Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare

What happens when burnout pushes physicians toward innovative, autonomous careers? In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin continues her conversation with Dr. Kim Chan Co,  to speak about her journey from ophthalmology to launching Reset Ketamine in Palm Springs. Kim discusses supporting her husband Sam's shift from ER medicine to ketamine infusions, the clinic's focus on treatment-resistant depre...

What happens when the “perfect” medical specialty no longer fits, and you dare to forge a new path? In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin sits down with Dr. Kim Chan Ko, a former academic ophthalmologist and co-founder of Ketamine Startup, to explore her transition from repairing eyes to building a ketamine infusion clinic and teaching other physicians to do the same. Kim opens up about the chal...

How can emergency physicians thrive in a broken system while staying true to themselves?  In part two of this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin and Dr. Leslie Crawford explores sustainable solutions for physician well-being and systemic change in healthcare. Leslie shares insights from her journey as an emergency physician, reflecting on the toll of circadian rhythm disruptions, the limitations of q...

How can emergency physicians thrive amidst chaos and stress?  In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin reconnects with Dr. Leslie Crawford, a fellow residency alum, board-certified emergency physician, and creator of the Stress Relief Survival Guide . Dr.  Koenig shares her story of navigating COVID exposure, military service, and the demands of emergency medicine while raising a family. She discus...

What happens when insurance companies and emergency physicians clash over fair payment, leaving patients caught in the middle?  In this Echo Episode, part two of a two-part series, Dr. Andrea Austin talks with Dr. Jillian Schmitz about the pressing challenges in emergency medicine today. Dr. Schmitz explains the intricacies of surprise billing, where out-of-network emergency care leads to unexpect...

What does it take to lead emergency medicine through unprecedented challenges like workforce shortages and systemic burnout? In this Heartline Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin sits down with Dr. Gillian Schmitz to explore her career trajectory, from civilian roles in military medicine to becoming ACEP's past president. Gillian reflects on her path, inspired by her father's military service, and how...

What happens when the demands of academic emergency medicine collide with personal health and family priorities?  In this Heartline Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin speaks with Dr. Shannon McNamara about her transition from simulation director and ED physician to urgent care provider amid burnout, moral injury, and the pandemic. Shannon recounts her nomadic upbringing, love for emergency medicine's...

What does it take to break free from financial stress and become a changemaker in healthcare?  In this episode, Dr. Andrea Austin connects with Michael Swartz, a fee-only financial planner and coach who specializes in guiding physicians from residency to retirement. Drawing from his work at Schwartz Financial Planning, and his Health and Wealthness podcast, Michael offers a roadmap for physicians...

  What does it take to lead change in healthcare’s most challenging environments? In this episode, Dr. Andrea Austin connects with Stephen Berkeley, a healthcare administrator turned change facilitator, and Anne Boland, a coaching psychologist, to explore how leadership, self-awareness, and curiosity can reshape healthcare systems. Stephen shares his 35-year journey in healthcare administration, f...

  Ever wonder why healthcare policy feels like a maze? Or how one doctor can spark systemic change? In this episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare , Dr. Andrea Austin talks with Dr. Scott Pasichow, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and a passionate advocate for equity and reform. Scott’s advocacy journey began with a personal realization: t...

Healthcare’s broken system hurts patients and physicians, but collective action can heal it. In this episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare , I sit down with Kim Downey, a physical therapist, three-time cancer survivor, and Community Ambassador for Medicine Forward and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation. Kim shares her transformative journey—facing thyroid and breast cancer, multiple...

Burnout and trauma can feel like dead ends, but what if they’re inflection points for growth? In this episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare , I, Dr. Andrea Austin, share a deeply personal chapter from my book Revitalized , reflecting on my recovery from soul-level burnout during the pandemic. Drawing on lessons from therapy, coaching, and vulnerability, I explore the power of “and”—embr...

Burnout doesn’t have to be the only option in medicine.  In this conversation, Dr. Diane Shannon shares her personal journey through burnout and how she found her way through.  We explore the small, yet impactful changes that can completely transform a physician’s career—whether it’s learning to set boundaries or recognizing the trauma and moral injury that so often go unspoken in our profession....

