For physicians, burnout can feel like an inevitable cost of caring. But what if it’s actually an invitation to realign with who we are?

In this episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin talks with Dr. Christine Kempton, professor of hematology at Emory University and founder of Christine Kempton Coaching, about her personal and professional journey from perfectionism and overwork to purpose and presence.

Christine shares how her early years as a ballet dancer shaped her drive for external validation—and how those same perfectionist patterns followed her into medicine. Through candid reflection, she reveals the turning point when burnout forced her to pause and reclaim agency over her own well-being.

They explore why waiting for “the system” to change can leave physicians feeling powerless—and how taking responsibility for our inner world, rather than blaming the outer one, leads to freedom.

From practical tools like mindful mornings and digital boundaries to profound mindset shifts about fear, worth, and love, this episode offers a roadmap for any healthcare professional seeking renewal.

It’s a conversation that moves beyond fixing burnout to rediscovering meaning—and reminds us that healing the system starts with healing ourselves.

1. Agency Begins Within. True change in healthcare starts when individuals reclaim their power to choose how they show up—even in systems that need reform.
2. Fear Isn’t the Fuel. Shifting from fear-based striving to love-based action unlocks peace, clarity, and authentic leadership.
3. Burnout Is a Message, Not a Failure. When exhaustion hits, it’s often an invitation to realign with your values, not an ending.

Dr. Christine Kempton is a professor of hematology at Emory University and director of the Hemophilia of Georgia Center. With over two decades of experience in medicine, she has cared for generations of patients and led innovative research in bleeding disorders.

After walking through her own burnout, she founded Christine Kempton Coaching, where she helps women physicians reconnect with purpose, balance, and joy. A former ballet dancer, she blends science, self-awareness, and soulful coaching to empower others to move from fear to freedom.

🌐 https://www.christinekempton.com/
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christine-kempton-md-msc-93744997

Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.

Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.

Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.

When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.

🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/
📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

You don’t have to be on a basketball court to know what it means to be under pressure.

In this episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin talks with Coach Mark Gottfried, a nationally recognized NCAA coach turned motivational speaker, about the parallels between leading a team of athletes and leading a team of healthcare professionals.

Mark opens up about his decades on the sidelines—400 wins, national championships, and the lessons that stuck long after the buzzer sounded. He shares how his Get It Done mindset—rooted in Grit, Integrity, and Desire—applies just as much to the OR or the nursing floor as it does to the court.

They talk about what it really means to lead from the heart: being willing to cheer others on, to keep your values front and center, and to celebrate the small wins we often overlook. Because in healthcare—just like in sports—success isn’t just about doing more. It’s about doing it together.

It’s a conversation that feels like a locker room pep talk meets a leadership retreat—filled with humility, laughter, and lessons you’ll carry long after you listen.

1. Lead with Grit, Integrity, and Desire. Mark’s GID philosophy reminds us that mindset and values—not perfection—fuel real progress.
2. Celebrate the Small Wins. Success stacks slowly; the moments we pause to appreciate are the ones that sustain us.
3. Put Team Before Self. True leadership isn’t about standing out—it’s about helping others rise.

About the Guest

Coach Mark Gottfried is a former NCAA head coach with more than 400 career wins across Murray State, Alabama, and NC State, and a member of UCLA’s 1995 National Championship staff. Today, he inspires audiences across the country through his Get It Done leadership philosophy, teaching others how grit, integrity, and desire drive success both on and off the court.

🌐 coachmarkgottfried.com
🎧 The Coach Mark Gottfried Show

Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.

Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.

Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.

When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.

🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/
📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Dr. Ruth Mannschreck is a dentist, business owner, and founder of Shoreline Strategies LLC, focusing on helping practice owners become more efficient and streamlined.

She’s a wealth of experience and expertise on practical things that clinicians and/ or business owners can do to improve their processes and build a healthy culture.

Here are my takeaways from this incredible episode-

• Asking for help and relying on your team are not only possible, but are critical. Dr. Ruth’s personal story magnifies how important it is to realize that you can’t do everything on your own.
• While we may think we have to improve our time management, the real key is improving our communication, operations, and business processes, which requires an intentional shift in our thinking and behaviors. We actually gain more time in the end when we take these actions.
• Core values and leadership are at the foundation - when these are aligned and clear, everything flows much more easily.

Click here for a resource Dr. Ruth created, complete with a checklist you can use to start using these tips today.

For a practical guide to managing your time and energy in a way that brings you joy, click here to purchase my book (available in print, digital, and audio).

Connect with Dr. Ruth here-

Website: www.ShorelineStrategies.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthmannschreck/

In this solo episode, I announce a new brand I’m launching - Dr. Laura Suttin: Designing Healthcare that Cares. The new brand reflects an evolution of my work and of my own personal development.

This shift isn’t just about a new name or logo. It’s about stepping more fully into the work I’m meant to do, while adding consulting and speaking to my suite of services. I still love coaching, I’m still actively coaching, and that won’t change.

