How Physicians Are Expanding Career Options Inside Medicine | Telemedicine & Entrepreneurship wit...

What if physicians don’t actually want to leave medicine but just want more control over how they practice it? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh is joined by Dr. Leo Damasco and Phoebe Gutierrez for an honest conversation about telemedicine, physician autonomy, and navigating alternative career paths within healthcare. Together, they explore why so many physicians are drawn to telemedicine and flexible work models, but also why many doctors underestimate the operational, regulatory, and business realities that accompany these opportunities. From medical directorships and PC ownership to compliance concerns and burnout in virtual care, this episode dives into the questions physicians should ask before jumping into telemedicine. Dr. Damasco shares his personal experience transitioning into telemedicine during the COVID boom, while Phoebe offers insight into the regulatory and operational side of digital healthcare, including the risks physicians unknowingly assume when they accept certain roles. This conversation is both a practical guide and a broader discussion about physician leadership, career design, and reclaiming influence in the future of medicine. Three Actionable Takeaways: ● Flexibility Without Clarity Can Lead to More Burnout: Many physicians pursue telemedicine looking for freedom, but without understanding what they truly want from their careers, they can quickly recreate the same dissatisfaction in a different environment. ● Physicians Need to Understand the Business and Compliance Side of Telemedicine: Medical directorships, PC ownership, and telemedicine roles often involve responsibilities physicians do not fully understand. Asking deeper operational and regulatory questions is essential for protecting both licenses and careers. ● Physicians Belong at the Center of Digital Healthcare: Telemedicine and digital health are shaping the future of medicine. The more physicians step into leadership, operational, and strategic roles, the more influence they can have on building healthcare systems that actually work for patients and providers. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guests: Dr. Leo Damasco is a pediatric and emergency medicine physician who has spent years working in telemedicine and virtual care. He helps physicians better understand the realities of telemedicine careers, operational structures, and how to navigate digital healthcare opportunities safely and strategically. Phoebe Gutierrez specializes in healthcare compliance, operational strategy, and regulatory affairs within digital health and telemedicine. She works closely with physicians and healthcare organizations to help build compliant, sustainable telemedicine infrastructures while educating clinicians on the risks and realities of the industry. • Podcast:  Telemedicine Talks (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...) • Website:  telemedicinetalks.com (http://telemedicinetalks.com) • Slack Community: Available through the Telemedicine Talks website About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com (https://www.betterphysicianlife.com) 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md (  / michael-hersh-md  ) 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife (  / betterphysicianlife  ) 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife (   / @betterphysicianlife  ) 📘 Facebook: (  / betterphysicianlifecoaching  ) facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching (  / betterphysicianlifecoaching  ) TikTok: @betterphysicianlife (  / betterphysicianlife  )   If you find yourself walking through the door still stu...