Episodios

  • Episode 142: The Power of Coaching and Reflection in a Physician’s Journey

    Episode 142: The Power of Coaching and Reflection in a Physician’s Journey
    Oct 6 2025

    Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

    In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Pam Pappas, a seasoned psychiatrist based in Scottsdale, Arizona, whose passion for supporting physicians through burnout has shaped a unique and impactful career. Drawing on her extensive background in psychiatry, integrative medicine, homeopathy, and spiritual wellness, Dr. Pappas shares her personal journey through multiple cycles of burnout and the hard-won wisdom that emerged from those experiences.

    Together, Dr. Smith and Dr. Pappas explore the realities of working in high-pressure medical environments, the myth that changing jobs will always solve burnout, and the deep cultural expectations in medicine that can make doctors feel isolated and inadequate. Dr. Pappas discusses how coaching—still a novel concept for many in healthcare—became a lifeline for herself and now forms the cornerstone of her work with colleagues seeking more sustainable and fulfilling clinical lives.

    Listeners will gain insight into the importance of self-reflection, tapping into one’s inner wisdom, and making authentic choices—whether that means reshaping your current position or making a courageous transition. This conversation offers tangible hope and guidance for clinicians who are craving real change and a more balanced, joyful path in medicine.

    Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

    1. Real Healing Goes Beyond the Surface: Burnout isn’t just about toxic environments—it’s also about how we process and integrate our experiences as clinicians. Coaching can help us ask deeper questions, like “What do you truly want?” instead of just “How do you cope?”
    2. Mentorship Isn’t the Same as Coaching: Traditional medical mentorship often models unsustainable work habits, while coaching creates space for reflection, self-discovery, and personalized pathways to change—something most doctors have never been asked to do.
    3. Your Wisdom Is a Hidden Superpower: Dr. Pappas highlights the importance of tapping into our own innate wisdom—beyond intellect and rote skills—to guide us toward more aligned, joyful, and sustainable careers in medicine.

    Meet Dr. Pam Pappas:

    Pam Pappas MD, FAPA is a highly experienced psychiatrist and physician coach who helps physicians cultivate clarity, compassion, wisdom, and FUN in their personal lives, medical practices, teams, and organizations. She lives and works from a psychospiritual understanding that takes excess worry and stress off our minds, and revives hope, insight, autonomy, and sense of purpose. This "Wisdom-Informed" orientation allows more natural, fulfilling, and effective action in the world -- transforming burnout into wholehearted living, working, and leading.

    You can find Dr. Pam Pappas on:

    • Facebook: @TheAHADoctor
    • Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pampappasmd/
    • Website: https://www.thehappymd.com/physician-coach-pam-pappas
    • Website: https://drpampappas.com/

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    Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here

    **** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

    Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

    **** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

    **** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

    **** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.
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    46 m
  • Episode 141: Team-Based Care and Efficiency - Building a Thriving Rural Private Practice

