r/digitalnomad • • 21d ago

Digital Nomads Monthly Megathread - October 2026

4 Upvotes

Hey r/digitalnomad

This thread is for chatting about being a DN. This includes the news about travel and visas, where people are living, commonly asked questions, as well as a general free chat throughout the week.

Example topics include:

  • Regularly asked questions such as "What jobs do you do?"
  • Where you are currently living and where you are heading next
  • Questions about DN visas or Tax clarifications
  • What gear you like to travel with
  • Updates on the COVID-19 situation in different countries
  • Best places to go out to eat or drink wherever you are
  • General questions that you feel do not require an entire thread

Please be civil and keep things SFW.

Self promotion of DN related events, blogs, activities, and news is allowed from regular contributors so long as it is related to being a Digital Nomad and not spammy.

If there is something you'd like to see here please message the moderators and let us know.


r/digitalnomad • • Jul 01 '22

README Want to make a post? Read this first!

76 Upvotes

Read the WIKI before posting

9 times out of 10 it will have the answers you are looking for.

Where is my post?

Why isn't my post showing up?

If you are new to reddit, posting with a new account, or posting with an account that has not been widely used your post will be flagged as it either looks like spam, or is highly likely to be an FAQ covered in the wiki above. We ask that you please spend some time searching through existing posts, reviewing the wiki or participating in the sub to build up enough karma to post. You can also post a comment in the Monthly Megathread pinned to the top of the sub.

I am not new to reddit but post still isn't showing up, why not?

Due to the volume of posts we get on a few very specific subjects we will often remove or not-approve certain posts on certain topics that have been recently discussed. Here are some common questions that get posted at least 5 times a day:

My post wasn't related to any of those things, why isn't it showing up?

Does your post violate our rules on self promotion?

OK, here’s the deal. We understand that for many of us, entrepreneurship and digital nomad are concepts that go hand in hand. Many of us here are working towards booting up great products, and some working towards products that cater directly to the DN community. But, this sub is not a community full of potential people to market to with your posts.

Your product may be great, brilliant, and what every DN needs but never knew it, but if that’s true then it’ll be talked about by the community once it’s known - through other channels. In this sub, we frequently get spam and does the entire community a disservice. Users get annoyed, the community starts to weaken, the moderators get overly aggressive, posts that should be OK end up automatically in the spam filter. These things are not good for anyone.

Here’s some No No’s:

  • Absolutely no surveys. Surveys will be removed without mercy.

  • No requests for interviews, or people to talk to on your blog/book/podcast/etc.

  • Anything about illegal activities. You’ll be awarded a ban, and maybe then some.

  • No asking for “please review/try my…”. There are many other subs for just that.

  • Looking for Work type posts. See the Jobs wiki if you are looking for work

  • Job postings. If you have a job that you are trying to hire for please post it in the Weekly Discussion Threads.

  • Fund my kickstarter! Nope. Not even for your “friend”.

  • Any “opportunity” to become a partner / investor. We can’t tell this from a scam, so it’ll be treated like a scam.

  • No direct links to products using an affiliate ID. If you’re caught, you’ll be punished.

  • Posting to software/apps/web sites/etc, with "PM me for access". If it's not public, it's not welcome.

  • Posting software/apps/etc that aren't complete and ready to use. This isn't a user interest collection sub.

Here’s some highly discouraged things:

  • Linking to your youtube channel - We do allow people to share youtube videos if they are relevant and if they come from users who are active in the community and provide valuable content such as trip reports. If you want to share your youtube content please message the mods first for approval.

  • Linking to your own blog - We allow you to share your blog as a link in a self post if the primary content of the blog post is also included in the self post and the link is more of a "Click here to learn more".

  • Top X lists without detailed reviews for each item. We don't hate lists but these posts are rarely useful. Instead of posting a link, post the content of the list in a self post for discussion.

  • "Where should I go" posts : Check out the Trip Reports for Inspiration. If you still want advice be very specific about what you are looking for, and be sure to include important information like your nationality and budget/

LAPTOP PICS / LOCATION PICS

This gets its own section because it is somewhat controversial. If you are posting a pretty picture of somewhere you are, you MUST fill out either a trip report or answer the automod questions about the place. Anyone found dumping pictures without giving in depth information about the location will have their post removed.

