Podcasts about Physician burnout

When did having fun become something you have to earn?In this rerun, Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh talk about how easily work, responsibility, and the push to be productive can crowd out joy. They explore the trade-offs we make with our time and money, and why the moments that make life feel full are often ordinary ones: laughing together, connecting with someone, or making room for an interest you've missed.It's a conversation about paying attention to what makes you feel alive—and giving it a place in your life now.In this episode:Why fun can fall to the bottom of a busy scheduleThe trade-off between earning more and having time to enjoy lifeFinding joy in everyday momentsRediscovering interests after a difficult seasonMaking room for laughter and connectionListen and connect: Visit BS Free MD · Email doc@bsfreemd.comThis episode is for educational and entertainment purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You can have every fact, every plan, and still quit by Thursday, because the story underneath never changed.Dr. Kim Foster, a family physician who practiced for twenty years, sat down with Lewis after a patient with rising blood pressure told her, “I'm just not an exercise person.” That one line reframed everything: behavior change is an identity problem wearing an information costume. Her book, Redesigning You, turns that into a three-step method of recognizing the old story, redesigning it, and then going out to collect proof.She talks about the bridge identity, the small believable stretch your brain will actually accept instead of a mirror affirmation it answers with, “Interesting. Based on what?” Habit stacking is the app. Identity is the operating system, and glitchy apps on an old system crash on the hard days.Then she tells on herself. She walked into the woods behind her clinic after stitching a patient's hand, realized she never wanted to go back, wrote her resignation letter, and then stayed through an entire pandemic wave anyway rather than leave at the worst moment. Her last day came in her birthday month, and she sat in her car and cried for fifteen minutes before driving home with the windows down, free.Listen for the moment a senior resident nodded at her to keep going while ribs cracked under her hands, and for what that taught her about self-doubt. You'll start catching your own identity statement, about money, sleep, confidence, relationships, the ones you say like they're just facts. Then you get to argue back.Redesigning You: Change Your Inner Story, Transform Your HealthDr. Kim's WebsiteDr. Kim's YouTubeDr. Kim's InstagramIn this episode you will:Discover with Dr. Kim Foster why lasting change fails as an identity problem rather than an information problemApply the Recognize, Redesign, Ritualize framework to build an identity your brain actually believesBuild a bridge identity that gives your mind proof instead of forcing affirmations you secretly rejectOvercome the fear that keeps you loyal to a role you have outgrown, even a prestigious oneReframe self doubt as useful data and stop letting shame drive your attempts to improveBecome genuinely magnetic in conversation without slipping into performanceFor more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1981More SOG episodes we think you'll love! Get More From Lewis! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if achieving your highest level didn't require sacrificing your health, values, or sense of self? Dr. Judy Wright shares how her experiences across clinical medicine, academia, managed care, and coaching reshaped her understanding of sustainable success and the importance of pausing long enough to recognize what is truly working.Judy also explores how clinicians can become stronger change-makers by listening across disciplines, bringing the right people to the table, and addressing problems upstream. Her PACE framework (Pause, Audit, Calibrate, and Elevate) offers a practical approach to examining boundaries, redefining success, and building a career that supports both ambition and personal wellbeing.Episode Highlights:From One Doctor to a Difference-Maker: Discover how Judy's patients literally followed her across New York, revealing the profound impact one physician can have.Breaking the “Dark Side” Myth: Why clinicians need a voice inside managed care and payer organizations to influence healthcare decisions.Everyone Belongs at the Table: How bringing physicians, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, and other professionals together can create lasting community change.Burnout Can Follow You: Why changing jobs alone may not solve burnout, and what looking inward can reveal.The PACE Method: Learn how to Pause, Audit, Calibrate, and Elevate your approach to success, boundaries, priorities, and capacity.Turn Awareness Into Action: How simple audits, wearable data, calendars, and daily reflection can uncover patterns and guide meaningful changes.Hope for Healthcare's Future: Why the next generation of medical and nursing professionals gives Judy reason to remain optimistic about healthcare transformation.About the Guest:Dr. Judy Wright is a board-certified family medicine physician and sustainable success strategist who helps high-achieving professional women pursue ambitious goals without sacrificing themselves. A physician, coach, speaker, and healthcare leader, she has worked across clinical medicine, academia, corrections, and managed care and has been recognized nationally for her leadership and influence.Connect With JudyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judywrightmd Instagram: @judywrightmd.Resources MentionedPACE Method: Dr. Judy Wright's framework: Pause, Audit, Calibrate, Elevate.Oura Ring: discussed as a tool for monitoring stress patterns and increasing self-awareness.Don't Sweat the Small Stuff; and It's All Small Stuff : recommended by Dr. Judy Wright for maintaining perspective and protecting your energy.Top 3 Key Takeaways:Pause Before You Push Forward: Sustainable success begins with creating space to interrupt autopilot. Pausing allows you to notice what you are feeling, examine what is happening, reconnect with your values, and determine whether your current definition of success still reflects what you genuinely want.Audit What Is Really Working: Awareness makes change possible. Look for patterns in your stress, relationships, schedule, energy, and boundaries. Whether using a wearable or a simple calendar rating system, examining your experiences can help identify what needs to change and where your energy is going.Build Success Around Your Capacity: Success should evolve as your circumstances and capacity change. Calibrating may mean changing priorities, delegating, adjusting your calendar, or setting stronger boundaries. By honoring where you are while intentionally building forward, you can pursue greater achievement without losing yourself in the process.

Dr. Jillian Klaucke, MD, FAWM. Board-certified family physician at Sandpoint Premier Direct Primary Care, Idaho. Wilderness medicine fellow.Eight years into Direct Primary Care, Dr. Klaucke shares what actually works running a rural family medicine practice without insurance. Her practice runs on three pillars: teamwork, accountability, and patient safety.Teamwork means working with patients as partners. When imaging is needed, someone follows up to confirm it happened. Accountability means closing every loop: a weekend text gets a Monday check-in call. A referral goes out? Her staff confirms scheduling. Care management is where rural DPC shines, loaning crutches, sourcing equipment for Medicaid patients, walking alongside people through the whole process. This work can't be billed to insurance. It's exactly why patients choose DPC.After eight years, Dr. Klaucke has real data on after-hours access. She gets three to four calls or texts per weekend. Most are appropriate and time-sensitive. Patients don't abuse the privilege because they trust her. The relationship is the whole point.Managing a practice while seeing a full panel requires strategy. She leans on her office manager, partners with reliable vendors, and divides big tasks with her partner. The risk isn't systems on autopilot—it's neglecting to monitor them. She checks in regularly on vendor performance and catches cost creep before it happens.Many patients come to DPC after healthcare trauma. Dismissal. Delays. Lost in the system. Dr. Klaucke rebuilds trust by listening and keeping patients from slipping through cracks. This emotional healing matters as much as the medicine. Trust changes how you practice: instead of firefighting, you do prevention. Cardio IQ testing. Risk stratification. Lifestyle conversations. You have time to help people see grandkids born, kids graduate.Residents and early-career physicians ask Dr. Klaucke about DPC. She advises doctors in other states considering it. She tells them the truth: you need time in the trenches first, seeing volume and learning triage. Then DPC makes sense. In DPC, you collaborate with colleagues, check rashes together, call about differential diagnoses. Once you see that, you can't unsee how dysfunctional big systems are.Dr. Klaucke's grandfather pioneered rural medical education in the 1960s-70s. She wonders what he'd think of her now, practicing the kind of medicine he believed in, through a model that protects it from the insurance system. She thinks he'd be proud. And he'd probably be right about what matters: teamwork, accountability, showing up for patients.This is what Direct Primary Care looks like when given time to grow.Resources: Sandpoint Premier DPC: sandpointdpc.com | (208) 263-3091 | My DPC Story: mydpcstory.comLeave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts.CONGRATULATIONS Dr. Oropeza!!!! Learn more about Oropeza Family Health at https://oropezahealth.com/ Get your copy of the Physician Owner's Planner today at mydpcstory.com/librarySupport the showGET your FREE MONTHLY BUSINESS TOOL DOWNLOADBecome A My DPC Story PATREON MEMBER! SPONSOR THE PODMy DPC Story VOICEMAIL! DPC SWAG!FACEBOOK * INSTAGRAM * LinkedIn * TWITTER * TIKTOK * YouTube

