Dr. Gilbert Simon has been a practicing physician for over 50 years. Through the establishment of clinics serving low-income families, Dr. Simon learned how to operate a successful practice on a shoe-string budget. He joined Branch Out to share his ideas on how the healthcare system can change its practices to reach more people and eliminate wasteful spending. Tune in to hear this lively conversation regarding overtesting, overtreating, and overcharging, as he and Larson encourage physicians to remember their original oaths and callings. 

If you'd like to learn more, visit Dr. Simon's website: https://nofrillsqualityhealthcare.com/ 

Dr. Donna-Ann Thomas, Yale University’s Division Chief of Pain Management and Anesthesiology, migrated from Jamaica as a young adult and found herself in a life-changing accident that would alter the trajectory of her life and career. Believing that things don’t just happen by chance, Dr. Thomas has committed her life to taking care of others through medicine and service-based missions around the globe. Her story is unique, uplifting and engaging, tune in now! 

It’s never been easier to start building your personal brand as a physician and to take the steps towards financial freedom and career autonomy. Join Branch Out’s host, Larson Hicks, as he sits down with Dr. Ernesto Gutierrez, who coaches other physicians into monetizing their expertise and building a lucrative side gig. This episode is one you do NOT want to miss! 

In 2018, Dr. Ernesto Gutierrez left medicine to fully invest in his own company. He now coaches physicians in medical marketing and business development – helping burnt out doctors build a personal brand and monetize their expertise. His pursuit of a healthy work-life balance has given him a wealth of knowledge he now shares with others. He believes physician-entrepreneurs are the future of a healthy medical system and they simply need to take the first step to see where it will lead!  

Since 1997, Dr. Keith Smith has been pushing back against the status quo by creating America’s first free market surgery center (The Surgery Center of Oklahoma) and founding the Free Market Medical Association, now with more than 30 chapters throughout the country. Dr. Smith’s convictions for transparency and integrity caused him to thoroughly examine the “system” he was a part of and make changes where he could – even if that meant leaving modern medical practice to pursue a different ideal. Join us for this episode of Branch Out, as Dr. Smith and Larson (possibly Dr. Smith’s biggest fan) discuss the important ideologies behind direct care and physician independence. 

Like many other doctors we have interviewed, Dr. Diana Girnita's journey to become a physician began during her hospital stay as a young child. The compassion and care she received during that time translated into years of dedicated research, education and excellence in patient care. Ultimately, Dr. Girnita established Rheumatologist OnCall in 2019, a telemedicine Rheumatology DPC that is expanding across the country.  She joins Branch Out to share her story and the principles behind Rheumatologist OnCall that make her a truly unique physician! 

Dr. Travis Manasco may be newer to the scene than most, but he has already made more strides in pursuing entrepreneurship and technology in the medical field than many seasoned professionals. Tune in as Larson Hicks sits down with this future changemaker as he recounts the tips and tricks of entrepreneurship he is picking up along the way. If you’re not sure what to do with the innovative ideas you’ve had, let this episode motivate you to take the first steps and go for it! 

Dr. Uli K. Chettipally joins Larson Hicks in the newest episode of Branch Out. Dr. Chettipally began InnovatorMD with the vision to empower physicians to pursue technology and innovation in healthcare... believing that physicians could (and should) lead the way in advancing medicine on all fronts. He and Larson discuss how physicians are uniquely qualified to use their experiences in order to develop solutions to the challenges facing healthcare today. Moreover, they discuss how stepping into this space can often reignite a physician’s love for the field and breathe new life into one’s career. 

InnovatorMD offers regular workshops, meetups, and networking opportunities in addition to their semi- annual physician summits, the next of which will be held in January! Tune in to learn more about the work Dr. Chettipally and his team are doing! 

Sycamore’s host, Melissa Bain, is joined by Urologist, Dr. Diana Londoño, in this episode of Branch Out. Dr. Londoño has written for a number of websites and publications within the medical community with messages of self-awareness and hope to directly battle burnout. As a physician coach, her approach is straightforward - quickly challenging people to confront their reality and turn it into something positive. She’s used her personal bouts with burnout to create a company (and more importantly a community) of physicians helping each other through the trenches and demands of the job. Tune in as she and Melissa discuss some very real topics (and tell a few inappropriate jokes!)

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Guest Bio:
Dr. Diana Londoño is a board-certified Urologist from the L.A. area. She completed her Bachelors of Arts in Spanish and Biology from Claremont McKenna College. She attended medical school at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Her 6-year Urology residency was well-spent at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles. Dr. Londoño’s compassionate focus makes her the best advocate for her English and Spanish-speaking patients as they work together to find the best solutions for their health. Knowing how hard it is to be a healthcare provider, Dr. Londoño started Physician Care Support where medical professionals from all fields can reach out for support with stress, anxiety, and depression. She is also a proud mother to two girls. 

Top Things We Discuss: 

• You’re right where you’re supposed to be
• Take the time for self-care so you don’t burnout
• Didn’t see burnout coming and it took a huge toll on her physically as well as mentally 
• Physician Coach Support has a mission to reach those doctors struggling with depresion and suicide. It is a network of physicians, for physicians. 

About Dr. Londoño:

• Embraces the challenge of being a Latiño woman in a male-dominated field 
• Takes a great interest in human nature 
• Allowed her story and compassion for other struggling physicians to change the trajectory of her life in a positive way  

Links and Mentions

• Website: ⁠
  Dr. Diana Londoño's Website
  ⁠Physician Coach Support
• Social Media:  ⁠
  SoMe Docs Profile
  ⁠LinkedIn

Amidst L.A. shutting down during the pandemic, Anesthesiologist and Pain Management Doctor, Candice Williams, left full-time practice and took a leap of faith to pursue her first love – music. Such a transition was not without pain or fear but Dr. Williams knew that at the end of the day, it is what she needed to do. 

Join Sycamore CEO, Larson Hicks, as he and Dr. Williams walk through a variety of subjects including physician independence, pursuing hobbies, and walking by faith in a world that says security is everything. 

Orthopedic doctor, Daniel Paull, joins Branch Out to discuss his pioneering efforts in direct specialty care and his mission to disrupt the current insurance and hospital systems by encouraging other doctors to seek independence and alternative ways of practicing. He and Larson discuss the nuances of quality metrics, practice apart from incentives, and the restrictions facing direct care physicians. His encouragement for those feeling inspired is best surmised in his closing statement, “It is more of a ready-fire aim mentality, where you just have to go and do it and take a risk and you could fail… But if you don't and a lot of people haven't, you'll end up being in a much better position than you ever thought.” 

Visit sycamoredocs.com/podcast to access this episode and more great interviews from Branch Out! 



Guest Bio: 

After surviving an accident in his youth, Dr. Paull knew orthopedics was something he wanted to pursue. It didn’t take long for him to realize the sort of traps physicians can fall prey to so he decided to do things his own way. He now owns America’s first mobile cash based orthopedic practice and regularly speaks out about the corrupt insurance and hospital systems with the main goal of disrupting the status quo.