FDIC-Insured – Backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government
Banking For Doctors,
BY DOCTORS
We’re a financial services company for doctors, created by doctors. Panacea Financial understands your banking needs because we’ve been through it before.
Panacea’s mission is to
make doctors’ lives better.
Our doctor co-founders noticed a theme during their training and practice: banks didn’t understand the financial needs of doctors.
So they decided to fix it.
By offering doctors and doctors-in-training the service they deserve that is accessible no matter where they are in their careers.
Michael Jerkins, MD, M.Ed. & Ned Palmer, MD, MPH
Co-Founders
Our Team
Combining strong expertise in medicine and financial services, our team is passionate about building a company that’s built specifically for doctors at every phase of life and career.
Tyler Stafford, CFA
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder
Tyler Stafford, CFA is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Panacea Financial. He has spent the past 15 years within the banking and investment industries and has lectured nationally on personal investment strategies for physicians and physicians in training. Additionally, he also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Baptist Health Foundation.
Michael Jerkins, MD, M.Ed
President & Co-Founder
Michael is the President and Co-founder of Panacea Financial and is also a practicing physician in Little Rock, AR. After earning his BBA in Economics he deferred his medical school acceptance to teach middle school science in the Phoenix, AZ area while also earning his Masters in Education from Arizona State University. He then completed medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center before finishing his residency at University of Cincinnati Medical Center and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. With a faculty position and board certifications in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Michael is able to treat patients of all ages and teach medical trainees in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Ned Palmer, MD, MPH
Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder
Ned is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Panacea Financial and a practicing physician in Boston. He attended Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, and then completed residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. After residency, he completed a fellowship in global health, along with a Masters in Public Health at Harvard University. He is now working as a hospitalist at Boston Children’s Hospital and is on faculty at Harvard Medical School.
Elizabeth Karson
Head of Strategy & Operations
Elizabeth is the head of Strategy & Operations at Panacea Financial. Elizabeth started her career as an M&A lawyer at Skadden Arps. From there, she moved into an investing role at a fintech focused VC firm. While working with early stage companies, Elizabeth became interested in operations. Most recently, Elizabeth was the VP of Strategy & Operations at Ribbon Health, a provider data technology company where she managed business operations, finance, legal and partnerships, helping the company scale from 10 people to almost 75 people through their Series B financing.
Will McCandless
Chief Financial Officer
Will McCandless is the Chief Financial Officer of Panacea Financial. Prior to joining Panacea, Will was an Executive Director in J.P. Morgan’s investment banking division in the Financial Institutions Group covering depository institutions. He has spent over a decade advising banks, specialty finance and financial technology companies on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and strategic initiatives.
Ryan Gorney
Chief Technology Officer
Ryan is the Chief Technology Officer at Panacea Financial. Prior to joining Panacea Financial, he was Chief Information Officer for Professional Bank leading all technology, digital, operations, HR, and marketing. Ryan led a streamlined team of professionals focused on automation, digital enablement, efficiency, and execution. Ryan was also one of four leaders who participated in Professional Bank’s IPO Roadshow and successful listing on the Nasdaq as well as the eventual sale to Seacoast National Bank.
In addition to community banks, Ryan has experience in leadership at super-regional banks having worked at KeyBank. While at KeyBank, he led the development of its award-winning Digital banking platform inclusive of Key’s financial wellness offering. Ryan started his career in consulting working at two of the most prestigious global advisory firms Accenture and EY. At Accenture and EY, Ryan advised some of the largest global banks headquartered both domestically and internally. He also spent time working in Latin American, Europe, Israel, and Africa which helped him form a more diverse view of the importance of banks in enabling global commerce.
In addition to community banks, Ryan has experience in leadership at super-regional banks having worked at KeyBank. While at KeyBank, he led the development of its award-winning Digital banking platform inclusive of Key’s financial wellness offering. Ryan started his career in consulting working at two of the most prestigious global advisory firms Accenture and EY. At Accenture and EY, Ryan advised some of the largest global banks headquartered both domestically and internally. He also spent time working in Latin American, Europe, Israel, and Africa which helped him form a more diverse view of the importance of banks in enabling global commerce.
Jeral Self, PhD, MPH
Head of Community Engagement
Jeral Self is the Head of Community Engagement at Panacea Financial where she executes the organization’s mission and goal of providing ongoing support, both financially and through mentorship, to under-represented minorities within the physician workforce. Jeral has over nine years of experience in health policy research, with much of it focused on building and using integrated data from multiple public service systems for the purposes of evaluation. Dr. Self has a PhD from Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and a Masters in Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health.
