Surviving Practice Challenges: A Journey Through Dentistry, Bankruptcy, and Reinvention (Part 1)
Wealth Planning for the Modern Physician
Release Date: 12/11/2024
Wealth Planning for the Modern Physician
This summer, join host David Mandell as he revisits and highlights episodes from Season 3 of , in our 2025 Summer Rewind Series. "I genuinely believe there is a lot of information to gain from all of our episodes deliver, but for the summer, I've handpicked a few that offer intriguing ideas and a unique perspective for physicians in 2025," says David. "I hope you enjoy this Season encore series. Have a great summer!" Listen in as chats with , real estate advisor and entrepreneur behind . Trisha begins by explaining what her training, certifications, and...
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In this final episode of Season 5, host David Mandell recaps the season’s key themes and previews the upcoming Summer Rewind series, which will highlight standout episodes from Seasons 3 and 4. The podcast will continue on a biweekly schedule over the summer, with new introductions to previously released episodes, allowing listeners to revisit valuable content over the Summer. David reviews each of the 18 episodes of Season 5, including a quick recap and highlights. The goal of this episode is to help listeners catch up on missed episodes or revisit important insights they may have...
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In this episode, host David Mandell welcomes Bob Goettling, a seasoned investment banker and legal expert with over 30 years of experience in healthcare transactions, to discuss the emerging relevance of ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) for physician practices. Goettling shares his professional journey, from early M&A work to helping physician groups explore monetization options, including ESOPs as a potentially powerful but underutilized tool. Bob breaks down the core structure and history of ESOPs, describing them as trust-based leveraged buyouts that allow physicians and...
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In this episode of the Wealth Planning for the Modern Physician podcast, host David Mandell sits down with two highly respected medical leaders—Dr. Mark Figgie, Chief Emeritus of the Surgical Arthritis Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), and Dr. Joel Press, Physiatrist-in-Chief at HSS—to explore their personal and professional journeys in medicine. Dr. Press shares how his diverse early experiences led him to physiatry, while Dr. Figgie recounts his balance between science, business, and a lifelong pursuit of education, including earning an MBA during his fellowship. The...
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In this second episode of a two-episode interview, host David Mandell continues his conversation with Corey Kleinschmidt, an industry veteran in the locum tenens space. The episode kicks off with a recap of Part 1 and a reintroduction to Cory’s extensive background in the industry, including his work with Jackson Healthcare and his current role at Locumpedia. The focus then shifts to actionable steps for physicians considering locum—starting with educating themselves through resources like Locumpedia’s No BS Guide and connecting with other providers who’ve already taken the...
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In this first episode of a two-episode interview, host David Mandell speaks with Cory Kleinschmidt, an industry veteran in the locum tenens space. Cory shares his journey into the field, which began unexpectedly in the late 1990s when he helped develop LocumTenens.com, a job board that played a significant role in the industry’s growth. He later founded Locumpedia, a digital platform dedicated to locum tenens professionals, offering resources, job listings, and insights into the industry. Cory explains the concept of locum tenens, which allows physicians to work as temporary providers in...
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Host David Mandell welcomes Dr. Jude Pierre back to the podcast for an engaging discussion on physician entrepreneurship, financial pitfalls, and operational best practices. They begin by revisiting common mistakes doctors make when purchasing their first or second home, such as relying on 100% financing and overspending on a house before their career stabilizes. Dr. Pierre emphasizes the importance of financial prudence and warns about the risks associated with early-career real estate decisions. The conversation then shifts to the benefits of hiring a medical scribe, a strategy that...
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Listen in as host David Mandell welcomes back to the Podcast healthcare attorneys Michael Byrd and Brad Adatto, both of whom joined David back in Season 1. Brad and Michael begin the discussion laying out the legal issues around the weight loss drugs that have become so popular today and what physicians prescribing such drugs need to be aware of – from patient consent issues, to compounding challenges and state-specific dispensing regulations, to marketing rules and more. The conversation then shifts to mergers and acquisitions concerning medical practices. Michael and Brad relate the shift...
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Listen in as host David Mandell welcomes orthopedic surgeon Dr. Patrick St. Pierre. Pat begins by sharing his background in the military, where he served in the infantry and as an airborne ranger pathfinder and eventually transitioned to medical school and a path in orthopedics. He then tells David about his decisions around the first job he took outside of the military on the east coast and his eventual move to Palm Desert, CA to a growing orthopedic practice there. The conversation then shifts to Pat’s involvement with industry, including work on a Mako orthopedic robot for shoulder...
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Listen in or watch as host David Mandell sits down with medical marketing consultant Kristy LaGourgue and aesthetic nurse Rachel Varga to discuss branding and marketing lessons that all doctors can benefit from, whether they own their own practice or not. David begins the discussion by asking Kristy and Rachel the most common mistakes medical practices make with marketing and how to avoid them. They then chat about the importance of marketing when offering new services or equipment or even bringing on new doctors. The discussion then turns to branding – how an individual doctor can...
info_outlineListen in or watch as host David Mandell interviews dentist and coach Dr. Sue Keller. David begins with questions he asks all doctor guests to the program—about their initial interest in becoming a doctor, early career journey and more. Sue relates her personal experiences that lead her to dentistry and a shift from an interest in orthodontics to general dentistry.
Sue explains her initial venture into private practice, purchasing an existing practice from a burned-out dentist, and her initial attempts to grow the practice. She and David discuss her challenges in growing the practice, the positives and negatives to developing a niche practice, to moving the physical location and the difficulties of keeping good staff.
For the remainder of this first part of a two-part episode, Sue tells David about the challenges of keeping the practice afloat financially. In part two, they discuss Sue’s decision to file bankruptcy for the practice after more than 20 years and her career transition thereafter.
Insights:
- Sue shares her personal journey, mentioning her early interest in dentistry after having her first loose tooth at six years old.
- Sue had a positive childhood experience with her dentist, which fueled her desire to make dentistry comfortable for others.
- She discusses the transition in her career, starting her practice after a residency and eventually purchasing an existing practice from a burned-out dentist.
- In 1995, Sue took over a family practice and started building it up, noting challenges with old technology and financial constraints.
- She explains that her practice focused on treating anxious adult patients with oral sedation, creating a niche in an underserved area.
- She moved her practice in 2007, creating a comfortable environment in Northampton but encountered financial challenges in 2008 due to the financial crisis, including losing two-thirds of her patients after the move and facing difficulties hiring motivated staff, leading to constant turnover.
- Sue reflects on the decision to go fee-for-service and the financial pressures of taking insurance while striving to maintain high-quality care.
- Despite her advanced education, she struggled to implement complex treatments due to a lack of patients who could afford the care.
- Sue emphasizes the importance of utilizing specialists, even for bread-and-butter dentistry, to maintain quality and avoid complications.
- She outlines the ongoing financial struggles from 2008 to 2017, refinancing multiple times to stay afloat amid a tough market.
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