

Docs Outside The Box
Dr. Nii Darko
Docs Outside the Box is a fusion of money, medicine, and pop culture. After paying off $662,000 in student loan debt, quitting their jobs, and launching 3 businesses, husband and wife, Drs. Nii and Renée Darko, have a lot to say about earning, saving, and investing your way to the lifestyle you’ve always wanted. These two docs parley about personal finance, careers, and the real world. Tune in for the gems. 💎 Stay for the laughs .😂 Welcome to medicine’s new media!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 11, 2017 • 46min
038 – Necessity is the mother of invention with. Dr. Graham Snyder
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE ON: APPLE PODCASTS| GOOGLE PLAY| STITCHER Drowning is the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1 to 4. It’s the second leading cause of death in children aged 1 to 15. My next guest, Dr. Graham Snyder (Emergency Medicine) grew tired of having painful conversations about the consequences of drowning with grieving parents. He developed the Seal SwimSafe System, which is a monitoring system that alarms parents and other adults if their child is underwater too long. His product has been featured in The New York Times, The Today Show, and Newsweek. On this episode, Dr. Snyder and I discuss the invention process and learning how to be taken seriously by investors. He also shares some of the potholes he faced when trying to convince others to commercialize his product. The post 038 – Necessity is the mother of invention with. Dr. Graham Snyder appeared first on DOCS OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Nov 20, 2017 • 45min
037 – Learn med biz with Physician CEO
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE ON: APPLE PODCASTS | GOOGLE PLAY | STITCHER This episode is with Guy Kezirian, MD who is here to talk about Physician CEO (paid sponsor). It’s a business immersion program for physicians and takes place at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. It’s for physicians who need business training but don’t have a lot of time! This excellent program has been going on for years, but recently Physician CEO asked me to join on their campaign to educate about the importance of leadership and entrepreneurship for physicians. If you’re not moving forward, you’re regressing. Honestly, I’m not sure who made this quote up, but I’m all about it. This program will definitely help physicians get a seat at the table and have a credible voice for the future of healthcare delivery. I got an opportunity to both review the curriculum and have an in-depth conversation with Guy about Physician CEO. It’s a robust curriculum and provides the confidence that doctors who are looking to be outside the box need (no pun intended). So that’s why I decided to have Physician CEO has a trusted sponsor on the show. Things we talk about in this episode: The story behind the creation of Physician CEO Who’s this program for His thoughts on docs embracing social medicine & technology Getting an MBA vs Physician CEO How he answers #imnotjustadoc Episode Sponsors: Set for Life Insurance Physician CEO The post 037 – Learn med biz with Physician CEO appeared first on DOCS OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Nov 13, 2017 • 56min
036 – Reduce your taxes by thousands with Diane Gardner
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE ON: APPLE PODCASTS | GOOGLE PLAY | STITCHER We all want to know how to do it: save money on taxes! On this episode we chop it up with certified Tax Coach Diane Gardner on ways physicians can save tons of money on their taxes. She also talks about her new book “10 Most Expensive Tax Mistakes That Cost Medical Professionals Thousand$”. Her goal is to make sure that entrepreneurs across the US are paying the least amount of taxes they legally should! Her tax coaching sessions have saved her clients over $1 million dollars to date. Besides the book she talks about on this show, she is a best-selling author of numerous other books. Diane has also been on numerous podcasts including Listen Money Matters. Things to pick up in this episode: Doctors have a higher likelihood to pay higher taxes than other entrepreneurs Common tax deductions that docs miss out on What is a deductible? Biggest mistake docs make when working as 1099 Her tip to find an excellent CPA, tax professional We play the game of “It’s all good vs…you ‘bout to get audited!!!” Remember to listen to the end of the show about an amazing giveaway!! Find Diane Gardner on: www.taxcoach4you.com Episode Sponsors: Set for Life Insurance Physician CEO MUSIC: Soundcloud: Joakin Karud – Say Good Night; Vlog Vibes – Stadium Status; Greemz – Sucre The post 036 – Reduce your taxes by thousands with Diane Gardner appeared first on DOCS OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Nov 6, 2017 • 51min
035 – Learning the skills to be an entrepreneur over lunchtime with Dr. Scarbrough
