In a unique episode of the Wealth Planning for the Modern Physician podcast, host David Mandell, JD, MBA, sat down with a resident, although not your typical resident! Dr. Wendell Cole, an orthopedic surgery resident at the time, is also a fellow podcaster, author, and entrepreneur. Despite being in the early stages of his medical career, Dr. Cole had already built a track record of innovation and initiative. His story reflects the challenges and opportunities facing today’s generation of physicians, particularly the drive to balance clinical excellence with financial independence and personal growth.

A foundation of hard work and early inspiration

Dr. Cole’s journey began in Brooklyn, New York, and continued in Georgia, where he was raised after spending a year of school in Jamaica. The son of immigrant parents from Grenada and Jamaica, and the youngest of at least 18 siblings, he grew up with a deep appreciation for sacrifice and perseverance. Inspired by his brother’s love of the medical drama House, and shaped by his own experiences with sports injuries, he was drawn to medicine at a young age. Orthopedics, and eventually sports medicine, felt like the perfect fit: a field where he could combine his passion for athletics, his appreciation for healing, and his desire to help patients return to active lives.

Dr. Cole’s academic path was equally impressive. Starting college at just 16, he graduated from Georgia State University in 2014, completed medical school at Morehouse School of Medicine, and matched into orthopedic surgery at Tulane University. Along the way, he became the first physician in his family, a milestone that reflected not only his personal dedication but also the influence of his parents’ relentless work ethic.

Entrepreneurship alongside medical training

For many students, medical school alone is demanding enough. But Dr. Cole paired his studies with entrepreneurial ventures. While waiting tables to help pay expenses, he also launched a tech startup designed to connect people with local events. Though the app didn’t take off as he hoped, the experience taught him invaluable lessons about pitching investors, navigating intellectual property, and the importance of time management.

His interest in entrepreneurship extended into media. Influenced by Tim Ferriss and the Four-Hour Work Week, Cole launched his first podcast, Convos with Cole, while still a medical student. The show featured guests from a wide range of industries and gave him an unexpected benefit: improved communication skills. Recognizing that conversation and networking were areas where he wanted to grow, he pushed himself outside his comfort zone. By recording and publishing interviews, he transformed what had once been a challenge into a strength.

“Nailed It” and work-life integration

When residency began, Cole combined his clinical training with his passion for podcasting. He co-created Nailed It Ortho, an orthopedic surgery podcast that now features more than 200 episodes and has been downloaded over 300,000 times. The show covers high-yield clinical topics while also branching into areas like physician finance, topics often overlooked in medical training.

For Cole, podcasting was never just a hobby. It represented what he calls “work-life integration.” Rather than viewing professional responsibilities and personal passions as competing forces, he sought ways to overlap them. By discussing orthopedic topics in a podcast format, he not only learned material for residency but also contributed to the education of colleagues and medical students worldwide.

Real estate, side income, and financial freedom

In addition to podcasting, Cole explored real estate as a way to diversify income. With classmates, he evaluated properties and divided responsibilities to maximize efficiency. Later, during residency, he purchased a house and rented out rooms through Airbnb, creating a steady side-income stream.

These ventures stemmed from a broader goal: financial freedom. For Cole, and increasingly for his peers, financial security is about more than just retirement savings. It’s about building flexibility and stability during a career, not only at the end of one. He noted that younger physicians are less willing to sacrifice decades of work for the promise of rest later. Instead, they want to create sustainable lifestyle now: Ones that reduce burnout, allow for personal fulfillment, and leave space for service, such as volunteering for medical missions.

Lessons for physicians in any stage

Dr. Cole’s insights highlight key themes for physicians at all stages of their careers. First, efficient time management and focus are crucial. Whether studying anatomy or recording podcasts, Cole emphasized dedicating uninterrupted time blocks to one task at a time to maximize productivity. Second, collaboration and leveraging others’ strengths can make ambitious projects possible even during demanding training. Finally, financial literacy and diversification, whether through real estate, entrepreneurship, or side ventures, can provide the freedom to practice medicine on one’s own terms.

Conclusion

Dr. Wendell Cole represents a new generation of physicians who see medicine not just as a career, but as part of a broader life strategy. By integrating entrepreneurship, financial planning, and personal growth into his journey, he offers a model for young doctors seeking balance and sustainability. His story reminds all physicians, whether in training or decades into practice, that building a meaningful career involves more than clinical expertise. It requires vision, adaptability, and the courage to create opportunities beyond the hospital walls.

You can listen to the entire conversation on time management and entrepreneurship, or access the full library of Wealth Planning for the Modern Physician episodes and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.

David B. Mandell is an attorney, wealth manager, author, and partner in the wealth management firm OJM Group, LLC, where he and his team provide comprehensive and multidisciplinary financial planning services tailored specifically for physicians across the United States.

David hosts the Wealth Planning for the Modern Physician Podcast, now in its fifth season with over 95 episodes and 50,000+ downloads. The show focuses on the unique wealth planning concerns faced by today’s doctors and features interviews with physicians across specialties and stages of their careers, as well as insights from financial and industry experts. Listeners gain practical tips on building wealth, protecting assets, reducing taxes, and achieving long-term financial goals. Click here to listen and subscribe.

He is also the co-author of more than 15 books, including the newest release, Wealth Strategies for Today’s Physician: A Multi-Media Playbook. This innovative guide includes over 250 pages of actionable content and more than 90 embedded links to videos and podcast episodes. Organized into seven key strategies, the Playbook helps physicians reduce taxes, invest wisely, choose the right insurance, protect their assets, and plan for retirement. Click here to get your free print copy or eBook download, available exclusively to members of the KevinMD community.

David has spoken at major national medical meetings, including those hosted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Association of Orthopaedic Executives, and the International College of Surgeons. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, his law degree from UCLA School of Law, and his MBA from UCLA Anderson.

Connect with David and OJM Group on their website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X @OJMGroup.

Disclosure:

OJM Group, LLC. (“OJM”) is an SEC-registered investment adviser with its principal place of business in the State of Ohio. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of OJM by the SEC nor does it indicate that OJM has attained a particular level of skill or ability. OJM and its representatives are in compliance with the current notice filing and registration requirements imposed upon registered investment advisers by those states in which OJM maintains clients. OJM may only transact business in those states in which it is registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration requirements. For information about OJM, please visit http://adviserinfo.sec.gov/ or contact us at (877) 656-4362.

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