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Smart Starts: Understanding Employment Contracts and Physician-Friendly Mortgages
Live Webinar
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025
7 p.m. EST
Set yourself up for success: Navigate contracts and home buying with confidence
Starting the next step of your medical career post-residency can bring major decisions—from signing your first employment contract to purchasing your first home. This webinar will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to make informed, confident choices in both areas.
Learn how to understand the key components of a physician employment contract, recognize red flags, and understand when to seek legal guidance with speaker Barbara Bawer, MD, assistant professor at The Ohio State University Medical Center (OSU). She will share strategies for effective negotiation to help you assess offers, advocate for fair terms, and align your career opportunities with your personal priorities and lifestyle goals.
In addition, you’ll gain valuable insight into building a strong credit foundation and the unique advantages of physician mortgage loans from Mortgage Banking Consultant John Anderson. He will also cover qualification guidelines, timelines, and key benefits compared to traditional loan options.
Panelists
Barbara Bawer, MD
Barbara Bawer, MD is currently an assistant professor at OSU Medical Center and a family medicine physician in Westerville, OH. She is also the lead physician for her clinic and the chief of quality for the Department of Family and Community Medicine at OSU. She is responsible for helping her department provide high quality patient care, reduce burnout for medical professionals, mitigate conflicts and improve workplace inefficiencies.
From a clinical perspective, Dr. Bawer is passionate about women’s health and is inspired by her patients and her colleagues to always provide the best care possible. She also loves to work with residents and medical students, especially when helping them improve their own work-life balance and consider personal finances and personal health when they make decisions for their future.
John Anderson
John Anderson has been passionate about originating mortgage loans for over 25 years, and for the past decade, he has specialized in working with medical professionals. As the parent of a family physician, he has a deep understanding of the unique journey that medical professionals navigate—from undergraduate studies and medical school, to residency, fellowship and ultimately becoming an attending physician.
Physician financing can be complex depending on your individual circumstances. John’s focus is on educating borrowers about their available loan options and helping them find the solution that best meets their needs. He is eager to leverage his experience to identify financing solutions tailored to your specific career stage. Buying a home can be a stressful experience, and John’s goal is to ensure you feel that your loan is his top priority throughout the entire process.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this activity, you will be able to:
- Identify key components and common terms within a physician employment contract.
- Recognize potential red flags and determine when to seek legal or professional guidance.
- Apply effective negotiation strategies to advocate for fair and career-aligned contract terms.
- Understand how employment contracts impact work-life balance, compensation and long-term goals.
- Build a strong credit foundation in preparation for major financial decisions post-residency.
- Compare physician mortgage loans to traditional mortgage options and understand their unique benefits.
- Outline the qualification process, timelines and financial considerations for securing a physician-friendly mortgage.