What if the key to better patient care, lower burnout, and higher physician engagement wasn’t more mandates or metrics, but intentional, evidence-based skill development that enriches clinicians while improving outcomes?

In this inspiring and practical episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin welcomes Dr. Stephen Beeson. Drawing from his groundbreaking work at Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, where patient experience soared from the 6th to the 93rd percentile, Dr. Beeson shares how a continuous human development approach can create extraordinary results for patients, care teams, and organizations.

They discuss:

• How Dr. Beeson accidentally discovered the power of relational skills in the exam room
• Why patient connection is one of the strongest burnout countermeasures
• The critical role of leadership behaviors in driving physician engagement and discretionary effort
• Building evidence-based skills for better patient interactions, teamwork, and leadership
• How Practicing Excellence uses technology and AI to scale sustainable human development

This episode is essential listening for healthcare leaders, physicians, and anyone committed to designing systems where clinicians can bring their best selves to work every day.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

• Start with Identity, Not Just Behaviors: Help clinicians first define the kind of clinician or leader they want to be. Once that identity is clear, small, evidence-based micro-skills become much easier to adopt and sustain.
• Treat Relational Skills Like Clinical Skills: Communication, empathy, and connection techniques are learned behaviors backed by evidence,  just like managing Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or intubating a patient. Provision simple, practical skills that deliver immediate benefits to both patients and clinicians.
• Invest in Leadership Behaviors to Unlock Discretionary Effort: Physician engagement and willingness to go above and beyond are heavily influenced by how well they are led. Develop consistent leadership skills such as emotional intelligence, gratitude, candor, and authentic appreciation to create an environment where clinicians feel heard, valued, and supported.

About the Show:

Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.

About the Guest:

Dr. Steven Beeson is a practicing physician, national thought leader, speaker, and author of two national bestselling books: Practicing Excellence: A Physician’s Manual to Exceptional Healthcare and Engaging Physicians: A Manual to Physician Partnership. He is the former Physician Director of The Sharp Experience at Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group in San Diego, where the group earned the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award and multiple recognitions as a top-performing medical group. In 2013, he founded Practicing Excellence to scale systemic skill development that improves healthcare delivery while enriching the lives of clinicians and care teams. He currently serves as a national expert on human development applied to healthcare challenges.

Website: practicingexcellence.com

About the Host:

Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.

Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.

When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.

🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ 
📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD

Register for the Clinician Leadership Compass course to combat overwhelm and burnout.: www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

What if setting clear boundaries actually freed you to innovate more boldly, take smarter risks, and combat overwhelm in high-stakes healthcare environments?

In this insightful conversation, Dr. Laura Suttin interviews Sheri Jacobs, as she shares her unconventional path, from photojournalist capturing Michael Jordan to founding a thriving consulting firm and chasing wildlife adventures across Antarctica and Africa, and how those experiences shaped her powerful framework on boundaries.

They discuss:

• Why unlimited choices create overwhelm and how boundaries liberate exploration, like the playground fence experiment.
• The liberating role of boundaries in personal life, career pivots, and avoiding FOMO in side hustles or income streams
• Differentiating risk tolerance from risk capacity, and why evaluating "what if it fails?" unlocks bolder moves
• Auditing "noise" (distractions, assumptions, social media) to protect focus and energy
• Bottom-up innovation: Amplifying frontline voices closest to patients or customers (e.g., Stanley Quencher turnaround, Good Catch programs, Best New Mistake awards)
• Combining psychological safety with clear boundaries to create the true "innovation zone"

Packed with practical stories from healthcare challenges to corporate experiments, this episode offers healthcare leaders, clinicians, and teams tools to foster resilience, encourage smart risk-taking, and design cultures that innovate sustainably amid uncertainty and burnout.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

• Define your "fence" first: Clarify what matters most right now (outcomes, priorities, capacity). This creates space to explore boldly within safe limits, reducing overwhelm from endless options like the Cheesecake Factory menu.
• Audit the noise and start small: Track distractions pulling you off-focus for a week, then experiment with one small boundary shift (e.g., limiting inputs or saying no to low-priority asks) to build confidence and momentum.
• Amplify frontline voices: Create simple channels for ideas from those closest to patients and operations, small inputs can spark massive wins, as seen in Stanley's 10x growth from one sales associate's insight.

About the Show:

Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.

About the Guest:

Sheri Jacobs, FASAE, CAE, is a three-time bestselling author, innovation strategist, keynote speaker, and CEO of Avenue M Group. She has surveyed nearly one million people and helped over 300 organizations unlock innovation, navigate uncertainty, and build resilient cultures. Her upcoming book, The Unexpected Power of Boundaries: Rethinking the Rules, Risks, and Real Drivers of Innovation (early 2026), challenges traditional views on creativity. A passionate wildlife photographer, Sheri draws inspiration from adventures in Africa, Antarctica, and beyond.

Website: https://www.sherijacobs.com

Avenue M Group: https://www.avenuem.org

About the Host:

Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.

Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.

When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.

🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ 
📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD

Register for the Clinician Leadership Compass course to combat overwhelm and burnout.: www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Most of us didn’t learn about money until adulthood — often by accident or after making mistakes we wish someone had warned us about. Dr. Michele Cho Dorado was no different. In fact, she was nearly a decade into attending hood before realizing she had no real financial education and wasn’t alone in that experience.

This realization set off an identity-shifting journey:
➡️ from “just a doctor” to real estate investor
➡️ from real estate investor to children’s book author
➡️ from clinician to someone shaping the next generation's relationship with money

Michele shares how learning to invest expanded her identity beyond medicine and helped her rewrite limiting beliefs — especially the common physician narrative: “Money is hard, and I’m not good at it.”

As she began teaching her own children, she noticed how naturally they absorbed financial vocabulary simply through exposure. Seeing her four-year-old put coins into the “invest” slot of their family money box and say “grow” revealed the power of early imprinting.

