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The DOC Podcast

The DOC Podcast

Written by: DeLuke Orthodontic Coaching LLC
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 The DOC Podcast brings you unique educational content taught by Dr. Mike DeLuke, a Board Certified Orthodontist with over 20 years of clinical and academic experience. Dr. DeLuke built his orthodontic practice from scratch in the early 2000s and grew it into a multimillion-dollar enterprise in less than 10 years. He was able to retire from his private practice at the age of 46 years old, and now devotes his energy to teaching his colleagues how to succeed both personally and professionally. He also provides locum tenens coverage for colleagues in South Florida. Dr. DeLuke has served as a faculty member at numerous hospitals and orthodontic residency programs around the country, including as the cleft craniofacial orthodontist at Albany Medical Center in New York, and as a clinical professor at The University of Connecticut in the Department of Orthodontics. He is presently an adjunct professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Healthcare Network and a Visiting Professor in the Department of Orthodontics at Montefiore Einstein Hospital in the Bronx. The DOC Podcast will bring you in-depth discussions and interviews with industry leaders and experts on a variety of topics, including clinical excellence, practice management, finance and wealth creation, health and wellness, taxes and accounting, fitness, and much more!2026 DeLuke Orthodontic Coaching, LLC Economics Science
Episodes
  • Challenging the Dogmas of Sleep Medicine (w/Dr. Avi Bhar) [Ep.139]

    Challenging the Dogmas of Sleep Medicine (w/Dr. Avi Bhar) [Ep.139]
    Jan 15 2026
    General SummaryIn this comprehensive episode, I sit down with Dr. Avinesh Bhar, a board-certified pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine physician who left traditional private practice to revolutionize sleep healthcare through telemedicine. Dr. Bhar shares his journey from recognizing the profound shortcomings of the US healthcare system to founding Sleep, a virtual practice designed to provide accessible, personalized sleep and pulmonary care.The conversation explores the critical gaps in sleep medicine, including the severe shortage of sleep physicians (only 150-200 trained annually), the limitations of traditional sleep testing, and why women and children are disproportionately underdiagnosed. Dr. Bhar challenges the conventional reliance on polysomnography as the sole diagnostic tool, emphasizing the importance of clinical symptoms and thorough patient evaluation. The discussion reveals how the multifactorial nature of sleep disorders requires multifaceted, often multidisciplinary solutions, and why "mild" sleep apnea isn't always mild, and negative sleep studies don't always mean you're fine.Key PointsThe Sleep Doctor Shortage Crisis: The US produces only 150-200 sleep physicians annually, creating massive access barriers and 6-12 month wait times for patientsFalse Negatives Are Common: In-lab sleep studies suffer from "first night effect" and single-night testing limitations; home sleep tests with multiple nights provide better baseline dataClinical Symptoms Trump Test Results: A negative sleep study doesn't mean absence of sleep issues; patient symptoms must be explained and addressedWomen and Children Are Underdiagnosed: Sleep testing data have been validated primarily on overweight male populations, causing women and children to be systematically overlookedMild Doesn't Mean Mild: Sleep apnea severity ratings correlate with heart disease and stroke risk, but not necessarily with quality of life impacts; mild cases can cause severe symptomsMouth Breathing Is a Red Flag: It's an adaptation to airway obstruction, not normal behavior, and signals underlying issues that need investigationThe Co-Opted Healthcare System: Financial incentives drive practitioners toward in-lab testing (3x higher reimbursement) rather than more appropriate home testingMultifactorial Problems Need Multifaceted Solutions: Sleep disorders rarely have single causes or single treatments; adenotonsillectomy alone resolves OSA in only 27% of children long-termYou Don't Outgrow Sleep Issues: Childhood airway problems persist into adulthood, often worsening with age, weight changes, or hormonal shiftsTelemedicine as the Solution: Virtual sleep medicine can provide faster access (2-3 days vs. 6+ months), comprehensive care coordination, and better patient outcomesNotable Quotes"You can be a better physician to your patients if you understand their sleep issues as well.""If a patient has a sleep issue and the test is negative, so what? You have to figure out why. You have to give the patient an answer...why are they sleeping poorly? Why are they bruxing? Why do they have headaches? Why do they have anxiety?""Sleep has always kind of been looked at as a passive process, a side issue. Now that the data is coming out, it's driving everything that we're seeing as problems, whether it's heart disease, mental health issues, blood pressure control, metabolic syndrome." "Once you see it, you can't unsee it. That's the scary part, because now I'm out socially, I'm looking in people's mouths. I'm like, oh, she has a sleep issue. He has a sleep issue. And you can't stop yourself because it's everywhere."Timestamps[0:00] Introduction and Dr. Bhar's credentials[3:15] Dr. Bhar's journey: From fellowship to MBA to leaving private practice[10:30] The shortage of sleep physicians in America and its impact on patient care[18:45] Why sleep has been overlooked as a "passive process" and the emerging data on its critical importance[28:20] The problems with in-lab sleep studies and the advantages of home testing[42:15] Why "mild" sleep apnea isn't always mild and negative tests aren't always negative[56:40] Women and children: The biggest victims of sleep medicine's blind spots[1:12:30] The co-opting of healthcare: Financial incentives vs. patient care[1:28:45] Mouth breathing as a warning sign and why we're the only animals with crooked teeth[1:45:20] Do children really "outgrow" sleep issues? The truth about adenotonsillectomy outcomes[1:58:10] How Sleep works: The telemedicine solution for accessible, comprehensive sleep care[2:15:35] Final thoughts on changing the healthcare system and voting with your feetRelevant LinksSliiip Website: https://sliiip.com/ The Ortho Coach Website: www.theorthocoach.comJoin The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/Guest Suggestions: Email Dr.mike@theorthocoach.comThis ...
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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Building Wealth Through Passive Income Strategies (w/Joey Mure) [Ep.138]