    Episode 141: Team-Based Care and Efficiency - Building a Thriving Rural Private Practice
    Sep 29 2025
    Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Brittany Anderson, a passionate rural family medicine physician from Alabama who’s breaking the myth that private practice is dead. Dr. Anderson shares her inspiring journey from employed, academic medicine—where bureaucracy and lack of autonomy led to burnout—to launching her own thriving private practice in 2022. She opens up about the challenges and rewards of creating a sustainable, patient-centered clinic from the ground up, how she built a strong team, and the financial realities of going solo. Dr. Anderson also offers valuable advice for physicians considering private practice, emphasizing the importance of vision, efficient teamwork, and maintaining personal well-being along the entrepreneurial journey. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to make private practice work in today’s healthcare landscape, or you’re navigating burnout yourself, this episode is packed with practical insights, encouragement, and hope. Tune in and get ready to be inspired! Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode: Build on a Strong Foundation: Before launching your own practice, get crystal clear on your vision and mission. Let these guide every decision—from hiring to daily processes—so you create a practice aligned with your purpose.Teamwork & Efficiency Matter: Dr. Anderson credits her success to a well-integrated team. Investing in proper team formation, regular huddles, and empowering every staff member (from receptionist to nursing staff) leads to efficient care, happier patients, and less burnout.Start Lean, Grow Smart: You don’t need the fanciest setup to begin. Focus on essential expenses, know your numbers, and market purposefully. Dr. Anderson started small, used powerful grassroots marketing, and filled her panel from day one—proof positive that strategic planning works! Meet Dr. Brittney Anderson: I’m Dr. Brittney Anderson, a board-certified family medicine physician and the founder and CEO of Anderson Family Care — a thriving private practice I launched in Alabama in 2022. I completed undergraduate studies at Duke University and medical school at UAB (Birmingham) I did my family medicine residency training at The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa). I know firsthand how overwhelming (and exhilarating) it can be to step away from traditional models and create something of your own. That’s why I’m passionate about helping other physicians reclaim their freedom and joy in medicine by launching successful private practices of their own. In addition to my clinical and coaching work, I host the podcast, Physicians Hanging a Shingle, and I’m honored to serve as current Board Chair of the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians and Vice-Speaker for the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. I also serve on numerous boards throughout my community and state, working to amplify the voice of physicians and improve healthcare access in Alabama. You can find Dr. Brittney Anderson on: Instagram: @hanging_a_shingleLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbrittneyanderson/ Website: https://hangingashingle.com/ Sign up for her weekly newsletter: https://hangingashingle.com/subscribe -------------- Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here **** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine. Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca **** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released. **** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life. **** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.
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    49 m
  • Episode 140: Teamwork That Transforms - Practical Steps to Improve Access & Sustainability

    Episode 140: Teamwork That Transforms - Practical Steps to Improve Access & Sustainability
    Sep 22 2025

    Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

    In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Marcia Kashani, a nurse and experienced healthcare improvement advisor, to explore practical strategies for making your clinical day more efficient, effective, and—most importantly—sustainable. Drawing on years of experience facilitating primary care transformation and team-based initiatives, Dr. Kashani shares stories of real-world success: from leveraging the strengths of every team member, to optimizing clinic workflows, and even reimagining how tasks get delegated to maximize value for both clinicians and patients.

    If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by a never-ending list of tasks, long wait times for appointments, or the challenge of figuring out what you can hand off—and to whom—this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Dr. Smith and Dr. Kashani offer actionable insights into improving access, reducing unnecessary physician workload, and embracing change as a path to better care and a better work-life balance. Whether you’re part of a large clinic or running a small practice, you’ll find inspiration and hope for positive change right here. Tune in and take one step closer to reclaiming time for your patients—and yourself!

    Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

    1. Empower Your Team: Distinguish between physician, nurse, and administrative tasks. When tasks are thoughtfully delegated—like patient screening calls or form-filling—clinicians can reclaim time for patient care and improve office efficiency.
    2. Reduce Unnecessary Visits: Examine return visit rates and consider whether clinical follow-ups always require physician attention. Thoughtful use of nurses, pharmacists, and even patients’ support networks can safely reduce visit volumes and waiting times.
    3. Leverage Process Improvement: Document and map out workflows to highlight inefficiencies, duplications, and points of delay (like EMR optimization or referral processing). Even simple changes—like consistently titling scanned documents—deliver significant time savings for clinicians.

    Meet Dr. Marcia Kashani:

    Marcia has over 40 years of front-line nursing and progressive leadership experience in primary care, community care and acute care. Notable accomplishments include involvement in the business planning and governance of multiple Primary Care Networks in the Edmonton Zone.

    In 2005 her focus turned to Quality Improvement and System Redesign where she became the first non-physician AIM faculty, participating in several AIM collaboratives. She completed the Improvement Advisor Program through the Institute of Healthcare Improvement and continued as a facilitator for the program.

