Telemedicine Talks

Starting a business doesn't require perfection. It requires the right mindset, a willingness to learn, and the persistence to keep going through the inevitable challenges.

In this session, Phoebe shares her practical framework for launching and growing a business, from validating ideas and building systems to marketing, pricing, and creating a sustainable practice.

• Why clinicians need to adopt a beginner's mindset when becoming entrepreneurs

• What you actually need to start a business—and what you don't

• How to identify and validate business ideas

• Why competition is proof that your concept has demand

• The importance of building your personal brand

• How to price, market, and grow your services

• Why systems and workflows matter before outsourcing

• How to balance attracting new customers while serving existing ones

• Why persistence and community are essential for long-term success

The information provided in Telemedicine Talks is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, legal, or financial advice. While we discuss best practices, industry trends, and real-world experiences, every situation is unique. Listeners should consult with qualified professionals before making decisions related to telemedicine practice, compliance, contracts, or business operations. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they may be affiliated with.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Telemedicine Talks, Dr. Krystal Sodaitis joins hosts Dr. Leo Damasco and Phoebe Gutierrez to discuss her remarkable career evolution from academic pediatrician to health plan leadership and certified life/leadership coach. Dr. Saditis reveals how her love for luxury cruising and personal growth led her to launch the Luxury Cruising podcast on the Doctors Podcast Network.

The conversation dives deep into the mindset challenges many physicians face, especially negative self-talk ingrained during medical training,  and how coaching helps reframe it. Dr. Saditis shares actionable advice on allowing yourself to dream, the benefits of positive inner dialogue, finding the right coach, and creating luxurious experiences even on a budget. She also highlights must-do cruises, including Antarctica and Alaska/Norwegian fjords.

Telemedicine Talks explores the evolving world of digital health, helping physicians navigate new opportunities, regulatory challenges, and career transitions in telemedicine.

Dr. Krystal Sodaitis is a board-certified pediatrician who transitioned from academic medicine to health plan leadership in 2013. She is a certified life and leadership coach with advanced certifications in physician coaching. Her coaching practice focuses on physicians with neurodevelopmental diagnoses such as ADHD, autism, or dyslexia. She is also the host of the Luxury Cruising podcast on the Doctors Podcast Network.

Podcast: Luxury Cruising

Website: https://luxurycruising.net

  About the Hosts:

The information provided in Telemedicine Talks is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, legal, or financial advice. While we discuss best practices, industry trends, and real-world experiences, every situation is unique. Listeners should consult with qualified professionals before making decisions related to telemedicine practice, compliance, contracts, or business operations. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they may be affiliated with.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Telemedicine Talks, Dr. Leo Damasco welcomes Dr. Michael Hersh to discuss the challenges physicians face when transitioning careers, particularly into telemedicine. Dr. Hersh explains how the “physician personality”,  marked by achievement addiction, poor boundaries, and tying self-worth to productivity  often travels with doctors into new practice models, leading to the same burnout they were trying to escape.

The conversation dives into the myth of work-life balance, the importance of self-awareness, identity shifts, and the power of physician coaching. Dr. Hersh shares practical insights on noticing unhelpful patterns, clarifying what you truly want, setting boundaries, and building a life where medicine is part of the “chocolate milk” rather than something to be extracted.

Top 3 Takeaways:

About the Show

About the Guest

Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps doctors create better work-life integration, set meaningful goals, reduce overwhelm, manage stress, and feel more present at home. He is the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast, focused on helping physicians who feel stuck in their medical careers.

About the Hosts:

The information provided in Telemedicine Talks is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, legal, or financial advice. While we discuss best practices, industry trends, and real-world experiences, every situation is unique. Listeners should consult with qualified professionals before making decisions related to telemedicine practice, compliance, contracts, or business operations. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they may be affiliated with.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Telemedicine Talks, Dr. Steven McDade joins Leo Damasco and Phoebe Gutierrez to discuss his transition from full-time emergency medicine to a flexible, primarily telemedicine-based career. After 13 years in the ER, Dr. McDade sought more time at his mountain home in Colorado and discovered telemedicine as the solution.

He opens up about overcoming skepticism and imposter syndrome, the massive reach and positive impact of virtual care, building a diverse portfolio that includes medical directorships, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), weight loss medications, men’s/women’s health, and unique collaborations (including with a boutique gym and a breastfeeding NP).

Dr. McDade highlights the lifestyle benefits, no commute, working from anywhere (including Portugal), schedule flexibility, reduced burnout, and renewed excitement for medicine, while still practicing some ER shifts. The conversation also covers the expanding opportunities in telehealth, AI’s role, and advice for physicians considering the transition.

Top 3 Takeaways:

About the Show:

Telemedicine Talks explores the evolving world of digital health, helping physicians navigate new opportunities, regulatory challenges, and career transitions in telemedicine.

About the Guest:

Dr. Steven McDade is a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician with over 13 years of experience. After practicing in Colorado, he transitioned to primarily telemedicine (80/20 split) to gain flexibility and spend more time in the mountains. He serves as a medical director for a telehealth company handling 911 diversions, works in men’s/women’s health, HRT, weight loss, and various clinical collaborations.

