Episode 57: Burnout, Betrayal, and the $1 Sale with Dr Nerida McDonald

Running a clinic is rarely a straight line, and sometimes, your biggest wins are hiding inside your hardest decisions.

In this episode, Dr. Nerida McDonald shares how an accidental entry into ownership taught her the most brutal and brilliant lessons of business. From escaping a misaligned partnership to rebuilding from scratch (twice), she reveals what it really takes to evolve from a stressed-out solo owner to the proud architect of a thriving, future-proofed clinic.

Whether you're stuck in a clunky co-ownership model, juggling burnout, or thinking about scaling smart without losing your soul, this one’s got what you need to hear.

In this episode of the Scale My Clinic Podcast, you’ll learn:

• Structural warning signs to look for before you commit to Practice Ownership (00:40)
• How to build a team where every doctor, manager, and receptionist rows in the same direction (17:46)
• Decision-making filters that matter when choosing a site (24:14)
• Why the same systems that got you “here” won’t get you “there” (32:07)
• How to evaluate risk, secure the right lease deal, and offset rising costs by activating underutilized revenue streams (43:16)
• Structuring your team so you’re not holding everything together (56:09)
• How to “retire” from low-leverage roles while holding on to the parts of the job that energize you (01:03:20)
• Leveraging awards as a tool for growth, visibility & reflection (01:05:28)
• The ownership mindset shift from survival to strategic scaling (01:11:00)

You’ll walk away with a clearer picture of how real practice transformation happens (and how to start your own).

If you haven’t listened to our previous episode talking about One Payroll Mistake Away From Disaster: The HR Trap That Could Sink Your Practice, go back and check out Episode 56.

Subscribe to the Scale My Clinic Podcast for weekly insights and strategies to scale your clinic.

Share this episode with other general practice owners and follow us on Facebook at Scale My Clinic for more updates and resources.

Subscribe to the Scale My Clinic Podcast for weekly insights and strategies to scale your clinic.

Share this episode with other general Practice Owners and follow us on Facebook at Scale My Clinic for more updates and resources.

ABOUT DR NERIDA MCDONALD

GP, Founder and Owner of Walker Street Doctors, a ten-GP strong, award-winning, private general practice in the heart of North Sydney. Delivering excellence in Primary Healthcare to the patient base of North Sydney and beyond. Also a wannabe runner and vegetable gardener.

WHERE TO FIND NERIDA MCDONALD

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/nerida.mcdonald.355

Website: https://www.walkerstreetdoctors.com.au/blogs/our-team/dr-nerida-mcdonald