    Building Wealth Through Passive Income Strategies (w/Joey Mure) [Ep.138]
    Jan 8 2026
    Episode OverviewIn this episode, I sit down with Joey Muré to discuss achieving financial freedom through passive income strategies rather than traditional Wall Street approaches. The conversation challenges conventional financial wisdom about debt payoff, retirement planning, and wealth accumulation, offering a roadmap for high-earning professionals who feel stuck on the hamster wheel despite their success. Joey and I explore practical strategies for creating cash flow today rather than waiting decades for retirement, including how to evaluate investment opportunities, avoid common money traps, and align financial decisions with personal values and family priorities.Key Topics DiscussedThe Psychology of Money & Financial FreedomWhy traditional retirement planning keeps you dependent on the systemThe difference between financial freedom and debt freedomHow to shift from an accumulation mindset to a cash flow mindsetThe financial freedom formula: Passive Income > Monthly ExpensesCommon Money TrapsPaying down debt too aggressivelyMaxing out retirement accounts (401k, IRAs) that lock money away until 59½Treating your primary residence as your biggest assetLifestyle creep and keeping up with the JonesesPassive Income StrategiesWhat passive income really means (involved but not day-to-day operations)Real estate investments, business partnerships, and alternative vehiclesHow to start with your first $500/month in passive incomeBuilding a personal P&L for your householdPractical Steps to Get StartedConducting a cash flow awareness analysisCreating a shared financial vision with your spouseThe importance of financial education and coachingBuilding your "buy box" for evaluating investment opportunitiesKey Quotes> "When your passive income exceeds your monthly expenses, you're financially free. It's not about what things look like on the outside, it's more about how much freedom do we actually have with our time."> "You can never pay off the cost of living. You can't pay it off. So you have to cover it with cash flow."> "Wall Street is not just the places where we've been told to invest. It's also a mindset that leads you to believe that your goal is to accumulate dollars for a someday, for a one day. That is complex to keep you dependent on the system that everybody else is getting rich off of."> "If you have no surplus because your lifestyle has crept up to where it equals your income, you're no closer than the person who is the janitor in the cash flow game."> "Opportunities find cash. If you start talking about wanting to invest, start talking about looking for deals, and you have cash, they will find you."Episode Timestamps4:21 - Joey's Wake-Up CallMaking $300K+ but feeling trapped; the beach vacation story with his five daughters that changed everything10:15 - The Psychology of Money & Financial FreedomShifting from Wall Street accumulation mindset to cash flow thinking; the formula: Passive Income > Monthly Expenses17:55 - What is Passive Income Really?Passive income is "involved but not uninvolved" - being an active steward vs. abdicating to others25:51 - The Debt DilemmaShould you aggressively pay down debt or invest for cash flow? The $400K student loan story30:08 - "You Can Never Pay Off the Cost of Living"Key insight: debt freedom ≠ financial freedom; the Cashflow Game lesson45:00 - Dave Ramsey vs. Rich Dad PhilosophyWhy paying extra on your mortgage doesn't create freedom; the 2009 mortgage crisis cautionary tale50:39 - Your House is NOT an AssetDebunking the primary residence myth and understanding lifestyle creep56:09 - Aligning with Your SpouseGetting on the same page financially; the Passport Challenge for couples1:04:44 - The Passive Income Lab12-week program guaranteeing first $500/month in passive income; becoming an investor through education1:15:24 - "Opportunities Find Cash" & Due DiligenceHow to attract deals, vet operators, and use tools like custom GPT for investment analysis1:23:25 - How to Get StartedResources and next steps: wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/doc for Financial Freedom AnalyzerLINKS:Joey@WealthWithoutWallStreet.comWealthWithoutWallStreet.comX: @WithoutWallStFB: /WealthWithoutWallStreetIG: @WealthWithoutWallStYT: /@WealthWithoutWallStreetApple Podcast: WealthWithoutWallStreetWealthWithoutWallStreet.com/DOC for free resources! Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/Free Balance Sheet: https://theorthocoach.com/ (You will need to disable your pop-up blocker)Link to Dr. Mike talking about goal setting: https://youtu.be/u6W5ErGpQ34?si=k3MFvNdrMk9FBN-qDisclaimer: The content and advice offered during this episode are for informational purposes only and are not intended to serve as financial or legal advice. Please consult with your own tax and legal professionals for advice relative to your specific financial situation.
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • Running an Airway-Focused Orthodontic Practice (w/Dr. Svitlana Koval) [Ep.137]

