFP® Professionals who specialize in your complex needs. Whether it’s crushing student loans, optimizing investments, or planning for retirement, you’ll get a personalized strategy built around your goals. Save for a vacation home, fund your child’s education, or prepare for life’s surprises—with unbiased, advice-only planning through a flat monthly fee. No commissions. No conflicts. Just clarity. Visit to...
info_outlineBootstrapMD - Physician Entrepreneurs Podcast with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming
This episode is sponsored by: My Financial Coach You trained to save lives—who’s helping you save your financial future? My Financial Coach connects physicians with CFP® Professionals who specialize in your complex needs. Whether it’s crushing student loans, optimizing investments, or planning for retirement, you’ll get a personalized strategy built around your goals. Save for a vacation home, fund your child’s education, or prepare for life’s surprises—with unbiased, advice-only planning through a flat monthly fee. No commissions. No conflicts. Just clarity. Visit to...
info_outlineBootstrapMD - Physician Entrepreneurs Podcast with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming
This episode is sponsored by: My Financial Coach You trained to save lives—who’s helping you save your financial future? My Financial Coach connects physicians with CFP® Professionals who specialize in your complex needs. Whether it’s crushing student loans, optimizing investments, or planning for retirement, you’ll get a personalized strategy built around your goals. Save for a vacation home, fund your child’s education, or prepare for life’s surprises—with unbiased, advice-only planning through a flat monthly fee. No commissions. No conflicts. Just clarity. Visit to meet your...
info_outlineBootstrapMD - Physician Entrepreneurs Podcast with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming
This episode is sponsored by: My Financial Coach You trained to save lives—who’s helping you save your financial future? My Financial Coach connects physicians with CFP® Professionals who specialize in your complex needs. Whether it’s crushing student loans, optimizing investments, or planning for retirement, you’ll get a personalized strategy built around your goals. Save for a vacation home, fund your child’s education, or prepare for life’s surprises—with unbiased, advice-only planning through a flat monthly fee. No commissions. No conflicts. Just clarity. Visit to meet your...
info_outlineBootstrapMD - Physician Entrepreneurs Podcast with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming
This episode is sponsored by: My Financial Coach You trained to save lives—who’s helping you save your financial future? My Financial Coach connects physicians with CFP® Professionals who specialize in your complex needs. Whether it’s crushing student loans, optimizing investments, or planning for retirement, you’ll get a personalized strategy built around your goals. Save for a vacation home, fund your child’s education, or prepare for life’s surprises—with unbiased, advice-only planning through a flat monthly fee. No commissions. No conflicts. Just clarity. Visit: to meet...
info_outlineThis episode is sponsored by: My Financial Coach
You trained to save lives—who’s helping you save your financial future? My Financial Coach connects physicians with CFP® Professionals who specialize in your complex needs. Whether it’s crushing student loans, optimizing investments, or planning for retirement, you’ll get a personalized strategy built around your goals. Save for a vacation home, fund your child’s education, or prepare for life’s surprises—with unbiased, advice-only planning through a flat monthly fee. No commissions. No conflicts. Just clarity.
👉 Visit: https://myfinancialcoach.com/bootstrapmd/ to meet your financial coach and find out if concierge planning is right for you.
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In this episode, Dr. Mike Woo-Ming celebrates the 300th episode of BootstrapMD by reflecting on his biggest takeaways from interviewing hundreds of physician entrepreneurs. He delivers 10 powerful, battle-tested lessons from the trenches of physician entrepreneurship.
Whether you're in the early stages of thinking about building a side venture or already running your business, this episode is a masterclass in growth, fulfillment, and reclaiming control over your career.
This podcast exists because of its listeners, and every message, review, and share has played a vital role in its growth and success over 300 episodes. If this episode provided value, please consider leaving a review—every piece of feedback is read and appreciated. Share the episode with a colleague who may be exploring new possibilities in their career, and join the BootstrapMD community at bootstrapmd.com to access valuable resources, upcoming events, and ongoing support for physician entrepreneurs.
Three Actionable Takeaways:
1. Take Imperfect, Purpose-Driven Action:
Start before you feel fully ready—clarity comes through action. Build a business or career path rooted in purpose, not just profit, and embrace the power of facing fear head-on.
2. Leverage Your Medical Training Beyond the Clinic:
Your MD/DO is an asset, not a limitation. Recognize burnout early and pivot with intention. Use your clinical skills to add unique value in non-traditional roles, and don’t let your specialty define your ceiling.
3. Build Smart Systems and Strong Support:
Avoid burnout by designing efficient, scalable systems—and don’t do it alone. Surround yourself with mentors, collaborators, and a like-minded entrepreneurial tribe to stay adaptable and future-proof your growth.
About the Host:
Dr. Mike Woo-Ming is a physician entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience. He’s built and sold multiple 7-figure companies and now leads Executive Medical, a group of clinics specializing in age management and aesthetics. Through BootstrapMD, he mentors physicians in business, content creation, and career autonomy.
👥 Connect with Dr. Mike: www.bootstrapmd.com
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Check out the Doctor Podcast Network.