In this encore episode, Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh sit down with Dr. Annette Bosworth, the internist behind the Dr. Boz YouTube channel and bestselling author of Anyway You Can and ketoCONTINUUM. After decades of telling patients to eat low-fat and load up on "heart-healthy" grains, Dr. Boz hit a wall when her 71-year-old mother's cancer treatment failed. Out of options, she put her mom on a strict ketogenic diet—and watched her cancer markers drop without chemo, along with several other chronic conditions. That experience reshaped her entire practice, from managing symptoms to reversing disease at the metabolic root.Topics include:The moment a patient's question about MD Anderson and ketones made Dr. Boz rethink everythingWalking her mother through ketosis after 69 rounds of chemoWhy inflammation is the common thread behind cancer, autoimmune disease, memory loss, and diabetesKetones vs. glucose as fuel, and what that shift does to the brainWhy she borrowed group-meeting accountability from addiction medicine to help patients stay ketoBurnout, disillusionment with corporate medicine, and finding a better pathThe ketoCONTINUUM: a step-by-step framework for staying consistently keto for lifeWhat You'll LearnHow therapeutic ketosis differs from "keto for weight loss"Why the advice most physicians were trained on may be making chronic disease worseWhat a doctor does when the science she was taught fails someone she lovesPractical ways to start and stick with a ketogenic lifestyleKey TakeawaySometimes the most powerful medicine isn't a prescription. Dr. Boz's story is a case for questioning what we were taught, following the evidence, and giving the body what it needs to heal itself.About the GuestDr. Annette Bosworth, MD, is an internal medicine physician, educator, and founder of Meaningful Medicine in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She's been featured on CNN, TIME, U.S. News & World Report, and Fox News, and teaches ketogenic living to millions through her YouTube channel and online courses.Website: bozmd.comYouTube: youtube.com/@DoctorBozBooks: Anyway You Can and ketoCONTINUUM: Consistently Keto Diet For LifeLet's ConnectWebsite: bsfreemd.com | Apple Podcasts | SpotifyStay BS Free. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this repurposed episode, originally recorded for Dr. Charmaine Gregory's Fearless Freedom with Dr. G podcast, Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh step into the guest seats for a candid conversation about medicine, marriage, burnout, courage, and the creation of BS Free MD.May opens up about the personal challenges she faced during medical school, including depression, an eating disorder, and uncertainty about her future in medicine. Tim shares how his experiences with action sports and skydiving taught him to view fear differently—not simply as something to escape, but as a powerful tool for preparation, focus, and growth.They also discuss their years in rural medicine, the transition from practicing physicians to podcasters, and the events that inspired them to create BS Free MD. The conversation explores physician autonomy, corporate influence in healthcare, medical innovation, informed consent, and the importance of confronting uncomfortable chapters of medical history.In This EpisodeMay's challenges with depression and an eating disorder during medical schoolHow May and Tim met, married, and built a life in medicineThe realities of residency and rural medical practiceWhy courage does not require the absence of fearUsing fear as fuel for preparation and personal growthPhysician burnout and transitioning beyond traditional medicineHow the events of 2020 helped launch BS Free MDCorporate influence and the loss of physician autonomyBalancing medical innovation with patient protectionThe importance of informed consent and medical accountabilityWhy May and Tim are committed to honest, BS-free conversationsConnect with BS Free MDVisit the BS Free MD websiteListen to the podcastFollow BS Free MD on Instagram and FacebookWatch BS Free MD videosAbout the Original EpisodeThis conversation was originally recorded for Fearless Freedom with Dr. G, hosted by emergency physician, wellness advocate, and podcast coach Dr. Charmaine Gregory.Watch the original conversation on YouTube. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Neil J. Farber, MD, Retired Physician and Medical Researcher and Author, discusses the healthcare crisis, including physician burnout, shrinking provider capacity, worsening access and the impact of administrative demands on patient care. He also shares insights from his upcoming book, Treating a Broken System: A Physician's Cure for the Healthcare Crisis, and explores potential solutions to the healthcare workforce shortage.

What does it actually take to recover from burnout, beyond the standard advice to practice more self-care? In this episode, Dr. Jim Dahle talks with emergency physician, executive coach, and author Dr. Rob Orman about the realities of burnout in medicine. Rob shares his experience consulting on HBO's 'The Pitt' using real interviews from mass casualty responders, and discusses why he stepped back from full-time clinical practice to focus on coaching physicians through burnout, performance issues, and career sustainability. Rob explains why terms like "self-care" often fail doctors, since they don't address the actual sources of stress, and he shares a pivotal moment from his own career: screaming in his car during traffic on the way to a shift he dreaded, a moment that led him to finally admit he needed to make a change after 12 difficult years. He also offers concrete, usable tools, including a simple technique for defusing conflict by choosing curiosity over defensiveness, and the concept of the "drama triangle," a pattern of hero, villain, and victim roles that can trap people in unproductive conflict. The conversation closes with a look at medicine's historical roots in self-sacrifice, tracing back to clergy and early surgical training, and why that inherited mindset still shapes how doctors think about rest and limits today. Burnout isn't a personal failure. It's a mismatch that can be addressed with the right tools, the right support, and the financial capacity to actually make a change when you need one. Locumstory.com is a free, unbiased educational resource about locum tenens – it's not a staffing agency. They help answer your questions about the how-to's of locum tenens work on their website, podcast, webinars, videos, and they even have a locums 101 crash course. Locumstory.com is where you should go to find out if locums makes sense for you and your career goals. Locumstory is unique because it's more of a peer-to-peer platform, with real physicians sharing their experiences and stories – both the good and bad – about working locum tenens – hence the name, "Locum-story." See for yourself on their self-service platform with no obligation. Learn More at: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/locumstory The White Coat Investor Podcast launched in January 2017, and since then, millions have downloaded it. Join your fellow physicians and other high income professionals and subscribe today! Host, Dr. Jim Dahle, is a practicing emergency physician and founder of The White Coat Investor blog. Like the blog, The White Coat Investor Podcast is dedicated to educating medical students, residents, physicians, dentists, and similar high-income professionals about personal finance and building wealth, so they can ultimately be their own financial advisor-or at least know enough to not get ripped off by a financial advisor. We tackle the hard topics like the best ways to pay off student loans, how to create your own personal financial plan, retirement planning, how to save money, investing in real estate, side hustles, and how everyone can be a millionaire by living WCI principles. Website: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com  YouTube: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/youtube  Student Loan Advice: https://studentloanadvice.com  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhitecoatinvestor  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCInvestor  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/whitecoatinvestor  Online Courses: https://whitecoatinvestor.teachable.com  Newsletter: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/free-monthly-newsletter 

SPONSORED BY NURP Nurp is algorithmic trading designed specifically for busy professionals who don't have time to watch markets. Check out start.nurp.com/doctors to learn more. --- What happens when the healthcare system built to treat illness leaves patients feeling unsupported, overwhelmed, and responsible for coordinating their own care? At just 23 years old, Chloe Harrouche was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although she had specialists guiding each part of her treatment, no one was managing the complete picture. After treatment, she encountered another major gap: little meaningful guidance on prevention, nutrition, fertility, or long-term wellness. That experience inspired Chloe to co-found The Lanby, a modern concierge medical practice designed to make primary care more proactive, coordinated, and patient-centered. In this conversation, Chloe joins May and Tim to discuss how her experience as a patient shaped her vision for a different kind of healthcare. They explore the shortcomings of traditional fee-for-service medicine, the value of coordinated care, and why prevention and wellness should be central to primary care—not an afterthought. In This Episode Chloe's breast cancer diagnosis at age 23 Navigating treatment without anyone coordinating the full picture Why traditional medicine often prioritizes treatment over prevention The lack of support patients receive after surviving a serious illness Chloe's difficult fertility journey and path to motherhood Why women frequently place their own health last The problems created by rushed, fragmented medical care How membership-based medicine can better align patients and providers The role of nutrition, wellness, and care coordination in primary care How The Lanby is working to create a more supportive patient experience About Chloe Harrouche Chloe Harrouche is the co-founder and CEO of The Lanby, a modern concierge medical practice in New York City that combines primary care, functional medicine, wellness, and care coordination. Her experience as a young breast cancer survivor gave her firsthand insight into the gaps patients face when navigating complex medical care. Drawing on her background in bioengineering, healthcare strategy, and technology consulting, Chloe helped build The Lanby around a proactive, relationship-based approach to health. Connect with Chloe and The Lanby Learn more about Chloe HarroucheVisit The LanbyConnect with Chloe on LinkedInListen to The Lanby's Get Well, Better podcast Connect with BS Free MD BS Free MD WebsiteInstagram If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast and share it with someone ready for a more proactive, patient-centered approach to healthcare. This podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual medical needs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 2024, Mass General Brigham, the largest health system in Massachusetts, piloted an AI-powered, ambient note-taking and transcription program among a subset of clinicians to address increasing rates of staff burnout and turnover --  largely driven by the administrative burden of clinical documentation in the electronic health records (EHR). Early results showed promising reductions in clinician burnout, intention to leave, and increased physician efficiency. But concerns about the technology, including the generation of inaccurate notes with errors or hallucinations made physicians resistant to learn and adopt it into their workflows. Harvard Business School Associate Professor Susanna Gallani and host Brian Kenny discuss the challenges leadership at the health care organization anticipated as they considered scaling the AI technology responsibly in the case: The AI Scribe: Enhancing Physician Presence and Curbing Burnout at Mass General Brigham

Joe Sherman MD is a board certified pediatrician master certified physician development coach and consultant to individuals and healthcare organizations in the areas of career discernment, leadership and provider well-being. His services include individual coaching public speaking workshop and retreat facilitation. He has helped countless numbers of healthcare professionals find relief from burnout and rediscover the joy of practicing medicine through matching soul to role in their professional and personal lives.

Emergency departments across Canada are seeing record patient volumes, bed shortages and overcrowding. A new longitudinal study in CMAJ, "Emergency physician burnout and attrition in Canada: a longitudinal study," finds physician burnout now above pandemic-era levels and driving reduced hours and departures from the specialty.Dr. Kerstin de Wit, the study's lead author, an emergency physician and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair at Queen's University, reports that 65% of respondents to the January 2025 survey had high burnout levels, slightly higher than at the pandemic peak in December 2020, a  statistically significant difference. Participants described the health care system as broken, with chronic overcrowding forcing physicians to examine patients in corridors and waiting rooms as quality of care slips. Half the cohort had reduced shifts, 20% had stepped away from emergency medicine for a time, and 10% had left and not returned. She also describes physicians coping by detaching from responsibility for a situation they feel powerless to change.Dr. Jillian Horton, associate chair of internal medicine at the University of Manitoba and author of We Are All Perfectly Fine, teaches an evidence-based program for physicians in distress. She argues that organizational factors drive 80% to 90% of burnout and individual factors closer to 10%, and that wellness efforts fail when they focus on individual-level solutions. Physicians now reject the language of resilience, she says, so she focuses on meaning, citing research that physicians who spend at least 20% of their time on the work they find most meaningful have half the burnout risk of physicians who spend less.The study puts the cause in the system, which limits what any one physician can fix alone. Physicians can still protect the most meaningful parts of their work, which the research links to lower burnout risk.Comments or questions? Text us.Join us as we explore medical solutions that address the urgent need to change healthcare. Reach out to us about this or any episode you hear. Or tell us about something you'd like to hear on the leading Canadian medical podcast.You can find Blair and Mojola on X  @BlairBigham and @DrmojolaomoleX (in English):  @CMAJ X (en français): @JAMC FacebookInstagram: @CMAJ.ca The CMAJ Podcast is produced by PodCraft Productions

In this episode, Surendra Khera, MD, MSc, President, Cleveland Clinic Florida Accountable Care Organization; Vice Chief, Primary Care Institute, Florida Market, Cleveland Clinic, discusses how expanding access, redesigning primary care, and embracing AI are improving patient outcomes and clinician well-being. He also shares strategies for addressing digital workload, strengthening value-based care, and preparing primary care for the future.