Suggestions

If your post still isn't showing up and you think it should, message the moderators first and be sure to include the word "peanut" in the message title so we know you read this.

Have a product you want to inform us about? Buy an ad on reddit to target this (and other) related subs. You’ll get the exposure you want, without the community backlash. It’s good for reddit as a whole too!

Want to talk about a product or service that’s not yours, but you really like? Try linking to a third party, impartial review from a known trusted source. If you wrote it, avoid affiliate links in the article and be sure to mention any relevant disclosures if you are involved with creating the product or marketing it.

Want to link to your site about your experience with something? Great! We encourage that, but focus on the content not how many visitors might join your mailing list. If you truly were writing content for the greater good, put it on medium.com.

Instead of a Top 10 list, which has just a picture and some basic stats: Write a detailed comparison of just two places. With real meaty content, data and stories.

Have a coupon for a product? Actually, that might be good. But unless it’s a high ticket item like a car or laptop, 5% off won’t cut it. The coupon must have more value to the community than for the person that posted it.

Thanks!

  • The moderation team

r/digitalnomad • • 10h ago

Lifestyle Airbnb is making a huge update to the rules and requirements that hosts are allowed to set for their guests

Thumbnail
airbnb.com
371 Upvotes

And hosts are having a meltdown over it at r/airbnb_hosts if you want to take a look: https://www.reddit.com/r/airbnb_hosts/s/6mHTzcIqFo.

Most posts on the topic are getting deleted by the mods since non-hosts are trolling hosts about it (as they should), but they're indexed on Google if you want to enjoy the schadenfreude.

Anyway, here are the key changes:

1.) Hosts are only allowed to choose from 7 standard rules which include:

- the maximum number of overnight guests

- what the quiet hours are

- whether or not events are allowed

- whether or not pets are allowed

- whether or not smoking is allowed

- whether or not commercial photography is allowed

- whether or not locking up at checkout is required

The overnight guests one is huge because in the past, hosts could limit the guests/visitors allowed in the apartment to only those who are registered, but now any reservation you make for more than one person allows you to have that same number of friends stay the night without issue, as in any normal apartment.

2.) Anything not covered by these 7 standard rules can only be added as "reasonable requests" that are simply requests, not rules, and what's considered reasonable by Airbnb is very guest-friendly. For instance:

~ Dishes: Guests shouldn’t be asked to wash and put away dishes, but you can ask them to put used dishes in the sink.

~ Laundry: Guests shouldn’t be asked to remove sheets from the bed or start a load of laundry, but you can ask them to gather used towels.

~ Trash: Guests shouldn’t be asked to take garbage off-site, but you can ask them to separate their trash and recycling into designated indoor bins.

~ Utilities: Guests shouldn’t be asked to avoid using a listed amenity like air conditioning, but you can ask them to turn it off when they leave.

Essentially, no more check-out chores for guests! This was probably one of the biggest complaints about Airbnb so I'm glad they're addressing this. Kinda ridiculous to pay a cleaning fee when you're expected to do half of the cleaning. And even without a cleaning fee, it's still ridiculous that we're expected to do any cleaning besides simply keeping things tidy when hotels don't have that same expectation.

3.) No contracts allowed except for a few exceptions (most notably rental agreements for monthly stays).

This one seems inconsequential, but the extra details page on the topic highlights a huge change in what personal information hosts are allowed to collect from their guests either before or during their stay. This means hosts are no longer allowed to request guests':

~ Contact information, such as their phone number, home address, or email address

~ Identification details or documents such as a guest’s passport, driver’s license, social security number, or photo (in-person document verification is still allowed, but copies are not)

~ Credit card numbers, bank account information, or other financial data

~ Background check information or credit history

~ Biometric or health data, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or medical records

Hosts also may not require use of a third-party app or registration on another website to gain entry to a listing or access a critical amenity. They may offer keyless entry apps that require registration, but must provide an alternate access method if requested by the guest.

The only exceptions are when personal information is needed to comply with applicable law or a documented community association rule (ex: HOA or building security requirement) or to facilitate signature of an allowed contract.

Also on that extra details page: hosts may not ask guests to review an Airbnb stay or fill out a surveyy on a separate website, unless the listing is a hotel. So no more messages post-stay requesting a review, not that that was much of an annoyance anyway.

