Academic Medicine Strategy Podcast

Celebrating wins rarely makes it onto a physician's calendar because it never looks urgent. Dr. Stacey Ishman, pediatric otolaryngologist and founder of Academic Medicine Strategy Group, shares how her book, The Physician's Guide to Owning Your Time, hit #1 on Amazon and she forgot to celebrate. She explains why physicians deflect their wins and how to make celebration intentional.   Key Poin...

Dr. Stacey Ishman shares the physician time management tools behind her #1 bestseller and how to align your calendar with your values in academic medicine.   Episode Summary: Physician time management starts with one honest question: does your calendar reflect your values? Dr. Stacey Ishman, pediatric otolaryngologist and founder of Academic Medicine Strategy Group, talks with Kirsten, AMedSG...

Your research plan is the document your career is built on. It determines what you're known for, who invites you to speak, and whether your promotion case tells a coherent story. Most early-career academic physicians don't have one. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman walks through how to build a research plan that holds — from identifying your niche and using local institutional resources, to sett...

Networking is a skill. It has a structure, it can be prepared for, and it gets easier with practice. This episode is the mechanics. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman — a self-described introvert who grew up performing in her mother's opera company — breaks down what effective networking actually looks like for academic physicians at meetings, on committees, and online.   Topics covered: –&nb...

Committee membership is where visibility converts into institutional presence. It's also where a lot of academic physicians stall out — either because they don't know how the process works or because they get on a committee and don't do the work. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman walks through the full committee arc: how to select the right organizations, how to get appointed, and how to make you...

Being in the room is step one. Getting on the program is what comes next. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman breaks down the practical mechanics of securing a speaking spot at academic meetings — from abstract submission strategy to panel design to the direct ask most people avoid making. Topics covered: –  Building a conference calendar with abstract and panel deadlines mapped 6-12 months ou...

National meetings are one of the fastest ways to build a national reputation — but only if you approach them with a strategy. Showing up is not enough. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman walks through how to use academic conferences as a career-building tool, not just a CE credit opportunity. She shares how she navigated early career introversion to build meaningful relationships with thought lead...

Before you get on the program, before you network strategically, before you build your research plan — you need to know what you're known for. Or more precisely, what you want to be known for. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman walks through the process of identifying and committing to your one word: the niche, focus area, or phrase that will anchor your publications, presentations, and national r...

What does it take to build a professional identity that supports both career growth and a meaningful academic career? In this episode, Dr. Chris McMains discusses professional identity formation, belonging, career transitions, and why early-career physicians need more than a list of accomplishments to thrive. If you’re interested in working with Academic Medicine Strategy Group, visit www.amedsg.c...

Time management is one of the most common challenges physicians face, especially when balancing clinical responsibilities with research, education, leadership, promotion, and life outside of work. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman explains why effective time management is not about doing more—it is about creating systems, finding the right method, and intentionally protecting what matters most. N...

What makes a great medical school isn't just an innovative curriculum—it's faculty who know how to help learners grow. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman sits down with Dr. David Battinelli, Executive Vice President, Physician-in-Chief of Northwell Health, and Dean of the Zucker School of Medicine, to discuss why faculty development is the foundation of educational excellence and how academic lead...

What does it take to build an academic career that is both successful and sustainable? In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman sits down with pediatric otolaryngologist Dr. Pamela Mudd to discuss how finding your niche, leading with intention, and learning to say no can transform your career trajectory. Their conversation offers practical lessons for early-career faculty who want to build careers they...

In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman sits down with physician-scientist, former dean, and national academic medicine leader Joe Kerschner to discuss mentorship, faculty development, retention, burnout, and the future of academic medicine. Their conversation offers practical insights for early-career physicians seeking to build meaningful careers while avoiding common pitfalls that derail promotion a...

Why do some faculty reach associate professor in four years while others take seven? In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman explores the strategic decisions that consistently separate those who advance more quickly. If you're in your first decade of academic medicine, this conversation will help you focus your limited time on the work that truly moves your career forward. No need to take notes—visit t...

Faculty turnover is one of the most expensive and preventable challenges facing academic medicine today. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman explores the true cost of losing faculty, why traditional retention efforts often fall short, and how intentional career development can dramatically improve retention, engagement, and productivity. No need to take notes—visit the blog for a full summary of ke...

Many early-career faculty assume promotion committees evaluate activity, productivity, and accomplishments at face value. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman explains why promotion decisions are often based on something far more important: whether your work tells a coherent story that demonstrates academic impact, visibility, and growing reputation. No need to take notes—visit the blog for a full s...

  Mentorship is one of the most commonly recommended strategies for success in academic medicine, yet many early-career physicians still struggle to achieve promotion despite having excellent mentors. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman explores the limitations of mentorship alone and explains why intentional career infrastructure is often the missing piece. She discusses how mentorship, spons...

Leadership transitions are inevitable in academic medicine, but they often create uncertainty, anxiety, and disruption for faculty. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman explores how divisions and departments can move through leadership change intentionally, using structured transition frameworks that strengthen culture, reduce attrition, and create alignment around shared values and vision. No need...

Most academic physicians know their institution's promotion criteria. Far fewer understand how to strategically build a career that actually meets those criteria. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman explores the critical gap between knowing what is required for promotion and understanding how to create a plan that gets you there. For early-career faculty, recognizing this difference can prevent yea...

In this episode of the Academic Medicine Strategy Group Podcast, Stacey Ishman breaks down why the first 90 days of an academic medicine career shape far more than your schedule—they shape your reputation, promotion trajectory, and long-term sustainability. She shares candid lessons from her own early faculty experience and explains how physicians can avoid overcommitment, protect strategic time,...

Early-career academic physicians are often taught how to work harder—but not how to build a sustainable, fulfilling career. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman sits down with Dr. Jenny Lee, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development at Johns Hopkins, to discuss physician burnout, career coaching, faculty retention, and the importance of aligning your work with your values before burnout happens....

EMR go-live periods are some of the most disruptive and stressful transitions physicians experience, especially early in an academic career when productivity pressures already feel high. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman breaks down what physicians should realistically expect during EMR/Epic implementation, along with practical strategies to reduce documentation burden, protect workflow efficienc...

Why Women Physicians Don’t Negotiate — And How to Change It In this episode, we’re sharing a full webinar on negotiation—one of the most overlooked skills in academic medicine. For early-career physicians, learning how to advocate for your value can directly impact your salary, time, resources, and long-term career trajectory. If you’re interested in working with Academic Medicine Strategy Group,...

Stop Trying to Write Manuscripts at 7pm After a Full Clinic Day Your calendar may look efficient, but if your energy is misaligned, your output will suffer. In this episode, Dr. Ishman breaks down why late-night writing sessions fail—and how aligning your work with your brain’s natural rhythms is essential for sustainable academic success. No need to take notes—visit the blog for a full summary of...

If Deep Work Only Happens After Everything Else, It Will Never Happen Early-career academic physicians are often told to “be more productive,” but rarely given a system that actually supports meaningful progress. This episode breaks down why deep work—the kind that drives promotion and career advancement—rarely happens by accident, and how to redesign your schedule to make it possible. No need to...