Connect with Dr. Steven McDade:

You can reach out to  Dr. Steven McDade via the Telemedicine Talks team at [email protected]

The information provided in Telemedicine Talks is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, legal, or financial advice. While we discuss best practices, industry trends, and real-world experiences, every situation is unique. Listeners should consult with qualified professionals before making decisions related to telemedicine practice, compliance, contracts, or business operations. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they may be affiliated with.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this timely solo episode of Telemedicine Talks, Dr. Leo Damasco explores the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and medical practice. Following last week’s conversation with Dr. Ashok Gupta on AI hallucinations, Leo examines two real-world cases making headlines in 2026.

First, he dives into the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s lawsuit against Character.ai, where an undercover investigator exposed a chatbot persona (“Emily”) that falsely claimed to be a licensed psychiatrist, provided fake credentials, and offered therapy and medication advice. Leo also analyzes the growing tension in Utah between the Department of Commerce’s Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy and the Utah Medical Licensing Board over Doctronic’s autonomous AI platform for processing 30, 60, and 90 day prescription refills.

Leo shares balanced commentary on the promise and dangers of AI in healthcare, the critical importance of physician involvement, regulatory gaps, and who should ultimately oversee AI-driven medical decisions. He discusses liability, patient safety, and the need for proper collaboration between innovators and medical boards.

This episode is essential listening for clinicians, telemedicine practitioners, digital health entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in the future regulation of AI in medicine.

Top 3 Takeaways:

About the Show:

Telemedicine Talks explores the evolving world of digital health, helping physicians navigate new opportunities, regulatory challenges, and career transitions in telemedicine.

About the Hosts:

The information provided in Telemedicine Talks is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, legal, or financial advice. While we discuss best practices, industry trends, and real-world experiences, every situation is unique. Listeners should consult with qualified professionals before making decisions related to telemedicine practice, compliance, contracts, or business operations. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they may be affiliated with.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it take to build a compliant, clinician-friendly, and patient-centered virtual care platform in a highly regulated field like physical therapy?

In this episode of Telemedicine Talks, hosts Phoebe Gutierrez and Leo Damasco welcome Dr. Ashok Gupta, founder of TheraNow. Ashok shares his evolution from treating patients at the VA and in rural America to building a hybrid tele-physical therapy platform that integrates deeply with hospital systems and EHRs like Epic.

The conversation explores the realities of telehealth adoption pre and post-pandemic, the importance of hybrid (omnichannel) care models, and thoughtful AI integration. Ashok provides real-world examples of safe AI use cases  including computer vision for movement tracking, context-aware ambient listening scribes, and AI-powered clinician training/feedback tools ,while stressing patient safety, avoiding hallucinations, maintaining human oversight, and building transparent, accountable systems.

Listeners will gain practical insights on regulatory navigation, deep workflow integration, equity/accessibility features, and why starting with clinician and patient needs leads to better outcomes and sustainable businesses in digital health.

Top 3 Takeaways:

About the Show:

Telemedicine Talks explores the evolving world of digital health, helping physicians navigate new opportunities, regulatory challenges, and career transitions in telemedicine.

LinkedIn: Dr. Ashok Gupta

About the Hosts:

The information provided in Telemedicine Talks is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, legal, or financial advice. While we discuss best practices, industry trends, and real-world experiences, every situation is unique. Listeners should consult with qualified professionals before making decisions related to telemedicine practice, compliance, contracts, or business operations. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they may be affiliated with.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when a telehealth founder moves from one controversy to the next, and doctors’ licenses get caught in the crossfire?

In this episode of Telemedicine Talks, hosts Phoebe Gutierrez and Dr. Leo Damasco dive into the latest FTC/DOJ actions against Zealthy, a GLP-1 and lifestyle telehealth company led by Kyle Robertson (former CEO of Cerebral). They discuss allegations of deceptive marketing, hidden subscription charges, and most alarmingly, using physicians’ names and NPIs to issue prescriptions without the doctors’ awareness or involvement.

The conversation explores broader issues in telemedicine: the lack of upfront regulatory oversight for new companies, escalation of commitment in non-compliant operations, risks to PC owners and supervising physicians, and why physicians must actively engage in clinical oversight rather than taking passive roles. Phoebe and Leo emphasize the importance of proper CPOM structures, due diligence, and building compliant operations where physicians stay in the driver’s seat.

This episode provides actionable advice for clinicians considering telehealth opportunities and a reminder that compliant, well-run models can still deliver strong results when done right.

Top 3 Takeaways:

About the Show:

Telemedicine Talks explores the evolving world of digital health, helping physicians navigate new opportunities, regulatory challenges, and career transitions in telemedicine.

About the Hosts:

The information provided in Telemedicine Talks is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, legal, or financial advice. While we discuss best practices, industry trends, and real-world experiences, every situation is unique. Listeners should consult with qualified professionals before making decisions related to telemedicine practice, compliance, contracts, or business operations. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they may be affiliated with.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this inspiring episode, Phoebe Gutierrez welcomes Savannah and Katie to share the raw, behind-the-scenes story of launching Type 1 Telehealth,  a telemedicine practice created by Type 1 diabetics, for Type 1 diabetics.