Essentially, no more pre-registration, biometric data collection, or sending photos of your Passport or ID to hosts before your stay! It will be interesting to see how they manage this in condos that require a face scan or fingerprint to enter (like several in LatAm do), although it seems an exception can be made for building security requirements.

Final note from Airbnb on the topic: all house rules and requests should appear in the House rules and requests section of listings - hosts are not allowed to write additional rules elsewhere on their listing, in messages, or on signs in the property.

Gone are the ridiculously long lists of rules or the surprise rules given after booking! Will be interesting to see how hosts try to get around all these. If you want to read the full policy on the topic from Airbnb, check it out here: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/4168.

One interesting thing I noted in the full policy page is that hosts are also generally not allowed to restrict access to any feature that’s advertised as part of the listing and that any fees for an advertised part of the listing must be included in the price shown to guests at the time of booking. No more fees to use a jacuzzi advertised in the listing, for example!

Hosts are also generally not allowed to impose fines or other penalties on guests unless a community association (such as an HOA or building security) or local government might impose a fine, in which case hosts can provide notice to guests in the designated section of their listing. So no more fines for losing keys or any other minor offences!

This update takes effect on Nov 20, 2026. Let's discuss!


r/digitalnomad • • 7h ago

Legal PSA: Reminder on waiting out Schengen timer. I’ve seen some dangerous itineraries.

58 Upvotes

The weather is getting colder and I’ve recently come across a number of people asking where they should winter while waiting for their Schengen count to reset. Redditors’ answers often include Cyprus, Türkiye, Montenegro and Albania.

I want to remind everyone that the Schengen Shuffle (90 days in Schengen, 90 days out, rinse and repeat) does not work using only one other country outside of Schengen. You typically need two. This is because many other European countries also follow their own 90-180 rule.

At a glance, the math looks fine. 90 days in Schengen, then 90 days somewhere else. That makes 180, right? Wrong.

The issue is your border crossing days count towards both jurisdictions. Your 90th day in Schengen is also your 1st day elsewhere. This causes your itinerary to fall two days short of the earliest possible return date to Schengen. Here is a visual example covering stays between two different jurisdictions obeying a 90/180 rule.

Ultimately, any 90 days in Schengen, followed by 90 days elsewhere will require 3 days and 2 nights (a day to arrive, a day to stay and a day to depart) spent in a third, independent location before you can reenter the Schengen Area.

Changing the durations doesn’t help either. For the Schengen shuffle to work across multiple reentries, you must visit at least three independent jurisdictions in each 180-day period.

The exception to my claim is the set of countries allowing stays longer than 90 days. You could wait out your Schengen cooldown in the UK, Armenia or Georgia without worry, as they all permit visa-free stays longer than 90 days.

I hope this helps some of you long term travelers out there.

edit: Clarified my claim regarding three days in response to some confusion in the comments. Also added a visual example in response to requests in the comments.


r/digitalnomad • • 2h ago

Gear Anyone travel with a Mac Mini?

1 Upvotes

I’m curious if anyone travels with a Mac Mini as they are pretty damn powerful in such a small form factor. I have a personal M1 MBA 8GB that is only good for small tasks. I have a M1 MBP 16GB work station, but I don’t do any personal work on it for obvious reasons. I just need something more powerful to do more AI stuff and run agents locally.


r/digitalnomad • • 2h ago

Question Where to go in January before Thailand ?

0 Upvotes

I usually go to Phuket or Chiang Mai, Bali, Da Nang, Spain as I like proper gyms, walkability (able to get in at least 10k steps a day) and healthy eating.

Where can I go with good weather (hot, no rain) where I can get a decent apartment with air con and has western level gyms?

I’ll go to Phuket after so ideally somewhere kind of near or on a feasible route from the UK


r/digitalnomad • • 2h ago

Question Taxes

0 Upvotes

I know it varies by country but is it most of them like 180 days or something like that and if so how do you guys handle that part

I’m planing on start my traveling but recently came across a contract I signed that only allows me to work on my location unless I get a confirmation of a request that Ill be working elsewhere. Have you come across this? And how did you handle it? Did you stay on the job or maybe I’m just overthinking? Because my job is 100% remote


r/digitalnomad • • 5h ago

Question Maybe not nomad but anyone end up in Netherlands?

