Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare

What happens when your childhood calling collides with a system that limits your capacity to live it out?In this Echo Episode, Dr. Maria Sturchler shares her extraordinary journey from first-generation college student to educator to medical student, years after being told she “wouldn’t make it” in medicine. Now double board-certified in Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care, Maria reveals how serendipity, mentorship, and resilience brought her back to her original dream on her own terms.She and Andrea unpack the realities pushing talented clinicians out of traditional EM practice: night shifts, moral injury, violence in the ED, corporate interference, loss of autonomy, and the identity crisis that comes with stepping away. Maria gives voice to the hidden grief, burnout, and shame physicians carry when “the path” no longer fits.But this is not a story of defeat. Maria now leads an innovative palliative care model embedded inside the emergency department, freeing EM physicians from burdens that don’t belong to them, reducing patient suffering, and restoring meaning to clinical work. Her message is equal parts invitation and disruption: medicine is not a prison. It’s a “choose-your-own-adventure” and there are more off-ramps, pivots, and second chances than most physicians believe.You’ll Hear How They:Reframe imposter syndrome and harmful feedback that derails dreamsNavigate grief when an identity built on EM no longer aligns with personal well-beingDescribe the hidden toll of EM: disrupted circadian rhythm, motherhood challenges, pandemic trauma, and corporate shiftsIntegrate palliative care inside the ED, reducing length of stay, improving communication, and radically supporting EM physiciansUse mentorship, self-inquiry, and values alignment to identify career pivots About the Guest“Medicine is choose-your-own-adventure.” — Dr. Maria SturchlerDr. Maria Sturchler is a dual board-certified physician in Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care, a three-time Ironman competitor, and a former mathematics educator whose doctoral work examined gender disparities in STEM. After being discouraged from medicine early on, serendipity and mentorship led her back to her calling. Today, she helps patients, families, and clinici'hat integrate palliative medicine directly into emergency care.LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mariasturchlerWebsite: sturchlermd.comResources + MentionsUnlocking Us podcast — Brené BrownBring ’Em All In (referenced EM mantra)Multidisciplinary collaboration models in palliative and acute careTop 3 Key TakeawaysCareer paths are not linear—nor should they be: Your training is a foundation, not a life sentence. EM skills travel well into palliative care, leadership roles, education, coaching, and hybrid models that better honor your values.Boundaries are not betrayal—they are survival: Choosing your health, family, sleep, identity, and emotional bandwidth is not weakness. It is wisdom. Physicians cannot sustain compassion without protecting their humanity.The future belongs to systems that humanize care: Embedded palliative programs, interdisciplinary partnerships, and values-based innovations reduce burnout, shorten ED holds, and restore dignity to medicine—one conversation at a time.🩺 About the Host:Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the Show:Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.---------------------------------------------------🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting  2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting.Heart of Medicine in Uluru, Australiao   Join us for this incredible one of a one-of-a-kind event in the heart of Australia at one of our most spectacular locations—Voyagers Resort in Central Australia in 2026.o   Learn from some of the world's medical leaders in compassionate care, and how heart-centered healthcare can empower and heal healthcare workers and their patients. o   For: Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Clinicians, Healthcare Leaders,Coaches and Supervisors of Medics, Patient Advocates and all healthcare workers.  o   When: 29-31 July 2026Where: Voyages Ayers Rock Resort, Central AustraliaWomen in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 24-26, 2026⁠⁠—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when you combine a lifetime of service, leadership, and a deep desire to uplift others?In this inspiring episode, Dr. Andrea Austin welcomes Paula Drivas, as she shares how her changemaking story started at age 13 as a candy striper in Queens and how a simple request to transfer to the emergency department shaped her life’s purpose. She walks listeners through an expansive 33-year career spanning emergency medicine, internal medicine, orthopedics, urgent care, academia, and leadership, culminating in her transition into coaching and medical administration.This conversation honors the evolution of medicine over three decades, from the loss of autonomy to intensifying metrics, and how Paula found her own path by listening to her heart, embracing spontaneity, and pursuing an MBA to impact healthcare at a systems level.A pivotal moment arrived when Paula experienced coaching for the first time during the pandemic, sparking an “aha” that shifted everything. She describes how coaching unlocked clarity she didn’t know she needed and how it inspired her to create the Provider Coach Project to offer free access to coaching for medical students, PA students, nurses, residents, and clinicians.The episode explores the urgent need for coaching in medicine, the role of value work, the emotional toll of modern healthcare, the DISC assessment as a tool for team growth, and why no one should have to navigate a healthcare career alone.This is a deeply human, energizing conversation about purpose, service, and building a future where every healthcare professional feels supported and empowered.You’ll Hear How They:Recognize changemaking moments early and follow them Navigate a nonlinear healthcare career with courage and openness Balance patient care with leadership, business demands, and personal