A podcast for healthcare professionals by healthcare professionals. Our mission through this project is to create a community for clinicians to learn and discuss all aspects of their career in healthcare. We welcome all clinicians and medical professionals to use our content to build professional knowledge, and support and grow their careers.
Mike and John are joined by Alex Howson to discuss the field of continuing medical education (CME) and its career opportunities. Alex shares her background as a trauma OR nurse and sociology professor before transitioning into medical writing and specializing in CME. She highlights the importance of empathy and patient perspective in CME writing and emphasizes the transferable skills that clinicians bring to the field. Alex also provides insights into the job market for CME writers and suggests steps for clinicians interested in pursuing a career in CME.
Mike and John discuss the importance of career planning and staying relevant in your field. They emphasize the need for both short-term and long-term goals, and the importance of aligning those goals with your personal values and higher calling. They also discuss the challenges of saying no to projects that don't align with your goals and offer strategies for having conversations with your superiors about your career objectives. The episode concludes with a discussion about the upcoming break and the importance of tradition and family.
Mike and John talk with Nicole Plourd, a physician assistant, as she shares her career trajectory from clinical practice to the pharmaceutical industry. She started in clinical practice, specializing in orthopedics and ENT, before transitioning to telemedicine dermatology. In her role, she also got involved in medical content review and marketing. Eventually, she moved into the pharmaceutical industry, working in medical content review and promotional review. Nicole emphasizes the importance of taking risks and trying new things, as well as seeking advice from others who have made similar career transitions.
Mike and John discuss the recent FTC ban on non-competes in contracts, which will have significant implications in the healthcare system. The elimination of non-competes will increase competition, raise wages, and provide more options for patients. The ruling will give more negotiating power to healthcare professionals and encourage employers to focus on employee retention and satisfaction.
In this episode, Mike and John discuss the concept of SWOT analysis and its application in personal career planning. They explore how SWOT analysis can help individuals identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in order to make informed decisions about their career paths.
In this episode, Mike and John are joined by Jenn Fluke to discuss the benefits of outdoor recreation in combating burnout. Jenn shares about her project, Inspiring Wild Hearts, which aims to help women overcome their fears and connect with nature. The conversation emphasizes the importance of resilience, pushing oneself, and finding balance in work and personal life through outdoor recreation as well as discusses the challenges of loneliness and social isolation, and the role of outdoor activities in building friendships and communities.
The conversation explores the use of the term 'doctor' in healthcare and when it is appropriate to use. John and Mike discuss the different perspectives on when and how the term should be used, particularly in clinical settings while still emphasizing the importance of patient comfort and trust. They also touch on the importance of transparency, the changing dynamics of healthcare, and the potential misuse of the title on social media.
Mike and John discuss the biohacking industry, focusing on the benefits and concerns associated with lifestyle modifications. They explore the idea of optimizing human function through practices such as exposure to natural light, breathing techniques, and structured routines. However, they also raise concerns about the potential for obsession and the need for evidence-based practices.
Mike and John answer audience questions about consulting in healthcare. They discuss topics such as highlighting consulting work on a CV, the difference between a CV and a resume, the importance of additional degrees in consulting, setting up a consulting company, liability insurance, and determining hourly rates. The full webinar is available for members on the AAPA website. https://www.aapa.org/
John McDonald and guest Frank Randall discuss various aspects of personal finance. They explore the impact of small purchases and the concept of the 'latte factor.' They also discuss the use of apps and automation to help with saving and investing. The conversation delves into the importance of saving and the trade-off between short-term pleasures and long-term financial wellness, as well as addressing generational perspectives on finances and the need for professional financial advice.
Mike discusses the pros and cons of career coaching for healthcare professionals, highlighting the benefits of personalized guidance, accountability, networking opportunities, skill development, and objective feedback that career coaches can provide. However, he also raises concerns about the cost, quality variability, dependence on coaches, mismatched goals, and overemphasis on coaching, encouraging listeners to carefully consider the value and necessity of career coaching.
Mike and John discuss the topic of dealing with difficult bosses in the healthcare industry. Sharing personal stories and experiences of working with challenging managers, the conversation highlights the importance of setting boundaries, advocating for oneself, and aligning with management to make work relationships easier. They also discuss when it may be appropriate to go to HR and the potential consequences of doing so. The episode emphasizes the need for healthcare professionals to navigate difficult work situations while maintaining professionalism and preserving future job prospects.
John and Mike discuss the power of gratitude as a tactic to fight burnout, sharing personal experiences and reflections on finding gratitude in frustrating situations. The importance of stopping and appreciating the present moment can require a mindset shift, and contentment takes commitment. They explore themes like the fear of losing, the pursuit of enough, and career as identity.
John and Mike discuss their childhoods and how their career choices were influenced by their parents and personal experiences. They reflect on the importance of work-life balance and finding fulfillment in their respective professions. The conversation highlights the value of personal growth and the need to adapt to unexpected career paths.
In this episode, Mike Asbach and John McDonald are joined by Kate Cozart, The Resilient PharmD, to discuss wellness, imposter syndrome, and burnout in medical education. They explore the need for adaptability and openness to change in healthcare education, the importance of psychological safety and compassion in creating optimal learning environments, and the balance between necessary discomfort and unnecessary stress in medical training. They also discuss the concept of deliberate play in medical education and the role of compassion in improving outcomes and promoting student wellness. Find Kate
The conversation explores the balance between necessary discomforts and unnecessary harm in medical training. Mike and John discuss the importance of recognizing the value of difficult tasks and experiences in training, while also acknowledging the need for boundaries and work-life balance. The conversation emphasizes the need for ongoing reform in medical training programs to ensure a balance between excellence and discomfort. Overall, the hosts encourage listeners to engage in thoughtful discussions and advocate for positive change in medical education.
This episode discusses the role of academia in healthcare professions, and explores the impact of workforce projection and oversupply. There is a need for more diverse and broad training to prepare students for non-traditional career paths as the role of healthcare professionals in the era of technology is shifting.
Mike and John discuss the importance of networking in healthcare careers. They cover various networking strategies, including LinkedIn networking, attending conferences and seminars, joining professional associations, and networking within organizations. They emphasize the value of building connections, collaborating on projects, and staying up-to-date in the field.
In this episode, Mike Asbach interviews Madison Loomis, a healthcare recruiter, about maximizing compensation in healthcare and the value of PAs and NPs in the industry. They discuss the idea of job switching and its impact on clinical competence, as well as the importance of having difficult conversations with employers about compensation. Madison emphasizes the need for clinicians to find a boss who values and supports their growth. The conversation highlights the need for healthcare to be more transactional and open about compensation as communication and proactive retention are essential for career growth.
John and Mike discuss the impact social media can have on personal and professional life and the importance of being mindful of the content shared on personal social media accounts, as personal branding can be crucial in the healthcare industry. Maintaining a professional online presence, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, is essential. Our Website
Mike and John are joined by Tracy Bingaman, a thought leader on burnout, boundaries, financial freedom, and negotiation in the healthcare industry. They discuss the concept of opportunity cost in healthcare and the trade-offs that come with pursuing a career in the field. They also explore the impact of burnout on healthcare professionals and how financial planning can help mitigate career risks, and Tracy shares her personal experience of quitting her job in the middle of the pandemic and the importance of having an emergency fund. Our Website Tracy's Website The PA Is In
Mike and John discuss their New Year's resolutions and career goals for 2024. They reflect on the importance of taking breaks and stepping away from work to maintain passion and prevent burnout. The conversation covers topics such as exercise, reading, focus, consolidation, and publishing. They emphasize the value of planning, setting goals, and finding balance in personal and professional life. Our Website
In today's episode Mike and John review what they are thankful for this year. Our Website
Nick Krop (@nickthecpa) walks John through the different business structures available and the which may be most appropriate for the entrepreneur. Should I use a C-Corp or S-Corp? How much can I write off on my taxes? Find Nick Our Website
Joined buy financial guest Caleb Pepperday, Mike explores investment options and money management. Is it better to pour into your company 401k or keep liquid in the market? And what is active investing? Our Website Find Caleb Advanced Practice Planning
Sarah joins Mike and John to talk about moving through different medical roles and the time and dedication that those transitions take. Moving from large pharma to industry to MSL, she's experienced a wide array of non-clinical careers and shares her knowledge on possible barriers to entry or missed opportunities to becoming an MSL. Our Website Find Sarah
Mike and John have a brainstorming session for entrepreneurial ideas, both reasonable and ridiculous. Test your creativity and ingenuity by challenging yourself to come up with business ideas. Where do you see a need, or what specialized knowledge can you leverage? Our Website
The Third Place: socialization outside of work and home. Mike and John discuss the role of a third place both in mental health and burnout prevention and within the workplace as a career asset. This space establishes and strengthens relationships in and outside of the workplace, provides networking outside of hierarchical settings, and enables relaxation in a non-monetized environment. Our Website
Mike and John reflect on times where they have overscheduled, overcommitted, and overworked. Sometimes, life happens. When you schedule yourself with a thin margin, you have less room to adapt to the unexpected. It's important to take these moments of overextension to reflect on how to improve going forward and double check that the things we bring into our lives are adding value both personally and professionally. Our Website
Caleb Pepperday takes Mike through the different types of financial advisors and the ways in which each makes money. Some work on commission, are fee only, or even charge by consultation. Finding the right financial advisor for you often involves finding one who understands your profession. Financial advice changes as the economic climate changes and advise from five years ago may not be relevant today. Our Website Find Caleb Advanced Practice Planning
John and Mike walk through a news article discussing the dangers of asking for 100% effort on a consistent basis. It increases the risk of burnout and overall leads to lower performance. Healthcare can feel like every task is an emergency and has to be done ASAP, but learning to prioritize balance leads to greater outcomes long term. Our Website
As the internet and AI continue to progress and change the role of healthcare professionals, it's important to evaluate how we precept, checking the skills you teach are ones that will stay relevant. Soft skills are becoming ever more valuable as the accessibility to knowledge grows. This means setting goals and expectations for your students, and having those tough conversations when students fall short. Our Website
Sometimes it's good to take a step back. Structuring breaks into your career allows for time with family, friends, pursuing other interests, and can help avoid burnout over in the long run. These times of extended leave also bring the opportunity for a job change and prompt a reevaluation of your current career. But besides all that, they're a lot of fun. Our Website Find Shayne The PA Blueprint
Would you take your dream job if it meant making half of your current salary? While money may not buy happiness, a lack of money can cause great stress and inconvenience. Mike and John talk about how they navigate compensation and its relationship to contentment. Our Website
Mike and John are joined by Moira Antalek as she precepts with Mike. Moira provides an overview of her recent research into the differences between burnout and depression/anxiety in healthcare workers specifically, and the added difficulties they may experience in seeking support. Our Website Sponsored by: ThriveAP
If you could change one thing about the healthcare system in the United States, what would that be? Mike and John disagree about what parts off the healthcare system are broken and debate their perspective from different fields of practice. Our Website Sponsored by: ThriveAP
Jamie tells us about her journey of leaving retail pharmacy and searching for something she likes doing instead of just what's available. Through trial and error, she found fulfilment in pharmacogenomics and medical writing. Be scrappy and be brave! Find Jamie Our Website Sponsored By: ThriveAP
Mike and John discuss if it is worthwhile to go back to school. Terminal degrees often gain respect and an presumption of expertise and therefore may not see monetary benefits by pursuing further education such as an MBA, but someone with a masters may see a return on their investment in further education. Our Website Sponsored by: ThriveAP
"If I were to die tomorrow, would I have regrets in terms of the amount of time I've spent on my career? Would I have wished that I had done things differently? Would I have wished that I maybe had been more impactful?" Our Website Sponsored by: ThriveAP
Mike and John are joined by professor Karl Williams to discuss the value of advocating for your profession. Improvements in protocols and access to care can require governmental changes to take place, often at the intervention of practitioners and professional organizations. Sponsored by: ThriveAP
Take a peek behind the scenes as Mike walks through a day in his life. Hear how he schedules his day, organizes his tasks, and meets his deadlines while still prioritizing being home for dinner. Between consulting, seeing patients, hosting a podcast, and industry speaking, it is vital to work with intentionality to avoid burnout. Sponsored by: ThriveAP
Mike and Harrison Reed discuss ways to build your CV and your network through submitting abstracts to conferences. This can be a great way to ease into medical writing and establish yourself as a key opinion leader. For a small upfront investment, being selected to speak at a conference can have large career payoffs. Sponsored by: ThriveAP
On this unedited episode from the vault, Mike and John discuss how they build out their CV to transition to non-clinical roles and how to get nominated for a speaking event. Our Website Sponsored by: ThriveAP
Mike and John continue their conversation about interview questions and preparation, touching on topics such as salary and benefits as well as conveying enthusiasm without appearing obnoxious. Our Website Sponsored by: ThriveAP
John and Mike go over their interview stories and experiences, both good and bad. From what questions to ask to how you should dress, they offer advice from their experiences as both interviewer and interviewee. Our Website Sponsored by ThriveAP
From researching the company to practicing our elevator pitch for a dreaded question, Mike and John go over their personal experience preparing for an interview, as well as the perspective as interviewer. John gives his opinion on tattoos while Mike tries to answer questions on the fly using the STAR method. Our Website Sponsored by: ThriveAP
Mike and John discuss if you should be seeking and applying to jobs while happily employed. Is it worthwhile to keep a pulse on the job market? In most careers there is financial benefit to job transitions every few years, but does that apply to healthcare? Sponsored by ThriveAP Our Website
Mike and John are joined by Veronica Hill, the Vice President of Clinical Operations at ThriveAP, a resource for developing transition to practice programs focusing on skill application. Veronica has been practicing medicine for over 15 years and now speaks on internal medicine topics in addition to heading the programs and operations at ThriveAP.
Mike and John go over examples of good vs great cover letters and discuss the differences between the two. John also talks about the different styles of cover letter and the appropriate positions to utilize less common styles, such as a more creative or story telling letter for a writing focused job.
We're all taught how to write a resume in college, but maybe not how to incorporate key words for an online submission. Mike and John tell when to include your contact information in the header, how to organize your work experience in the body of a CV, and the importance of a summery. Fresh out of college or ready for a change, this episode gives a detailed walk-through of keeping and creating an impressive resume. Our Website
John and Mike discuss the pros and cons of choosing a stable job in healthcare with limited upside (usually a clinical role) or a job that is less stable but has much higher upside or upward mobility (usually a non-clinical role). They cover topics such as: the importance of job security, the potential for financial rewards, the level of satisfaction with your work, and the impact on your personal life.
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