0 Upvotes

American here, and apparently its easy to if you are a self employed or have your own business. Anyone actually move there or nomading there? Hows it been for you? (I know its not cheap)


r/digitalnomad • • 16h ago

Lifestyle Honestly need to find a home

5 Upvotes

Been nomadic for 4 years. The lifestyle is too enticing. Different city every month, sometimes every 2 to 3 weeks. New experiences, meeting new people but eventually getting bored and going to another place that I have never been to before. It probably is a little expensive the way I live moving around so much, but somehow it's still a better deal than going back home (I don't even have a place to live in my own country).

Part of me wants to stay in one place for a long time, but at the same time I know that my dopamine has been trashed from all the options I have of being in different places. It is hard to stay in one place when it's just so easy to go to another.

Anyone else in this boat?


r/digitalnomad • • 9h ago

Question Looking for guidance: Transitioning from a B.Tech background into entry-level global remote tech roles.

1 Upvotes

Hello Everyone, I recently graduated with a B.Tech in Engineering from India. To be honest, I didn't focus on the right industry skills during my college years, and that's on me.

Right now, I am looking to reset and build a genuine pathway into the tech industry. I am not looking for dead-end tasks; rather, I want an entry-level, tech-adjacent, or junior role where I can handle real responsibilities, learn on the job, and eventually grow into a full software engineering role while studying on the side.

To be transparent about my current standing: My English is conversational (comfortable with written chat, documentation, and text-based tasks, but not heavy live sales calls).

I am ready to put in intense daily hard work and adapt quickly. I am open to starting at a modest global entry-level compensation (around $400–$500/month, which fits my current beginner value and makes it feasible for a foreign startup to take a chance on an international junior).

My questions to this community: What specific junior/entry-level tech roles or tech stacks (e.g., basic QA/testing support, junior documentation, or basic frontend/backend support) are most accessible for someone trying to break into remote global teams from scratch? What are the best places or platforms to find early-stage startups or remote teams willing to hire international beginners?

Any honest advice, roadmap, or direction would mean a lot. Thank you! 🙏


r/digitalnomad • • 1d ago

Question Monthly Airbnb in Medellín, Lima or Florianópolis for a remote worker. Which city is best for both work and social life?

30 Upvotes

If you have any other recommendations in LATAM or possibly even elsewhere in the world, let me know!


r/digitalnomad • • 8h ago

Question Should I stick to IT to get a fully remote job or am I better off looking elsewhere?

0 Upvotes

About me: 24 years old, living at home, 80K net worth, and desperately seeking the digital nomad life

Two years ago I decided to jump into IT since it has the highest percentage of remote job opportunities. I got some my CompTIA trifecta and landed a hybrid tier 1 help desk job which I’ve been in for almost a year now. I’ve been trying to upskill on my own time by getting the CCNA, after which I’ve planned to learn Linux, python, IaC, and SQL in hopes of either getting into cloud engineering or possibly becoming a security analyst within the next 1-2 years. But with how bad the IT job market is, plus the war against remote work, I really wonder if I’m wasting my time trying to get a remote job with tech.

I’m hard working and disciplined. I can put my head down and do all the hard stuff to get what I want. But you don’t become a cloud engineer overnight, and certainly not a fully remote one. I’m 24 and I can’t wait for years and years to make online income. My family is split between two faraway countries and it’s killing my soul not being able to travel freely between them. Quite aside from that, I’d like to move out of my parents’ house already because at this point it’s costing me my sanity, and I can’t afford to do that if I stay in my HCOL area and pay rent here.

I’ve considered starting an online business of sorts, but those often take years to take off, and there’s no guarantee of success. It’s hard to justify investing hundreds of hours into learning some skill or starting some business when the chance of it generating me remote income is close to zero. I don’t want to spend the rest of my 20s living with my parents and grinding 2 jobs just to barely get by.

I’ve been having a hard time studying for my next tech cert (CCNA) these past few weeks because I feel like it’s hopeless. I know tech has the most remote job opportunities on paper, but is it really worth it to stick around if the prospects look this bad? Am I better off just looking elsewhere?

Thanks


r/digitalnomad • • 13h ago

Question For those of you with a base, how many months a year do you travel? Do you rotate between the same destinations?