growth Use coaching to unlock self-awareness, purpose, and sustainable decision-making Challenge the financial barriers that keep trainees from accessing coaching Apply DISC assessment insights to strengthen teams and improve communication Address burnout, emotional labor, and the realities of emergency medicine Build new models of support for clinicians across all stages of training If you’ve ever questioned your next step, felt the weight of modern medicine, or wondered how coaching could shift your career, this episode is for you.About the Guest:“Follow your heart. Never say never. You don’t know where life is going to take you.” – Paula DrivasPaula Drivas, PA-C, MBA is a Master Certified Physician Coach, seasoned emergency medicine PA, urgent care medical director, and founder of the Provider Coach Project, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing financial barriers to coaching for healthcare professionals and trainees.Over her 33-year career, Paula has practiced emergency medicine, internal medicine, urgent care, orthopedics, and medical education, and has served in multiple leadership roles. She holds an MBA and trained as a coach at the Physician Coaching Institute.Paula is passionate about empowerment, reflection, and helping clinicians reconnect to meaning and joy in their work.📍 Connect with PaulaWebsite: https://www.providerscoachproject.org📚 Resources + MentionsPhysician Coaching InstituteProvider Coach ProjectDISC Assessment for communication + leadershipJen Sincero — You Are a BadassJefferson Fisher — “Leave it on the table”🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways:Coaching is essential, not optional, for the future of healthcare: Paula highlights how coaching helps clinicians make value-aligned decisions, navigate burnout, and reclaim agency—especially in a system strained by complexity and moral distress.Your career doesn’t have to be linear. Follow your heart: Paula’s journey—from adolescent volunteer to emergency medicine PA to medical director and nonprofit founder—shows the power of staying open to unexpected paths.No one should navigate medicine alone: Through the Provider Coach Project, Paula advocates for accessible coaching that removes financial barriers and ensures every trainee and clinician has support, clarity, and a safe space to grow.🩺 About the Host:Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the Show:Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.--------------------------------------------------------🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting  2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting.Heart of Medicine in Uluru, Australiao   Join us for this incredible one of a one-of-a-kind event in the heart of Australia at one of our most spectacular locations—Voyagers Resort in Central Australia in 2026.o   Learn from some of the world's medical leaders in compassionate care, and how heart-centered healthcare can empower and heal healthcare workers and their patients. o   For: Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Clinicians, Healthcare Leaders,Coaches and Supervisors of Medics, Patient Advocates and all healthcare workers.  o   When: 29-31 July 2026Where: Voyages Ayers Rock Resort, Central AustraliaWomen in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 24-26, 2026⁠⁠—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when compassion, strength, and military medicine collide?In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin speaks with Dr. Kat Landa, a Navy emergency physician whose career has taken her from a nontraditional path in medical school to a groundbreaking role as the first female battalion doctor assigned to a Marine Corps artillery unit.Kat recounts her childhood working in nursing homes, discovering medicine through geriatrics, and initially matching into family medicine before realizing her passion for emergency medicine. Her story takes a dramatic turn when she is unexpectedly assigned to 29 Palms as the first woman integrated into a previously all-male combat arms battalion—an environment shaped by intense hierarchy, alpha culture, and unspoken rules.She shares vividly, the shock of Marines lining up with “testicular pain” to see the new female doctor, navigating sexism, boundaries, and expectations to be the battalion’s “warm fuzzy”, the emotional labor women physicians disproportionately shoulder, the traumatic burden many Marines carry through TBI, PTSD, and toxic norms, the deep meaning she found advocating for vulnerable service members—sometimes saving lives and how burnout, deployment, and personal crisis pushed her toward meditation and self-reclamation Dr. Landa’s journey is raw, insightful, and deeply human, a reminder that leadership requires both backbone and heart, especially when systems aren’t built with you in mind.You’ll hear how they:Navigate gender bias and male-dominated culture while staying authenticBuild boundaries to survive overwhelming workloads and emotional laborUse compassion strategically—in 45-second doses—to transform patient interactionsAdvocate for Marines suffering from PTSD, TBI, and weight-related stigmaRecover from burnout through meditation, mindful routines, and self-care practicesFind strength in vulnerability and redefine what it means to lead in uniform If you’ve ever struggled to find your voice in a demanding system, this episode will move you, challenge you, and help you rediscover your center.About the Guest:“At your core, it’s still just you—and you have control over you.” – Dr. Kat LandaDr. Kat Landa is a Navy emergency medicine physician whose career spans urgent care, family medicine internship, operational medicine with the Marine Corps, multiple deployments, and emergency department leadership.She was one of the first women assigned to a Marine Corps artillery battalion, where she learned to navigate gender dynamics, advocate for Marines suffering from invisible wounds, and lead with courage and compassion.Her interests include meditation, women’s leadership, stress physiology, military wellness, and redefining what it means to thrive in demanding environments.