What happens when the person who's supposed to be saving lives is quietly fighting to save his own? This week, we're revisiting one of our most powerful conversations with Dr. Jason Giles, whose story takes us behind the white coat and into the realities of addiction, burnout, recovery, and redemption. While training in anesthesiology, Jason found himself caught in a devastating fentanyl addiction. From the outside, he was a successful physician-in-training. Behind the scenes, he was struggling to survive. Then came a moment that changed everything. In this deeply personal conversation, Jason shares the events that led to his addiction, the pager message that helped save his life, and the long road toward rebuilding his health, identity, relationships, and medical career. We also dig into a side of addiction that often gets overlooked: it isn't always simply about chasing a substance. Sometimes it's about escaping pressure, pain, exhaustion, or a life that has become impossible to sustain. In This Episode: How the pressures of medical training contributed to Jason's downward spiral His experience with fentanyl addiction while in anesthesiology residency The moment that became a turning point in his life Why high achievement can hide serious dysfunction The connection between physician burnout, identity, and addiction Why addiction is more complicated than physical dependence What recovery taught Jason about surrender and asking for help Rebuilding a career and life after addiction Why saying “yes” can completely change the trajectory of your life Hope, redemption, and the possibility of creating something meaningful after your darkest chapter Jason's story is raw, uncomfortable, hopeful, and a reminder that even the people who appear to have everything together may be fighting battles no one else can see. If you missed this conversation the first time around—or need to hear it again—this one is worth revisiting. CONNECT WITH BS FREE MD Stay connected with Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh for more raw, real, and BS-free conversations about medicine, healthcare, and life.

Toronto Police are investigating another case of gunfire outside the U.S. consulate. The building was previously targeted in March, leading to three arrests as part of a wider probe into shootings around the city that are believed to be linked to gun-for-hire schemes involving youths.Also: Wildfires rage across large parts of B.C., triggering new air quality alerts due to drifting smoke, and new evacuation orders – adding to the hundreds who are already out of their homes.And: New data highlighting the toll on ER doctors across Canada, and how it is causing many to walk away from their careers.Plus: Gordie Howe International Bridge opens to traffic, Europe wildfire danger, Canadian spying allegations, and more.

Recorded LIVE on the floor at the AAFP Co-sponsored DPC Summit in New Orleans, Dr. Angela Andrews of Direct Primary Care of West Michigan and Dr. Nicholas Jones of Clear Health Direct Primary Care in Eugene, Oregon sit down with Dr. Maryal Concepcion for an honest roundtable on what changes between year one and year three of direct primary care practice ownership.Both opened in November 2023. Both came to New Orleans with a list. What they say out loud is what most physicians only think: the workflows you built on day one and never revisited, the boundaries you are usually the first to cross, and the succession question this movement has not solved yet.IN THIS EPISODEPhysician owned regional DPC networks, and using them for call coverage, internal locums, and physician funded startup loans instead of banksWhy you do not need a nonprofit to do nonprofit workRevisiting the workflows you built when you were solo, and what to automate, eliminate, or documentEmployers as the next phase of DPC growth, and the arrival of employed DPC positionsBoundaries, moral injury, and why the physician is usually the first one to violate the boundaryHow to handle one star reviews and trolls without losing your weekendSuccession planning, and what happens to patients when a DPC physician gets sick or closesOregon's corporate practice of medicine law, the non compete ban, and what advocacy looks like when you own your practiceGetting onto your state chapter committees, and why DPC needs representation at AAFP and state academiesSpouses, kids, and the family roles that quietly keep practices runningChoosing an EHR you will not have to leave in three yearsMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEDr. Emily Holt, Dr. Esther Khatibi, Dr. Julie Gunther, Dr. Timothy Blain, Dr. Phil Eskew, Dr. Jill Scherer, Dr. Clodagh Ryan, Dr. Neil Douglas, Dr. Hailey Miller, Dr. Amy Tressan, and Shaunna SandersRESOURCESThe Toolkit Magazine, including this year's Battle of the Support Stack and last year's Battle of the EHRs: toolkit.mydpcstory.comThe Physician Owner's Planner Limited First Edition Bundle: mydpcstory.com/shopPHYSICIAN OWNER'S PLANNER BUNDLEFifteen available. Each one includes the printed Physician Owner's Planner in a binder, the digital bundle with our Medicare and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Guide, the yellow "Insurance is not healthcare" T-shirt, and a personal website review from Dr. Maryal Concepcion and Nathalia Hyland, head of marketing and strategy at My DPC Story. Limited shirt sizes remain. mydpcstory.com/shopCooperative of American Physicians or CAP. Learn more about the medical malpractice company used by Dr. Maryal Concepcion since 2021 at capphysicians.com or by calling 800-356-5672.Guava Health. A premium patient experience, pulling data from EHRs and wearables, helping  see the full picture and uncover root causes to deliver personalized care. ZION HealthShare. Get peace of mind for major medical events without going back into the insurance maze.  Hint AI helps you move faster through every stage of the patient visit. Hint AI Chat lets you ask questions about a patient's chart and instantly surface relevant notes, labs, and clinical history. Learn more at hint.com/ai.Support the showGET your FREE MONTHLY BUSINESS TOOL DOWNLOADBecome A My DPC Story PATREON MEMBER! SPONSOR THE PODMy DPC Story VOICEMAIL! DPC SWAG!FACEBOOK * INSTAGRAM * LinkedIn * TWITTER * TIKTOK * YouTube

What happens when physicians become patients, teachers become storytellers, and medicine meets humanity? In this powerful episode of The Lebanese Physicians Podcast, I sit down with Dr. David Spiro, Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and host of the Humed Podcast, to explore the emotional realities of practicing medicine. Dr. Spiro shares a deeply personal story from pediatric emergency medicine that shaped his career and discusses why storytelling is essential for physicians, patients, and healthcare professionals alike. Together, they examine physician wellness, burnout, compassion, resilience, leadership, medical education, and the importance of caring for healthcare workers while caring for patients. This thoughtful conversation also explores public health challenges, communication with families during difficult moments, the role of advocacy in medicine, and why sharing our stories can strengthen both healthcare professionals and the communities they serve. In this episode you'll learn about: Why storytelling is essential in medicine The emotional impact of caring for critically ill patients Physician burnout, resilience, and mental wellness Leading healthcare teams through difficult situations Building empathy in medical education The mission behind the Humed Podcast Finding purpose and meaning through medicine If you're a physician, medical student, healthcare professional, or simply interested in the human side of medicine, this conversation offers valuable insights into compassion, leadership, and healing.

For 15 years, a primary care physician saw more than 22 patients a day and slowly lost herself to exhaustion. It followed her home every night and onto every vacation. In this episode, Jerina Gani explains how she broke that cycle by doing the opposite of what administrators push: she saw fewer patients, gave each one more time, and found her life again. The counterintuitive twist is that slowing down did not cost her money. By billing more accurately and resolving problems in a single visit, she ended up earning more than she did full time. You will hear why "see more patients" is the wrong answer for doctors and patients alike, how to make the case for a lighter schedule even inside a rigid corporate system, and why she believes primary care will keep losing physicians until the grind changes. This episode is based on her article "Physician burnout is quietly costing doctors themselves," published on KevinMD. Press play to hear how slowing down gave a doctor both a life and a livelihood. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

When Dr. Timothy Blain opened his direct primary care practice in the middle of COVID, he finally felt like a “real doctor” again — after two decades of employed medicine, five-year burnout cycles, and the constant ache of knowing he could help patients but never had the time.In this honest and moving episode, Dr. Blain shares his full journey: graduating in 2000 as hospitals bought up practices, surviving non-Hodgkin lymphoma at 38, then weathering COVID pneumonia, a heart attack, and adult-onset Still's disease — all while continuing to care for his patients. He opens up about how DPC helped save his marriage, why empathy is the first thing burnout takes from physicians, and what it truly means to be the patient when you're also the doctor.Dr. Concepcion and Dr. Blain dig into:•The 5-year burnout curve, and why “just take a half day” never works•Building patient loyalty so deep that almost no one left, even through his hospitalizations•Practical steps for leaving employed medicine for DPC (including the prepay discount that funded his startup)•Why DPC doctors may be best positioned to use AI in medicine•Supplements, home visits, ultrasound, and staying curious as a physician•How and why he chose to close his practice — the taxes, timing, and grief involved•Redefining “failure” and finding peace in a one-year sabbaticalWhether you're burned out and dreaming of a way out, a few years into your own DPC, or simply wondering what a fulfilling end to a medical career can look like, this conversation is a breath of fresh air.“Failure is in the eye of the beholder.” — Dr. Timothy Blain—

Burnout gets treated like a personal failing in medicine, something you're supposed to meditate or wellness-seminar your way out of. It isn't. This episode breaks down why burnout is a systems problem first and a personal one second, what it actually looks like day to day, and what you can realistically control to prevent and treat it.This one's for anyone in medicine at any stage, med students, residents, and especially attendings, who's felt flat, exhausted, or numb and assumed something was wrong with them.0:00 The wrong question we ask ourselves1:02 Why burnout is common at every career stage1:54 The training story that sets you up to burn out4:04 What burnout actually feels like5:16 Prevention starts with controlling your inputs6:55 Boundaries, schedule, and saying no8:00 Why your finances change your relationship to the job10:08 The stoic exercise for when you're already burnt out12:14 Remembering medicine is a part of your life, not all of itFollow Along:

What does it look like to build a Direct Primary Care practice that protects your health as fiercely as it protects your patients? In this episode of My DPC Story, Dr. April Soto of Love and Light Integrative Medicine in South Pasadena, California shares how she systematically exited corporate medicine over three years and built an integrative DPC practice rooted in authenticity, boundaries, and healing.After more than a decade in fee-for-service family medicine and infectious disease, including HIV care, Dr. Soto completed an integrative medicine fellowship, trained in ketamine-assisted therapy, and opened a micropractice designed around her own capacity as a physician living with chronic illness and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Today she receives MCAS referrals from specialists across the country and offers ketamine journeys, transgender care for patients from age three to eighty, and deeply unhurried visits that can run four hours.In this conversation, Dr. Soto and host Dr. Maryal Concepcion discuss:Why she left corporate medicine and how she planned her three-year exitFacing fears around money, homelessness, and financial security before opening a DPCPricing as a quality-based practice instead of competing on discountsWhat she learned from giving too many discounts in year oneHow her assistant Natalie supports meet and greets, workflows, and boundariesBuilding an inclusive practice for LGBTQIA+ patients, immigrant communities, and neurodivergent patientsCaring for patients afraid to seek care because of ICE enforcementMCAS diagnosis, testing pitfalls, and why these patients need a different kind of visitKetamine-assisted therapy pricing, informed consent, and managing patient expectationsBurnout, trauma as a superpower, and why inclusivity has to include the physicianHer five-year vision: wellness contracts, motivational speaking, and growing her teamWhether you are planning your DPC launch or working to make your existing practice more sustainable, this episode is a masterclass in valuing yourself, honoring your capacity, and practicing medicine on your own terms.Learn more about Dr. April Soto at Love and Light Integrative Medicine in South Pasadena, CA.Visit mydpcstory.com for the free 90-Day Startup Checklist, the Physician Owner's Planner, and DPC tools for every stage. Leave a voicemail at mydpcstory.com/contact and you might hear it on a future episode. Support the show on Patreon for commercial-free and extended episodes.Meet the My DPC Story team at DPC Summit NOLA! Summit bundles are live: HERE the Physician Owner's PlannerThe "insurance is not healthcare" teeA digital tool bundle for your practice A website reviewA 50% off our $350 Patient Explainer VideoPlus a chance to win an hour with Dr. Concepcion.  Cooperative of American Physicians or CAP. Learn more about the medical malpractice company used by Dr. Maryal Concepcion since 2021 at capphysicians.com or by calling 800-356-5672.Guava Health. A premium patient experience, pulling data from EHRs and wearables, helping  see the full picture and uncover root causes to deliver personalized care. ZION HealthShare. Get peace of mind for major medical events without going back into the insurance maze.  Hint AI helps you move faster through every stage of the patient visit. Hint AI Chat lets you ask questions about a patient's chart and instantly surface relevant notes, labs, and clinical history. Learn more at hint.com/ai.Support the showGET your FREE MONTHLY BUSINESS TOOL DOWNLOADBecome A My DPC Story PATREON MEMBER! SPONSOR THE PODMy DPC Story VOICEMAIL! DPC SWAG!FACEBOOK * INSTAGRAM * LinkedIn * TWITTER * TIKTOK * YouTube

Dr. Jimmy Turner cut back to part-time at 35—and ended up on antidepressants. FIRE wasn't the escape hatch he expected. FIRE—financial independence, retire early—promises an exit from burnout. But what happens when you finally get there and realize you don't know who you are without medicine? Jimmy and Justin make the case for FIWO (financial independence, work optional) instead. Resources: Disability Insurance: Every physician needs to get individual disability insurance while in training. Get a quote from Money Meets Medicine Disability Insurance, a company you can actually trust. Built by doctors, for doctors.  Does your CPA only reach out in March each year and show you a giant tax bill? You need tax strategy, not just tax filing. Click here to get a 10% discount code to work with Gelt, the same tax strategy team that Jimmy personally uses.  Every physician needs basic financial literacy. Get a free copy of Dr. Turner's best-selling book, The Physician Philosopher's Guide to Personal Finance.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hospitals Are Building Their Own Schools, AI Scribes Cut Burnout 13 Points in 30 Days & Healthcare Is the Only Thing Keeping the US Job Market PositiveJune 29th, 2026. Bo, Luke, and ASHHRA Executive Director Jeremy Sadlier cover three stories this week that all point in the same direction: healthcare HR is not a support function. It is the engine.

CLOSING SOON! VOTE IN THE 2026 MY DPC STORY BATTLE! VOTE HEREWhen most physicians hear the word sustainability, they think about keeping the doors open. But after a weekend with more than 80 doctors at the California DPC Summit, our host Dr. Maryal Concepcion came away certain it means so much more. In this episode of My DPC Story, five voices from the Direct Primary Care community share what makes a medical career, a practice, and a life sustainable.The throughline is simple. Healthcare becomes sustainable when the people providing the care are allowed to thrive.You will hear from:Dr. Deepti Mundkur, My Happy Doctor, nearly six years into DPC, on how continuity and deep patient relationships became her real measure of sustainability, including watching patients need less medication over time.Dr. Shannon Connolly of Open Arms Direct Primary Care on how community and physician innovation build confidence, and why scaling DPC looks nothing like the venture-backed version.Dr. Dedra Beckles on knowing your worth, protecting your energy, and why boundaries are not optional if you want to keep showing up with joy.Dr. Grace Hassell on authenticity, presence, and a powerful highlining metaphor for becoming the doctor she wrote about in her personal statement.Noreen Gutierrez, RN, on building sustainable teams through head, heart, and hands, and her five Rs for clinic culture.Registration is open for the Illinois DPC Summit this October in the Chicagoland area, and for California's third annual DPC Summit next year. Find both on the Events page at mydpcstory.com.If you will be at the AAFP co-sponsored DPC Summit in New Orleans, come say hi, grab the latest magazine, and share your story on a live mic.Want a summit in your state? Send us a note through the contact page at mydpcstory.com. Tennessee is already in the works.Leave me a voicemail at mydpcstory.com/contact and you might hear it on a future episode.For commercial-free episodes, extended conversations, and the State by State with Dr. Phil Eskew series, check out our Patreon.If this episode moved you, please leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. It helps other physicians find these stories when they need them most.Keywords: direct primary care, DPC, DPC physician, physician burnout, sustainable medical practice, California DPC Summit, Illinois DPC Summit, membership medicine, family medicine, My DPC StoryMeet the My DPC Story team at DPC Summit NOLA! Summit bundles are live: HERE the Physician Owner's PlannerThe "insurance is not healthcare" teeA digital tool bundle for your practice A website reviewA 50% off our $350 Patient Explainer VideoPlus a chance to win an hour with Dr. Concepcion.  Cooperative of American Physicians or CAP. Learn more about the medical malpractice company used by Dr. Maryal Concepcion since 2021 at capphysicians.com or by calling 800-356-5672.Guava Health. A premium patient experience, pulling data from EHRs and wearables, helping  see the full picture and uncover root causes to deliver personalized care. ZION HealthShare. Get peace of mind for major medical events without going back into the insurance maze.  Hint AI helps you move faster through every stage of the patient visit. Hint AI Chat lets you ask questions about a patient's chart and instantly surface relevant notes, labs, and clinical history. Learn more at hint.com/ai.Support the showGET your FREE MONTHLY BUSINESS TOOL DOWNLOADBecome A My DPC Story PATREON MEMBER! SPONSOR THE PODMy DPC Story VOICEMAIL! DPC SWAG!FACEBOOK * INSTAGRAM * LinkedIn * TWITTER * TIKTOK * YouTube

What if you could get back fifteen hours of your work week without seeing a single extra patient?In this special episode, recorded live in a breakout room workshop following the California DPC Summit, Justin Lam, CEO of Cool Blue VA, sits down with a room full of physicians to talk about getting real help in your practice and in your life. Dr. Maryal Concepcion opens by sharing her own experience working with a virtual assistant she found through Cool Blue VA, then hands the room over to Justin.Justin walks through the questions so many physicians sit with when building a Direct Primary Care practice. Research shows only twenty-seven percent of a physician's time goes to direct patient care, while nearly half disappears into desk work and admin. Justin breaks down how to change that.You will hear:The "only you" test for deciding what to delegate and what to keep. If someone else can do it, it probably should not be on your plate.Why fifty percent is the right time to hire, not one hundred percent, and how waiting too long leads to rushed decisions and the wrong hire.How to design your ideal role before you ever start looking, including the top tasks to hand off, the tools your assistant will use, and how to measure success.The real difference between a local medical assistant and a virtual assistant, and what each one is best suited for. Local staff handle high-touch, in-person, revenue-generating work. Virtual assistants cover the inbox, scheduling, prior authorizations, records, specialist coordination, billing, and more.Practical hiring tools you can use today, from spelling and math checks to typing tests and strength assessments.The honest back and forth with physicians in the room, who ask about charting support, inventory, time zones, vacation coverage, billing by the minute, and even using a virtual assistant as an executive assistant for your home life.Whether you have a full panel or you are still mapping out your first month open, there is something here worth holding onto.Ready to grow your practice with the right support? Start here: coolblueva.com/dpcgrowA quick note on the audio. Because this was captured in a smaller breakout space, the sound gets tricky in spots. Thank you in advance for your patience with it.Connect with My DPC Story: Listen, subscribe, and explore more at the My DPC Story podcast and media platform.Support the showGET your FREE MONTHLY BUSINESS TOOL DOWNLOADBecome A My DPC Story PATREON MEMBER! SPONSOR THE PODMy DPC Story VOICEMAIL! DPC SWAG!FACEBOOK * INSTAGRAM * LinkedIn * TWITTER * TIKTOK * YouTube

