You've invested years building your career and your wealth—but have you invested enough in protecting it?

Discover the strategies that can help safeguard your assets, reduce financial risk, and preserve what you've worked so hard to achieve.

In this conversation, Dr. Ash Patel sits down with CPA Carole Foos to examine the financial strategies that help physicians protect what they've spent a lifetime building. Drawing on her expertise advising medical professionals, Carole shares practical guidance on reducing financial risk and making informed decisions that support long-term security. 

Topics Discussed

•  Understanding asset protection for physicians 
•  Protecting personal and practice assets 
•  Insurance as the foundation of risk management 
•  LLCs versus corporations for medical practices 
•  State-specific asset protection laws 
•  Protecting homes, real estate, and investment assets 
•  Retirement account protections 
•  Asset protection for employed and private practice surgeons 
•  Building a coordinated team of legal and financial advisors 

Key Takeaway

Asset protection isn't about preparing for the worst—it's about making smart financial decisions before problems arise. Establishing the right legal structures, maintaining appropriate insurance, and developing a proactive protection strategy can help preserve your wealth throughout every stage of your career. 

Bonus Resources

OJM Group
https://www.ojmgroup.com/

Wealth Planning for the Modern Physician: From Residency to Retirement
https://www.ojmgroup.com/books/

About Enhance Your Practice

Enhance Your Practice is the official practice management podcast from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), featuring conversations with leaders in plastic surgery on practice management, leadership, innovation, and professional development. Each episode delivers practical insights to help plastic surgeons build successful practices and thrive throughout their careers.

Explore more educational resources from ASPS at plasticsurgery.org.

Managing debt isn't just about paying off loans—it's about creating financial freedom throughout your career.

Launch Season 4 with the first conversation in our financial planning journey, exploring practical strategies for managing debt, making informed financial decisions, and building a stronger financial future.

Certified financial planner Adrienne Upchurch, CFP®, CLU®, joins Dr. Ash Patel to share practical guidance on navigating debt at every stage of a plastic surgery career. From student loans to refinancing and long-term financial planning, she offers actionable insights that can help physicians make confident financial decisions and avoid common pitfalls.

Topics Discussed

•  Understanding good debt versus bad debt 
•  Creating an effective debt repayment strategy 
•  Prioritizing high-interest debt 
•  Student loan repayment and forgiveness programs 
•  Refinancing and debt consolidation considerations 
•  Balancing debt repayment with retirement savings 
•  Financing a private practice 
•  Building emergency savings 
•  Working with financial planners and CPAs 
•  Avoiding common financial mistakes throughout a medical career 

Key Takeaway

Managing debt is about more than paying down balances—it's about making intentional financial decisions that support long-term career and personal goals. By understanding different types of debt, creating a structured repayment plan, taking advantage of available financial programs, and seeking trusted professional guidance, physicians can reduce financial stress while building a stronger financial future. 

Bonus Resources

Federal Student Aid – Loan Repayment & Public Service Loan Forgiveness
https://studentaid.gov/

CFP Board – Find a Certified Financial Planner™ Professional
https://www.cfp.net/

Smith Conway Financial Planning 
https://smithconway.com/

About Enhance Your Practice

Enhance Your Practice is the official practice management podcast from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), featuring conversations with leaders in plastic surgery on practice management, leadership, innovation, and professional development. Each episode delivers practical insights to help plastic surgeons build successful practices and thrive throughout their careers.

Explore more educational resources from ASPS at plasticsurgery.org.

Physician wellness doesn't stop at the hospital—it begins with the people waiting at home. 

Close out Season 3 by exploring how physician wellness extends beyond the operating room to the families who stand beside us through every challenge.

