Rx for Success Podcast

What happens when a physician faces a devastating obstetrical outcome, crushing malpractice premiums, and the realization that the career path they've chosen is no longer sustainable? In this deeply personal and insightful episode of  Rx for Success , host  Dr. Randy Cook  sits down with  Dr. George Nowacek —an OBGYN practicing in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the newest addition to the MD Coac...

Many physicians today carry a quiet but persistent tension—trying to meet the demands of medicine while also showing up for their lives outside of it. And often, it can feel like no matter how much they give, it's never quite enough. In this insightful episode of Life Changing Moments, host Dr. Dael Waxman sits down with Dr. Cindy Van Praag—anesthesiologist, integrative health and wellness coach,...

What happens when a physician realizes she's running all her burners at 110% and something has to change? In this inspiring episode of Rx for Success , host Dr. Randy Cook sits down with Dr. Cindy Van Praag —a board-certified anesthesiologist, integrative medicine physician, health coach, and podcast host of Inspired Mom MDs . Cindy shares her remarkable journey from a childhood fascination with a...

If you're a physician and you've ever found yourself wondering, "Is it just me, or is something off?"—this conversation is for you. In this deeply reflective episode of  Life Changing Moments , host  Dr. Dael Waxman  is joined by his colleague at MD Coaches,  Dr. Carla Rotering —a pulmonologist, intensivist, former medical staff president, writer, poet, and musician with over 20 years of coaching...

Welcome to the very first video episode of Rx for Success ! After nine years as an audio-only podcast, host Dr. Randy Cook is thrilled to launch the videocast format with two extraordinary guests: Shayan Mashatian , a serial entrepreneur and technologist, and Dr. Desmond Bell , a podiatrist, limb preservation advocate, and president of WoundScribe AI. Together, they share the fascinating origin st...

Welcome to the evolution of  Life Changing Moments ! In this debut videocast episode, host  Dr. Dael Waxman  is joined by his colleague and fellow physician coach at MD Coaches,  Dr. Murnal Shah , for a foundational conversation about physician coaching. Together, they explore the nuanced landscape of coaching in medicine—why physicians seek it, what holds them back, and how coaching differs from...

Residency is one of the most profound life-changing seasons in a physician's journey—a time of rapid growth, deep uncertainty, and one of the biggest decisions of all: what comes next. In this unique collaborative episode, host  Dr. Dael Waxman  is joined by  Charles Lowry , Director of Graduate Medical Education Relations at  PracticeLink  and host of the  Surviving and Thriving in Residency  pod...

What if the key to physician career satisfaction and retention lies not in more training, but in better matching? In this insightful episode, Dr. Randy Cook welcomes  Mr. Charles Lowry , Director of Provider Engagement for  PracticeLink . Coming from a unique background in rural farming and international student services, Charles now dedicates his work to helping medical students, residents, and f...

What does it take to build a revolutionary business in surgery while living a life of high-altitude adventure? In this electrifying episode, Dr. Randy Cook sits down with Dr. Ronen Elefant , a trauma & acute care surgeon, jet pilot, and innovative entrepreneur. Dr. Elefant shares his remarkable journey from immigrating to the U.S. without speaking English to training at the famed Shock Trauma Cent...

What does it mean to live a life in medicine aligned with your deepest calling? In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Randy Cook sits down with  Dr. Rick Kellerman , a pillar of family medicine and Professor Emeritus from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita. Dr. Kellerman shares the inspiring story of his lifelong commitment to rural family medicine, tracing his path from being i...

How do we build a healthcare system where physicians and healthcare professionals can not only survive but truly thrive? In this illuminating episode of Life Changing Moments , host Dr. Dael Waxman sits down with a pioneer in the field, Dr. Jonathan Ripp , Chief Wellness Officer at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and co-founder of CHARM (the Collaborative for Healing and Renewal in Med...

What does a general surgeon know about navigating a career that feels misaligned? Everything. In this profound episode of  Life Changing Moments , host  Dr. Dael Waxman  sits down with  Dr. Rebecca Evangelista , a surgeon and academic leader who has masterfully shaped her career through a series of thoughtful and courageous pivots. Dr. Evangelista shares her incredible journey from a gap year work...

