Physician Value: Navigating Medicine as a Business
In this episode of Doctors Eyes Only®, Vestia Partner and CEO Lauren Oschman, CFP®, CDFA®, sits down with Ethan Nkan, a licensed attorney, former hospital executive, and founder of The Physician Agency, formerly known as Rocky Mountain Physician Agency, for a conversation about physician value and what doctors need to understand when navigating medicine as a business.
After spending more than a decade working inside hospital systems, Ethan gained firsthand insight into how healthcare organizations evaluate physician productivity, structure compensation models, and determine the economic impact physicians have on a practice or health system. Drawing from that experience, he now helps physicians better understand their market value and navigate contract negotiations with greater confidence.
Lauren and Ethan discuss physician compensation, employment contracts, RVUs, compensation benchmarks, contract renewals, work-life balance, practice support, and the role that career decisions play in long-term financial success. They also explore why many physicians struggle to advocate for themselves, how business negotiations differ from patient care conversations, and what doctors should know before accepting an offer, renegotiating a contract, or evaluating a new opportunity.
The conversation also addresses important considerations for women physicians, physicians of color, and internationally trained physicians, including the importance of using objective market data when evaluating compensation and career opportunities.
Whether you’re reviewing your first attending contract, preparing for a contract renewal, considering a career move, or simply wondering whether your compensation reflects the value you bring to your organization, this episode offers practical insights into physician contract negotiation, physician compensation, physician career development, and financial planning for physicians.
