SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show!

Two first-gen doctors answer your real questions: How to open a business bank account, and whether starting Medical school at 40 is still possible.

This week's Q&A covers two questions that represent completely different stages of the first-gen doctor journey: a neurology resident finishing training and building her business, and a 40-year-old premed, wondering if the dream of becoming a doctor is still possible.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS:

QUESTION 1 — From Mouna (Neurology Resident):

"I just created my LLC to do locum work, and I'm looking into opening a business bank account. Do you recommend a traditional bank versus newer online banks? Some of the online options have built-in bookkeeping tools — do you have experience or a preference?"

QUESTION 2 — From YouTube Comments:

"I am 40, coming from a career as a psychotherapist, married with children, with a mortgage, and $135K in student loan debt. I'm considering general surgery, psychiatry, neurology, internal medicine, and family medicine. I'm taking one class at a time and targeting 2030 for application. Any advice?"

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR NEXT WEEK:

We do Q&A episodes every week and we read every question submitted. Here is how to reach us:

📱 Text us: 833-230-2860

📸 DM us on Instagram: @docsoutsidethebox

💬 YouTube comments: www.youtube.com/@docsoutsidetheboxpodcast

📧 Email: team@drniidarko.com

Your question could be answered in next week's episode.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Business Banking:

- Relay: relayfi.com

- Found: found.com

- Novo: novo.co

Disability Insurance (mentioned by Mouna):

- Set for Life: setforlifeinsurance.com

Student Loans and Financial Aid:

- Federal Student Aid Loan Simulator: studentaid.gov/loan-simulator

- Income-Driven Repayment: studentaid.gov

Non-Traditional Medical Students:

- AAMC Non-Traditional Resources: students-residents.aamc.org

ABOUT DOCS OUTSIDE THE BOX:

Dr. Nii is a General Surgeon. Dr. Renee is an OB/GYN. We are first-generation Ghanaian and Haitian physicians who paid off $662,000 in student loan debt in 3 years, built a locum tenens agency, and navigated every major medical career decision without a family blueprint.

We created this podcast for first-generation doctors — physicians who are the first in their families and lack the inherited knowledge about money, contracts, career strategy, and the unwritten rules of medicine that many of their colleagues learned growing up.

New Q&A episodes every week. Real questions from real first-gen doctors.

Find us everywhere:

- YouTube: www.youtube.com/@docsoutsidetheboxpodcast

- Instagram: @docsoutsidethebox

- Website: https://drniidarko.com/

DISCLAIMER: Dr. Nii and Dr. Renee are physicians, not financial advisors or attorneys. Content shared in this podcast reflects personal experience and should not be considered financial, legal, or medical advice. Please consult qualified professionals before making financial or career decisions.

SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show!

In this episode, we share our complete story - how we went from $662,000 in medical school debt to completely debt-free in just three years, as first-generation doctors without any family financial blueprint.

You'll hear:

• Why we accrued over $100,000 in interest (and how to avoid it)
• The exact moment we decided to pay off our debt aggressively
• Our real budget: $200/month groceries, $50/month fast food
• The sacrifices we made (and whether they were worth it)
• Why we're creating this podcast specifically for first-gen doctors

If you're the first doctor in your family navigating medicine without the insider knowledge your colleagues inherited, this is your community.

Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@docsoutsidetheboxpodcast

Download our free First-Gen Doctor Blueprint: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X4oH1EAkmVMSFDbHmeIN3M6w97GfhW16BTGOX7kK3nc/edit?usp=sharing

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Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox

Have a question for the podcast?

Text us at 833-230-2860

Instagram: @docsoutsidethebox

Email: team@drniidarko.com

Twitter: @drniidarko

Merch: https://docs-outside-the-box.creator-spring.com

This episode is sponsored by

Set For Life Insurance. What the Darkos use for great disability insurance at a low cost!! Check them out athttps://setforlifeinsurance.com/

SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show!

We answer a listener who asks how to know if locums is the right move and whether they’re truly ready for independence. We break down confidence, clinical readiness, and the mindset shift needed to succeed as a 1099 physician.

This episode hits home for:

● Medical students

● Residents & fellows

● Attending physicians

● 1099 & locums doctors

● Anyone interested in healthcare policy or physician lifestyle

If you’re studying, training, practicing, or thinking about locums… this one’s for you.

Comment Below:

● Are you considering locums in 2025–2026?

FREE DOWNLOAD - 7 Considerations Before Starting Locum Tenens - https://darkos.lpages.co/7-considerations-before-locums

LINKS MENTIONED

Study about physician satisfaction from pubmed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12755252/

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER!

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE!

Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox

Have a question for the podcast?

Text us at 833-230-2860

Instagram: @docsoutsidethebox

Email: team@drniidarko.com

Twitter: @drniidarko

Merch: https://docs-outside-the-box.creator-spring.com

This episode is sponsored by

Set For Life Insurance. What the Darkos use for great disability insurance at a low cost!! Check them out at https://setforlifeinsurance.com/