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How I Built Healthcare Huddle: Lessons from a Resident Physician-Entrepreneur

Residency Reflections #11

Author

Jared Dashevsky, MD
December 10, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

RESIDENCY REFLECTIONS

How I Built Healthcare Huddle: Lessons from a Resident Physician-Entrepreneur

When I launched Healthcare Huddle as a medical student in 2020, I never imagined it would grow into a newsletter read by over 30,000 healthcare professionals.

My goal then was simple: break down complex healthcare trends and policies into digestible, engaging content.

But the journey from idea to execution wasn’t so straightforward—it was shaped by countless lessons learned along the way.

In a recent episode of How I Doctor, I sat down with Dr. Graham Walker, co-founder of Offcall and MDCalc, to share the behind-the-scenes of building Healthcare Huddle while navigating medical school, residency, and now the evolving healthcare landscape.

Here my the three biggest take-home points:

1. Clinical Experience Is a Competitive Advantage

My role as a resident physician provides an unmatched perspective on healthcare’s inefficiencies. From patient interactions to systemic bottlenecks, these real-world insights enhance my writing and lend credibility to my analyses. As Dr. Walker aptly put it, our clinical experience allows us to critique broader healthcare systems with authority.

For physician-entrepreneurs, leaning into your clinical expertise is a superpower. It equips you to tackle challenges and share insights that others outside the field simply can’t.

2. Find Strategic Partners Who Complement Your Skills

In the early days, I juggled content creation, branding, and operations with the help of my medical school friend, Harrison Kaplan, and my brother, Brett. But as Healthcare Huddle grew, I needed a partner to handle the business side. Enter Workweek, a media company that enabled me to focus solely on content creation.

The partnership proved transformative, allowing us to scale the newsletter, launch new formats like trend reports, and refine our focus. For aspiring physician-entrepreneurs, finding collaborators who can handle your blind spots is key to sustainable growth.

3. Build for Your Audience—and Keep Iterating

Healthcare Huddle started as a way to educate medical students, but over time, the audience evolved to include residents, attendings, and other healthcare professionals. I adapted by adding features like Dashevsky’s Dissection, a section where I analyze healthcare trends through the lens of a physician on the frontlines.

Understanding your audience is critical, but so is listening to their feedback and iterating on your content. Whether it’s adding new sections, experimenting with formats, or broadening your reach, always ask: What unique value am I offering?

Looking Ahead

Healthcare Huddle has taught me invaluable lessons—not just about building a business, but about staying curious and adaptable in a rapidly changing field. As I continue my residency and explore future opportunities, my goal remains the same: deliver accessible, actionable insights that empower healthcare professionals to navigate an increasingly complex system.

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Podcasts

How I Doctor by Graham Walker, MD

I chatted with fellow Huddler and MDCalc co-founder Dr. Graham Walker on his newest podcast How I Doctor. I had a great time talking with him about the early days of Healthcare Huddle and my journey as a doctorpreneur. If you’re a physician who resonates with being a “doctorpreneur,” check out the podcast!

Also, Graham just launched his Offcall platform to improve physicians’ wealth and wellbeing. You should definitely check it out.

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