Physicians Hanging a Shingle | Start a Private Medical Practice

In this episode, I'm joined by healthcare attorney Kim Cunningham of Cunningham Law to discuss the most common legal mistakes physicians make when starting a private practice, when to hire an attorney, and how to avoid costly compliance pitfalls.

As a bonus for Physicians Hanging a Shingle listeners, Kim is offering 10% off her legal services. Be sure to listen to the end of the episode for details, or reac...

What if one hour today could save you hours of stress during launch?

In this episode, I'm sharing one of the productivity habits I recommend to every physician I coach: content batching. Learn why creating your social media in advance can help you stay consistent, reduce decision fatigue, and free up your time when your practice finally opens. I also share a personal story about a post tha...

Four years ago, I opened the doors to my private practice. And looking back, there are a few things I wish I could have told myself on day one.

In this episode, I'm sharing four lessons I've learned over the past four years that I believe every future practice owner should hear before opening their doors. If you're dreaming about private practice or are early in your journey, this e...

If you think practice culture starts after you hire your first employee, think again.

In this episode, I share why the culture of your practice begins long before opening day. We'll talk about hiring for character, choosing personalities that complement one another, creating clear expectations during onboarding, and building the kind of workplace where both your team and your patients thrive.

Whether you're still planning your prac...

How do you know if you’re financially ready to leave your employed job and start a private practice?

In this episode, I’m walking through the questions I think every physician should ask before making the leap.

We’ll talk about personal expenses, startup costs, runway, timeline, and what it really means to be financially prepared to leave employed medicine.

If private practice is on your mind but the financial si...

In this episode, I tackle one of the biggest myths about private practice: that you'll never be able to take a vacation.

I share how I've actually taken more time off as a practice owner than I did when I was employed, and discuss the planning, systems, and communication strategies that make it possible.

Whether you're building an insurance-based, membership, cash-pay, in-person, or telemedicine practice, taking time away is possib...

When you're deep in the paperwork, decisions, and day-to-day tasks of starting a private practice, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. In this week's Thursday Shift, I share a reminder that you're not just building a clinic—you're building a career, a lifestyle, and a future that reflects your values.

If you've been feeling buried in the details, this episode will help you zoom out and reconnect with your why.

ORDE...

In this episode, I discuss one of the most important office policies to establish before you open your practice: your no-show policy.

We cover what should count as a no-show, whether to charge fees, how to handle repeat offenders, rescheduling rules, and the importance of applying the policy consistently.

Whether you're building an in-person, telemedicine, insurance-based, or cash-pay practice, having a clear plan in place can help...

If you're waiting for someone else to tell you it's okay to start your private practice, this episode is for you.

In this week's Thursday Shift, I talk about the difference between seeking advice and seeking permission and why ownership requires you to trust yourself before everyone else understands your vision.

Plus, I share a reminder that no one can build your dream practice for you.

ORDER MY NEW BOOK: PRIVATE PRACTICE, ON PURPO...

When physicians think about starting a private practice, they often overlook one of the most valuable resources they already have access to: organized medicine.

In this episode, I share 5 ways local, state, specialty, and national medical organizations can support your private practice journey—from vendor discounts and professional connections to referrals, mentorship, and even funding opportunities.

If you're already paying ...

In this episode, I walk through one of the highest-yield exercises I do with coaching clients: designing the patient experience from beginning to end.

We cover everything from how patients find your practice and schedule appointments to check-in, triage, the visit itself, and after-visit follow-up...including important differences for telemedicine practices.

Small workflow decisions can completely change how patients experience yo...

If patients can’t reach your office efficiently, it impacts everything... workflow, satisfaction, efficiency, and trust.

In this episode, I’m breaking down simple but important things to think through when creating your office phone system, from call routing and voicemail setup to setting expectations for callbacks and refill requests. Small systems make a big difference.

ORDER MY NEW BOOK: PRIVATE PRACTICE, ON PURPOSE

This week’s Thursday Shift is for the physicians quietly thinking:

“But what if I have to fire someone?”

In this episode, I talk about the reality of leadership in private practice, why difficult staffing decisions are sometimes unavoidable, and why keeping the wrong person too long can hurt your team, patients, and business more than letting them go.

You do not have to be a perfect leader to build a successful pr...

In this episode, I’m walking through 7 ways to build a private practice on purpose — from defining your vision and designing your practice model to building systems, teams, visibility, and leadership during the early days.

These are the same foundational themes behind Private Practice, On Purpose and the framework I believe helps physicians build more sustainable practices.

ORDER THE BOOK: PRIVATE PRACTICE, ON PURPOSE

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Una to talk about what it really takes to build a profitable private practice.

We break down the difference between revenue and profit, why more patients isn’t always the answer, and how to think about your practice like a business.

If you’ve been wondering how to make your practice financially sustainable, this conversation will give you a clearer way to think about it.

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If building your practice feels harder than you expected… you’re not alone.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why this process feels so uncomfortable, and why that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

Take the Private Practice Readiness Quiz!

This quiz will help you identify where you fall on the readiness spectrum—and what your next best step should be.

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If you want step-by-s...

If you’ve been thinking about starting a private practice, you’ve probably told yourself, “I’ll open in about 12 months.”

In this episode, I break down why that timeline often doesn’t work—and how to build one that actually does.

I share what my timeline looked like (January → April → July) and how I structured my time while still working full-time.

We’ll talk about tying your timelin...

“I thought I’d be further along by now.”

If that thought has crossed your mind, this episode is for you.

I’m sharing why progress doesn’t always look the way you expect—and how to recognize the momentum you’re actually building.

If you want help getting unstuck and moving forward, join me for a 90-minute private practice strategy intensive.

Take the Private Practice Readiness ...

Where does the money actually go in private practice?

In this episode, I break down the 5 major expense buckets every physician needs to understand before starting a practice and how to think about them clearly.

If you’re ready to map this out for your own practice, the Private Practice Strategy Intensive is where we do it together.

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Check out my new book, Private Practice, On Purpose! It's available on Amazon! Please sh...