What happens to a family physician when the system that trained him decides he no longer has value? In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Maryal Concepcion hands the introduction to a special guest, then sits down with her husband, Dr. Jeremiah Fillo of Big Trees MD, for an honest conversation about sustainability, not just as a doctor, but as a whole person.Dr. Fillo shares the path from rural Nebraska training under Dr. Tim Blecha (Blay-kee), through residency in Modesto, into a corporate regional medical center that slowly turned the heat up the way you would on a frog in a pot. He talks candidly about the evergreen contract, the exclusivity clause, and the moment he was told to sign or be terminated while his wife was pregnant. He describes being let go and replaced by a non-physician model, the AB 890 reality in California, and the months of uncertainty that followed.This is also a conversation about what comes after the devaluation. Dr. Fillo opens up about how he held onto his sense of self when the system told him he had none, why splitting and stacking firewood mattered as much as any clinical workflow, and how he learned to quiet his "referralologist" training once he joined a Direct Primary Care practice with real time and autonomy. Listeners will hear how DPC reshaped his parenting, his task switching between in-office visits and asynchronous telemedicine, and his perspective on joining an established practice he did not build from scratch.For any physician who has felt like a charge sheet instead of a clinician, this episode is a reminder: the system does not get to decide your worth, and there is real life after fee-for-service.In this episode: How job share became the foundation of a sustainable two-physician family. Why residency training around fee-for-service leaves new physicians blindsided to independent options. What being replaced by a non-physician model does to a person, and how to rebuild. Why rural communities cannot sustain healthcare on a three-day-a-week, hard-to-access model. How Direct Primary Care creates room to practice full scope again and still be present for your kids.About the guest: Dr. Jeremiah Fillo is a family physician at Big Trees MD in Arnold, California, where he practices Direct Primary Care alongside Dr. Maryal Concepcion. He trained at Creighton University School of Medicine and completed residency in Modesto, with additional procedural training at Brodstone Memorial in rural Nebraska.Connect with My DPC Story: Subscribe wherever you listen, leave a review, and share this episode with a physician who needs to hear that there is a sustainable path forward. Have a question or a story of your own? Call the My DPC Story voicemail and you may hear your answer on a future episode.Lean more about Hint Clinical today! Check out CoolBlue VA today at coolblueva.com/dpcgrow VOTE in the 2026 Battle of the Support Stack HERE! Support access to women's healthcare and join us for Fireside Chats for Women's Health in New Orleans! July 17th 7-9 pm. BUY tickets at mydpcstory.com/upcoming-events. If you're interested in donating or sponsoring, email hello@mydpcstory.com Get your copy of the Physician Owner's Planner today at mydpcstory.com/librarySupport the showGET your FREE MONTHLY BUSINESS TOOL DOWNLOADBecome A My DPC Story PATREON MEMBER! SPONSOR THE PODMy DPC Story VOICEMAIL! DPC SWAG!FACEBOOK * INSTAGRAM * LinkedIn * TWITTER * TIKTOK * YouTube

What if the cure for physician burnout has been making it worse the whole time? Lisa Rubiano, an internal medicine physician and physician coach, spent over a decade as a hospitalist before burning out in 2021 and stepping back to figure out what really went wrong. This episode is based on her article "Why resilience is not the cure for physician burnout," published on KevinMD. You will hear why the resilience narrative quietly shifts blame onto individual physicians while letting toxic systems off the hook, how the Quadruple Aim turned clinician well-being into a vague self-care mandate, and what it actually takes to unlearn the belief that you should be able to push through anything. Lisa breaks down why setting boundaries feels so hard, why systems have no real incentive to change, and where physicians are quietly building their own way out. Listen for the moment that makes the self-blame stop. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

In this deeply personal episode of Midlife Revival, Dr. Taniqua Miller shares the story behind the creation of Revival Women's Health and why she ultimately walked away from academic medicine to build a new model of care for women in midlife.After years working inside a traditional healthcare system shaped by volume, rushed visits, insurance limitations, and physician burnout, Dr. Miller realized something profound:The way we were caring for women — especially women navigating perimenopause and menopause — simply wasn't working.In this episode, she opens up about:Her journey from OB/GYN residency to becoming a Certified Menopause SpecialistThe patient encounter that changed how she viewed menopausal medicine foreverThe hidden realities of physician burnout and moral injuryWhy 7-minute appointments fail women in midlifeThe emotional and logistical burdens women face in fragmented healthcare systemsThe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare delivery and physician well-beingWhy she chose a concierge/direct specialty care model for Revival Women's HealthHow Revival integrates gynecology, hormone therapy, sexual health, and cardiometabolic care under one roofThe importance of community, partnership, and relationship-centered care for women in midlifeDr. Miller also shares the deeply personal experiences — including caregiving for her mother during cancer treatment — that reinforced her desire to build a practice where women feel truly seen, supported, and held.This episode is for the woman who knows there has to be a better way to navigate midlife healthcare.Because midlife care should be more than prescriptions and rushed appointments.It should feel like partnership.It should feel intentional.It should feel like coming home.Connect with Revival Women's Healthhttps://www.joinrevival.co/Follow Dr Taniqua Miller on Instagram @taniquamillermd and Revival Women's Health @joinrevival.Georgia listeners! Dr. Miller has created the medical wellness space for YOU! If you are over the age of 40 and looking for a medical home that listens and honors you, visit us at Revival Women's Health in Decatur, GA. joinrevival.co

What if the biggest threat to healthcare isn't just burnout, but the belief that suffering is simply part of the job? In this deeply validating and practical conversation, Dr. Andrea Austin welcomes Dr. Sarah Smith, to unpack the hidden habits and systemic pressures that keep clinicians trapped in unsustainable work patterns. Dr. Smith shares her personal journey of spending years staying late after clinic, working evenings and weekends, and feeling crushed by the endless demands of medicine. What began as frustration with change initiatives eventually became a transformative realization: sustainability in medicine required changing not just the system, but also the way clinicians interact with it. Together, Andrea and Sarah discuss the emotional burden of perfectionism, the trauma many physicians carry from training, and how documentation fears often stem from past criticism and adverse outcomes. They explore practical strategies for reducing interruptions, improving workflow, documenting in real time, and setting healthier boundaries with teams. The conversation also challenges the myth that changing healthcare systems or countries automatically solves burnout. Drawing from her experience practicing in both Australia and Canada, Dr. Smith explains why sustainability must ultimately come from developing new skills, new boundaries, and new ways of thinking. Most importantly, this episode offers hope: impossible things can become possible. Physicians can build careers that are meaningful, sustainable, and aligned with the lives they actually want to live. Inside This Episode: Why so many physicians stay hours after their shifts finish The hidden emotional impact of perfectionism in charting How medical training trauma shapes documentation habits Practical ways to reduce interruptions and cognitive overload Why real-time documentation improves efficiency and safety The importance of boundaries, teamwork, and shift huddles How healthcare systems can better support frontline clinicians Why changing countries or jobs doesn't automatically fix burnout The role of coaching in building sustainable careers What sustainability in medicine truly looks like

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Navigating ADHD and Chronic Pain: Dr. Kerry Shea's Journey from OB GYN to ADHD CoachIn this episode, we welcome Dr. Kerry Shea, an OB GYN who transitioned to working as an ADHD coach. Dr. Shea shares her personal experience living with ADHD and chronic pain, including a diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia, and her struggles with various other invisible illnesses like endometriosis. Carrie explains how these challenges impacted her career in medicine and her eventual shift to coaching. She also touches upon the importance of understanding neurodivergence, the impact of chronic pain, and the necessity of a holistic approach to health and wellness. By sharing her story, Dr. Shea aims to validate the experiences of many who face similar issues and provide insight into coping strategies and the importance of seeking support.00:00 Introduction to Dr. Kerry Shea01:23 Carrie's Background and ADHD Diagnosis02:51 Medical Career and Chronic Pain Journey03:36 Struggles with Trigeminal Neuralgia and Work Environment05:40 Navigating the Medical System as a Patient07:16 Transition to ADHD Coaching07:45 Early Life and ADHD Awareness11:21 Chronic Pain and Neurodivergence16:57 Impact of ADHD on Medical Career28:34 Decision to Go on Disability37:11 The Challenges of Medical Specialties37:45 Physical Demands of OB-GYN38:12 Advice for Pre-Med and Med Students38:45 Chronic Pain and Early Symptoms39:38 Restless Leg Syndrome and ADHD42:41 Managing Restless Leg Syndrome48:05 Neurodivergence and Chronic Pain50:42 The Importance of Good Sleep58:55 Physician Burnout and Neurodivergence01:07:49 ADHD Coaching and Support01:11:08 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsClick here for the YouTube Channel  Click here for the YouTube channel International Conference on ADHD in November 2025 where Dr. Lenz will be one of the speakers. Joy LenzFibromyalgia 101. A list of fibromyalgia podcast episodes that are great if you are new and don't know where to start. Support the showWhen I started this podcast and YouTube Channel—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. Office visits are short, but understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia takes time. That's why I created this space: to offer education, validation, and hope.  If you've been told fibromyalgia “isn't real” or that it's “all in your head,” know this—I see you. I believe you. This podcast aims to affirm your experience and explain the science behind it. Whether you live with fibromyalgia, care for someone who does, or are a healthcare professional looking to better support patients, you'll find trusted, evidence-based insights here, drawn from my 29+ years as an MD.Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn't replace per...

