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 Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane talks with Dr. Josh Daily about the full life of an academic pediatric cardiologist busy family, teaching, research, and writing in the financial space, interrupted by a life-altering health crisis. Josh recounts the discovery of a large craniopharyngioma, the initial misdiagnosis, successful resection, recurrence years later, and remarkable response to targeted BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy. They explore how limited experiences and emotion shape specialty choice, the practical importance of adequate life and disability insurance, the brokenness and privilege within the medical system, and the redemption that can emerge from profound loss: greater gratitude, deeper patient empathy, advocacy skills, and a new direction writing books on decision-making grounded in both best practices and Christian faith Episode Highlights Josh’s path into pediatric cardiology, driven more by competence, emotion, and mentorship than pure rational analysis How he now teaches third-year medical students about the affect heuristic, limited experiences, and what actually drives long-term flourishing The onset of fatigue, low testosterone, and headaches that led to the discovery of a 2.5 × 3 cm mass filling the third ventricle Initial misdiagnosis as germinoma, the critical second opinion that identified craniopharyngioma, and the decision for complete resection Recovery challenges (third-nerve palsy, pituitary deficiencies) and the shock of rapid recurrence 3½ years later with progressive vision loss Tracking down the NIH trial investigator, starting targeted therapy, dramatic tumor shrinkage (80% volume reduction in one month), and insurance battles Living with panhypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus, adrenal insufficiency, and the ongoing medical fragility How the experience increased empathy, explicit patient advocacy coaching, and a renewed sense of the sacredness of even “bread-and-butter” pediatric cardiology The importance of term life and individual disability insurance and the specific regrets and lessons from having policies that were good but not ideal Writing two books that integrate decision science, cognitive bias reduction, and Christian faith The Alfred Nobel story and a practical invitation: write your own obituary or a letter from your deathbed to yourself today Top 3 Takeaways Specialty choice, and many other big decisions are often driven more by emotion and limited exposure than we realize, pulling back the curtain on cognitive biases can help learners and practicing physicians choose more wisely. Adequate, well-structured disability and term life insurance matter far more than most physicians feel viscerally until a crisis hits; review and update coverage as income and family needs grow. Profound loss is never “good,” yet it can produce deeper gratitude, sharper empathy, clearer priorities, and unexpected new callings when met with faith and intentional reflection. About Dr. Josh Daily Dr. Josh Daily is an academic pediatric cardiologist and fellowship program director at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. He co-directs the Personal and Professional Financial Essentials for Physicians course for fourth-year medical students, writes in the physician-finance space (including for The White Coat Investor), and conducts research on how physicians make specialty and other high-stakes decisions. He is a two-time craniopharyngioma survivor currently managed with targeted therapy and lives in Little Rock with his wife Lauren and their four children. Connect with Dr. Josh Daily Website: https://www.joshdaily.com About the Show: Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine. In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole. Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com LMC Series Note: Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease—through candid physician–patient conversations. The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
