Dr. Erin Nance is a board-certified surgeon, multimedia powerhouse, and serial entrepreneur working at the evolving intersection of medicine, media, and technology. Running a thriving hand surgery private practice in New York City, she’s also the founder of Fuel Better Health (the first health-focused social media platform), host of The Medical Detectives podcast (top 0.5% globally), and a top 1% TikTok creator. With a six-figure book deal and television projects in development, Dr. Nance is reshaping how trusted health information is shared and accessed—while challenging the status quo for doctors, patients, and entrepreneurs alike.

On this episode we talk about:

Dr. Nance’s path from family of doctors to launching a solo hand surgery practice in New York City when her initial job offer was rescinded

The surprising decline of entrepreneurial doctors: from most physicians owning their practice to 70% now being hospital or private-equity employed

The hurdles of starting a practice as a new surgeon—upfront costs, lack of business loans, long payment cycles, and the reality of malpractice insurance

Why so few doctors choose entrepreneurship today, and the cost-prohibitive system facing new graduates with high student debt

The shift in healthcare economics—the managed care trade-off, insurance company dominance, and a 30%+ drop in physician reimbursements in 25 years

How out-of-network and direct-pay models put ownership and care control back in the hands of doctors (and patients), and what it takes to build a brand patients will come to on their own

The persistent crisis of medical access, transparency, and patient navigation in the insurance/healthcare system

Dr. Nance’s drive to create platforms (like Fuel Better Health) and high-impact media to combat health misinformation and connect patients with credible resources and each other

Her viral content journey—why millions of people seek out authentic, expert medical stories online, and the urgent threat of unvetted health advice

Top 3 Takeaways

Entrepreneurship in Medicine is Scarce—but Needed: The modern healthcare landscape makes it nearly impossible for most young doctors to start their own practice, but those who do gain freedom, direct patient impact, and unique influence.

Insurance Has Severely Undermined Physician Autonomy: Managed care and fee setting mean less pay for physicians, rushed care for patients, and increasingly complex financial/conflict barriers for all.

Credible Health Content & Communities are Critical: The future of health information is expert-driven digital platforms—empowering patients with trustworthy resources and community, not algorithmic misinformation.

Notable Quotes

“I was only one out of 750 orthopedic surgeons to start their own practice straight out of fellowship.”

“Now, 70% of all physicians are employed by either a hospital system or a private equity group.”

“For physicians over the past 25 years, reimbursement for the same procedure has decreased by 30%.”

“Medical misinformation is probably the most dangerous public health threat we’re facing as a society.”

Connect with Dr. Erin Nance:

TikTok: @littlemisdiagnosed

Practice: NanceMD.com

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