I don’t know you, Doctor, but I bet that the COVID pandemic disrupted your life and your practice. Like many physicians, you may still be feeling the financial aftershocks, perhaps thinking you need to run harder and faster on that clinical treadmill just to stay in place.

I am no stranger to disruption. In the fall of 2021, I was told the four words no woman wants to hear: “You have breast cancer.” And we’re not talking about DCIS – this was grade 3 multifocal HER2+ IDC plus a large area of DCIS. As the doctors in my audience know, that’s not the diagnosis anyone hopes for.

Embracing Alternative Paths

In both medicine and finance, we’re often presented with “standard” options. Just as I was given the conventional treatment protocols, many physicians are told there’s only one path to financial security: work more hours, save aggressively, and hope the market treats you kindly.

I’ve always been an outside-the-box thinker. In my previous career, I worked in business development for medical imaging centers and specialist physicians before transitioning to real estate investment in 2012. Since then, I’ve helped countless physician clients invest in real estate in often overlooked ways, using creative strategies like lease options and notes that I’d mastered over the years.

A Foundation in Healthcare

My healthcare background proved invaluable when navigating my diagnosis. Having recently moved to Idaho during COVID, I hadn’t yet established primary care. The first two surgeons I consulted recommended a mastectomy, but something didn’t feel right. During this time, I had a Zoom meeting with my business coach, Dr. Vicki Rackner, a retired breast surgeon. Her advice was crystal clear: “What you need to find is a really great oncologist.”

This led me to Dr. Bartels, who just happened to practice in my hometown. After reviewing my PET scan results, he explained that despite my aggressive diagnosis, I had a window of opportunity to aim for a cure – a word I rarely heard in my years working alongside oncologists. New drugs like Herceptin and Perjeta were changing the game for patients with my subtype.

Finding Innovation in Treatment and Finance

During chemotherapy, I applied my research skills to explore alternative treatments, discovering cryoablation for breast cancer. Though it was still in clinical trials, I connected with Dr. Dennis Holmes, a pioneer in the field. While I couldn’t participate in the trials, due to the nature of my disease, he accepted me as a patient “off protocol.” Dr. Bartels, demonstrating the kind of innovative thinking I admire, researched and endorsed this approach.

The procedure in California was successful, and though I still had to complete the recommended targeted therapy, I knew I’d found a solution that worked for me – just as I help my clients find creative investment solutions that work for them.

Adapting and Evolving

My experience reinforced what I’d already known from years in real estate investing: the most obvious path isn’t always the best one. I’ve spent years developing expertise in creative finance strategies – particularly lease options, notes, and seller financing. Just as medical treatments evolve, I continually refine these investment approaches to address changing market conditions and my clients’ needs.

Giving Back to the Medical Community

Today, I feel uniquely positioned to give back to the medical community that saved my life. I understand the challenges physicians face: the burnout, the long hours, and the need for financial strategies that don’t require more of their already limited time. Through my expertise in alternative real estate investing and creative finance, I can offer something invaluable: a path to financial freedom that works alongside your medical practice.

Moving Forward with Purpose

My journey has strengthened my commitment to helping others – especially medical professionals – navigate their financial futures with confidence and creativity. Just as my oncologist gave me hope by mentioning the word “cure,” I want to give doctors hope by showing them viable investment alternatives to traditional retirement plans.

As I continue to speak at Noteschool and other events, I share these parallel journeys of medical and financial innovation. Whether it’s exploring alternative treatments or investment strategies, the key is remaining open to possibilities beyond the conventional path. It’s an honor to help doctors like you who gave me my life back achieve their own form of healing – financial health.