What is the Expert Surgeon and Inspirational Podcaster Up to Now? – 152

Interview with Dr. Nii Darko

In this episode of the PNC podcast, inspirational podcaster Dr. Nii Darko shares his story and his advice about following your dreams.

Nii Darko received his medical degree from Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences, and an M.B.A. in Health Care Leadership from Rockhurst University. He completed his General Surgery residency at Morehouse School of Medicine and a Trauma/Critical Care fellowship at the University of Miami. Nii is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

He hosts Docs Outside the Box, an Apple Podcasts Top 100 podcast. There he highlights stories of doctors doing extraordinary things outside of medicine.  He also runs his locum tenens business, Equal Access Health, where he empowers physicians to achieve the lifestyle they deserve.

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Dr. Nii Darko's Podcast

Dr. Nii Darko is a trauma surgeon who decided to work locum tenens early in his clinical career. He soon found that the recruiting agencies were taking a large percentage of his pay when they arranged jobs for him. So, he soon started negotiating his own contracts, and then started his own locums company.

He is also one of the first physicians to start a podcast not dedicated to clinical topics. At the time, he had very few physicians to emulate. But he soon became an inspirational podcaster, presenting interviews with “ordinary doctors doing extraordinary things.” 

Docs Outside the Box has become a very popular podcast, inspiring many physicians to pursue their dreams. As an inspirational podcaster, Nii has also motivated other physicians to produce their own podcasts.

Nii has recently decided to slow down his clinical activities and focus on his online businesses. He is passionate about helping physicians earn more as locums doctors. And wants to expand his coaching and teaching.

You really have to love what you do and be passionate about it. – Dr. Nii Darko

He would also like to promote more collaboration between physician podcasters. And he loves to show the pre-meds and medical students that there are many ways to apply their medical education. 

Inspirational Podcaster

As an inspirational podcaster, he encourages others to be open-minded. He advises us to take a passion project and make that a business. Although you didn't go to residency to develop a nonclinical vocation, that doesn't mean that you should shy away from it. 

Career Options Are Limitless

Today, there are many platforms that one can use to get out a message or sell a product. You might consider the following options that Nii mentions:

• YouTube channel;
• Podcast;
• Blog;
• Coaching; or,
• Combinations of these, including patient care.

Whatever it is, it's not going to be perfect. If you wait, you might miss your opportunity. It's okay to start off small, in your basement or garage. That's fine. Take the opportunity to start and get better with practice. When there's something that you really want, go after it. It's okay.

SUMMARY

During the discussion, Nii talks about how he tries to live his life now. This inspirational podcaster thinks physicians should stop worrying about the “what-ifs” and take more calculated risks. It may not turn out the way you expect, but even so-called failures are excellent learning experiences. And, if you wait for your product to be perfect, you waited too long.

Nii's key message is: “just start.” 

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