    Most recently, Marcia has been a project manager with the Edmonton Zone Primary Care Networks team and North Zone Primary Care Business Unit, including work with Transitions of Care, Specialty Access and Referral teams, and assisting Practice Facilitators with improvement initiatives.

    You can find Dr. Marcia Kashani on:

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcia-kashani-44898638/

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    Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here

    **** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

    Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

    **** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

    **** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

    **** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.
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    47 m
  • Episode 139: Transforming Healthcare Teams Through Positive Deviance and Liberating Structures

    Episode 139: Transforming Healthcare Teams Through Positive Deviance and Liberating Structures
    Sep 15 2025
    Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Jeff Cohn, a retired hematologist-oncologist whose journey took him from the patient bedside to the halls of hospital leadership and, ultimately, to coaching fellow physicians. Dr. Cohn shares deeply moving stories from his clinical days—like orchestrating a final, meaningful anniversary for two dying patients—as well as the challenges and motivations that led him to transition into healthcare quality improvement. Through engaging anecdotes, Dr. Cohn reveals how he championed transformative approaches to organizational change, particularly the innovative use of “positive deviance” to tackle MRSA infections in the hospital. He explains how listening to frontline healthcare workers and drawing out internal best practices led to remarkable reductions in hospital-acquired infections—by 85%! Along the way, you'll learn about practical facilitative techniques, such as “liberating structures,” that empower teams and ensure every voice is heard. The episode also delves into the realities of clinician burnout, the complexities of driving system-wide change, and Dr. Cohn’s current passion: coaching physicians in positive intelligence and mental fitness. Whether you’re a healthcare professional or simply interested in sustainable, people-centered medicine, this conversation offers inspiring perspectives and actionable insights on making systems—and ourselves—work better. Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode: Harnessing Frontline Wisdom: Dr. Cohn described the transformative power of inviting frontline staff to identify solutions—a process called “positive deviance.” By genuinely asking nurses, transporters, and other care team members for their ideas (and truly listening), his organization achieved an 85% reduction in MRSA infections, all through internally sourced solutions.Liberating Structures Make Meetings Matter: Traditional hospital meetings too often drain energy and stifle creativity. Dr. Cohn’s team used “liberating structures”—simple yet structured facilitation tools—to ensure every voice was heard, which sparked engagement and uncovered innovative solutions.Prioritizing Wellbeing for Sustainable Change: Through his coaching work, Dr. Cohn now helps physicians leverage mental fitness and positive psychology. He emphasizes that systemic change should support—not overwhelm—the clinical workforce, and that even within challenging systems, there are individuals and habits from which we can all learn. Meet Dr. Jeff Cohn: I'm a native Philadelphian, trained as a hematologist/medical oncologist. I practiced/taught/did clinical research full-time for the first 15 years of my career. I then was asked to assume various non-clinical roles (division head, interim Chair of Internal Medicine, Chief Quality Officer). The Chief Quality Officer role ultimately became a full-time role and I held that position for 12 years. Since then I've led a non-profit organization for three years (Plexus Institute) and worked with a couple of design teams as the medical director. I'm now working as a Mental Fitness and Leadership coach with physicians. Along the way I obtained a Masters in Healthcare Management from Harvard School of Public Health. You can find Dr. Jeff Cohn on: Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-cohn-2738b82b/Website: https://caretochangecoaching.com/ -------------- Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here **** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine. Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca **** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released. **** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life. **** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.
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    48 m
  • Episode 138: How Medical Training Trauma Shapes Doctors and What We Can Do About It