In this episode, Dr. Dorado and Dr. Laura unpack:

• why so many physicians feel boxed into a single identity
• how expanding your identity empowers your kids
• why transparency about money matters more than perfection
• how to avoid raising entitled children in a high-income world
• why generational wealth fails by the 2nd and 3rd generation
• how financial literacy builds confidence, resilience, and leadership — not just smarter spenders

Michele emphasizes one truth parents often forget:

You don’t have to know everything. You just have to be willing to learn out loud with your kids.

Your failures and mistakes teach them resilience more than perfection ever could.

Physician, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Bright Futures EDG (Empower • Develop • Grow). She writes a children's financial literacy book series featuring “Mimi,” teaching kids foundational concepts like saving, investing, earning, giving, and starting a business. She also hosts the Prosperous Kids Summit and advocates nationally for building generational wealth through education.

📸 IG: @brightfuturesedg

🌐 brightfuturesedg.com

📧 info@brightfuturesedg.com

Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.

Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.

Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.

When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.

🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/

📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlaurasuttin

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlaurasuttin/

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Burnout is often discussed like a clinical condition — something to solve, measure, or “fix.”

But what if burnout is actually a signal? A message inviting us to pause, reset, and redesign the way we lead and care?

In this deeply honest episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin and Dr. Jeff Gaines explore what it really takes to build a healthcare culture where clinicians feel valued, grounded, and supported — not just productive.

Drawing from 20+ years in Emergency Medicine and years serving as Chief Medical Officer and VP of Medical Affairs, Dr. Gaines shares the lessons he learned the hard way:

• Why clinicians feel guilty for needing rest (and how to let that go)
• How micro-rituals — like a purposeful handwashing reset — can pull your nervous system out of overdrive
• Why managing energy is more important than managing time
• How leaders unintentionally set harmful expectations (“If I email at midnight, my team thinks they should, too”)
• Why “stay interviews” prevent the million-dollar cost of losing a physician
• And why culture shifts don’t require huge budgets — just honesty, intention, and humanity

This episode blends neuroscience, leadership wisdom, humor, and the real emotional truth of being a clinician. It’s not about grinding harder. It’s about reclaiming the parts of healthcare — and ourselves — that we’ve quietly lost along the way.

1. Micro-moments matter.
   Reset rituals help clinicians arrive fully present, improve efficiency, and protect wellbeing.
2. Culture is shaped by what leaders model.
   Emailing at midnight? Skipping meals? Your team reads it as the standard.
3. Retention is leadership work.
   Stay interviews, recognition, and investment in autonomy and growth dramatically reduce turnover and strengthen engagement.

Dr. Jeff Gaines is a Board-Certified Emergency Physician, physician executive, educator, and former Chief Medical Officer & VP of Medical Affairs at Newport Hospital. With 20+ years of clinical practice and a Master of Health Care Management from Harvard, Dr. Gaines is passionate about workforce wellbeing, organizational culture, and redefining leadership in medicine. 

He serves as faculty at Brown University and advises healthcare leaders on strategy, culture, and clinician engagement.

🔗 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-t-gaines

Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.

Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.

Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.

When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.

🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ 
📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

For physicians, burnout can feel like an inevitable cost of caring. But what if it’s actually an invitation to realign with who we are?

In this episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin talks with Dr. Christine Kempton, professor of hematology at Emory University and founder of Christine Kempton Coaching, about her personal and professional journey from perfectionism and overwork to purpose and presence.

Christine shares how her early years as a ballet dancer shaped her drive for external validation—and how those same perfectionist patterns followed her into medicine. Through candid reflection, she reveals the turning point when burnout forced her to pause and reclaim agency over her own well-being.

They explore why waiting for “the system” to change can leave physicians feeling powerless—and how taking responsibility for our inner world, rather than blaming the outer one, leads to freedom.

From practical tools like mindful mornings and digital boundaries to profound mindset shifts about fear, worth, and love, this episode offers a roadmap for any healthcare professional seeking renewal.

It’s a conversation that moves beyond fixing burnout to rediscovering meaning—and reminds us that healing the system starts with healing ourselves.

1. Agency Begins Within. True change in healthcare starts when individuals reclaim their power to choose how they show up—even in systems that need reform.
2. Fear Isn’t the Fuel. Shifting from fear-based striving to love-based action unlocks peace, clarity, and authentic leadership.
3. Burnout Is a Message, Not a Failure. When exhaustion hits, it’s often an invitation to realign with your values, not an ending.

Dr. Christine Kempton is a professor of hematology at Emory University and director of the Hemophilia of Georgia Center. With over two decades of experience in medicine, she has cared for generations of patients and led innovative research in bleeding disorders.

After walking through her own burnout, she founded Christine Kempton Coaching, where she helps women physicians reconnect with purpose, balance, and joy. A former ballet dancer, she blends science, self-awareness, and soulful coaching to empower others to move from fear to freedom.

🌐 https://www.christinekempton.com/ 
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christine-kempton-md-msc-93744997

Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.

Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.

Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.

When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.

🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ 
📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

You don’t have to be on a basketball court to know what it means to be under pressure.

In this episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin talks with Coach Mark Gottfried, a nationally recognized NCAA coach turned motivational speaker, about the parallels between leading a team of athletes and leading a team of healthcare professionals.

Mark opens up about his decades on the sidelines—400 wins, national championships, and the lessons that stuck long after the buzzer sounded. He shares how his Get It Done mindset—rooted in Grit, Integrity, and Desire—applies just as much to the OR or the nursing floor as it does to the court.

They talk about what it really means to lead from the heart: being willing to cheer others on, to keep your values front and center, and to celebrate the small wins we often overlook. Because in healthcare—just like in sports—success isn’t just about doing more. It’s about doing it together.

It’s a conversation that feels like a locker room pep talk meets a leadership retreat—filled with humility, laughter, and lessons you’ll carry long after you listen.