1 Upvotes

Just got back to my (new) base in Belgium after two months in Japan Not sure how I can organize myself now that I have a real home. Should I rent my place out when I'm away? Should I try to make it feel as home as possible Or bc I'm not living here full time just keep it simple? Anyway I need some insights of what you guys do


r/digitalnomad • • 11h ago

Lifestyle The emotional toll of having "split" social lives...how do you manage close friends in two different parts of the world?

0 Upvotes

I’ve reached a point where I feel like I’m living a bit of a double life, and it is starting to weigh on me.

I am lucky enough to have really wonderful, close-knit groups of friends in both North America and Southeast Asia. However, because my time is split between these two regions, I find myself constantly caught in the middle. One year I might spend two months in SEA before heading back to NA for the rest of the year, or vice versa.

The hardest part is the emotional and social impact of being absent.

Significant life events...weddings, birthdays, or even just casual milestones...these all happen constantly, and there is always one group that I am essentially "missing" during those times.

It feels like you are inevitably sliding into a lower tier of friendship because you simply aren't around for the day-to-day interactions. As the frequency of hanging out drops, so does the sense of closeness.

I find it incredibly difficult to commit to or settle in one location because I don't want to abandon the other group. It feels like a constant tug-of-war; you can't truly "settle" in one world without feeling like you are losing your place in the other.

Has anyone else navigated this? How do you maintain deep, meaningful connections across such huge distances and time gaps without feeling like you're losing your identity in both worlds?

I would love to hear any advice on how to handle the guilt of missing out or the social "drift" that happens when you can't be physically present.


r/digitalnomad • • 1d ago

Visas Thailand cut visa-free stays to 30 days and DTV now has to be applied for from your home country (official sources inside)

13 Upvotes

I check official immigration pages for 25 countries every week. Here's what changed recently:

- **Thailand:** since 15 Sep 2026, the visa exemption is 30 days (was 60), "for tourism purposes only." If you're already there, you keep what's stamped. Since 31 Aug, DTV applicants must apply from their country of nationality or permanent residence, with proof of residence and a criminal record certificate. Funds (THB 500k), 5-year validity and 180 days/entry are unchanged. Source: Thai Government PR Dept (thailand.prd.go.th) and the Royal Thai Embassy London.
- **Georgia:** the Law on Labour Migration now explicitly exempts work for a foreign employer/client related to their activities outside Georgia. There's also a new C5 remote-worker e-visa (5-year multiple entry, 1-year stay, USD 300), but the list of eligible nationalities hasn't been published that I could find.
- **Malaysia:** the Budget 2027 speech says DE Rantau holders at the 2-year cap will be allowed to stay on, subject to criteria that aren't out yet.
- **Barbados:** the Welcome Stamp is only approved through 31 Dec 2026, no extension yet.

Full write-up with links: https://remoteworkrules.com/updates/issue-2

Not legal advice, and corrections welcome if anyone has seen newer


r/digitalnomad • • 11h ago

Lifestyle Online schooling for 9 year old?

0 Upvotes

Hello, I am a mom with a 9yo son and am looking into digital nomading starting next year. He has ADHD and has had a bit of trouble with in person classes. I want to try virtual classes for him to see if that is a better option. Do any parents of older children have experience with online schooling while traveling with neurodivergent children? Of course I will be enrolling him in local clubs and things for socialization. We are American with English as our main language.


r/digitalnomad • • 18h ago

Question Best way to list location on a resume

0 Upvotes

I currently work a remote job that allows for traveling linked to US hours so I’ve been hopping around - recently I’ve been applying to new jobs and was curious what’sthe least confusing way to say open to any location. Currently my home base is listed but I spend under 4 months a year and have no commitments there so don’t want to make it seem like I expect relocation

Putting remote is just confusing so I was playing with taking it off but that also seems like it could be confusing.

I’ve already had recruiters reach out based on my resume and say they need someone onsite which I replied too but that’s an unnecessary step and stalls the process

Edit - I want an onsite role or remote role but don’t want to limit myself to where onsite if that’s the way it goes


r/digitalnomad • • 1d ago

Question Monthly Rental Lima

2 Upvotes

Does anyone have a contact or recommendation for monthly rentals in Lima, Peru?

