In today's episode, Dr. Disha Spath sits down with Dr. Zwade Marshall—Emory- and Harvard-trained anesthesiologist, interventional pain specialist, CMO of Regenerative Spine and Pain Specialists, and co-founder/CEO of Doc2Doc Lending, a lending platform built by doctors for doctors.

Dr. Marshall shares the real story behind why traditional banks misunderstand early-career physicians, how his own relocation struggle sparked Doc2Doc, and how their proprietary underwriting finally evaluates doctors based on potential, not current cash flow.

Whether you're an early-career doctor trying to get approved for a loan, or an experienced physician thinking about launching your own practice, this episode is full of practical, real-world financial advice that medical training never covered.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Why traditional banks undervalue physicians

• How big student loans and low early income distort our financial picture and why banks overlook our recession-proof earning potential.

2. How Doc2Doc Lending was born

• The moment Dr. Marshall realized the system was broken and how he built a lending model that evaluates physicians prospectively, not punitively.

3. What makes Doc2Doc underwriting different

• NPI verification, training stage, specialty, geography, cash-flow behaviors, and machine-learning insights that actually reflect physician realities.

4. When using leverage makes sense

• Why personal loans can be powerful tools for practice start-up costs, fix-and-flips, or bridging SBA delays and why they shouldn't be used for consumption.

5. Understanding loan types, rates, and flexibility

• How Doc2Doc's unsecured personal loans work, the monthly rate model, no-prepayment-penalty structure, and common use cases among physicians.

6. Credit scores, shame, and starting from scratch

• A discussion especially relevant for immigrants and young physicians with thin credit files plus why your early FICO score doesn't define your financial future.

Listener Takeaways:

• How Doc2Doc evaluates doctors differently than banks
• Why physicians are statistically low-risk borrowers (even with $300K+ in loans)
• What new attendings need to know about credit scores, debt, and loan approvals
• Accessing fair and fast personal loans as a resident, fellow, or new attending
• How physicians can use lending to start a medical practice
• The most common mistakes new practice owners make and how to avoid them
• Why private practice and cash-based care models are creating new physician freedom

Connect with Us:

Host: Dr. Disha Spath, The Frugal Physician Guest: Dr. Zwade Marshall, CEO of Doc2Doc Lending

This episode is brought to you by Doc2Doc Lending. Doc2Doc Lending offers personal loans up to $100,000 for doctors — designed to help you consolidate debt, invest in your goals, or get ahead financially. Founded by doctors for doctors, we make funding simple, transparent, and tailored to the medical community. Visit their website at: https://www.doc2doclending.com/personal-loans-for-physicians/?utm_source=FrugalPhysician&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=FP

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