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show!My next guest is Dr. Shanicka Scarbrough, author of Lunchtime Physician Entrepreneur: An Easy Blueprint from Moving from Employee to Private Practitioner in Your Spare Time. This book is a six-step guide to help doctors not only get courage, but to learn the know-how to start a private practice on their own terms. And she would know, she was making moves to start her own private practice WHILE she was still employed at her previous position. She’s taking lunch & learn to another level! Dr. Scarbrough also was a host of her own show on Urban Broadcast Media – The DivaMD Show. She also has very vibrant Facebook communities where women entrepreneurs are uplifted and encouraged. She also takes pride in her medical humanitarian work in Haiti and South Africa. Dr. Shanicka obtained her medical degree from the University of Illinois – Chicago, and completed her Family Medicine training at Christ Advocate Medical Center. Things to pick up in this episode: Top 3 mistakes physicians make when starting a practice Fears doctors may have going from being employed to being in private practice Her advice on writing a book Tips on social media and livestreaming for doctors How she answers #imnotjustadoc If you enjoy the show please be sure to review this podcast episode on Apple Podcasts – I would so appreciate it….plus I read all the reviews on the show! Please subscribe for future great episodes!!! Apple Podcasts | GooglePlayMusic | Stitcher Thanks to our sponsors Set for Life Insurance, Physician CEO The post 035 – Learning the skills to be an entrepreneur over lunchtime with Dr. Scarbrough appeared first on DOCS OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Oct 27, 2017 • 20min
Ask Darko v2.0 Side Hustle in Med School
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show!On this episode I answer questions from my listeners!! Where are you from? Where did you grow up? Why did you start the show? Can you have a side-hustle while in medical school? $200K in students loans as PGY -1. Sould I be more frugal with my spending to allocate more towards loans or utilize the Income Based Repayment plan? Resources: Future Proof MD www.whitecoatinvestor.com/i-switched-to-repaye-and-i-like-it/ futureproofmd.com/blog/2017/2/11/repaye-revisited Physician on Fire chimes in: “I would refinance with Laurel Road. Invest enough to get any employer match in a 401(k) / 403(b) (if any) and consider maxing out a personal Roth with $5,500. After that, perhaps start paying down loans, but it will be much, much easier in three years. If he or she refinances via my link on the Student Loan Resource Page I have set up, I’ll donate $50 to a charity of his or her choice.” If you enjoy the show please be sure to review this podcast episode on Apple Podcasts – I would so appreciate it….plus I read all the reviews on the show! Please subscribe for future great episodes!!! Apple Podcasts|GooglePlayMusic|Stitcher Thanks to our sponsor: Physician CEO Music: Conference Call/Self improvement/Well Damn – soundcloud.com/vlogvibes The post Ask Darko v2.0 Side Hustle in Med School appeared first on DOCS OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Oct 23, 2017 • 56min
034 – Dr. Ampadu on creating a charity to help childhood literacy
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! We all know that literacy is very important, because it’s connected to how we interact in the world and has a large impact in how we do economically in society. In developing countries, childhood literacy is a problem and my next guest has decided to do something about this issue. Dr. Akua Ampadu is the founder and CEO of Healing Words Foundation. The mission of Healing Words is to provide books and other forms of literacy to children in pediatric wards and outpatient clinics in developing nations. On a 4th year medical student externship in Accra, Ghana, Akua noticed on the pediatric ward that after being seen by doctors and staff – these children spent hours in bed without anything to do. Some of these children spent several weeks recovering in these wards, and without proper cognitive stimulation, these children were at a distinct disadvantage when they returned back to school. This experience sparked the idea for creating a charity and she literally Googled her way into creating Healing Words. From the website: Healing words seeks to provide an opportunity to retreat into the comfort of a book, allowing the imagination to take flight, if even for a short while. Healing Words Foundation recognizes the importance of reading to a child’s holistic health, and uses bibliotherapy to ignite and perpetuate a love for books among patients and their families. Healing Words has been very successful and so far has sent books to notable hospitals in Ghana such as the Foundation of Orthopedic & Complex Spine (FOCOS) Hospital, which provides comprehensive orthopedic care to those who might not otherwise have access to this. Dr. Ampadu obtained her undergraduate studies from Penn State University. She then went on to complete her medical school training at The Ohio State University. Her internal medicine training was done at Newark Beth Israel Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. Currently, Akua is practicing as a hospitalist. Things to pick up in this episode: The implications of her decision to be an independent contractor The pride she feels looking at herself more as a business than as an individual doctor How she Googled her way into creating a charity Advice on the pitfalls in creating a charity Her lifehack that makes her very productive and efficient How she answers #imnotjustadoc Resources mentioned on this show: Healing Words Foundation – www.readingandhealing.org Healing Words Facebook Page – www.facebook.com/healingwordsorg Dr Ampadu’s Instagram – www.instagram.com/doctorkukie