The duo opens up about the moment they decided to break away from traditional endocrinology, the surprisingly fast timeline from idea to seeing patients, and the key lessons learned in their first two months. They discuss their unique patient-centered model including longer visits, flexible membership options, and true education, creative marketing strategies like community involvement with Breakthrough T1D, staying current with diabetes technology, and why they chose a cash-pay telemedicine approach.

Savannah and Katie also share honest reflections on the challenges of wearing every hat as new practice owners, the power of true partnership, navigating a supervising physician relationship, and how their lived experience as Type 1 patients helps them deliver care that patients have been desperately seeking.

This episode is packed with practical advice and motivation for any clinician dreaming of building their own telemedicine practice,  especially those passionate about a specific niche.

Top 3 Takeaways:

About the Show:

Telemedicine Talks explores the evolving world of digital health, helping physicians navigate new opportunities, regulatory challenges, and career transitions in telemedicine.

About the Guests:

Savannah Elkins (PA-C) and Katie Wakeland (NP) are the co-founders of Type 1 Telehealth, a Texas-based telemedicine practice specializing exclusively in Type 1 Diabetes care. Both are practicing clinicians and Type 1 diabetics themselves. Passionate about providing personalized, accessible, and comprehensive care, they left traditional endocrinology to create a practice that delivers the level of time, education, and advocacy they always wished existed for patients like them.

🔗 Connect with Type 1 Telehealth:

🌐 Website: https://www.type1telehealth.com

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/type1telehealth

About the Host:

The information provided in Telemedicine Talks is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, legal, or financial advice. While we discuss best practices, industry trends, and real-world experiences, every situation is unique. Listeners should consult with qualified professionals before making decisions related to telemedicine practice, compliance, contracts, or business operations. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they may be affiliated with.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if taking on a medical director role in telemedicine didn’t have to risk your license, but instead gave you clarity, proper compensation, and real impact on patient safety?

In this practical and eye-opening episode of Telemedicine Talks, Dr. Leo Damasco and Phoebe Gutierrez dive deep into one of the most requested, yet misunderstood  roles in digital health: the virtual medical director. Drawing from real-world examples, enforcement cases, and Phoebe’s extensive compliance experience, they explain why many physicians are being sold “passive” roles that are anything but, and how the lack of proper structure leads to board actions and lost licenses.

They discuss:

Phoebe also shares insights from her recent blog on medical directorships and highlights current enforcement trends that every telemedicine physician needs to know.

This episode is essential listening for any physician considering or already serving in a medical director, PC owner, or collaborative role in telemedicine or digital health.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

About the Show:

Telemedicine Talks explores the evolving world of digital health, helping physicians navigate new opportunities, regulatory challenges, and career transitions in telemedicine.

About the Hosts:

The information provided in Telemedicine Talks is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, legal, or financial advice. While we discuss best practices, industry trends, and real-world experiences, every situation is unique. Listeners should consult with qualified professionals before making decisions related to telemedicine practice, compliance, contracts, or business operations. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they may be affiliated with.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it look like when an emergency physician steps beyond the bedside into healthcare innovation, operations, and AI?

 In this insightful episode of Telemedicine Talks, hosts Phoebe Gutierrez and Leo Damasco sit down with Dr. Dany Accilien as he opens up about his unconventional path: born in Haiti, moving to the US as a young child, bouncing between countries, and eventually finding his way into medicine through a love of teaching and learning. He shares how his early interest in exercise physiology and biomedical engineering evolved into a career that now spans clinical care, telemedicine, AI-driven innovations, and physician leadership.

The conversation dives deep into Rely MD’s unique telemedicine platform, including its work on 911 EMS diversions with Global Medical Response (GMR), ambient AI scribing, and building a modular, physician-centered marketplace. Dr. Accilien explains how emergency medicine trained him to read people quickly,  a skill that translates powerfully into leadership and product development.

This episode is packed with career advice, leadership lessons, and honest insights for any clinician interested in expanding beyond traditional medicine.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

About the Show:

Telemedicine Talks explores the evolving world of digital health, helping physicians navigate new opportunities, regulatory challenges, and career transitions in telemedicine.

About the Guest:

Dr. Dany Accilien is a board-certified emergency medicine physician, healthcare leader, and innovator. He serves as Chief Medical Officer of Rely MD, Vice President of AI and Innovation at Apollo MD, and Director of Apollo MD’s Administrative Fellowship program. He is also affiliated with WellStar Health System and helps train future physicians through the WellStar Kennestone Emergency Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Accilien is passionate about clinical care innovation, operations, telemedicine, and the responsible integration of AI in healthcare.

LinkedIn: Dany Accilien, MD, MBA

About the Hosts:

The information provided in Telemedicine Talks is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, legal, or financial advice. While we discuss best practices, industry trends, and real-world experiences, every situation is unique. Listeners should consult with qualified professionals before making decisions related to telemedicine practice, compliance, contracts, or business operations. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they may be affiliated with.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.