1. Lead with Grit, Integrity, and Desire. Mark’s GID philosophy reminds us that mindset and values—not perfection—fuel real progress.
2. Celebrate the Small Wins. Success stacks slowly; the moments we pause to appreciate are the ones that sustain us.
3. Put Team Before Self. True leadership isn’t about standing out—it’s about helping others rise.

About the Guest

Coach Mark Gottfried is a former NCAA head coach with more than 400 career wins across Murray State, Alabama, and NC State, and a member of UCLA’s 1995 National Championship staff. Today, he inspires audiences across the country through his Get It Done leadership philosophy, teaching others how grit, integrity, and desire drive success both on and off the court.

🌐 coachmarkgottfried.com
🎧 The Coach Mark Gottfried Show

Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.

Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.

Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.

When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.

🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ 
📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Dr. Ruth Mannschreck is a dentist, business owner, and founder of Shoreline Strategies LLC, focusing on helping practice owners become more efficient and streamlined. 

She’s a wealth of experience and expertise on practical things that clinicians and/ or business owners can do to improve their processes and build a healthy culture. 

Here are my takeaways from this incredible episode-

• Asking for help and relying on your team are not only possible, but are critical. Dr. Ruth’s personal story magnifies how important it is to realize that you can’t do everything on your own.
• While we may think we have to improve our time management, the real key is improving our communication, operations, and business processes, which requires an intentional shift in our thinking and behaviors. We actually gain more time in the end when we take these actions.
• Core values and leadership are at the foundation - when these are aligned and clear, everything flows much more easily.

Click here for a resource Dr. Ruth created, complete with a checklist you can use to start using these tips today.

For a practical guide to managing your time and energy in a way that brings you joy, click here to purchase my book (available in print, digital, and audio).

Connect with Dr. Ruth here-

Website:  www.ShorelineStrategies.com 

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthmannschreck/ 

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

In this solo episode, I announce a new brand I’m launching - Dr. Laura Suttin: Designing Healthcare that Cares. The new brand reflects an evolution of my work and of my own personal development.

This shift isn’t just about a new name or logo. It’s about stepping more fully into the work I’m meant to do, while adding consulting and speaking to my suite of services. I still love coaching, I’m still actively coaching, and that won’t change.

💡 In this episode, I’ll walk you through:

• Why I started as The Purposeful MD and the signs that it was time for something new
• What it means to design healthcare that cares
• How consulting and speaking are expanding my impact (and my joy)
• What this evolution means for you, whether you're a clinician, a leader, or someone craving change in healthcare

Connect with me here:

• https://www.drlaurasuttin.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/drlaurasuttin
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/
• http://www.youtube.com/@thepurposefulMD

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Dr. Dawn Sears is a nationally recognized gastroenterologist, speaker, coach, and fierce advocate for women in medicine. In this heartfelt episode, she shares her inspiring journey from leading wellness initiatives in her hospital (starting with soda machines!) to creating powerful coaching communities that are truly changing the face of leadership in healthcare.

Here are my key takeaways from this episode - 

• How Dr. Sears turned a soda machine into a movement for institutional wellness
  
  
  
• Why cohort coaching is a game-changer for physician well-being and retention
  
  
  
• The hidden costs of being a woman in medicine, and how we start shifting the culture

Connect with Dr. Sears here -

dawnsears@dawnsearsmd.com

gutgirlmdconsulting.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnsearsmd/

https://www.facebook.com/dawn.sears.982

https://twitter.com/GutGirlMD

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4a1MubzSrKMBaAHwHCe0DQ

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Sears DM et al. (2025). Leadership development as a novel strategy to mitigate burnout among female physicians. PLOS ONE, 20(3): e0319895. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319895

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

What happens when we realize that fitting into traditional medicine might mean losing touch with who we really are?

In this heart-opening conversation, I’m joined by my good friend Dr. Tracey O’Connell. Tracey is a Board Certified radiologist, Professional Certified Coach, and facilitator of Brené Brown’s Shame Resilience Program. 

Together, we explore the emotional weight of medical training, the myth of resilience, and how expressive writing can reconnect us to our own truth.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite belong in medicine, or like you’ve had to compartmentalize your humanity just to get through the day, this one’s for you.

Here are my takeaways from this episode:

• The emotional cost of not fitting in within a traditional medical career
• How shame, silence, and systems erode physician well-being (and what we can do about it)
• The healing power of expressive writing and vulnerability
• How we can redefine purpose and identity after years of compartmentalizing

Connect with Tracey here:

Website: www.traceyoconnellmd.com

IG: @fertilesoul

FB: @tracey holland o'connell

LinkedIn: Tracey O'Connell, MD, PCC

YouTube: @traceyoconnellmd

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

In this heartfelt episode of The Purposeful MD Podcast, I am joined by the incomparable Gregory Proctor.

Gregory is a Navy veteran, cancer survivor, and award-winning author. 

He truly is energy in motion. He shares his extraordinary story of transformation, from high-powered executive to cancer patient and now to mission-driven philanthropist and inspiration to so many.

Here are the key takeaways from this episode - 

• The emotional turning point that led him to share his journey publicly and the unexpected support that followed
  
  
  
• The powerful role of community, hope, and advocacy in survivorship
  
  
  
• The importance of authenticity and vulnerability, especially around asking for help and advocating for yourself
  
  
  
• How walking the Camino de Santiago became a literal and spiritual pilgrimage for healing and purpose
  
  
  

This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating adversity. In Gregory’s words, “ We have an indomitable human will in our spirit.”

Connect with Gregory here:

Website(s): www.gregoryoproctor.com, www.reclaiming-life.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregory-o-proctor
Instagram: @gregoryoproctor
Podcast: www.kut2thachasepodcast.com
Email: gregory@k2tcpodcast.com

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

One of the most delightful guests I’ve ever had on the podcast!