Oct 16, 2017 • 58min
033 – That 1099 vs W2 Life with Dave Denniston
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show!My next guest is Dave Denniston who is a Chartered Financial Analyst that works with physicians. He also is a fellow podcaster and hosts the Freedom Formula for Physicians Podcast. I am definitely a fan of the podcast and this is due to his knowledge, consistency, and genuineness. The show covers a wide range of relevant topics to docs including student loan debt, burnout, and reducing tax burden. I brought him on the show to talk about how the Docs Outside the Box Nation can learn to manage taxes more efficiently. Don’t dismiss this podcast – you’ll going to learn a lot from this interview. This is a very important subject especially if you plan on living outside the box, which is quite different than a W2 situation. Dave is also an author of four books that you can find on Amazon.com right now: Freedom Formula for Physicians: A prescription for First-Class Financial Health For Doctors Insurance Guide for Doctors 5 Steps to Get Out of Debt for Physicians Workbook 17 Myths Uncovered About Financial Freedom for Doctors: It’s Not What You Make, It’s What You Keep Things you’ll learn in this episode: Dave shares his touching personal story as to why he works with doctors Compare and contrast W2 vs 1099 Is there a risk to being an independent contract and the public service loan forgiveness program What’s the difference between a LLC and a S corporation How tax deductions help business owners Common tax deductions that he sees physicians miss all the time Disclaimer: ***Please see your Tax CPA before taking this advice*** Links talked about during the show: 7 Financial Lessons from The Doc Outside the Box https://empireflippers.com/podcasts/ http://webequityshow.com/ https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/empire-podcast-buying-selling-websites-investing-in/id476852137?mt=2 https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/web-equity-show-justin-cooke/id1022624233?mt=2 If you enjoy the show please be sure to review this podcast episode on Apple Podcasts – I would so appreciate it….plus I read all the reviews on the show! Please subscribe for future great episodes!!! Apple Podcasts

Oct 9, 2017 • 46min
032 – Dr. Kenyon Meadows thinks outside the box on his finances
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show!Most studies say expect the stock market to crash about every eight years. Basically its 2017 and we’re overdue for one. Having a diversified market portfolio can help defray the risk, but if a crash like 2008 occurs again, how can you protect yourself better? My next guest believes he has a better way to invest and handle risk. Dr. Kenyon Meadows is on the show to talk about investing in alternative assets and his book Alternative Financial Medicine – High Yield Investing in a Low Yield World. Alternative assets are assets that are not considered the traditional types like stocks and bonds. Dr. Meadows believes these assets not only can help to diversify portfolios, but also produce a pretty good yield even when traditional assets are tanking. Kenyon originally hails from Youngstown, Ohio. He completed his undergraduate and medical school degrees at Case Western Reserve University. Afterwards, he completed his Radiation Oncology training at the University of Florida. Dr. Meadows currently practices full-time in southeast Georgia. He has been featured in numerous media outlets including: MSN Money, Alternative Investment Coach, and the Bigger Pockets Podcast. Things to pick up in this episode: What are alternative assets His top 2 tips for success on online crowd-funding sites We talk about what is peer to peer lending How he handled large student debt and investing How he answers #imnotjustadoc To learn more about Dr. Kenyon Meadows be sure to check him out at: http://alternativefinancialmedicine.com/ Check out The White Coat Investor’s review of Dr. Meadows’ book: http://bit.ly/2wNy72v If you enjoy the show please be sure to review this podcast episode on Apple Podcasts – I would so appreciate it….plus I read all the reviews on the show! Please subscribe for future great episodes!!! Apple Podcasts| GooglePlayMusic | Stitcher Check out our sponsor Set for Life Insurance: www.setforlifeinsurance.com Disclaimer: Be aware that nobody involved in the production of the podcast is a licensed financial advisor, registered broker, dealer or is in any other way qualified to give financial advice. Information provided in any form, be it by the host or any of the guests on the show or any other published material associated with this site is of a general nature and is designed to provide generic information and entertainment only. It is in no way tailored to any listener’s or reader’s particular individual situation. The post 032 – Dr. Kenyon Meadows thinks outside the box on his finances. appeared first on DOCS OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Oct 2, 2017 • 53min
