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.

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 to Illinois, where he and a friend began conceptualizing a practice just six months out of school; one that would eventually become High Point Dentistry.

So how do you go from launching a practice to building a multi-location business? What lessons come from selling it all—and starting again? And how do you lead with purpose while raising a family? Dr. Kong opens up about growth, sacrifice, and what he’s learned about leadership, culture, and data along the way. Tune in for an honest look at what it takes to grow smarter, not just bigger.

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, and early dreams of practice ownership, he eventually opened Empire Dental Group in Charlotte, NC.

How do you step into practice ownership only a year and a half after graduating? How can doctors transform a white coat into a lasting financial legacy? Can you still buy a practice if you have student loans? Dr. Ifedi, a true community pillar, shares his time and knowledge in this episode and in his community to uplift future dental leaders. Tune in to hear how he accomplished it all.