What does success in medicine really look like? In this heartfelt final episode of Succeed in Medicine, Dr. Bradley Block reflects on the seven-and-a-half-year journey of building a podcast dedicated to helping physicians grow as communicators, leaders, and human beings. As he steps away from podcasting to focus on his newly elected position on the board of his nearly 300-physician practice, Dr. Brad shares the lessons, insights, and personal growth that shaped both his career and his understanding of success. He discusses why he started the podcast in the first place: to ask questions he didn't have answers to and learn directly from experts about communication, leadership, burnout, parenting, financial planning, and the business of medicine. Along the way, those conversations transformed not only his perspective but also the trajectory of his professional life. Brad opens up about burnout, overcommitting, side hustles, physician identity, and the “arrival fallacy” that convinces physicians happiness always exists in the next milestone. He also shares practical communication strategies for building trust with patients and emphasizes the importance of intentional living, meaningful work, and aligning your time with your values. More than a farewell, this episode is a reflection on growth, purpose, and what it truly means to succeed, not by titles or achievements alone, but by spending your time in ways that are meaningful, fulfilling, and aligned with who you want to become. Top 3 Takeaways: Success Is Alignment, Not Achievement Alone: Dr. Brad redefines success as spending your time intentionally, consistently with your values, and aligned with your purpose. Career milestones and titles may matter, but fulfillment comes from engaging daily in work and relationships that genuinely feel meaningful and energizing. Communication in Medicine Is About Building Trust: Excellent physician communication is not simply about gathering information, it is about creating trust. Patients need to feel seen, heard, and cared for as human beings. Small actions like eye contact, emotional validation, and intentional presence dramatically improve both patient experience and physician satisfaction. The Arrival Fallacy Keeps Physicians Chasing Happiness: Many physicians believe success will come after the next promotion, title, or accomplishment. But waiting for future milestones delays fulfillment. Instead of constantly chasing the next achievement, physicians can build meaningful lives now by intentionally pursuing work, relationships, and activities that align with their purpose. About the Show: Succeed In Medicine covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school! About the Host: Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts Succeed In Medicine podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physicians Want to be a guest? Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com  or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more! Socials: @physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook @physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube @physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter Want to start a podcast? Visit: doctorpodcastnetwork.co This medical podcast is your physician mentor to fill the gaps in your medical education. We cover physician soft skills, charting, interpersonal skills, doctor finance, doctor mental health, medical decisions, physician parenting, physician executive skills, navigating your doctor career, and medical professional development. This is critical CME for physicians, but without the credits (yet). A proud founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network!Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let's grow! Disclaimer:This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when big business runs healthcare and clinicians are pushed out of decision-making? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Harry Severance shares decades of clinical and educational experience to diagnose the root causes of our workforce crisis: moral injury, profit-over-patient priorities, and the exodus of burned-out physicians and nurses. Dr. Severance and Dr. Austin explore multi-tiered healthcare solutions, the unsustainability of the current U.S. system, barriers like the Stark Law, the growing unionization movement, and practical paths for clinicians to reclaim agency, both top-down (seats at the C-suite table) and bottom-up (advocacy and collective action). You'll hear how they: Examine the shift from patient-centered care to corporate metrics and its devastating impact on clinician wellbeing and patient outcomes Discuss alarming statistics: more physicians leaving than entering the U.S., projected shortages, and unpayable medical bills driving bankruptcies Challenge the status quo on single-payer vs. hybrid systems and the need for baseline healthcare access for all citizens Address apathy vs. agency and the power of persistence, political involvement, and community action Emphasize the timeless wisdom of “never give up”  even when the system feels overwhelmingly broken If you're feeling the weight of a corporate-dominated healthcare system or searching for ways to drive meaningful change, this episode delivers both hard truths and hopeful calls to action. About the Guest: “You can't always get what you want. But if you try, sometimes you just might find you get what you need.” - Dr. Harry Severance Dr. Harry Severance is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at Duke University with decades of clinical experience in emergency and acute care medicine. A passionate change-maker and workforce advocate, he has counseled countless physicians and clinicians navigating burnout and disillusionment. Dr. Severance writes and speaks on healthcare system reform, clinician wellbeing, and the urgent need to return clinical voices to healthcare leadership.

The biggest financial mistake high-earning physicians make isn't overspending — it's the exact opposite. In this episode of the Money Meets Medicine podcast, Dr. Jimmy Turner and Justin Harvey, CFP® dive into one of the most overlooked challenges in physician personal finance: the super saver trap. While most financial advice for doctors focuses on avoiding lifestyle inflation, living like a resident, and preventing the Diderot Effect, Jimmy and Justin tackle the other side of the coin — what happens when financially literate physicians save too much and can't flip the switch to actually enjoy their wealth. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the traditional "live like a resident" advice can backfire for financially literate physicians How the 10% Rule allows you to enjoy lifestyle upgrades without sabotaging your financial future The identity crisis that hits doctors when they realize they could go part-time, cut back to 3 days a week, or retire early Why "one more year syndrome" keeps physicians grinding long after they've reached financial independence How to balance saving, spending, and living a life you actually enjoy as a high-income earner The values-based decision-making framework Justin uses with clients facing major financial trade-offs (home upgrades, practice ownership, business launches) Why dying with too much money is a real risk for financially literate doctors — and how to avoid it How to use the Kinder questions to uncover what you actually want from financial independence Jimmy shares his personal journey of saving over a third of his income early in his attending career, then deliberately scaling back to take a lower-paying job 30 minutes from home so he could coach his kids' baseball team and be present for his family. Justin shares a real client story about a physician weighing a $2.7 million home purchase against time to retirement, work-life balance, and family values. Whether you're a resident, fellow, early-career attending, or established physician approaching financial independence, this episode will challenge you to ask the harder existential questions: What is enough? When can you flip the switch? And are you using money as a tool — or letting it use you? Resources mentioned in this episode:

In this episode of AUANews Inside Tract, Drs. Andrew Harris and Amanda North explore the AUA's new quality improvement brief, reframing burnout as a system-level issue that impacts patient safety—not just physician well-being. They discuss why quick fixes fall short and share practical strategies to restore joy in work through better workflows, team-based solutions, and smarter use of technology.

AI-driven scribe solutions are freeing doctors to focus on patient care. Unburdening physicians through AI documentation. In this episode, Pat Williams, CEO and Co-Founder at iScribeHealth, talks about making EHRs easier to navigate for high-volume specialty physicians. He discusses transitioning from a network of human scribes to a high-accuracy AI model that leverages a decade of market data. He also explains how real-time AI can coach providers to adhere to managed care rules and prevent claim denials at the front end. This episode focuses on removing the administrative boat anchor so doctors can focus on patients and their families.  Tune in to recapture your time and focus! Resources: Connect with and follow Pat Williams on LinkedIn. Follow iScribeHealth on LinkedIn and explore their Website! Listen to the Truly Integrated podcast.

Ep. 189 Physician burnout is real and the cure starts here.”Soul Family… tonight we go beyond the headlines. We're talking about the healthcare crisis affecting millions, not just patients but the very physicians who care for them.Dr. Lisa Herbert, MD, FAAFP, PCC, a physician, administrator, and coaching culture strategist, joins us to unpack why burnout is skyrocketing in healthcare, what it's doing to systems and communities, and most importantly what can be done to heal both physicians and workplaces.This is a conversation for anyone in healthcare, anyone impacted by its shifts, and anyone who believes that systems can evolve without sacrificing human life and wellbeing. You'll leave with clarity, actionable insights, and hope that change is not just possible it's necessary.We discuss…Why we're in a physician burnout and healthcare crisis.The systemic and personal factors contributing to physician and staff exhaustion.Dr. Lisa Herbert's proven framework for restoring balance, resilience, and retention in healthcare organizations. Concrete steps physicians and healthcare professionals can take today to reclaim wellbeing and effectiveness.How coaching, culture shifts, and leadership transformation can save careers, systems, and lives.Insights into creating workplaces where healthcare professionals thrive instead of just surviving. Connect with Dr. Lisa Herbert www.justtherightbalance.comConnect with “the Zen Effect Show” and expand your reach thezeneffectshow.komi.io

Send us Fan MailPrimary care is on life support. Administrative burden is crushing physicians, employer healthcare is broken, and decades of reform efforts have barely moved the needle. So what does real transformation actually look like?Zeev Neuwirth, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Rezilient Health joins host David E. Williams to discuss why the American healthcare system keeps failing despite enormous resources, what direct primary care and employer contracting can do differently, and why GLP-1s without lifestyle medicine may be a costly mistake.

Can Your DPC Practice Survive Its Own Success?Most physicians opening a Direct Primary Care practice master the clinical side quickly. The harder challenge? Running the business that sustains it.In this episode of My DPC Story, host Dr. Maryal Concepcion sits down with Tom Squire, founder of Osprey CFO, a financial advisory firm built specifically to support small businesses and DPC practices. Tom brings a background in banking and private equity and translates that institutional financial playbook for independent physician practice owners.Whether you're pre-launch, in your first year, or scaling a multi-location DPC, this conversation will help you identify where your finances are quietly costing you time, money, and peace of mind.What You'll Learn in This Episode:The two biggest financial problems DPC physicians face as their panel growsWhy the systems that worked when you opened your practice stop working as you scaleHow to know when it's time to start paying yourself a salary from your DPCThe real cost of DIY financial management (QuickBooks, Gusto, bookkeepers who don't explain anything)Why pricing strategy is one of the highest-leverage tools in your DPC financial toolkitHow a $5 membership price increase can meaningfully impact your bottom lineThe opportunity cost of doing your own financial administration vs. outsourcing to an expertWhat to look for when choosing a financial partner who actually understands DPCWhy private equity is coming for DPC and how strong financial foundations protect independent practicesOsprey CFO handles your DPC financial infrastructure so you can focus on patients and growth. Get your FREE Osprey + My DPC Story Financial Decision Tree HERE.  DPC gives you autonomy. But autonomy without financial clarity becomes stress in disguise.Cash flow. Owner pay. Hiring timing. Tax strategy.These aren't afterthoughts. They're what protect your freedom long term.Book a free 30-minute strategy call with Osprey CFO to see how they can help you handle the financial infrastructure of your DPC so you can focus on patients Support the showGET your FREE MONTHLY BUSINESS TOOL DOWNLOADBecome A My DPC Story PATREON MEMBER! SPONSOR THE PODMy DPC Story VOICEMAIL! DPC SWAG!FACEBOOK * INSTAGRAM * LinkedIn * TWITTER * TIKTOK * YouTube

