This episode is sponsored by Lightstone DIRECT. Lightstone DIRECT invites you to partner with a $12B AUM real estate institution as you grow your portfolio. Access the same single-asset multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital – Lightstone co-invests a minimum of 20% in each deal alongside individual investors like you. You’re an institution. Time to invest like one.

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What if your retirement plan didn’t rely on stock market volatility, but on institutional-grade real estate with skin in the game?

In this empowering episode, Dr. Lee Sharma sits down with Jonathan Spitz to break down private real estate investing for physicians, from fresh-out-of-residency tax strategies to legacy-building passive income. Jonathan shares his core principle (“long-term clarity creates long-term power”), why physicians often start with curiosity but no plan, and how to ask the right questions: direct vs. passive ownership? Manager track record? Leverage levels? He reveals red flags like excessive debt or inexperienced teams, explains Lightstone’s vertically integrated model (40 years, $12B AUM, in-house everything), and proves that with high-conviction deals where they commit 20% of their own capital first, physicians can build wealth without the daily grind.

If you’ve ever thought “I want more, but where do I start?” This is your roadmap to investing like a family office, safely, transparently, and aligned.

Three Actionable Takeaways :

• Decide if you want direct ownership (hands-on rentals) or passive investing (outsourcing to pros like Lightstone): For busy physicians, passive often wins. Vet managers by asking: How long in business? Track record? Skin in the game? Alignment ensures they treat your money like their own for long-term stability.
• Spot red flags before investing: Excessive leverage like 85% debt magnifies risks in volatile markets. Check track record for losses in good times, team longevity (avoid 2-year firms), and aggressive assumptions promising 25% returns. Prioritize wealth preservation over high-risk highs.
• Build clarity by defining goals: Income now or growth later? Liquidity needs? Risk tolerance? Start small with education—podcasts, white papers, consultations. Meet managers where you are; if they rush or lack access and transparency, walk away. Long-term power comes from informed, patient decisions.

About the Show:

Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

About the Guest:

Jonathan Spitz is Head of Capital Formation at Lightstone Direct, where he helps investors access institutional-grade commercial real estate. With over a decade in private real estate, he’s advised physicians, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals on long-term strategies, risk management, and wealth building. His guiding principle: Long-term clarity creates long-term power. Jonathan focuses on simplifying real estate for busy professionals, emphasizing alignment, education, and passive income for legacies beyond medicine.

Connect with Jonathan Spitz:

· Website: https://lightstonedirect.com

lightstonegroup.com

· Email: jspitz@lightstonedirect.com

About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.

• Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
  📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com
  🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma

The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is sponsored by Lightstone DIRECT. Lightstone DIRECT invites you to partner with a $12B AUM real estate institution as you grow your portfolio. Access the same single-asset multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital – Lightstone co-invests a minimum of 20% in each deal alongside individual investors like you. You’re an institution. Time to invest like one.

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What happens when a paramedic becomes a medical-malpractice lawyer and then an appellate clerk? You get Tevor Allen: a rare voice who has lived on both sides of the chart, the gurney, and the courtroom.

In this eye-opening episode of Scalpel and Sword Podcast, host Dr. Lee Sharma talks with Trevor Allen ESQ., as he shares how his EMS background gave him an unfair advantage reading medical records, spotting documentation red flags, and understanding what patients and families are really asking for beneath the surface.

From intubation cases and bougie questions that made partners clap, to mediating family evictions and reading judges’ body language in real time, Trevor proves that the skills that keep patients calm at 3 a.m. are the exact same skills that win appellate arguments and malpractice mediations.

If you’ve ever wished physicians were better trained in conflict, listening, and “arguing to the room,” this episode is your masterclass.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

• Document every chart as if it will one day be projected in open court in front of a jury. Ask yourself: “Would I be proud to read this aloud?” If the answer is no, rewrite it now. Clear, thorough, defensible notes protect you more than any insurance policy ever could.
• Treat every difficult patient encounter as a micro-mediation: Look past the surface demand and uncover the real need—almost always respect, being heard, or fear. Address the hidden interest instead of arguing the position, and most conflicts dissolve before they ever reach a lawyer’s desk.
• In deposition or mediation your only job is to tell the plain truth without coloring or spinning it. Stay calm, human, and factual. The other side will try to twist your words, but a thousand hours of rehearsal won’t stop that. Trust your attorney to untie the knots later.

About the Show:

Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

About the Guest:

Trevor Allen, Esquire, is a judicial law clerk for the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District. A former paramedic and clinical trainer, Trevor graduated from Washington University School of Law Dean’s List, Order of Barristers, Judge Amanda Brackman Moot Court Award after spending a summer working at a medical-malpractice defense firm. His unique dual background lets him spot documentation gaps, read hidden patient interests, and translate clinical reality into courtroom credibility. Bonus: he bakes a mean loaf and is owned by an adorable dog named Gwen.

Connect with Trevor Allen:

• Instagram: @FifthOfDaybreak
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/trevor-allen91

About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.

• Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
  📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com
  🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma

The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.