Dr. Ash Patel is joined by Dr. Jeffrey Janis and Dr. Richard Korentager, Co-Chairs of the ASPS Wellness Committee, to discuss the challenges physicians faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including uncertainty, resilience, maintaining perspective, and supporting one another through crisis. The conversation continues with Emily Janis and Sabrina Korentager, who offer an honest look at the realities of supporting physician spouses, raising children during uncertainty, balancing careers, and preserving family well-being while healthcare professionals served their communities. Together, these conversations highlight that caring for physicians also means caring for the families who support them every day.

Topics Discussed

•  Physician wellness during times of crisis 
•  Managing uncertainty, stress, and anxiety 
•  Supporting healthcare professionals and their families 
•  Maintaining family communication and routines 
•  Parenting during periods of disruption and uncertainty 
•  Balancing work, home, and caregiving responsibilities 
•  The importance of resilience, connection, and self-care 
•  Lessons learned that extend beyond the pandemic 

Key Takeaway

Physician wellness is strengthened through honest communication, supportive relationships, and intentional self-care. By recognizing the needs of both healthcare professionals and their families, maintaining meaningful connections, and accepting that resilience looks different for every household, physicians can better navigate adversity while preserving their own well-being and the well-being of those closest to them.

Bonus Resources

ASPS Wellness Resources
Comprehensive physician wellness resources from ASPS, including Project Well, burnout assessments, educational modules, and additional wellness support for plastic surgeons.
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/for-medical-professionals/resources/wellness-resources

About Enhance Your Practice

Enhance Your Practice is the official practice management podcast from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), featuring conversations with leaders in plastic surgery on practice management, leadership, innovation, and professional development. Each episode delivers practical insights to help plastic surgeons build successful practices and thrive throughout their careers.

Explore more educational resources from ASPS at plasticsurgery.org.

Periods of uncertainty test not only our clinical skills but also our resilience, leadership, and ability to adapt.

Explore the lessons from one of healthcare's most challenging periods and discover strategies that can strengthen your leadership, communication, and resilience in the face of future uncertainty.

Dr. Ash Patel welcomes Dr. Vu Nguyen and Dr. Francesco Egro for a thoughtful discussion on how plastic surgeons, trainees, and academic programs adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflecting on their experiences, they share practical insights on leadership, innovation, education, and teamwork that remain relevant well beyond the crisis. While rooted in the pandemic, many of the lessons discussed remain applicable to future disruptions and challenges in healthcare.

Topics Discussed

•  Maintaining resident education during clinical disruptions 
•  Supporting physician and trainee wellness during a crisis 
•  Virtual learning, grand rounds, and telemedicine 
•  Leadership strategies for reducing uncertainty and anxiety 
•  Building routines while working remotely 
•  Staying physically and mentally healthy during periods of isolation 
•  Technology's evolving role in education and patient care 
•  Resources available to support healthcare professionals during emergencies 

Key Takeaway

Resilience during times of crisis depends on preparation, communication, adaptability, and strong support systems. By embracing new technologies, maintaining structured routines, prioritizing wellness, and staying connected with colleagues and loved ones, surgeons can continue to learn, lead, and provide exceptional care even in the face of significant uncertainty. 

Bonus Resources

ASPS Wellness Resources
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/for-medical-professionals/resources/wellness-resources?sub=Educational+Programs

About Enhance Your Practice

Enhance Your Practice is the official practice management podcast from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), featuring conversations with leaders in plastic surgery on practice management, leadership, innovation, and professional development. Each episode delivers practical insights to help plastic surgeons build successful practices and thrive throughout their careers.

Explore more educational resources from ASPS at plasticsurgery.org.

Success in plastic surgery isn't built alone—it depends on the relationships you cultivate throughout your career.

Discover how investing in the right relationships can strengthen your leadership, support your well-being, and create a more fulfilling surgical career.

Host Dr. Ash Patel sits down with Dr. Michael Bentz to discuss how meaningful relationships with family, mentors, colleagues, and trainees influence long-term career satisfaction and professional success. Drawing on decades of leadership experience, Dr. Bentz shares practical strategies for achieving work-life integration, setting priorities, preventing burnout, and making intentional decisions about professional commitments. The conversation offers valuable guidance for surgeons at every career stage seeking to build fulfilling careers without sacrificing what matters most.