Brandon Finazzo
Head of Practice Solutions
Brandon is the Head of Practice Solutions of Panacea and has worked in the Healthcare Industry since 2008, with over a decade in commercial lending and credit experience. Previously, Brandon was a Regional Healthcare Manager at Wells Fargo Bank Healthcare Industries group, where he successfully managed and grew the California, Arizona and Texas markets. Additionally, Brandon was the Market Vice President for Citi Practice Finance Group, as well as Assistant Vice President at US Bank. Brandon has a passion for connecting with students to assist them with the preparation for Practice ownership.
Raquel Powers
Head of Consumer Banking
Raquel is the Head of Consumer Banking at Panacea and has worked in both the banking and healthcare industries since 2005.
She started her banking career while in college, starting out as a teller, and then working her way up to Assistant Branch Manager of several branches. From there, she became a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, and ran nursing homes in both Texas and Colorado.
Her love for banking and healthcare brought her to Panacea in 2020, where she started out as Primary Care Banker, and now manages the Consumer Division.
She started her banking career while in college, starting out as a teller, and then working her way up to Assistant Branch Manager of several branches. From there, she became a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, and ran nursing homes in both Texas and Colorado.
Her love for banking and healthcare brought her to Panacea in 2020, where she started out as Primary Care Banker, and now manages the Consumer Division.
Jessica Vionas-Singer
Head of Marketing
Jessica Vionas-Singer is the Head of Marketing at Panacea Financial. She fell in love with marketing at her first job at a technology company specializing in credit evaluation software. Her background includes more than 20 years of marketing experience in content creation and lead-driving tactics, online presence and blog creation, social media engagement, budgeting and project plans, webinar and trade show event management, public relations, comprehensive promotional campaigns, and analytics. Jessica has a BS in Sociology from Montana State University – Bozeman.
Rich Fortino
Executive Credit Officer
Rich Fortino is the Executive Credit Officer of Panacea Financial. He has enjoyed a long and successful banking career and has spent the past 17 years focusing specifically on the healthcare sector, holding high-level Credit/Risk roles at major financial institutions such as TD Bank, PNC and Citibank. Rich was a co-founder of Citibank’s Healthcare Practice Finance business vertical in 2012 and played an integral role in the launch of TD Bank’s Healthcare Practice Solutions division in 2015.
Jillian Vestal, JD
Head of Legal Services
Jillian Vestal is a licensed attorney with a specialized focus in physician contracting. She holds an undergraduate degree in public relations from Harding University and earned her J.D. from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Jillian’s professional journey includes significant roles in public and health sectors. She served in the office of former Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe and worked for the state Department of Health. Her career then pivoted towards government relations for healthcare clients and, subsequently, as a staff attorney for a health system, where she was deeply involved in compliance matters, fair market analysis, and contract review, among other responsibilities.
Connect with Jillian on LinkedIn.
Or via email: [email protected]
Connect with Jillian on LinkedIn.
Or via email: [email protected]
Advisory Board
Dr. Vikram Saini
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Dr. Vikram Saini is a vitreoretinal surgeon in private practice. He graduated with honors from Vanderbilt University before attending the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis. Dr. Saini performed his ophthalmology residency at the Louisiana State University/Ochsner Clinic Foundation combined program in New Orleans, LA before completing a vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at Retina Specialists of Alabama/University of Alabama at Birmingham. After completing his fellowship in 2016, Dr. Saini joined Retina Specialists of North Alabama.
Dr. Bryauna Lewis
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Dr. Bryauna Lewis is a General Pediatrician at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Birmingham, AL. She graduated from Vanderbilt University before receiving her medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine in Memphis. Dr. Lewis completed her Pediatrics residency in addition to serving as Chief Resident at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is a native of West Memphis, AR and currently resides in Birmingham, AL where she is a pediatrician at Christ Health Center.
Dr. Patrick Owens
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Dr. Patrick Owens is an Otolaryngologist in private practice in Birmingham, AL. He was born and raised in Helena, Alabama and received his undergraduate degree from Harding University. Dr. Owens went on to complete his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and later continued his training as a resident in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He is currently a Partner at ENT Associates of Alabama, P.C. based out of Birmingham, AL.
Dr. Alex Habashy
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Dr. Alex Habashy is an Orthopaedic Surgeon currently in private practice. He graduated with honors from Saint Louis University with a degree in Biology and a Certificate in Business Administration. Prior to attending medical school at the University of Tennessee, he was a research assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Dr. Habashy and his wife (current Gyn-Oncology fellow) both matched to New Orleans where they attended residency at The Ochsner Clinic. After finishing residency in 2019, he joined the Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center in Norman, Oklahoma where he practices general orthopedic surgery with a focus on joint replacement.