What if mastering communication in your marriage as a physician could be as transformative as learning a life-saving procedure in residency?  In this second part of a two-part conversation, Dr. Michael Myers shares insights from his extensive experience treating physician couples, emphasizing the value of professional help in facilitating communication during protected times like retreats or dates. He illustrates how a third party can help rephrase defensive or hierarchical language, common in medicine's decisive environment, into softer, more effective expressions, such as turning "you're stubborn" into "I feel you're digging in your heels," to foster understanding without offense.  Dr. Myers discusses dynamics when the physician is female, noting women's multifaceted identities beyond medicine and potential role reversals where husbands manage home life, but warns of conflicts arising from feelings of being taken for granted or loneliness. He highlights red flags like unexplained drinking or affairs, urging early articulation of issues to prevent escalation, and notes that most couples recover from affairs by entering a "new normal" with professional guidance.  For same-sex couples, he addresses communication stereotypes: avoidance in male pairs or overthinking in female ones, while stressing commonalities in all relationships. In dual-physician marriages, intellectualization may dominate, but reviewing arrangements like part-time work during child-rearing years and supporting paternity leave promotes respect and balance. Parting tips include finding uninterrupted time, transitioning from work mode, taking risks by being vulnerable about insecurities, and converting individual therapy into couples work to avoid exclusion.  Three Actionable Takeaways: Seek professional facilitation for tough conversations: Use a therapist to rephrase defensive language and ensure both partners feel heard, preventing escalation into arguments or name-calling. Regularly review relationship dynamics: Check in on sacrifices like relocations or part-time work, honoring promises and expressing appreciation to avoid resentment or feelings of being sidelined. Take communication risks during protected time: Be vulnerable about insecurities or feelings, such as loneliness, to deepen connection, and avoid defaulting to safe topics, use this safe space to address meaningful issues. About the Show: Succeed In Medicine covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school! About the Guest: Dr. Michael F. Myers is a professor of clinical psychiatry and recent past vice president of education and director of training in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn. He's a specialist in physician health and the author of many books, including "Physicians with Lived Experience: How Their Stories Offer Clinical Guidance" and "Doctors' Marriages: A Look at the Problems and Their Solutions." He lectures widely on stresses in medical training, burnout, moral injury, depression, substance use, PTSD, marital discord, and reducing stigma in medicine. Connect with Dr. Michael Myers: Website: https://www.michaelfmyers.com About the Host: Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts Succeed In Medicine podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physicians Want to be a guest? Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com  or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more! Socials: @physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook @physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube @physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter   This medical podcast is your physician mentor to fill the gaps in your medical education. We cover physician soft skills, charting, interpersonal skills, doctor finance, doctor mental health, medical decisions, physician parenting, physician executive skills, navigating your doctor career, and medical professional development. This is critical CME for physicians, but without the credits (yet). A proud founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network!Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let's grow! Disclaimer:This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send a textIn episode 290 of Beyond The Story, Sebastian Rusk interviews Dr. Carlos Rafael Elizondo, a dedicated medical doctor and entrepreneur, as he shares his incredible journey from growing up in a family of physicians in Alice, Texas, to overcoming personal challenges and ultimately establishing a thriving medical practice.Tune in as they explore the intersection of life and business, and how community support can lead to transformation.TIMESTAMPS[00:01:47] Family influence on medical career.[00:06:59] Moving to Mexico for medical school.[00:10:21] Complex patient care experiences.[00:14:05] Nature's role in overcoming burnout.[00:15:54] Rural healthcare access challenges.QUOTES"That's when I realized that hunting is not about killing. It's about the experience. It's about getting in nature, getting reconnected." -Dr. Carlos Rafael Elizondo"We have to continue doing what we're doing because we're passionate about bringing health care to the people that need it the most." -Dr. Carlos Rafael Elizondo"All change starts from within."  -Dr. Carlos Rafael Elizondo ==========================Need help launching your podcast?Schedule a Free Podcast Strategy Call TODAY!PodcastLaunchLabNow.com==========================SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastlaunchlab/Facebook: Facebook.com/sruskLinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/sebastianrusk/YouTube: Youtube.com/@PodcastLaunchLabDr. Carlos Rafael ElizondoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcarloselizondo/ ==========================Take the quiz now! https://podcastquiz.online/==========================Need Money For Your Business? Our Friends at Closer Capital can help! Click here for more info: PodcastsSUCK.com/money==========================PAYING RENT? Earn airline miles when you use the Bilt Rewards MastercardAPPLY HERE: https://bilt.page/r/2H93-5474

She was working 20 hours a day in fee-for-service medicine, and her supervisor was online at 3am too, totally unbothered. That's when Dr. Victoria Leventis-Shew knew nothing was ever going to change. So she changed everything.Dr. Leventis-Shew is the founder of Victory Family Medicine in Columbia, SC, a physician-only micropractice she built intentionally, organically, and on her own terms. In this episode she gets radically honest about the financial decisions that shaped her DPC journey: using retirement savings to launch, hiring a consulting firm she wasn't sure she needed, growing slowly without advertising, and why a financial advisor has been one of her most important investments.What we cover:The 3am moment that made leaving feel like survival, not a choiceUsing retirement funds to launch, and why she'd do it againThe real cost of hiring a consulting firm (and the complicated truth about whether it was worth it)Why slow, organic growth is a financial strategy, not a failureHow a micropractice under 130 patients can be sustainable and deeply fulfillingWhat financial sustainability actually looks like when you're a solo physician with no staff

Dr. Sandeep Palakti spent years at Harvard and Mayo Clinic before realizing the American healthcare system isn't designed to keep people healthy. In this conversation with cardiac surgeon Dr. Philip Ovadia, he breaks down why 70% of physicians are now employed by large health systems or insurers, how that institutional capture prevents real preventative care, and what both doctors and patients can do about it. He explains how he broke free to create Velocity Health, a national concierge practice focused on sleep, diet, exercise, and mental health through precise measurement and individualized strategies. For physicians feeling stuck and patients paying tens of thousands annually for insurance that doesn't deliver health, this conversation maps pathways to better options.BIG IDEAWhen the health insurer owns your doctor, your pharmacy, and your insurance, they have every incentive to drive costs up, reduce quality, and withhold care.Dr. Sandeep “Deep” Palakodeti, MD - Contact InfoBook: The Ultimate AssetWebsite: VelocityHealthClinic.comPodcast: https://velocityhealthclinic.com/the-ultimate-asset-podcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/velocityhealth/X: https://x.com/join_velocitySend Dr. Ovadia a Text Message. (If you want a response, you must include your contact information.) Dr. Ovadia cannot respond here. To contact his team, please send an email to team@ifixhearts.com Pre-Order Stay Off My Kitchen Table at Amazon. Like what you hear? Head over to IFixHearts.com/book to grab a copy of my book, Stay Off My Operating Table. Ready to go deeper? Talk to someone from my team at IFixHearts.com/talk.Stay Off My Operating Table on X: Dr. Ovadia: @iFixHearts Jack Heald: @JackHeald5 Learn more: Stay Off My Operating Table on Amazon Take Dr. Ovadia's metabolic health quiz: iFixHearts Dr. Ovadia's website: Ovadia Heart Health Jack Heald's website: CultYourBrand.com Theme Song : Rage AgainstWritten & Performed by Logan Gritton & Colin Gailey(c) 2016 Mercury Retro RecordingsAny use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from Dr. Philip Ovadia.

Physician burnout is often discussed, but rarely explained clearly. In this White Coat Investor interview, we're joined by Rutherford Pascal, a leadership coach who works closely with physicians. The conversation explores why burnout happens, why traditional fixes often fall short, and how concepts like deliberate rest, autonomy, and leadership skills play a meaningful role in long-term career sustainability. Rather than focusing on surface-level solutions, this discussion looks at structural and personal factors that influence physician well-being—especially for doctors navigating demanding clinical environments. Today's episode is brought to us by SoFi, the folks who help you get your money right. Paying off student debt quickly and getting your finances back on track isn't easy, but that's where SoFi can help — they have exclusive, low rates designed to help medical residents refinance student loans—and that could end up saving you thousands of dollars, helping you get out of student debt sooner. SoFi also offers the ability to lower your payments to just $100 a month* while you're still in residency. And if you're already out of residency, SoFi's got you covered there too. For more information, go to https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/Sofi SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Additional terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891. The White Coat Investor Podcast launched in January 2017, and since then, millions have downloaded it. Join your fellow physicians and other high income professionals and subscribe today! Host, Dr. Jim Dahle, is a practicing emergency physician and founder of The White Coat Investor blog. Like the blog, The White Coat Investor Podcast is dedicated to educating medical students, residents, physicians, dentists, and similar high-income professionals about personal finance and building wealth, so they can ultimately be their own financial advisor-or at least know enough to not get ripped off by a financial advisor. We tackle the hard topics like the best ways to pay off student loans, how to create your own personal financial plan, retirement planning, how to save money, investing in real estate, side hustles, and how everyone can be a millionaire by living WCI principles. Website: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com  YouTube: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/youtube  Student Loan Advice: https://studentloanadvice.com  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhitecoatinvestor  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCInvestor  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/whitecoatinvestor  Online Courses: https://whitecoatinvestor.teachable.com  Newsletter: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/free-monthly-newsletter 