Bonus Reading: The Pursuit of Happiness: Surgeon Well-Being (PRS Global Open)

Topics Discussed

•  Work-life integration versus work-life balance 
•  Prioritizing family alongside professional responsibilities 
•  Building supportive relationships at home and at work 
•  Choosing mentors who model the career and life you want 
•  Learning when—and how—to say no 
•  Recognizing and preventing surgeon burnout 
•  Leadership strategies for supporting colleagues and trainees 
•  Practical habits for sustaining long-term career satisfaction 

Key Takeaway

Long-term success in plastic surgery is measured not only by professional accomplishments but also by the strength of the relationships that support them. By intentionally prioritizing family, choosing meaningful commitments, seeking mentors, and regularly reassessing personal and professional goals, surgeons can build rewarding careers that remain sustainable throughout every stage of practice.

About Enhance Your Practice

Enhance Your Practice is the official practice management podcast from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), featuring conversations with leaders in plastic surgery on practice management, leadership, innovation, and professional development. Each episode delivers practical insights to help plastic surgeons build successful practices and thrive throughout their careers.

Explore more educational resources from ASPS at plasticsurgery.org.

Your most important surgical instrument isn't in your hand—it's your body.

Explore the ergonomic strategies that can help prevent injury, extend your career, and support your long-term well-being in the operating room.

Join Dr. Ash Patel as he speaks with Dr. Scott Hollenbeck and Dr. Douglas Steinbrech about the often-overlooked role of ergonomics in building a long and healthy career in plastic surgery. Drawing from their own experiences with musculoskeletal injuries, they discuss practical strategies for improving posture, optimizing operating room setup, preventing repetitive strain, and developing daily habits that support long-term physical wellness. Their conversation highlights that protecting your body is essential to delivering exceptional patient care throughout an entire surgical career.

Topics Discussed

•  Understanding ergonomics in plastic surgery 
•  Common musculoskeletal injuries among surgeons 
•  Optimizing operating room positioning and posture 
•  Preventing neck, back, shoulder, and hand injuries 
•  Stretching and mobility before, during, and after surgery 
•  Exercise, strength training, and physical conditioning for surgeons 
•  Nutrition, hydration, and recovery strategies 
•  Developing sustainable habits for career longevity 

Key Takeaway

Technical skill alone is not enough for a long surgical career. By practicing good ergonomics, maintaining physical fitness, and developing intentional daily habits, surgeons can reduce injury, improve performance, and preserve their ability to care for patients over decades of practice.

About Enhance Your Practice

Enhance Your Practice is the official practice management podcast from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), featuring conversations with leaders in plastic surgery on practice management, leadership, innovation, and professional development. Each episode delivers practical insights to help plastic surgeons build successful practices and thrive throughout their careers.

Explore more educational resources from ASPS at plasticsurgery.org.

Can becoming a mother make you a better plastic surgeon?

Discover how the experience of motherhood can strengthen resilience, deepen empathy, and shape a more intentional approach to both surgical training and patient care.

Host Dr. Ash Patel welcomes Dr. Lily Mundy and Dr. Kavitha Ranganathan for an honest conversation about navigating pregnancy, maternity leave, breastfeeding, and parenting during plastic surgery residency. Together, they discuss the realities of balancing demanding surgical training with raising young children, overcoming guilt and societal expectations, and building the support systems that make both career and family possible. Their experiences demonstrate that motherhood doesn't limit professional growth—it can strengthen resilience, empathy, leadership, and purpose.