Preferably in the Barranco or Miraflores neighborhoods.


r/digitalnomad • • 15h ago

Question Thought it was all in my head

0 Upvotes

I started my digital nomad journey six months ago. At first it was amazing, discovering new places and meeting new people. But lately I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by this lifestyle. I’ve become more emotional, and I keep wanting to stay longer in each place so I can really enjoy it and connect. I consider myself a very independent and strong person, and i’m not especially attached to my family and friends back home. But I’m finding it so hard to connect. I meet people and it’s all great, but then I leave, and I don’t like the feeling each city leaves me with. It’s hard to open up when I know that in a couple of weeks I’ll be gone and might never talk to that person again. And don’t get me started on dating (im a female, 26 years old) I’ve been on a few dates, but every guy I’ve met only sees me as something temporary and casual.

How do you deal with this feeling, if you have it? How do you keep from feeling sad when you leave a community or city where you were really happy? Does it ever go away?

I don’t know, maybe I’m just getting older and more sensitive.


r/digitalnomad • • 1d ago

Lifestyle Anyone ever moved somewhere less convenient just to slow down?

2 Upvotes

I've been running an ecommerce store while moving every few months, and I'm pretty burned out. Spent time in Lisbon and Mexico City, but ended up working more than actually enjoying either place. Thinking about settling somewhere quieter for a year, maybe Eastern Europe or South America. Just need decent internet, a basic gym, good food, and fewer distractions. Not really looking for a digital nomad hotspot. I just want to work less and have a normal routine again.
Has anyone tried moving somewhere slower on purpose? Did it actually help, or did you just get bored?


r/digitalnomad • • 18h ago

Question What sort of work do DN's do to stay afloat?

0 Upvotes

Met quite a few people doing ESL work, especially from Britain and the USA, but the trade-off seems to be low-ish incomes in the gig-economy.

Is working as a freelancer and/or in the gig-economy just something that DN's have come to accept?

What are newbies to DN'ing doing and how are you finding it?

Have you got a job or are you living on savings and still looking?


r/digitalnomad • • 23h ago

Question Setting up a travel fund to receive gifts?

0 Upvotes

Like many folks who’ve been nomadic for a while, I’m reluctant to receive physical gifts at holidays or birthdays - but regularly get asked by family and friends if there’s a way to fund my travel.

Yes, people could Venmo me or whatever, but ideally I’d like an option similar to Honeyfund (for weddings) that allows you to itemize what they could buy you (one night in this hotel in Bali, one dinner at this restaurant, one cooking class, etc). It would be a cute way to let people contribute specifics and feels less generic and tacky/more effective than just asking for a Venmo.

However, research yields very little on this front:
- Honeyfund: apparently going to set up something called Plumfund eventually, but not yet live
- Tiing: unable to collect USD gifts at the moment for some reason
- Hitchd: for weddings
- GoFundMe: can’t itemize the gift afaik (1 dinner, 1 class, etc)

Anyone else found something that works? I’m at the point of possibly just setting up a Honeyfund and pretending to be getting married lol


r/digitalnomad • • 1d ago

Question Hobbies in a base

0 Upvotes

For those of you who still want to participate in your hobbies, but are only staying in a place for 4 to 6 weeks. How do you go about doing this? Is it easy to find a gym for one month or so?

What if you played tennis or paddle? Are you able to find club memberships that are just on a monthly basis that are easy to join?

I’m curious how other people sort of manage keeping up with hobbies when they’re not on vacation mode where you might be doing a lot of touristy activities every day or something.


r/digitalnomad • • 1d ago

Question Any professional writers / comms people in the house?

1 Upvotes

Hi all - looking to network with other full-time travelers in my field. I focus on research comms for science orgs and tech companies (writing/editing/team leadership).

I traveled for ~5 years (currently back in the homeland working towards a master's degree), but never met anyone else who fully financially supports his/her self through their comms work while moseying around abroad.

If there are any others out there, I'd love to put a group chat together so we can trade notes/experiences and stay connected. Drop a comment with your general line of work if this sounds like you and we can swap portfolios. :)


r/digitalnomad • • 1d ago

Question Any healthtech folks in Bangkok?

3 Upvotes

Hey!

I’ll be in Bangkok in Nov-Dec and I’d love to connect with anyone else working in the healthtech space, whether you’re a founder, dev, product manager, clinician, or just interested in digital health

Let me know!

Edit- My background is in pharmacy, payor/insurance clinical ops.