More resources? ----------------------- Watch Full Episodes in my YouTube channel! https://youtube.com/@drtjahn ---------------------- Get Your Free Copy of my book, "Podiatry Profits Book: Crafting A Seven-Figure Lifestyle Practice" to grow your podiatry practice. You just cover the shipping: https://www.podiatryprofitsbook.com ---------------------- Do you want to build your dream private practice without the hassles of insurance networks? Then schedule a FREE 45-min Strategy Session with me. We will dive to look at your current practice and I will provide you with a crystal game plan for you: https://drtjahn.com/the-profit-accelerator-session/ ---------------------- I've created this EXCLUSIVE Private Facebook Group community of like-minded podiatrists who are coming together to build their DREAM PRIVATE PRACTICE, and FREE to join!! https://www.facebook.com/groups/podiatryprofits

"My wife would come back to check on me late at night, asleep at the keyboard, and she would be like, 'Is he dead?' The burnout, what we call moral injury, is more real than anybody knows." - Will SteelmanThe American healthcare system is crushing its doctors. Faced with "assembly line" quotas of 25+ patients a day, hours of unpaid administrative work ("pajama time"), and a suicide rate higher than that of veterans, physicians are fleeing the profession in droves.My guest this week is Dr. Will Steelman, a board-certified internal medicine physician who lived through this crisis firsthand. After 12 years as a hospitalist, Dr. Steelman reached his breaking point during the pandemic and realized the only way to save his career, and his life, was to exit the system entirely.In this episode, we explore why Direct Primary Care (DPC) is the only viable path forward for the future of medicine. Will explains how DPC restores the doctor-patient relationship by reducing patient panels from 3,000 to 600, allowing for 90-minute visits, true price transparency, and a focus on root-cause resolution. We also discuss the clinical benefits of having time to care, including using ketogenic therapies to treat mental illness and reversing chronic metabolic disease, rather than just managing it with pills.If you want to understand why your doctor is exhausted, why your premiums are going up, and why DPC is the solution we can't afford to ignore, listen to this episode.Thank you to our 2026 sponsors!ParetoHealth: ParetoHealth empowers midsize employers with a long-term solution to reduce volatility and lower overall health benefits costs. Visit ParetoHealth.com to learn more.Samaritan Fund: A program that connects those who need help to the support they need. We are proud to offer the Samaritan Fund Program. Visit SamaritanFundProgram.com to learn more.Vālenz Health: We're Vālenz Health, your partner in improving health literacy, reducing plan spend, and delivering high-value healthcare. Visit ValenzHealth.com to learn more.Imagine360: Imagine360 helps self-funded employers save on healthcare with smarter health plans. Cut expenses by 20-30% with custom solutions. Contact us today at Imagine360.com.Chapters:(00:00:00) Intro: The Link Between Diet & Mental Clarity (00:04:18) The Road to Burnout: 12 Years as a Hospitalist (00:09:17) "Is He Dead?": The Reality of Physician Suicide & Moral Injury (00:11:08) The Way Forward: Concierge vs. Direct Primary Care (00:15:35) The Math of Failure: Why 2,500 Patients is Unsustainable (00:21:16) "Click Fatigue" and the Administrative Burden (00:23:58) Leaving the System: Launching Steelman Medical Group (00:32:06) Saving the Profession: Why DPC Offers Work-Life Balance (00:40:12) True Transparency: Why DPC Lab Costs Are Dropping (00:48:58) The Luxury of Time: Treating Mental Health with Ketogenic Diets (00:59:32) The Statin Controversy & Insulin ResistanceKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen/watch on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/

What if medicine's ancient rituals could evolve to heal the modern physician's soul, turning burnout into a blueprint for resilient leadership?In this episode, Dr. Andrea Austin speaks with Dr. Venkatesh Ramnath about his journey from ICU conflicts and existential doubt to pioneering the Health Architect model. Venkatesh recounts early career frictions like coding audits and rigid communication clashing with rural teams, that led to his 2015 rock bottom, and how embracing cognitive science, myths, and practical rituals helped him redesign his path. The conversation unpacks leadership as a learnable skill, the need to embed financial literacy and care networks in curricula, and fostering agency through evidence-based attitudes and collaborative debriefs.You'll hear how they:Navigate moral injury from systemic silos, using health architecture to layer foundations of ethics, diagnostics, and aspirational wellnessReframe leadership beyond hierarchy, teaching self-awareness and trust-building to bridge academic ideals with real-world teamsAdvocate for curriculum overhauls, sprinkling scientific attitudes, financial savvy, and quality-of-death discussions into every disease pathwayInspire renewal through slowing down, curiosity-driven creativity, and a "new oath" prioritizing human connection over helplessnessIf you're rebuilding after burnout or redesigning med ed for the AI era, this episode offers a blueprint for wisdom over facts, progress over perfection.About the Guest:“Health architecture is about building foundations of agency and connection.” – Dr.  Venkatesh RamnathDr. Venkatesh Ramnath  is a pulmonary and critical care physician, health architect, writer, and host of the Be a Health Architect podcast. With experience spanning academic centers, rural border hospitals, and COVID ICUs, he transitioned from burnout to advocacy by fusing medicine with cognitive science and architecture metaphors.  Venkatesh speaks on leadership, meaning-making, and innovation, contributing to outlets like the LA Times, and is authoring a book on a "new oath" for physician wellness.

In this episode, Jordan Frey, MD, Founder of the Prudent Plastic Surgeon, shares his journey from burnout and six figure debt to financial stability through intentional spending, disciplined saving, and simple investing. He discusses how financial well being can improve physician resilience, career satisfaction, and long term freedom.

Board-certified pediatrician and certified coach Jessie Mahoney discusses her article "The burden of the eldest daughter." Jessie explores the unique psychological weight carried by firstborn women who are taught early on to hold everything together at the cost of their own well-being. She connects this childhood role to the high rates of burnout among women in health care where hyper-preparedness and self-sacrifice are rewarded until the body eventually breaks down. The conversation examines how the eldest daughter effect creates a cycle of over-responsibility that leads to resentment and even physical illness. Healing begins when we learn to release the need to be indispensable and start saying yes only when it aligns with our own needs. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

 This episode is sponsored by Lightstone DIRECT. Lightstone DIRECT invites you to partner with a $12B AUM real estate institution as you grow your portfolio. Access the same single-asset multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital – Lightstone co-invests a minimum of 20% in each deal alongside individual investors like you. You're an institution. Time to invest like one.____________What if the search for your “one true purpose” is actually making you miserable and the real path to a regret-free life is simpler than you think?In this insightful conversation, Dr. Bradley Block reconnects with returning guest Dr. Jordan Grumet to explore the ideas in his new book, The Purpose Code. Building on his first book Taking Stock, Jordan tackles the question he's asked most: “How do I actually find purpose?” He breaks down why we get purpose wrong, introduces Big P vs. little p purpose, and shares why focusing on process over outcome creates abundance, community, and lasting happiness. From hospice stories to personal examples like podcasting and baseball cards, Jordan shows physicians how to build purpose around what truly fills them up, without needing to quit medicine or chase scarcity-driven goals.If you've ever felt purpose anxiety or wondered whether being a doctor is “enough,” this episode offers a practical, liberating framework to live intentionally and regret-free.Three Actionable Takeaways:Distinguish Big P from little p purpose: Stop chasing scarce, audacious goals (e.g., curing cancer, becoming a billionaire) that breed anxiety and failure. Instead, identify activities where you love the process itself regardless of outcome or pay. Ask: “Would I do this even if no one paid me or noticed?” These abundant little p purposes bring joy, flow, and surprisingly greater impact.Build purpose now, not after financial milestones: Don't wait for financial independence to pursue what lights you up. Use the 5–6 hours of daily free time most people have to fill time slots with purposeful activities. At work, maximize what you enjoy (addition), minimize what you loathe (subtraction), or switch roles or employers to increase joy without blowing up your finances.Pair purpose with meaning for true happiness: Purpose (present/future actions that fill you up) needs meaning, a heroic narrative of your past, to thrive. Reframe past struggles as a hero's journey “I am enough” to quiet victim stories that sabotage new purposeful pursuits. Strong relationships and community naturally flow from living your little p purpose, which research shows is the biggest predictor of health and longevity.About the Show:Succeed In Medicine  covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school!About the Guest:Dr. Jordan Grumet, known as Doc G, is an associate medical director at Unity Hospice, a Plutus award-winning podcaster for Earn & Invest, and a prominent voice in the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) community. With a background in internal medicine and a shift to hospice care, he authored Taking Stock: A Hospice Doctor's Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth, and Living a Regret-Free Life, which reshaped how people align money with values. His second book, The Purpose Code (releasing January 7, 2025), explores creating purpose through process rather than goals, drawing from his hospice insights and personal journey to inspire a fulfilling life.LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jordan-grumet-38a506179 Website: https://jordangrumet.com/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ng/podcast/earn-invest/id1440355498About the Host:Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts Succeed In Medicine podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physiciansWant to be a guest?Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com  or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more!Socials:@physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook@physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube@physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter This medical podcast is your physician mentor to fill the gaps in your medical education. We cover physician soft skills, charting, interpersonal skills, doctor finance, doctor mental health, medical decisions, physician parenting, physician executive skills, navigating your doctor career, and medical professional development. This is critical CME for physicians, but without the credits (yet). A proud founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network!Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let's grow! Disclaimer:This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Urologist William Lynes discusses his article, "Teaching medical students what it is really like to be a physician." He confronts the tragic reality of physician burnout and suicide, arguing the culture of overwork is bred into medical training from day one. William proposes a critical shift in medical education: a continuous course led by practicing physicians to teach students that maintaining their own mental health is essential to providing excellent clinical care. He shares his powerful personal story of learning this lesson "too late," urging for systemic change to address physician mental health before it becomes a crisis. Learn why prioritizing clinician well-being is the most important lesson medical schools are failing to teach. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Now you can streamline and customize documentation, surface information right at the point of care, and automate tasks with just a click. Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform to help unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's built on a foundation of trust. It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended