
The Business of Medicine: Lessons Every Physician Should Know with Dr. Stuart King (Part 1)
In part one of this two-part conversation, David Mandell sits down with Dr. Stuart King, a physician, educator, healthcare leader and entrepreneur whose career has spanned anesthesiology, pain medicine, private practice, academic medicine and institutional leadership. Dr. King shares the winding path that led him from an early interest in computer science and finance to medicine, and eventually from anesthesiology into pain management. Along the way, he began to recognize just how much business knowledge can influence a physician's career, prompting him to earn an MBA while maintaining a full-time medical practice. David and Dr. King discuss why physicians benefit from understanding the business side of medicine, how financial awareness can improve career decisions and why physicians should recognize the value of seeking expertise outside their own field. They also explore Dr. King's experience teaching medical students and residents, his concerns about the lack of business and financial education in medical training and the broader perspective he gained while serving in university leadership and governance. Key Takeaways Business knowledge can materially shape a physician's career. Understanding how practices operate, how revenue is generated and how organizations make decisions can give physicians greater control over their professional lives. Physicians do not need to become experts in every financial discipline. Knowing enough to understand the value of qualified financial, legal and business professionals can be just as important as trying to manage everything independently. Medical education often leaves physicians underprepared for the business realities of practice. Even a basic foundation in finance, negotiation and business could help younger physicians make better long-term decisions. Insights Career paths in medicine do not always follow a straight line, and unexpected experiences can ultimately shape the direction of a physician's career. Dr. King's transition from anesthesiology to pain medicine was influenced by both professional interest and quality-of-life considerations. Working within a large physician-owned multispecialty group exposed Dr. King to the economics and business structure of medical practice. His MBA education helped him understand accounting, finance, marketing and organizational decision-making from a perspective he had not received in medical training. Learning business principles can change how physicians evaluate opportunities, negotiate and understand the forces affecting their compensation and careers. Financial literacy does not mean physicians should manage every aspect of their financial lives themselves. Physicians may benefit from focusing on their own core competencies while relying on specialists in areas such as financial planning, insurance and law. Teaching medical students and residents reinforced for Dr. King how little formal education physicians often receive about money, contracts and practice economics. Financial stress can affect more than a physician's bank account; it can also influence professional focus, relationships and overall wellbeing. Serving in university governance gave Dr. King a broader view of healthcare as one component of a much larger institutional and economic system. Resources: After-Tax Alpha: Quantifying the Value of Integrated Wealth and Tax Management for Doctors | Get Your Free Report Free Copy of Wealth Strategies for Today's Physician | Get Your Free Copy For more information and access to any offers, please visit earned.com/wpmp . About the Guest Dr. Stuart King has more than 30 years of experience in medicine, spanning anesthesiology and pain medicine, private practice, medical education, and academic leadership. He has also served on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. He wrote The New Physician's Handbook: A Practical Prescription for Medical, Financial, and Personal Fulfillment to help physicians better navigate the career, financial, and personal decisions that often fall outside traditional medical training. Now retired from full-time practice, Dr. King works with medical schools, residency programs, and physician groups to bring those conversations into training. Learn more about the book: newphysicianhandbook.com Get your copy on Amazon.com . About the Host David Mandell, JD, MBA brings deep expertise in asset protection and wealth management, shaped by decades of experience advising physicians and co-authoring leading financial resources for the profession. His articles have appeared in many national publications, reflecting his standing as a thought leader in physician wealth strategy. As a recognized speaker and host of his own podcast, he regularly shares actionable guidance with audiences across the medical community, and his work with Earned Institute offers insight focused on helping doctors build, protect, and preserve long-term wealth.











