Phoebe Gutierrez and Dr. Leo Damasco sit down with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming, to explore his path from family medicine to multi-location cash-based practices, the realities of adding telemedicine, staff and operational challenges, the gray-market peptide landscape, and practical advice for doctors building independent practices.
This episode is sponsored by NURP
NURP helps busy physicians grow their wealth through AI-powered algorithmic trading designed for demanding careers. No day trading, no guesswork, and no constant market watching required.
Ready to put your money to work? Visit start.nurp.com/doctors to learn more.
Trading involves risk, and results may vary. This is not financial advice.
—----------------------------------------------
In this episode of Telemedicine Talks, hosts Phoebe Gutierrez and Dr. Leo Damasco welcome Dr. Mike Woo-Ming, as he shares his unconventional journey: family-medicine training, a multi-year exit into software, return to medicine to keep his mom happy, and the decision to build his own practice rather than work for someone else. He grew a weight-loss practice into a longevity-focused med spa with three locations, then layered in telemedicine (both for his own patients and as medical director for startups). He discusses the flexibility and patient-connection advantages of telemedicine, the value of hybrid models, and why many established practices leave money on the table.
The conversation covers real operational hurdles, getting staff (from Instagram-savvy nurses to flip-phone medical assistants) aligned across locations 50–60 miles apart, competition in the med-spa space, and the ongoing reality of faxes in healthcare. A candid segment explores peptides (BPC-157, TB-500, Semorelin, and emerging compounds), the gray-market risks for licensed physicians versus non-physician sellers, public demand, and state-level regulatory pushback. Mike closes with advice he would give his intern self: trust your gut and bet on yourself.
Top 3 Takeaways:
About the Show:
Telemedicine Talks explores the evolving world of digital health, helping physicians navigate new opportunities, regulatory challenges, and career transitions in telemedicine
About the Guest:
Dr. Mike Woo-Ming is a family-medicine-trained physician entrepreneur, practice coach, telemedicine doctor, and longevity/med-spa owner based in San Diego. He built a multi-location cash-based practice, serves as medical director for startups in the longevity space, and coaches physicians on growing independent practices without sacrificing personal freedom. He also runs a podcast network.
Connect with Dr. Mike Woo-Ming:
About the Hosts:
• Dr. Leo Damasco – Pediatrician and emergency medicine doctor turned telemedicine advocate, helping physicians transition to digital health.
• Phoebe Gutierrez – Former state regulator turned telehealth executive, specializing in compliance and sustainable virtual care models.
Connect with Phoebe Gutierrez:
https://www.linkedIn.com/in/pkgutierrez
phoebe@telemedicinetalks.com