💡 In this episode, I’ll walk you through:

• Why I started as The Purposeful MD and the signs that it was time for something new
• What it means to design healthcare that cares
• How consulting and speaking are expanding my impact (and my joy)
• What this evolution means for you, whether you're a clinician, a leader, or someone craving change in healthcare

Connect with me here:

• https://www.drlaurasuttin.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/drlaurasuttin
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/
• http://www.youtube.com/@thepurposefulMD

Dr. Dawn Sears is a nationally recognized gastroenterologist, speaker, coach, and fierce advocate for women in medicine. In this heartfelt episode, she shares her inspiring journey from leading wellness initiatives in her hospital (starting with soda machines!) to creating powerful coaching communities that are truly changing the face of leadership in healthcare.

Here are my key takeaways from this episode -

• How Dr. Sears turned a soda machine into a movement for institutional wellness
  
  
  
• Why cohort coaching is a game-changer for physician well-being and retention
  
  
  
• The hidden costs of being a woman in medicine, and how we start shifting the culture

Connect with Dr. Sears here -

dawnsears@dawnsearsmd.com

gutgirlmdconsulting.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnsearsmd/

https://www.facebook.com/dawn.sears.982

https://twitter.com/GutGirlMD

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4a1MubzSrKMBaAHwHCe0DQ

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Sears DM et al. (2025). Leadership development as a novel strategy to mitigate burnout among female physicians. PLOS ONE, 20(3): e0319895. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319895

What happens when we realize that fitting into traditional medicine might mean losing touch with who we really are?

In this heart-opening conversation, I’m joined by my good friend Dr. Tracey O’Connell. Tracey is a Board Certified radiologist, Professional Certified Coach, and facilitator of Brené Brown’s Shame Resilience Program.

Together, we explore the emotional weight of medical training, the myth of resilience, and how expressive writing can reconnect us to our own truth.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite belong in medicine, or like you’ve had to compartmentalize your humanity just to get through the day, this one’s for you.

Here are my takeaways from this episode:

• The emotional cost of not fitting in within a traditional medical career
• How shame, silence, and systems erode physician well-being (and what we can do about it)
• The healing power of expressive writing and vulnerability
• How we can redefine purpose and identity after years of compartmentalizing

Connect with Tracey here:

Website: www.traceyoconnellmd.com

IG: @fertilesoul

FB: @tracey holland o'connell

LinkedIn: Tracey O'Connell, MD, PCC

YouTube: @traceyoconnellmd

In this heartfelt episode of The Purposeful MD Podcast, I am joined by the incomparable Gregory Proctor.

Gregory is a Navy veteran, cancer survivor, and award-winning author.

He truly is energy in motion. He shares his extraordinary story of transformation, from high-powered executive to cancer patient and now to mission-driven philanthropist and inspiration to so many.

Here are the key takeaways from this episode -

• The emotional turning point that led him to share his journey publicly and the unexpected support that followed
  
  
  
• The powerful role of community, hope, and advocacy in survivorship
  
  
  
• The importance of authenticity and vulnerability, especially around asking for help and advocating for yourself
  
  
  
• How walking the Camino de Santiago became a literal and spiritual pilgrimage for healing and purpose
  
  
  

This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating adversity. In Gregory’s words, “ We have an indomitable human will in our spirit.”

Connect with Gregory here:

Website(s): www.gregoryoproctor.com, www.reclaiming-life.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregory-o-proctor
Instagram: @gregoryoproctor
Podcast: www.kut2thachasepodcast.com
Email: gregory@k2tcpodcast.com

One of the most delightful guests I’ve ever had on the podcast!

Rachel Pedersen is an online marketing expert, a content creator, and business owner who has scaled to over 3 million followers, and reached over 100 million people annually. Her authentic and warm approach attracts millions to her website and her programs. She’s also a proud mom and wife. Her 2022 book, Unfiltered, is a USA Today bestseller.

I’ve been a fan of hers for years. Sitting down with her was like talking to an old friend.

My takeaways from this incredible conversation -

• Show up as yourself, and others will be drawn to you. Authenticity is magical these days.
• Celebrate your successes! Taking time and space to soak in the wins and the accomplishments will pay off dividends.
• When you design your life around your values and your priorities, everything flourishes. In Rachel’s words, she now feels “fantastic” after doing so.

You’ll also learn how she began to set boundaries in her life, and get a sneak peak at a special project she’s passionate about.

This is an episode not to miss!

Follow Rachel here:

WEBSITE:

www.rachelpedersen.com

FACEBOOK PROFILE:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=662785087

INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/themrspedersen/

YOUTUBE:

https://www.youtube.com/c/RACHELPEDERSENSOCIAL?sub_confirmation=1

THREADS: https://www.threads.net/@themrspedersen

TIKTOK: @themrspedersen

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrspedersen

FACEBOOK PAGE:

https://www.facebook.com/the.mrs.pedersen

LINKEDIN:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelpedersenmarketing/

PINTEREST:

https://www.pinterest.com/therachelpedersen/

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/becomeasocialmediamanager/