How this Orthopedic Surgeon Found Freedom through Photography and Private Practice, with Dr. Mark Ayzenberg

In this episode, Dr. Nisha Mehta is joined by Dr. Mark Ayzenberg, an orthopedic surgeon who turned to photography as a respite from residency training. Today, he talks about how photography has created freedom outside medicine, and private practice has created freedom inside medicine, and why entrepreneurship is key to retaining joy in medicine.

They discuss:

How being in the right place at the right time and saying ‘yes’ allowed him to monetize his photography hobby during residency (and earn 20% of his annual resident salary with his first sale!)

Tips for building and scaling a photography business, including start up costs, leveling up your skills, marketing, pricing, & distribution

How he’s juggled his photography side gig through attending life, while securing commissioned projects for homes, hospitals, hotels, and office buildings

Why freedom, not money, is the real currency that prevents burnout

His advice for physicians about building the career that lets you keep loving medicine and avoid burnout, and why it’s important not to wait to start

See his work at https://www.phillyphotoart.com/ – Dr. Ayzenberg is a longtime affiliate partner, and gives our audience a discount. Feel free to mention Physician Side Gigs when you reach out.

This episode is sponsored by UpToDate. AI is everywhere in medicine, but not all AI is built for clinical care.

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