    Episode 138: How Medical Training Trauma Shapes Doctors and What We Can Do About It
    Sep 8 2025
    Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast! In this inspiring episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Cynthia Chen-Joea, a double board-certified family and obesity medicine physician, educator, and passionate advocate for physician wellness. Dr. Cynthia shares her personal journey from academic medicine through the challenges of burnout, her transformative experience with coaching, and how becoming a parent reshaped her professional values and priorities. Together, they dive deep into the realities of trauma and harm in medical training, the persistence of unhealthy work habits into clinical practice, and the importance of redefining our identities as physicians. Dr. Cynthia also discusses practical strategies for establishing boundaries, healing from the pressures of perfectionism and people-pleasing, and making medicine truly sustainable. You’ll hear about her current work supporting physicians through coaching, retreats, and advocacy, and discover how small daily changes can lead to a more meaningful, balanced career. If you’ve ever questioned what it means to thrive in medicine, or wondered how to reclaim your empathy and joy for the profession, this conversation is packed with insightful stories and actionable advice. Tune in for a message of hope, transformation, and the reminder that a sustainable career in medicine is possible. Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode: Medical training often normalizes unhealthy patterns: Dr. Chen-Joea highlights how the culture of self-sacrifice and hierarchy during medical training can introduce trauma, shaping physicians to ignore their own needs. Breaking these cycles is essential for lasting well-being.Redefining your career is possible—and necessary: Whether through coaching, boundary-setting, or exploring new roles, Dr. Chen-Joea emphasizes that medicine can be sustainable. Small, intentional changes—like building in non-negotiable personal time—can have a huge impact.Trauma awareness matters (and it’s practical): Understanding your own “activation” responses (like fight, flight, freeze, or fawn) is key. Recognizing these signs allows clinicians to proactively care for themselves and model healthy behaviors for colleagues and patients alike. Meet Dr. Cynthia Chen-Joea: Dr. Cynthia Chen-Joea is a physician career and life coach dedicated to helping early-career physicians finding sustainability in medicine by achieving their “career by design” goals while cultivating a healthy work-life balance. She is a double board-certified physician in family and obesity medicine. Dr. Chen-Joea currently serves as a Medical Director of Copa de Oro Medical Group and Inpatient Director at the Charles Drew Family Medicine Residency Program. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Chen-Joea has held numerous leadership roles, including her past position as Department Chair of Family Medicine, Secretary-Treasurer of the Medical Staff and Physician Advisor at Emanate Health. She is also very active in advocacy on her local, state and national specialty organizations, and currently represents her peers as the New Physician Director on the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Board of Directors. Dr. Chen-Joea is passionate about advancing physician wellness, advocating at the systemic level, and providing individual coaching support to empower physicians in achieving sustainable careers in medicine. Her interests include inpatient medicine, leadership, advocacy, procedures and women's health. Outside of work, Dr. Chen-Joea enjoys quality time with her two-year-old daughter and her nine-year-old pup, traveling and exploring new cultures with her husband, savoring delicious foods, practicing yoga and Pilates, and indulging in the occasional Netflix reality TV binge. You can find Dr. Cynthia Chen-Joea on: Instagram/Facebook: @thrivationcoachingLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-chen-joea-do-mph-faafp-dabom-002b5a1b/Website: thrivationcoaching.com -------------- Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here **** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine. Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca **** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released. **** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life. **** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.
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    41 m
  • Episode 137: Transforming Medicine from the Inside Out: Leadership, Wellness, and Change

    Episode 137: Transforming Medicine from the Inside Out: Leadership, Wellness, and Change
    Sep 1 2025

    Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

    This week, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Diane Sliwka, Chief Physician Experience Officer at UCSF, to explore what it really takes to create a sustainable and fulfilling career in medicine.

    Dr. Sliwka shares her personal journey through hospital medicine, the challenges of burnout, and how systemic change and leadership can make a real difference for clinicians. Together, they discuss practical strategies for improving work-life balance, the power of advocacy, and the importance of open communication in healthcare organizations.

    Whether you’re a physician, healthcare leader, or anyone interested in the future of clinical practice, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration to help you thrive in your career and support a healthier medical community.

    Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

    1. Systemic Change Is Essential for Combating Burnout: Dr. Sliwka’s experience highlights that physician burnout is often rooted in systemic issues—such as long hours, inflexible schedules, and excessive documentation. Addressing these challenges requires organizational change, not just individual resilience.
    2. Leadership and Advocacy Make a Difference: Taking on leadership roles and advocating for change within the system can lead to meaningful improvements. Dr. Sliwka’s journey shows that when clinicians step into leadership and use data to drive decisions, they can influence policies that support well-being, such as improved scheduling, documentation support, and wellness initiatives.
    3. Continuous Improvement and Open Communication Are Key: Sustainable clinical practice depends on ongoing feedback, open communication between frontline staff and leadership, and a willingness to adapt. Initiatives like anonymous surveys, regular check-ins, and a culture that values listening to clinicians’ needs are crucial for creating a healthier, more supportive work environment.

    Meet Dr. Diane Sliwka:

    Diane Sliwka, MD is a Hospitalist and Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. In her role as Chief Physician Experience Officer at UCSF Health, she has led provider experience efforts organizationally since 2014. Diane co-designed and facilitated UCSF’s well-being centered leadership development program for physicians. She also leads UCSF Health’s Center for Enhancement of Communication in Healthcare which provides relationship centered communication skills training for providers. She hosts “The Expansive Life Project” on Instagram, providing personal well-being resources and tips focused on mid-career working professionals.

    You can find Dr. Sliwka on:

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexpansivelifeproject/
    • Linked In: linkedin.com/in/diane-sliwka-md-59122413b
    • UCSF Web Bio: https://hospitalmedicine.ucsf.edu/people/diane-sliwka

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    Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here

    **** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

    Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

    **** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

    **** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

    **** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.
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    42 m
  • Episode 136: The Future of Physician Wellbeing, Advocating for Doctors & Rethinking Physician Support.

    Episode 136: The Future of Physician Wellbeing, Advocating for Doctors & Rethinking Physician Support.
    Aug 25 2025
    Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast! In this Episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Stefanie Simmons, an emergency medicine physician and the Chief Medical Officer of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation. Together, they dive deep into the critical topic of healthcare workforce burnout and what it really takes to create healthier, more sustainable clinical environments—not just for physicians, but for all healthcare workers. Dr. Simmons shares her personal journey from residency, through struggles with peripartum depression, to pioneering new roles in clinician well-being and organizational support. They explore the stigma surrounding mental health in medicine, discuss the evolution of coaching and peer support, and look at the broader culture shift that's starting to reshape the medical landscape. Whether you're a healthcare professional searching for tools to thrive or an advocate for change in medicine, this conversation is packed with practical insights and hope for building a more supportive future in clinical practice. Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode: Systemic Change is Essential: We need to move beyond just “building a stronger canary”—the focus must be on building better, more human-centered healthcare environments that support both patients and clinicians.Removing Mental Health Stigma Matters: Dr. Simmons spotlights the real harm from outdated licensing and credentialing questions about mental health. Progress is happening: more states and organizations are removing these barriers, making it safer for clinicians to seek help.Actionable Resources Exist: The Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation provides toolkits, badges, and learning collaboratives to help organizations enhance clinician wellbeing, reduce administrative burden, and foster peer support. Meet Dr. Stefanie Simmons: Stefanie Simmons, MD is the Chief Medical Officer at the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation and a board-certified emergency medicine physician. She was the primary advisor to NIOSH for the Impact WellbeingTM guide for healthcare leaders, leads multi-state programs to improve the operational environment of care and remove barriers to mental health care, and serves as a national thought leader in healthcare worker well-being. Stefanie served as the Vice President of Patient and Clinician Experience for Envision over 7 years, serving 26,000 physicians and advanced practice providers with a focus on professional well-being, including translational research and programs designed to bring well-being best practices to clinical environments. She served as lead clinical faculty for the Clinician Experience Project Wellbeing program. Stefanie earned her Bachelor of Science and Medical Doctor degrees from University of Michigan and completed residency training at the University of Michigan/St. Joseph Mercy emergency medicine residency. She has completed additional training in medical education, research methods, coaching, and positive organizational psychology. Please pay special attention to this detailed list of mental health resources, tools and ways to access more information on Dr. Simmons work. ALL IN for Mental Health: https://drlornabreen.org/allinformentalhealth/Specifically the ALL IN for Mental Health resource page: https://drlornabreen.org/allinformentalhealth/six-actions/accessible-affordable-mental-health-care/ACEP wellbeing resource page: https://www.acep.org/life-as-a-physician/wellnessLorna Breen Heroes' Foundation Licensing/Credentialing toolkit: https://drlornabreen.org/removebarriers/Write your Representative to support Reauthorization of the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection act: https://drlornabreen.org/reauthorizelba/Become an Ambassador: https://drlornabreen.org/become-an-ambassador/Donate (and thank you!): https://drlornabreen.org/donate/ -------------- Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here **** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine. Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca **** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released. **** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life. **** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.
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    38 m
  • Episode 135: Leadership and Lean Practice Strategies Returning Joy to Patient Care

    Episode 135: Leadership and Lean Practice Strategies Returning Joy to Patient Care
    Aug 18 2025

    Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

    In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Paul DeChant, a family physician and former CEO with decades of experience transforming healthcare organizations. Dr. DeChant shares his journey from a frontline family doctor to leading a 300-physician medical group through transformative change using the principles of Lean management—with a core focus on respecting people and restoring joy to the practice of medicine. Together, they explore the root causes of physician burnout, how aligning values and empowering local autonomy can revolutionize clinical workplaces, and the practical strategies—like daily huddles and "getting rid of stupid stuff"—that make care more efficient and sustainable for healthcare teams. If you're looking for real-world insights into creating healthier clinical environments and reclaiming work-life balance, this conversation is packed with ideas, inspiration, and actionable advice. Tune in for expert wisdom on building a medical career—and a life—worth sustaining.

    Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

    1. Respect for People Drives Results: Dr. DeChant’s leadership at Sutter Gould Medical Foundation focused on Lean principles—especially respect for people and empowering clinicians to solve problems at the local level. This shift led to dramatic improvements in physician satisfaction and organizational performance.
    2. Addressing Burnout Means Redesigning Work, Not Just Building Resilience: Burnout is mostly a SYSTEM issue, not an individual failing. By analyzing and redesigning workflows (from front desk processes to the physical design of clinics), Dr. DeChant’s team reduced unnecessary burdens, improved efficiency, and helped clinicians reconnect with joy in their work.
    3. Daily Huddles for Continuous Improvement: Instituting short, focused daily team huddles had a profound impact—building appreciation, improving communication, and addressing small problems before they snowball. These micro-adjustments collectively created a more supportive environment and drastically reduced staff turnover.

    Meet Dr. Paul DeChant:

    Dr. Paul F. DeChant, MD, MBA, FAAFP Principal and Co-Founder, Organizational Wellbeing Solutions, LLC Dr. Paul DeChant is a thought leader on leading organizational transformation and creating healthy workplaces. Paul advises C-level healthcare executives on managing critical problems such as financial and staffing challenges by transforming management systems and cultures to reduce the root causes of clinician burnout, improve KPI performance, and reduce burnout. He supports the AMA’s Professional Satisfaction and Practice Sustainment team and teaches at the University of Colorado – Denver’s Graduate School of Business. Following 25 years practicing family medicine, Dr. DeChant became CEO of the Sutter Gould Medical Foundation, where he led a transformation based on the theme of “Returning Joy to Patient Care.” After four years the group achieved recognition as the highest performing among 170 medical groups across the State of California two years in a row, while improving physician satisfaction from the 45th to 87th percentile on AMGA’s Provider Satisfaction Survey. He received his MD from the Oregon Health Sciences University and his MBA from the University of Colorado-Denver. Co-author of the book, “Preventing Physician Burnout: Curing the Chaos and Returning Joy to the Practice of Medicine”, Paul speaks internationally, and blogs regularly at www.pauldechantmd.com

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    Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here

    **** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

    Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

    **** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

    **** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

    **** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.
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    56 m