Rachel Pedersen is an online marketing expert, a content creator, and business owner who has scaled to over 3 million followers, and reached over 100 million people annually. Her authentic and warm approach attracts millions to her website and her programs. She’s also a proud mom and wife. Her 2022 book, Unfiltered, is a USA Today bestseller. 

I’ve been a fan of hers for years. Sitting down with her was like talking to an old friend. 

My takeaways from this incredible conversation -

• Show up as yourself, and others will be drawn to you. Authenticity is magical these days.
• Celebrate your successes! Taking time and space to soak in the wins and the accomplishments will pay off dividends.
• When you design your life around your values and your priorities, everything flourishes. In Rachel’s words, she now feels “fantastic” after doing so.

You’ll also learn how she began to set boundaries in her life, and get a sneak peak at a special project she’s passionate about.

This is an episode not to miss! 

Follow Rachel here:

WEBSITE: 

www.rachelpedersen.com 

FACEBOOK PROFILE: 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=662785087 

INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/themrspedersen/ 

YOUTUBE:

https://www.youtube.com/c/RACHELPEDERSENSOCIAL?sub_confirmation=1 

THREADS: https://www.threads.net/@themrspedersen  

TIKTOK: @themrspedersen

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrspedersen  

FACEBOOK PAGE:

https://www.facebook.com/the.mrs.pedersen 

LINKEDIN:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelpedersenmarketing/ 

PINTEREST:

https://www.pinterest.com/therachelpedersen/ 

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/becomeasocialmediamanager/

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

What if the perfectionism that got you through med school and residency is now quietly sabotaging your well-being, relationships, and leadership?

In this vulnerable, soul-sister-style return conversation on Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin welcomes back Dr. Jillian Rigert, for a deep dive into perfectionism's hidden costs. They unpack its roots in seeking belonging and approval, how it shows up as procrastination and resistance, even when creating courses, masking vulnerability, shame spirals, and high-stakes pressure in healthcare and academia. 

Drawing from personal stories, near-death experiences, community (like the ACE group), Kristen Neff's self-compassion research, somatic tools like Peter Levine, and Ram Dass's Becoming Nobody documentary, they explore antidotes: beginner's mind, common humanity, boundaries, spiritual connectedness, and reclaiming flow over hustle. 

This episode reminds us that true productivity and connection emerge when we strip away layers to become more of who we already are: imperfect, human, and worthy.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

• Tune Into Your Body to Differentiate Resistance from Self-Care: Perfectionism often masquerades as procrastination. Pause and check somatic cues: Does this feel like fear or shame contraction (ugh, avoidance), or genuine preparation for flow? Practice compassionate curiosity. Name the pattern, take a mini-break if needed, then return. Over time, this rebuilds mind-body trust disrupted by years of dissociation in training.
• Practice Self-Compassion to Counter Shame and Boost Performance: When perfectionism triggers shame, use Kristen Neff's framework: mindfulness (acknowledge "this is hard"), kindness (hand on heart, soothing words), and common humanity ("high achievers everywhere feel this"). Counter shame spirals somatically. Shift to an "authentic pride" posture to reactivate your prefrontal cortex. Research shows self-compassion enhances productivity and mental health more than harsh self-criticism ever did.
• Cultivate Spaces of Vulnerability and Spiritual Connectedness: Seek or create communities like the ACE group where masking isn't required. Show up raw to experience deeper belonging over fitting in. Tune into the "spiritual channel" (shared humanity, soul-level connection) via nature, eye contact in patient care, or Ram Dass-inspired reflection: At life's end, what truly matters? Let this guide boundaries, release people-pleasing, and prioritize peace over hustle because authentic presence trumps perfection.

Episode Mentioned in the Show:

Episode 1 - Reclaiming Your Narrative

Laura and Jillian discuss the impact of the patriarchy in the medical community and how women physicians can take back power, reclaiming authenticity.

About the Show:

Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.

About the Guest:

Dr. Jillian Rigert (DMD, MD, ACC, TIPC) is a physician, dentist, Air Force veteran, Martha Beck Wayfinder master coach, and trauma-informed professional leadership coach. She partners with high-achievers during life and career transitions, burnout recovery, and identity reclamation. Currently training as a marriage and family therapist with a trauma focus, she brings a holistic, whole-person approach. Her wingman is her dog, Reese Griffin.

•       Website: jillianrigertcoaching.com
•       LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-rigert
•       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillian.rigert
•       YouTube: A Life True to You

About the Host:

Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.

Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.

When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.

🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ 
📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD

Register for the Clinician Leadership Compass course to combat overwhelm and burnout.: www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

In this solo episode, Dr. Laura Suttin shares how she identified her four core values—purpose, connection, empowerment, and joy—and how they became the compass guiding her decisions, boundaries, and energy. 

You'll hear how to uncover your own values, spot where you’ve drifted, and take one simple step to realign.

Inside the episode:

• The wake-up moment when success felt empty
  
  
  
• How to name your values (and why it’s harder than it sounds)
  
  
  
• A gentle journaling exercise to reconnect with what matters
  
  
  
• How values lead to better boundaries—with less guilt
  
  
  
• Why joy isn’t optional—it’s essential
  
  
  

📖 Want the full journal guide? It’s included when you purchase The Purposeful MD, Creating the Life You Love Without Guilt. Learn more at thepurposefulmd.com/book

Link to James Clear Core Values list: https://jamesclear.com/core-values

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

In this episode of The Purposeful MD Podcast, Dr. Laura Suttin welcomes Alan Utley, a speaker, coach, and culture crafter with 25 years in senior HR leadership. Alan shares his journey from accidental HR beginnings to pioneering the “Fanatical Grace” framework — a powerful approach to transforming workplace culture through humanity, accountability, and kindness.

This conversation is filled with laughter, honest reflection, and practical wisdom for any physician or healthcare leader navigating complex teams and high-pressure environments.

You’ll learn:

• Why “being nice” isn’t enough — and what truly compassionate leadership looks like
• How the Fanatical Grace framework helps teams shift from fear and pressure to trust and flow
• What physicians can do — even without formal authority — to influence their workplace culture
• How accountability and grace can coexist to foster high performance and deep connection
• A powerful example of parenting (and leadership) through presence instead of pressure
  
  
  

🎧 Bonus: Hear Alan and Laura take part in a live sample of his leadership style assessment!

Learn more about Alan and take his free leadership assessment: mycoachnextdoor.com

Connect with Alan here -

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/AlanDUtley | linkedin.com/company/my-coach-next-door/ | Instagram and TikTok: @MyCoachNextDoor | Email: alan@mycoachnextdoor.com

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with my good friend and colleague, Dr. Lindsey Van Duyn, a family physician and the founder of Immersive Medical Therapy. What started as a personal mission to help teens in her rural Iowa community has grown into a pioneering program that is making a real impact in the lives of adolescents struggling with depression and anxiety.

Dr. Van Duyn shares how a single patient’s story became her “why” — and how, despite barriers and setbacks, she followed her passion and built something truly innovative using virtual reality as a powerful tool in mental health care.

You’ll hear us talk about:

• How Lindsay’s own career pivot (and life as a mom of twins!) shaped her mission
• The challenges of treating teen depression in rural settings — and why “we can’t wait 6-8 weeks”
• How virtual reality creates a safe space for teens to calm their nervous systems and learn lasting coping tools
• The power of physicians pursuing passion projects — and how this can improve fulfillment in every aspect of life
• Why peer support, community, and knowing your “why” matter when taking on big challenges

If you’ve ever felt called to do something new — even when it feels hard — this conversation will leave you inspired and hopeful about what’s possible.

Connect with Dr. Van Duyn here:

www.ImmersiveMedicalTherapy.com

Facebook as Lindsey Van Duyn

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Dr. Kara Pepper is a primary care internist, executive coach, and founder of Micropractice Mastermind. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, she’s a passionate advocate for physicians building sustainable, joyful careers—on their own terms. She’s a true example of leadership. 

In this episode, she dives deep into her own journey through burnout and career reinvention, and provides incredible insights for any physician seeking to reclaim their autonomy, values, and purpose in medicine.

Here are my takeaways from this heartfelt conversation-

• Burnout is not a personal failure. Dr. Pepper shares how she once believed her struggle with burnout meant something was wrong with her, when in fact, it was the system that was misaligned with her needs and values.
  
  
  
• Rest is not optional—it’s essential. True healing and clarity require extended rest and nervous system downregulation. A two-week break isn’t enough; Dr. Pepper needed months to fully recover and reconnect with her purpose.
  
  
  
• You’re not “just” anything. Whether you’re a pediatrician, internist, or neurosurgeon, you have deeply transferable skills that can apply far beyond traditional roles in medicine.
  
  
  
• You are not stuck. If your current role no longer fits, it’s okay to change. So many physicians unnecessarily settle for survival instead of fulfillment. 

Connect with Dr. Pepper here-

www.KaraPepperMDCoaching.com

@KaraPepperMD on all socials

It's Not Just You podcast

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

We all face disappointment — a client backs out, a project falls flat, a dream opportunity slips away. But what if setbacks aren’t signs to stop… but signs to look deeper?

In this solo episode, I’m sharing how to reframe disappointment so that it becomes a tool for growth instead of a roadblock. You’ll learn how to normalize discomfort, shift your inner dialogue, and start seeing challenges as invitations — not indictments.

You’ll hear:

• Why disappointment often triggers shame — and how to stop that cycle
• The simple 3-step reframe I use when things don’t go as planned
• What I tell my clients (and myself!) when the inner critic gets loud
• A powerful reminder: everything is happening for your benefit

If you’ve ever felt discouraged by a setback, this episode will give you a new way forward — with more compassion, clarity, and courage.

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Dr. Mrinalini Kulkarni-Date is an Associate Professor and Division Chief of Endocrinology in Austin, Texas. She’s also a tireless advocate for advancing women in medical leadership positions, and serves as a mentor and career coach for women seeking to develop thriving careers in medicine.

She’s a true example of leadership. She dives deep into her own journey and the challenges of being a woman in a leadership role, and provides fantastic advice for any physician seeking to thrive in their life and their career.

Connect with Dr. Kulkarni-Date here: mdate@peak-md.com

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

In this episode of The Purposeful MD Podcast, I talk with Dr. Melissa Milanak, licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Mind Impact Consulting, about the critical importance of sleep for optimal performance and wellbeing.

Dr. Milanak shares how our society's perspective on sleep is shifting from viewing it as a luxury to recognizing it as essential for peak performance and health.

We cover: 

✔️ Why sleep deprivation is no longer a badge of honor 

✔️ The 15-minute pre-bedtime writing exercise for better sleep 

✔️ How to create effective "sleep triggers" for your brain 

✔️ Strategic napping (20-30 minutes max) for cognitive performance 

✔️ Why the second half of your night's sleep is crucial for cognitive function

Don’t miss this life-changing episode!

Connect with Dr. Melissa Milanak here:

https://mindimpactconsulting.com/

https://mindimpactconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Sleep-Well-Guide.pdf

https://youtu.be/l2IP0HXtv1k?si=DmiNFDle1jODJHJD

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaemilanakphd/

https://www.instagram.com/drmelissamilanak/

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

We’ve been taught to believe that confidence comes first—that we need to feel ready before we take the leap. But the truth? Confidence is built through action, not before it.

In this solo episode, I’m unpacking why waiting for confidence is keeping you stuck—and how small, aligned actions are the real catalysts for growth. You’ll hear real stories from my coaching clients who acted before they felt ready—and how that brave action led to deep self-trust, clarity, and yes, confidence.

