From OB/GYN to Advocate, Part I

In Part One of this two-part conversation, Dr. Stephanie Pearson shares her powerful journey from practicing OB/GYN to becoming a nationally-recognized advocate for physician disability insurance and financial protection. Nearly ten years into practice, a traumatic shoulder injury sustained during an emergency delivery permanently ended her ability to operate. What initially felt like a temporary setback quickly became a life-altering pivot point—complicated further by contract language, disability policy limitations, and systemic barriers that left her financially and emotionally vulnerable.

Stephanie details the harsh realities she encountered after her injury, including being terminated when her FMLA expired, denied disability coverage due to policy fine print, and fighting a lengthy workers’ compensation battle. She candidly discusses the mental toll of the experience, including a period of severe emotional distress, and emphasizes how little physicians are taught about contracts, disability insurance, and financial risk management. Her story underscores the importance of reviewing employment agreements and understanding both employer-sponsored and private disability coverage.

Out of this adversity, Stephanie co-founded PearsonRavitz, an insurance brokerage dedicated to helping physicians secure appropriate disability and life insurance protection. Now part of the broader Earned Wealth platform alongside OJM Group, she is committed to improving financial literacy among physicians. This episode sets the stage for Part Two by highlighting not only the risks physicians face but also the importance of proactive planning, proper policy design, and advocating for oneself long before a crisis occurs.

Key Takeaways:

1. Physicians must understand their contracts before a crisis occurs.
2. Employer disability coverage often contains critical exclusions and limitations.
3. Financial literacy and risk management are essential components of physician wellbeing.

Insights:

• Musculoskeletal injuries are the leading cause of physician disability.
• Only a small percentage of physician disabilities are work-related, making private coverage critical.
• Contract language requiring 100% job duty performance can have serious consequences.
• Hospital-provided disability policies may exclude work-related injuries.
• Own-occupation disability insurance can be life-changing when properly structured.
• Physicians often rely too heavily on institutional systems without independent review.
• Emotional and psychological impacts of career-ending injuries are profound.
• Financial stress compounds medical and physical recovery challenges.
• Proactive education during training can prevent catastrophic gaps in protection.
• Adversity can create new purpose—Stephanie turned her experience into advocacy.

Links & Bios:

• Guest, Stephanie Pearson, MD | Bio
• Host, David B. Mandell | Bio