What does a plastic and reconstructive surgeon know about end-of-life care? Everything. In this profound episode of Rx for Success , host Dr. Randy Cook sits down with Dr. Nadine Semer , who made the remarkable transition from a successful career in plastic surgery to becoming a palliative medicine physician. Dr. Semer shares her incredible journey and the wisdom that led her to write the essentia...

Feeling exhausted, heartbroken, and questioning your future in medicine? You are not alone. In this powerful episode of Life-Changing Moments , host Dr. Dael Waxman sits down with Dr. Amna Shabbir , a primary care internist, geriatrician, and master certified physician coach, for a raw and honest conversation about physician burnout , moral injury , and finding a path forward. Dr. Shabbir bravely...

What does it truly mean to be successful in medicine? This episode features Dr. Valentin Calu, an Associate Professor of Surgery from Romania, who shares his profound journey from a near-fatal plane crash during an organ harvest mission to his powerful return to the operating room. Discover a unique perspective on surgical leadership, the importance of mentorship, and the deep personal growth requ...

If you or a healthcare professional you know is struggling, confidential help is available: Physician Support Line:  Call 1-888-409-0141. This is a national, free, and confidential support line staffed by volunteer psychiatrists. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:  Call or text 988 anytime for immediate support from a trained counselor. In the high-stakes world of medicine, the focus is relentlessly o...

In this profound conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir who is an internist, geriatrician, and life coach, shares her journey through medicine's highs and lows, revealing how self-awareness and resilience can transform burnout into purpose. From her early days in Pakistan's rigorous medical training to navigating health challenges during residency at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Shabbir emphasizes the power...

During a recent conversation, Dr. Bela Mehta, Chair of the Division of Pharmacy Practice and Science at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, shared her insights on the vital role of community pharmacists. The discussion highlighted the challenges faced during the COVID pandemic, including increased patient care demands and immunization efforts, which contributed to rising levels of burno...

Host Dr. Dael Waxman welcomes Dr. Stuart Slavin, Vice President for Well-Being at the ACGME, for a deep dive into the systemic challenges and solutions surrounding physician well-being in medical training. Dr. Slavin recounts his transformative work at St. Louis University, where interventions like reduced class time and pass-fail grading slashed student depression rates by 80%—without sacrificing...

In this episode of Life-Changing Moments , Dr. Kelly Schmidt, a fifth-year otolaryngology resident at the University of Missouri, shares pragmatic insights on resilience and self-care in medical training. Moving beyond conventional wellness advice, she emphasizes sustainable, small-scale habits—such as integrating personal checklists and celebrating incremental progress—to navigate residency's dem...

This episode of  Prescription for Success  features Dr. Stephanie Wu, an internationally renowned podiatrist and dean of the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Wu shares her unconventional journey into medicine, beginning with a career in marketing before serendipitously discovering podiatry through an unplanned MCAT exam. Her story highlights the importance of remaining open...

In this episode of  Prescription for Success , host Dr. Randy Cook speaks with Dr. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Lieberman, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in adult reconstruction and a core faculty member at Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Lieberman shares her journey into medicine, reflecting on her unconventional path—initially resistant to following in her father's (a urologist) footsteps befo...

Please see https://www.mymdcoaches.com/podcast/episode/a7461b32/199-the-ibmer-dennis-mihale-md-mba for previos Rx For Success Episode. Dr. Dael Waxman sits down with Dr. Dennis Mihale, a physician whose career has spanned clinical medicine, healthcare leadership, and corporate innovation. The conversation explores the universal challenges of professional reinvention, particularly for physicians na...

In this episode of  Prescription for Success , host Dr. Randy Cook interviews Dr. Ed Foxall, a surgeon with a unique career journey. Dr. Foxall shares how he overcame early challenges, including attending medical school in Guadalajara after U.S. rejections and persevering through board certification struggles. He emphasizes the "three A's" of success—being available, affable, and able—and highligh...

The episode features a roundtable discussion among the coaching team at MD Coaches, designed to address the complex and evolving landscape of modern medicine in honor of Physicians Week. We acknowledge the remarkable advancements in medical innovation and evidence-based practices that have significantly transformed patient care. While these innovations offer unprecedented opportunities for physici...