You shouldn’t need a PhD in insurance billing to understand why your medication costs $600 this month and $60 the next. But for millions of Americans, that’s the reality. In this episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare , I talk to pharmacist and startup founder Vinay Patel, whose decade-long career spans high-volume pharmacy operations, clinical program design, and now, drug pricing refor...

In episode 104, I sit down with David Norris, a seasoned entrepreneur and AI innovator, to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare. As the CEO of Affineon, David brings a wealth of experience and a passion for solving real-world problems in the medical field. Our conversation delves into the exciting possibilities AI offers for reducing administrative burdens...

In episode 103, I sit down with Dr. Bradley Block, an ENT surgeon and host of the Physician's Guide to Doctoring podcast, to explore the art of effective communication in healthcare. Our conversation delves into the challenges physicians face when interacting with patients and offers practical strategies to enhance these crucial interactions. Dr. Block shares his journey from an "uninspiring" path...

In episode 102, I sit down with Dr. Anita Bangale, a fellow emergency medicine physician who has expanded her career beyond the ER walls. We explore the concept of appreciative inquiry and how it can transform healthcare from within, focusing on what's going right rather than dwelling on the negatives. Dr. Bangale shares her personal journey of rediscovering joy in medicine after experiencing burn...

In this Heartline Echo Episode, I sit down with Sharee Johnson, a psychologist, executive coach, and author of "The Thriving Doctor," to explore the critical role of leadership in transforming healthcare. As we navigate the complexities of modern medicine, we delve into the essential skills and mindsets that can help physicians not just survive, but truly thrive in their careers. Our conversation...

In episode 101, I sit down with Dr. Cheryl Martin , emergency physician and host of The Mind Full Medic podcast , to explore the fascinating world of changemaking in healthcare. As we delve into the findings of my recent research, we uncover the essential ingredients that enable healthcare professionals to become effective agents of positive transformation. Our conversation sheds light on the deli...

In this Heartline Echo Episode, envision a transformative journey beyond the confines of clinical practice—a path where medical expertise converges with an entrepreneurial spirit! Join us in this week's episode with Dr. Gina Siddiqui as she discusses her passion for patient care and how it led her to become the founder and CEO of ⁠Carte Clinics⁠ , a membership-based on-call physician service. List...

In this Heartline Echo Episode, Dr. Shikha Jain discusses her journey into medicine and her multifaceted career. The conversation highlights systemic changes needed in healthcare, such as pay transparency, diverse leadership, and supporting women's career development. Dr. Jain emphasizes the importance of personal joy, career advancement, and family balance in her professional decisions, offering...

In this Heartline Echo Episode, Dr. Shan Liu, a physician and children's book author shares her journey of writing ⁠The Masked Hero⁠ . Inspired by her great-grandfather's invention of a face mask to combat the Manchurian plague, Dr. Liu illustrates how heroes come from diverse backgrounds. Join us in this week's episode to learn of how Dr. Liu went from feeling defeated during the worst moments of...

In this Heartline Echo Episode, I revisit a powerful conversation with Drs. Maryanna Barrett and Maria Paasch, two innovative OB-GYNs who have transformed their practice by integrating functional medicine. Their journey from traditional obstetrics and gynecology to a more holistic approach offers valuable insights for healthcare professionals seeking to enhance patient care and rediscover their pa...

In this Heartline Echo Episode, we revisit a powerful conversation with twin OB-GYN twin sisters, Dr. Maryanna Barrett and Dr. Maria Paasch. Their journey from childhood aspirations to becoming trailblazers in women's health care offers a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of medicine. As we explore their story, we uncover the pivotal moments that shaped their career paths, from their fa...

In this Heartline Echo Episode, I sit down with Dr. Maryam Zia, a hematologist and oncologist at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, to explore the profound impact of compassionate care in challenging healthcare environments. Dr. Zia's journey serving underserved communities offers a unique perspective on the rewards and challenges of working in public healthcare. Our conversation delves into the hea...