Whether you’re navigating a career shift, setting boundaries, or showing up more fully in your life, this episode is here to remind you: You don’t need more confidence to begin—you just need a little courage to move.

Connect with me here -

Laura@thepurposefulmd.com

www.thepurposefulmd.com 

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

In this episode of The Purposeful MD Podcast, I talk with Dr. Stephanie Pearson, former OB-GYN and CEO of Pearson Ravitz, about the critical importance of disability and life insurance for physicians. 

After a career-ending injury, Dr. Pearson turned her experience into a mission—helping doctors avoid the same mistakes she made.

We cover:
✔️ Why your employer’s insurance might not be enough
✔️ Key policy details every physician should understand
✔️ How to truly protect yourself and your family

Connect with Dr. Pearson here -

https://pearsonravitz.com/

https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.pearson.790

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniepearsonmd/

https://www.instagram.com/pearsonravitz/

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Dr. Andrea Austin is a leading emergency physician, simulation educator, author, and advocate for physician well-being. Her book, “Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline,” was published in October 2024.

Join this heartfelt and empowering conversation to hear how to create a thriving career and advocate for impactful change in healthcare.

Connect with Dr. Austin here:

www.andreaaustinmd.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreaaustinmd/

Instagram @andreaaustinmd

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Imagine reclaiming your time as a physician: finishing charts by dinner, building meaningful patient relationships, and running a sustainable practice without burnout?

In this insightful episode, Dr. Laura Suttin interviews Dr. Natasha Beauvais, as she shares her unexpected journey from traditional medicine to concierge care after taking over her mentor's practice over a decade ago.

They explore:

• The evolution and growth of concierge medicine as a proven model
• Overcoming burnout by offloading tasks, systematizing workflows, and valuing physician time
• Empowering teams through delegation, structure like EOS, and mindset shifts
• The impact on patient care when healthier providers lead to better outcomes

Drawing from her experiences running a nine-provider practice and coaching through the Concierge Medicine Academy, Dr. Beauvais offers practical guidance for physicians seeking agency, business acumen, and radical health in healthcare amid administrative burdens and high demands.

If you're a physician considering concierge medicine, entrepreneurship, or simply better balance, this episode provides tools to redesign your practice for sustainability and fulfillment.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

• Delegate effectively: Offload non-physician tasks like refills to trained nurses after collaborative protocols, saving weeks of time annually while engaging your team at their highest level.
• Value your time holistically: Recognize the health and monetary worth of your hours; implement systems like rotating calls to ensure downtime for rejuvenation, leading to refreshed, more effective patient care.
• Adopt business structures: Use frameworks like EOS to clarify accountability, redistribute workloads, and build empowered teams, preventing administrative overload and fostering growth.

About the Show:

Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.

About the Guest:

Dr. Natasha Beauvais is a board-certified family physician specializing in preventive care for cancer, heart disease, and immobility. She owns and leads Northern Virginia Family Practice, a nine-provider concierge practice in Arlington, VA, and founded the Concierge Medicine Academy to coach physicians in building sustainable, independent concierge models focused on radical health for teams and patients.

Website: https://nvafamilypractice.com

Website: https://conciergemedicineacademy.com

 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-lewry-beauvais-0532192a

About the Host:

Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.

Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.

When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.

🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/
📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD

Join the waitlist for the Clinician Leadership Compass course to combat overwhelm and burnout.: www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

In this solocast episode, we dive into the power of letting go and focusing only on what we can control. As physicians, we’re wired to fix problems, but when we try to control the uncontrollable, it leads to frustration, exhaustion, and burnout. 

I’ll share key insights from my book, The Purposeful MD-Creating the Life You Love Without Guilt, to help you recognize when it’s time to let go and how to shift your energy toward what truly matters. 

Listen in for practical strategies to reclaim your time, energy, and peace of mind.

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Dr. Judith Borger is a mother of three, a wife, a Board Certified physician specializing in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, and a successful business owner of both The Aesthetic Doctor and Concierge Medical Arts. 

Her mission is to help others create their most authentic and beautiful lives, to include their self-image and relationship to self, relationships with others and their businesses.

Join this heartfelt conversation to learn how to become the agent of your own life, and create more joy for yourself and others around you. 

Connect with Dr. Borger here -

Website:  www.theaestheticdoctor.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctorborger/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Aesthetic-Doctor/100078686972092/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-aesthetic-doctor/id1611578378

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Dr. Michelle Quirk is a Board certified pediatrician, a runner, and an RRCA certified running coach. She is the founder of Mindful Marathon, where she coaches busy professionals to hit their running goals. 

She shares her journey with running and her approach to running, as well as the importance of starting wherever you are and honoring your own needs.

Follow Dr. Quirk here -

• Website: mindful-marathon.com
• Podcast: Mindful Marathon
• YouTube: @mindfulmarathon
• Instagram: @mindful.marathon
• Email: michelle@mindful-marathon.com

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Is this the time of year where you are planning for the future?

In this episode, I explore a fresh perspective on planning, inspired by Oliver Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. Learn how to:

• Embrace uncertainty and focus on what truly matters.
• Build habits that support the person you want to become.
• Find the freedom that comes from embracing the reality that we don’t have control over the future.

Resources & Mentions:

• Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
• My book: The Purposeful MD-Creating the Life You Love Without Guilt [https://www.thepurposefulmd.com/book]
• Purposeful MD Podcast Episode 2 

[Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1WmHWU4y1jkubLWRdRPj0n?  si=RoFDz6LGTFqIQQb_2jvryQ]

[Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-2-make-your-new-years-resolutions-stick/id1723782268?i=1000641648239]

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

“Never underestimate the power of words.”

Dr. Christina Gomez is an oncologist, a published author, and a mom to a young son. 

For 15 years, Dr. Gomez collected poignant things patients said to her and wrote the book Stopped in My Tracks: A Physician’s Collection of Cancer Patients’ Quotes to share their insights with a wider audience. Her book was released in June 2023.

Join this powerful conversation to hear Dr. Gomez’s story of how she started on the writing journey, and how her patients’ words have shaped her as a physician and as a parent.

Connect with Dr. Gomez here -

https://christinagomezmd.com/

https://www.facebook.com/people/Christina-Gomez-MD/100092948124477/

https://www.instagram.com/christygomezmd/

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

One of my most inspiring podcasts! Dr. Una is an incredible business owner, physician, and advocate for physicians living life on their own terms. She is the CEO of EntreMD Business School, an author of several best-selling books, and podcaster of a top 1% podcast, The EntreMD Podcast.

She joins me today to share how she lives out her mission every day and how physicians can take their first steps toward creating a life of their dreams.

Follow Dr. Una here -

Website Address: www.entremd.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nneka.chinemeunachukwu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drunachukwu/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/druna/

The EntreMD Podcast: www.entremd.com/podcasts

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

We’ve talked about setting boundaries before - but it becomes so much more important during the holidays.

Join me to discover how boundaries during the holidays can bring you the peace and joy you so desperately deserve this holiday season!

Check out Episode 11 on Boundaries -

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-11-setting-and-maintaining-boundaries/id1723782268?i=1000656155982

Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4UOmtIP0jX0E2BUw8x4lND?si=GJ9-LOevTrixWcLGjqH6RQ

Find out more about The Purposeful MD here -

www.thepurposefulmd.com 

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Show Notes:

“Everything looked perfect on the outside.”

Dr. Schramm is a family physician, a certified coach, and meditation instructor. Join us to hear her powerful and vulnerable story of how she created an amazing community out of her own needs and the needs of those around her.

Connect with Dr. Schramm here - 

https://www.rashmischramm.com/

IG: @dr.rashmischramm


Purchase my book here -

www.thepurposefulmd.com/book

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Join me on this solo episode to hear how I’ve navigated uncertainty in my life - the tools I’ve used and the tools I’ve shared with my clients.

Uncertainty is a part of life - but it doesn’t have to lead to burnout and frustration.

Purchase my book here - 

https://tinyurl.com/thepurposefulmdbook

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Join this amazing podcast and listen to Dr. Lara Hochman share her tools and great ideas to help physicians find the perfect job.

Connect with Dr. Hochman here:

Website: www.happydayhealth.co (not .com)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larahochman/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@medicalmatchmaker

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happydaymd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happydaymd/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HappyDayMD1

Email course (free): https://medicalmatchmaker.carrd.co/ 

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

What if your drive to "do it all" as a clinician leader is fueling chaos, not results?

In this vulnerable solo episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin gets transparent about her stumbles transitioning from private practice to health system leadership: inflating her irreplaceability, mirroring toxic after-hours work culture, avoiding peer-to-report conversations, and blasting misaligned emails that sparked backlash. Highlighting the gap between clinical excellence and leadership training.  She shares mindset shifts like embracing "you're replaceable" for delegation, themes of unclear roles, emotional pressure, and team bottlenecks. 

Perfect for underprepared clinician leaders feeling reactive or resentful, this episode offers reflective questions to spot over-functioning, plus a promo for her upcoming Clinician Leadership Compass course (10 CME hours). Learn to prioritize, engage early, and lead without burnout, because untrained leaders cost organizations dearly.

Join the Clinician Leadership Compass Waitlist: thepurposefulmd.com/courses 

This is a self-paced online course with tools for delegation, tough talks, and accountability

Three Actionable Takeaways:

• Embrace Replaceability for True Capacity: Overextending signals "indispensable" but breeds bottlenecks. Dr. Laura's coach gut-punch: "You're replaceable" freed her to delegate. Reflect: Audit your plate; delegate one task this week to a team member, building their skills while reclaiming focus and preventing burnout.
• Model the Culture You Want, Not the One You Inherited: Late-night emails "cast a shadow," normalizing exhaustion. Use delay-send or offline mode to protect boundaries. Scan your habits; if undesired behaviors echo in your team (e.g., weekend replies), initiate a no-after-hours norm via a team huddle, owning your role in the tone.
• Engage Stakeholders Early to Avoid Backlash: Solo-planning big changes ignores expertise, amplifying friction. Dr. Laura's email fiasco taught: Bring in dissenters sooner. For your next initiative, list 3-5 key players (even intimidating ones); schedule input sessions upfront to co-create and reduce resistance.

About the Show

Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.

About the Host:

Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.

Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.

When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.

🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ 
📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Writing a book taught me a ton about mindset, knowing my values, and taking action even though I was scared.

Go behind the scenes in my writing process in this episode!

My book, The Purposeful MD-Creating the Life You Love Without Guilt, officially launches October 1, 2024.

Pre-order before October 1 directly through my website here-

www.thepurposefulmd.com/book

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Dr. Heather Awad is a family physician on a mission to help professional women in the midlife transition feel their absolute best.

Check out this episode for practical tips, as well as Dr. Awad's personal story of how she got started.

Stay in touch with Dr. Awad here -

https://www.heatherawadmd.com/

Vibrant-MD Podcast - anywhere you get your podcasts

https://app.kajabi.com/podcasts/2147488988/feed

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherawadmd/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/heatherawadmd/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/heathervibrantmd

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8ksjIG1j7eIRttczBE1o2Q

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Join this beautiful conversation with Dr. Michael Foti, internist and author, as he discusses his very personal journey through grief, anxiety, and depression. 

Hear how he has transformed his pain into something beautiful that he shares with his colleagues and the trainees in his program, and how he advocates tirelessly for physician wellbeing.

Read Dr. Foti's book, Grief: A Doctor's Battle with Anxiety and Depression, found here on Amazon.