Topics Discussed

•  Returning to residency after maternity leave 
•  Navigating breastfeeding and pumping during surgical training 
•  Building strong support systems at home and within residency programs 
•  Creating equitable support for maternity and paternity leave 
•  Managing guilt, perfectionism, and unrealistic expectations 
•  Integrating family life into a surgical career 
•  Choosing when to start a family during training 
•  How motherhood strengthens leadership, empathy, and patient care 

Key Takeaway

Motherhood and surgical training are not competing goals. With supportive programs, strong partnerships, and a willingness to redefine success, surgeons can build meaningful careers while raising families. Rather than limiting professional growth, motherhood can foster resilience, perspective, compassion, and more intentional leadership. 

About Enhance Your Practice

Enhance Your Practice is the official practice management podcast from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), featuring conversations with leaders in plastic surgery on practice management, leadership, innovation, and professional development. Each episode delivers practical insights to help plastic surgeons build successful practices and thrive throughout their careers.

Explore more educational resources from ASPS at plasticsurgery.org.

Can becoming a father actually make you a better surgeon?

Explore how the lessons learned through fatherhood can strengthen leadership, reshape priorities, and create a more fulfilling surgical career.

Special Guest Host Dr. Kavitha Ranganathan sits down with Dr. Christian Vercler and Dr. Joseph Lopez to explore the realities of balancing fatherhood with the demands of plastic surgery. Together, they share honest reflections on raising young children while navigating academic practice and residency, building true partnerships at home, and intentionally creating time for family despite demanding clinical schedules. Their conversation highlights the importance of communication, flexibility, and redefining success to include both professional achievement and meaningful family relationships.

Topics Discussed

•  Balancing fatherhood with the demands of residency and academic practice 
•  Building strong partnerships in dual-career households 
•  Managing schedules through communication and organization 
•  Creating meaningful family time despite unpredictable work demands 
•  Challenging traditional expectations of fatherhood in surgery 
•  Prioritizing presence over perfection 
•  The role of mentorship in creating healthier surgical careers 
•  Finding purpose, resilience, and wellness through family 

Key Takeaway

Fatherhood and a successful surgical career are not mutually exclusive. By intentionally prioritizing family, communicating openly with partners, and embracing flexibility, surgeons can build fulfilling careers while remaining present for the moments that matter most. 

About Enhance Your Practice

Enhance Your Practice is the official practice management podcast from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), featuring conversations with leaders in plastic surgery on practice management, leadership, innovation, and professional development. Each episode delivers practical insights to help plastic surgeons build successful practices and thrive throughout their careers.

Explore more educational resources from ASPS at plasticsurgery.org.

Building a successful surgical career shouldn't come at the expense of the people who matter most.

Season 3 begins with an exploration of the strategies that help plastic surgeons build fulfilling careers while maintaining strong relationships at home. 

Join host Dr. Ash Patel as he welcomes Dr. Heather Furnas and Dr. Paul Cederna for an honest discussion about balancing demanding surgical careers with family life. Through personal stories and practical strategies, they share how intentional planning, clear priorities, and strong support systems helped them remain engaged parents, supportive spouses, and accomplished plastic surgeons. Their experiences demonstrate that long-term success isn't measured solely by career achievements—it's also defined by the relationships we build and the lives we shape outside the operating room.

Topics Discussed

•  Creating intentional boundaries between work and home 
•  Prioritizing family throughout every stage of a surgical career 
•  Building support systems for working families 
•  Managing demanding schedules through planning and efficiency 
•  Making career decisions that align with personal values 
•  Raising resilient, independent children 
•  Maintaining physician wellness through meaningful relationships 
•  Redefining professional success beyond titles and accomplishments 

Key Takeaway

Building a successful career and a strong family are not competing goals. By intentionally protecting time for the people who matter most, creating healthy boundaries, and aligning professional commitments with personal values, surgeons can achieve lasting success both at home and in practice. 

About Enhance Your Practice

Enhance Your Practice is the official practice management podcast from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), featuring conversations with leaders in plastic surgery on practice management, leadership, innovation, and professional development. Each episode delivers practical insights to help plastic surgeons build successful practices and thrive throughout their careers.

Explore more educational resources from ASPS at plasticsurgery.org.