    Running an Airway-Focused Orthodontic Practice (w/Dr. Svitlana Koval) [Ep.137]
    Jan 1 2026

    Episode Overview
    In this episode, I welcome Dr. Svitlana Koval, an orthodontist based in Boca Raton, Florida, renowned for her expertise in airway-focused orthodontics and the diagnosis and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing in both children and adults. The conversation explores Dr. Koval’s professional journey, her clinical protocols, and the broader implications of airway health in orthodontics.

    Key Topics Discussed
    Dr. Koval’s Journey:
    Dr. Koval shares her path from Ukraine to the U.S., her early exposure to advanced diagnostic tools (like T-Scan and EMG), and her growing interest in TMD and airway health.

    • Airway Orthodontics & Sleep-Disordered Breathing:
      The discussion covers the importance of screening for airway issues in orthodontic patients, the spectrum of sleep-disordered breathing (from snoring to obstructive sleep apnea), and the role of orthodontists in early detection and intervention.
    • Diagnostic & Treatment Protocols:
      Dr. Koval details her approach to diagnosis, including the use of 3D imaging, CBCT, and comprehensive intake questionnaires (like the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire). She emphasizes the need for individualized treatment, including expansion techniques and myofunctional therapy.
    • Educational Gaps in Orthodontics:
      Dr. Koval and I discuss why airway health is underrepresented in dental and orthodontic education, and the need for curriculum reform to better prepare clinicians.
    • Genetics vs. Environment:
      The conversation delves into the debate over genetic vs. environmental factors in malocclusion and airway issues, referencing key studies and the concept of epigenetics.
    • Collaboration & Subspecialization:
      Dr. Koval advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration among dental and medical professionals and suggests that subspecialization within orthodontics may be beneficial for managing complex airway cases.
    • Advice for Clinicians:
      Dr. Koval encourages clinicians to critically assess literature, stay open-minded, and prioritize patient well-being over dogmatic adherence to traditional protocols.

    Memorable Quotes

    • “We as providers are here to serve our community. What matters most is the voice of our community and the needs of our patients.”
    • “It’s not just about straightening teeth—it’s about improving overall health and well-being.”
    • “Screening for airway issues should be a standard part of orthodontic care, starting as early as age three.”

    Resources & Links

    • Dr. Koval Orthodontics: https://www.drssk.com/
    • Dr. Koval on Instagram: @drsvitlanakoval
    • Dr. DeLuke on Instagram: @theorthocoach
    • Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions (https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/)
    • Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/
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    54 mins
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