Support Dr. Foti's NAMI Fundraiser here - http://namiwalks.org/orangeny

Connect with Dr. Foti -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-f-6324b526a/

https://www.youtube.com/@theupwardspiralpodcast1

Instagram - @drfoti129

Content warning - there is discussion of suicide in this episode.

If you are in need of emergent help, please dial 911 or seek care immediately. 

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Join this conversation with Dr. Nerissa Kreher, coach and pharma/ biotech expert, as we discuss tackling impostor syndrome so that you can pursue what truly fulfills you.

Connect with Dr. Kreher at her website below, or on Instagram as @pharmaindustrymdcoach

https://industrymdcoach.com/

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Join Dr. Sarah Wittry - hospice and palliative physician, coach, mom, wife, among others - as we dive into creating time and space for what truly matters, along with practical advice for getting started.

Connect with Dr. Wittry here -

https://www.vibranthumanssarahwittry.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-wittry/

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Hear how Dr. Michelle Gonzaba, a busy full time family physician and mom of 2 small kids, prioritizes herself so that she can set an example for her patients.

Connect with Dr. Gonzaba on Instagram.

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

If you've ever been drained by the constant requests of others, feeling like you have no time to yourself, you may be stuck in a cycle of people pleasing.

With a personal story and real stories of my clients, this episode discusses how we learn people pleasing at an early age, and how to break the cycle to gain more time and energy back.

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Amanda Hil is one-of-a-kind - an amazing attorney whose mission in life is to support physicians to better advocate for themselves. 

This episode is a must-listen for any physician. 

Know your worth; know what you bring to the table; and be your best advocate.  

Connect with Amanda here-

https://www.hillhealthlaw.com/

https://www.guardmypractice.com/

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Dr. Mary Leung is a board certified internist, hematologist, and oncologist, who found life coaching to rid herself of burnout. She discovered the power of gratitude to help heal her patients, her clients, and herself.

Listen to hear about the power of gratitude, including how it can shift your mindset and increase your energy.

Connect with Dr. Leung -

Email: shiningwithgratitudemd@gmail.com

Website: https://www.shiningwithgratitudemd.com

Blog: https://www.shiningwithgratitudemd.com/blog

Facebook: Mary Leung https://www.facebook.com/mary.leung.18659

LinkedIn: Mary Leung, MD https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-leung-md-9b52331b4

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

If you've ever struggled to set and maintain boundaries - this episode is a must-listen! 

Learn the true definition of a boundary and dive into a practice that will save you a ton of time and energy. 

This practice has been life-changing for me and my clients!

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Imagine completing all your charting and tasks during work hours, leaving no homework behind and gaining more time for family and self-care?

In this practical episode, Dr. Laura Suttin interviews Dr. Sarah Smith, as she recounts her transformation from endless after-hours work to a sustainable clinical routine while practicing in Australia and Canada.

They explore:

• Charting as an optimizable skill through noticing habits and curiosity
• Building team support to work at the top of your license and eliminate low-value tasks
• Efficient inbox management and patient request navigation within time constraints
• The potential and pitfalls of AI tools in documentation

Drawing from real-life coaching experiences and clinical insights, Dr. Smith shares actionable methods for clinicians to redesign their days, minimize interruptions, and create systems that prioritize wellbeing and quality patient care amid rising demands.

If you're a clinician overwhelmed by charting and burnout, this episode offers relatable strategies to regain control, foster team collaboration, and build a fulfilling practice.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

• Practice noticing without judgment: Observe why you're staying late or falling behind. e.g., "I noticed only one chart got done today"—to identify small changes like prioritizing tasks in the moment, reducing evening work.
• Redistribute team tasks: Discuss daily workflows with staff to offload non-clinician duties (appointment rescheduling or ultrasound bookings), freeing up time for high-level work without adding to anyone's burden.
• Streamline inbox and requests: Use fewer words, batch process messages, and defer non-urgents safely—e.g., "Your blood work is stable; repeat in three months"—to clear items quickly while ensuring patient safety and efficiency.

About the Show:

Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.

About the Guest:

Dr. Sarah Smith is a rural family physician in Alberta, Canada, specializing in emergency and hospitalist care. As a charting coach, she helps clinicians restructure their days to finish tasks within work hours, reducing burnout and promoting balance. With experience in Australia and Canada, she empowers professionals through coaching and her podcast, Sustainable Clinical Medicine.

Website: https://www.chartingcoach.ca

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-smith-999101200/

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechartingcoach/?hl=en

About the Host:

Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.

Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.

When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.

🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ 
📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Have you ever struggled to navigate through a big change in your life?

Have you questioned the emotions that come up in the process?

Listen as I share about my current big life transition, and learn how to more effectively manage through any transitions you may be facing!

If you're interested in 1:1 or group coaching with me - reach out at Laura@thepurposefulmd.com to set up a connect call.

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Join me and Dr. Christy Gibson - author, speaker, physician, and trauma therapist - as we discuss collective trauma and how we can transform trauma into advocacy, action, and positive change.

Learn more about Dr. Gibson at 
https://www.christinegibson.net/

Check out her book, The Modern Trauma Toolkit, at 
https://www.moderntrauma.com/

Social media links:

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@dr.christinegibson

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gibtrotterMD

Twitter https://twitter.com/GibtrotterMD

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-gibson-md/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@tiktoktraumadoc?lang=en

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/moderntraumatoolkit/

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

If you've ever been grateful for a mild illness so you can take a day off.....this episode is a must-listen!

You deserve rest - because you're human! You are not defined by your productivity. 

Listen for my story, my client's stories, and practical tools to stop the "manufactured busyness" to get the rest you need - without guilt! 

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.

Dr. Amna Shabbir shares her own personal story on her journey to becoming a coach and passionate advocate for early career physicians, in Part 2 of this incredible and deep conversation.

Check out Dr. Shabbir's free e-book -

https://www.earlycareerphysician.com/e-book

Connect with Dr. Shabbir - 

https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.