031 – Dr. Sivakumar’s prescription for the tedious sign-out process
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Imagine if the same amount of research and development that goes into creating the newest iPhone went into fixing electronic medical records. I would definitely be all for that. Although not the entire EMR, my next guest, has made it his passion to create a solution for one of the most critical aspects of patient care in the hospital: the sign-out process. Frustrated that there was more technology in his iPhone compared to the process of handing off vital information about patients, Gautam created Medisas – an electronic version of the sign-out process/sheet that you can access across multiple platforms including your smartphone. We get to learn about Dr. Sivakumar’s company as well as the spark in 2011 that led him to leave his surgery residency and start programming Medisas in his childhood bedroom. He had the option to either sink or swim, and swim he has – six years later Medisas is now in some of the largest hospitals in the US. Dr. Sivakumar grew up in London and attended the famous Newcastle University Medical School. Things to pick up in this episode: The transferrable skills between being a doctor and running a company What’s it like pitching an idea to venture capitalists The fears he had starting the company and contrasting that with regret of not taking his shot What lifehacks he uses to be more productive How he answers #imnotjustadoc To learn more about Dr. Gautam Sivakumar check out: http://on.inc.com/2wmZkhd To learn more about Medisas check out: https://www.medisas.com/ If you enjoy the show please be sure to review this podcast episode on Apple Podcasts – I would so appreciate it….plus I read all the reviews on the show! Please subscribe for future great episodes!!! Apple Podcasts | GooglePlayMusic | Stitcher Check out our sponsor Set for Life Insurance: www.setforlifeinsurance.com The post 031 – Dr. Sivakumar’s prescription for the tedious sign-out process appeared first on DOCS OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Sep 25, 2017 • 50min
030 – Dr. Aleron Kong creates fantasy worlds in LitRPG
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show!This night-owl doc spends his days creating fantasy worlds for his books in the genre of LitRPG. LitRPG is the combination of science fiction writing with role playing video games. This genre has quickly amassed a huge following that spans all over the world. On this episode, Dr. Aleron Kong takes us on his journey from being just a fan of of LitRPG to earning the moniker “Father of LitRPG.” In a short period of time, Dr. Kong has authored 6 books in his series Chaos Seeds Saga. He’s doing this all while keeping busy as a nocturnist (internal medicine) in Atlanta, Georgia! This episode absolutely threw me for a loop – role playing games (a.k.a RPG) and science fiction is definitely not my forte. Aleron touts that me may be the only person to have stayed within the Morehouse system for all phases of his education and career. He attended Morehouse College for undergraduate studies, then obtained his medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine. Afterwards, he completed his internal medicine training with Morehouse at the famous Grady Memorial Hospital. We’ll just trust him on this one. Side note: While I was a general surgery resident at Morehouse, I worked with Aleron when he was a medical student and resident. Things to pick up in this episode Why he decided to write his own books. Check out his quick and easy ways to publish on Amazon How he is able to balance life as a nocturnist with being an Amazon Bestselling author His views on contrasting life as a physician with being a content creator How he answers #imnotjustadoc To learn more about Dr. Aleron Kong check out: https://www.facebook.com/pg/LitRPGbooks/about/?ref=page_internal If you enjoy the show please be sure to review this podcast episode on Apple Podcasts – I would so appreciate it….plus I read all the reviews on the show! Please subscribe for future great episodes!!! Apple Podcasts | GooglePlayMusic | Stitcher Check out our sponsor Set for Life Insurance: www.setforlifeinsurance.com The post 030 – Dr. Aleron Kong creates fantasy worlds in LitRPG appeared first on DOCS OUTSIDE THE BOX.