Dr. Josh Daily
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Dr. Josh Daily is a pediatric cardiologist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. An Arkansas native, Dr. Daily received his undergraduate degree in physics from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, and then attended medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences where he graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA. After medical school, he completed pediatric residency, pediatric cardiology fellowship, and a Master’s in Medical Education at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Dr. Daily then returned to Arkansas where he serves as the pediatric cardiology fellowship program director at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. In addition to training cardiology fellows and practicing clinically, Dr. Daily spends much of his time teaching physicians and physicians-in-training about personal finance. He has written multiple academic articles 1, 2, 3, 4 and given lectures both locally and nationally on financial topics for physicians.
Josh Kozberg
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Josh Kozberg Is An Investment Analyst At Citadel Global Equities, Where He Covers US Based Financial Institutions. Prior To Joining Citadel, He Was An Investment Analyst At Millennium Management, A New York Based Investment Advisor. Before Millennium, Josh Spent Time At Capital Group As A Research Associate, Covering Healthcare Technology, Health Insurance, And US Depositories. Josh Graduated From The University Of Kansas, Where He Earned A B.S. In Business Administration, With A Finance Concentration.
Dr. Amanda Canto
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Dr. Amanda Canto is a cosmetic and general dentist in Houston, Texas. Dr. Canto earned her undergraduate degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown TX and her Doctorate in Dental Surgery from the University of Texas Dental Branch Houston. She completed a private fellowship in Cosmetic Dentistry and has been creating beautiful, healthy smiles since 1989. In 1997 she opened Cosmetic Dentists of Houston, a comprehensive dental practice with an emphasis on total health and esthetics. Dr. Canto has lectured internationally on cosmetic dentistry and the application of lasers in dentistry. She is passionate about empowering people through education, communication, health and happy smiles.
Dr. Daniel Hall
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Dr. Daniel Hall is a family dentist in Williamston, SC. Dr. Hall earned his undergraduate degree from Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC, and his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry from Medical University of South Carolina’s James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine in Charleston, SC. He completed a General Practice Residency at Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia, SC, with a focus on advanced dental techniques.
In 2018, he opened Williamston Family Dental. He serves as the a delegate to the American Dental Association’s House of Delegates. Dr. Hall was awarded the 2018 South Carolina New Dentist of the Year award.
In 2018, he opened Williamston Family Dental. He serves as the a delegate to the American Dental Association’s House of Delegates. Dr. Hall was awarded the 2018 South Carolina New Dentist of the Year award.
Our Foundation
Powering the Next Generation of Physicians
We aim to make medicine better by strengthening the underrepresented minority pipeline of physicians. Driven by our commitment to provide financial support, we leverage our large network of physician customers to power the next generation of medicine.
This is not a one-off effort or occasional donation. It’s who we are as a company, and it’s part of our DNA.
Our Commitment
You deserve to know your money is safe.
That’s why our priority is to continually protect your privacy.
We will not compromise or sell your personal information or data.
That’s why our priority is to continually protect your privacy.
We will not compromise or sell your personal information or data.
Industry Partnerships
In The News
Who says neobanks—and niche strategies—are dead? In a market where nearly every bank slobbers over rich, established doctors, Panacea is thriving by serving the underserved segment of the market—young physicians right out of residency programs with lots of debt and poor credit history.
Anyone can open a Panacea High-Yield Savings Account and earn 4.50% APY with a minimum $25 deposit. There are zero monthly fees and no minimum balance requirement, but we especially like this account for being accessible.
After nearly three years and $3.5 million of expenses, a northern Virginia community bank appears poised to reap substantial bottom-line benefits from an online lending unit that caters to doctors, dentists and veterinarians
Panacea Financial, a digital-only bank focused on serving doctors, dentists and veterinarians, has an ambitious goal to be the bank of choice for every physician. It’s planning a big investment in technology to help it get there.
Many companies, particularly those in the healthcare industries, provide scholarships to medical school students. For example: The Panacea Financial Scholarship Program is for medical school students who belong to underrepresented ethnic or racial minority groups. It gives eligible students $5,000 to pay for school.
Ned Palmer, MD, MPH, is the COO and co-founder of Panacea Financial, the national digital bank for doctors. He has been published on Medscape and in Academic Medicine on the topics of physician debt, and has lectured nationally on student debt and financial literacy for doctors and doctors-in-training.
RESOURCE
A Letter From Our Founders
Thanks for checking out Panacea Financial and reading about our story. My name is Dr. Ned Palmer and together with Dr. Michael Jerkins founded Panacea Financial due to frustrations from engaging with traditional banks during our medical training. After residency, we had a combined $700,000+ in medical school debt, and along the way experienced life events that forced us to search for loans where we met road block, after road block.
