High Impact Physician

Most physicians are trained to lead by knowing the answer—until they step into roles where certainty becomes a liability. Dr. Jeffrey Wolf reflects on how his early identity as a confident surgeon shaped his initial approach to leadership. He shares the disorienting realization, during COVID incident command, that leading a complex health system required something entirely different than directing...

Most parents try to do everything “right.” Sandy discovered that real growth began only when she stopped performing strength—and started telling the truth. Sandy shares how raising Zach, her son with profound disabilities, dismantled her identity as a high achiever and forced her to build an inner world grounded in honesty, imagination, and meaning. She reflects on entering coaching from desperati...

Most physicians assume the only way to lead well is to work harder—until they realize the cost of that belief is far higher than they ever imagined. Dr. Tamara Moores-Todd shares how growing up as the smallest athlete on her team shaped her grit, her leadership instincts, and her belief in the power of setting others up to shine. She describes entering medicine with the assumption that perfection...

Most physicians imagine leadership as a linear climb. But for Dr. David Marcozzi, the real ascent began when he was stuck—unsure of his path, working as an orderly, and quietly absorbing everything around him. Dr. Marcozzi reflects on his earliest formative role as an orderly, learning that healing is a calling—and leadership can emerge from any level of an organization. A surgeon’s offhand commen...

Most physicians avoid hard conversations to stay kind—until they realize kindness without courage can cause more harm than good. Dr. Cara Beatty shares two pivotal moments that changed her:  Watching a mentor avoid a terminal diagnosis discussion and hearing Dr. Berwick speak about radical equity in care.  She reveals how her view of leadership evolved—from giving orders to building trust, asking...

Many physicians believe performance means constant motion—until they realize that slowing down might be the most powerful leadership move of all. Dr. Amit Vashist reflects on how his early years as a patient with a seizure disorder shaped his humanistic approach to healthcare.  Navigating a cross-cultural medical journey, he discovered that humility could be misunderstood—and that leadership meant...

Most physicians are trained to stay in control, to know the answers, and to solve problems quickly. But what happens when the real power lies in letting go, asking better questions—and even playing a little?  Dr. David Wild shares his early roots in a rural community and how family business and medicine shaped his leadership foundation.  A passion for anesthesia and systems-level change led to rol...

Most physicians rise through their careers believing that self-reliance is the key to success — until the moment it no longer works.  In this candid conversation, Dr. McNamara recounts: The rejection that forced her to confront her fear of asking for help. How mentorship transformed her belief about what makes a strong leader. The emotional cost of compartmentalization — and the freedom she found...

Dr. Jeffrey Albert had all the traditional markers of success—multiple leadership roles, decades of experience, and a deep commitment to healthcare. But beneath the surface, he felt stuck, disillusioned, and quietly burned out. In this episode: Dr. Albert reflects on how leadership began to feel hollow, even as he rose in influence and responsibility. He describes the creeping realization that kno...

Most physicians assume that success in medicine means working harder—but what if that’s the very mindset keeping them stuck? Dr. Nneka Unachukwu (Dr. Una) shares her incredible journey from a shy, introverted physician to a thriving entrepreneur and business leader. She opens up about the deep shame and imposter syndrome she faced when launching her business school, the fear of marketing as a new...

For years, Dr. Ben Reinking believed that working harder was the key to success—until it nearly broke him. In a career defined by relentless productivity, he found himself questioning whether he was truly fulfilled or just surviving. In this episode we discuss: Early Leadership Struggles: How growing up as the oldest of seven children shaped his natural leadership, but his quiet nature often made...

What if your biggest setback turned into your greatest opportunity? Dr. Cameron Roth never expected to be rejected from medical school. He had a clear plan—until life forced him to find another way. That detour led him to rural Central America, where he immersed himself in teaching and public health, an experience that reshaped his perspective on service, adaptability, and leadership. In this conv...

In this honest conversation, Sandy talks with Dr. Jon King, a seasoned surgeon who’s spent over three decades navigating the highs and lows of private practice. Dr. King opens up about the internal battles he faced with burnout, self-criticism, and the pressures of modern healthcare—and how he’s rewriting the script on leadership, purpose, and joy in medicine. Together, they dive into: Why Dr. Kin...

In this raw and reflective conversation, Sandy’s connecting with Dr. Jacob Anderson, a family physician and program director, who opens up about the highs and lows of stepping into a leadership role in medicine. Together, they explore: The realization of becoming “the powers that be,” and what it’s like to confront the very structures he once resisted. How curiosity—and even discomfort—can transfo...

In this deeply moving and candid conversation, Sandy Scott sits down with Dr. Stephen Beeson, founder of Practicing Excellence, to explore the intersection of professional leadership and personal vulnerability.  Together, they dive into: Dr. Beeson’s shift from a family physician to a leader focused human development. And the profound grief Dr. Beeson is navigating after the recent loss of his bro...

Let’s dig into: The role of bullies and dark places in our lives Growing from the judgment and rejection from peers The pragmatism of pausing to navigate our circumstances from the inside-out Unlocking the power of a “both—and” approach to life (vs “either—or”) How to say “no” in a way that leads to more “yeses” Why having a safe place to roleplay feedback is a winning strategy And more Dr. Jonath...

Let’s dive into: How mowing the lawn led to military and medical service The need for new mental models and ways of thinking Shifting from “I’ll do it” to “I’ll develop my people” Why connecting with others is a pragmatic strategy for being more productive Insights after a tough exit interview that Tom learned a ton from His mission to develop stronger medical leaders through coaching programs and...

Let’s dive into: Navigating gossip and a lack of psychological safety  What to do when keeping the peace has become a full time job Leading teams with intention and open lines of communication  Taking a formal leadership role a couple months before COVID The reason to keep track of failures  The power of replying to your emails in-person And more Dr. Becca Brakely, is an Associate Chief Medical Of...

This is a deeply meaningful episode that I think you’ll feel and take something away from: Meta-leadership vs traditional leadership Organizational intelligence vs emotional intelligence Being a part of the first HIV-positive delivery  Responding to the murder of a faculty member at the height of COVID Managing the overnight firing of 3 key physicians And more Dr. Leah Harris, among many things, C...

Let’s dig into: The payoff of overidentifying with work The link between perfectionism and self-esteem The unexpected result of being vulnerable  The power of therapy The science of meditating 3 minutes a day And a whole lot more Dr. John Guenther is an accomplished leader and pediatric specialist with over 37 years of experience.

This is a special episode because Dr. John Guenther was my son’s physician when he was born, and he diagnosed him with severe brain damage and seizure disorders. He impacted my family and I in a deep way. This feels vulnerable to publish — and I hope some part of it’s helpful to you. On this episode, we dig into: How human experience shapes us in deeper ways then we realize Meeting Dr. Guenther be...

Let’s dive into: Pivoting career aspirations after thinking your path is set  Losing a father unexpectedly at a critical time in life How to align stakeholders to solve problems faster Turning grief into learnings that shape us in profound ways How to break down problems to maximize your impact  Shaping the future of healthcare with AI  And more… Dr. Alan Young is a seasoned physician and healthca...

Let’s dive into: Why things can feel “off”, even when everything look amazing from the outside How to actually get out of a rut, without putting a bandaid How an unexpected death in his family sparked his formal leadership journey Managing young faculty, remotely, from the horn of Africa (before COVID) A simple way to guarantee you have time in your day to spend on strategy  Transitioning between...

Let’s dive into: A successful collaboration between a medical group practice and a hospital that reduced readmissions Feeling unsettled with deciding what to focus on Managing concerns from a group of physicians in an efficient way How to have difficult and productive conversations with senior leaders  Exactly how he uses a part-time virtual assistant to get more done in less time   Evolving and a...

Let’s dive into: Jumping into things you don’t know much about  The transition from treating patients to fixing broken systems How to rise above task-drag and spend more time working strategically  The pitfalls of taking too much responsibility  Making space for people who haven’t talked in a meeting How to bring more perspectives to the table in a productive way Dr. Amy Scanlan is the Chief Medic...