📍 Connect with KatShe will soon launch a public-facing Instagram (to be added here when available).Show notes will be updated once her profile is live.📚 Resources + Mentions:Meditation practices for stress reduction Concepts from military medicine: GMO tours, HPSP pathway Research on compassion in clinical encounters (45-second compassion study) Discussions on gender dynamics in medicine and the military 🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways:Soft heart, strong back: Compassion and boundaries can coexist.Kat’s story shows that warmth doesn’t undermine authority—when combined with firm boundaries, it builds trust and impact.Advocacy saves lives:  Her willingness to push for care, evaluation, and disability processing protected Marines who were suffering silently from PTSD, TBI, and burnout.Your center is your anchor: Meditation, walking, mindful habits, and internal stillness helped her survive operational chaos, Afghanistan deployment stress, and professional overwhelm.🩺 About the Host:Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the Show:Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.--------------------------------------------------🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting  2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting.Heart of Medicine in Uluru, Australiao   Join us for this incredible one of a one-of-a-kind event in the heart of Australia at one of our most spectacular locations—Voyagers Resort in Central Australia in 2026.o   Learn from some of the world's medical leaders in compassionate care, and how heart-centered healthcare can empower and heal healthcare workers and their patients. o   For: Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Clinicians, Healthcare Leaders,Coaches and Supervisors of Medics, Patient Advocates and all healthcare workers.  o   When: 29-31 July 2026Where: Voyages Ayers Rock Resort, Central AustraliaWomen in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 24-26, 2026⁠⁠—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do we solve one of healthcare’s biggest crises—the workforce shortage—while making opportunity more equitable?In this enlightening episode, Dr. Andrea Austin interviews Van Ton-Quinlivan, founder and CEO of Futuro Health and a key voice in reimagining workforce development. Van shares her powerful personal story—from refugee beginnings to shaping California’s healthcare education strategy—and the values that fuel her changemaking leadership: courage, equity, and collaboration.Together, Andrea and Van explore:The urgent shortage of allied healthcare professionals and the demographic time bomb accelerating demand.How Futuro Health is helping thousands of adults from underserved communities earn healthcare credentials debt-free.Why employers must stop competing for talent puddles and start collaborating to build talent pools.The role of AI in upskilling and the promise of flexible, fast, accessible training.How mindset shifts—from scarcity to abundance—can reshape healthcare’s future. Through vivid examples and real stories—like Tamika, a hospital security guard turned phlebotomist—Van illustrates how unlocking human potential can rebuild the workforce from the ground up.If you’re a healthcare leader, educator, or clinician wondering how to strengthen the system while expanding opportunity, this episode will leave you inspired to think bigger and act bolder.About the Guest:“When it comes to workforce development, it’s a team sport, not an individual sport.” – Van Ton-QuinlivanVan Ton-Quinlivan is a nationally recognized workforce development innovator and the founder and CEO of Futuro Health, a nonprofit creating the nation’s largest network of allied healthcare workers. Appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, she chairs the state’s Healthcare Workforce Education and Training Council and has been named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Healthcare (2024) and Top 100 Influential Higher Education Leaders (2025).A refugee from Vietnam, Van’s journey from the daughter of a brain surgeon and teacher to an influential changemaker embodies resilience and purpose. She holds dual graduate degrees in Education Policy and Business from Stanford University and is the author and podcast host of Workforce RX, where she highlights agile, multicultural solutions for the future of work and health.📍 Connect with Van:Website: futurohealth.orgLinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/vtquinlivanPodcast: Workforce RX  Book: Workforce RX: Agile and Inclusive Strategies for the Future of WorkResources + MentionsFuturo Health California Healthcare Workforce Education and Training Council World Health Organization & G7 Brain Economy Summit Built to Last by Jim Collins Caring With Courage (BBC Nursing Series)🔑 Top 3 Key TakeawaysCollaboration Over Competition: Healthcare workforce shortages can’t be solved in silos. Hospitals, schools, and communities must collaborate to create talent pools—not compete for limited candidates. Rethink who your “competitors” really are. Unlock Opportunity, Don’t Just Fill Jobs: Education debt, rigid schedules, and unclear navigation block entry into healthcare. Provide flexible learning, clear pathways, and support networks so workers can thrive and persist.Anchor in Values, Not Fear: Whether you’re leading an organization or your own career shift, rediscover your core values. Courageous, value-driven decisions—like stepping off the 27th floor to start anew—open doors to impact and fulfillment.🩺 About the Host:Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the ShowHeartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.---------------------------------------------------🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting  2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community. ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when a simple act of initiative in the OR sparks a lifelong pursuit of conflict resolution and systemic change in medicine?In this inspiring episode, Dr. Andrea Austin chats with Dr. Lee Sharma about her path from private practice frustrations to earning a master's in conflict resolution amid burnout doubts. Lee recounts her "aha" moment assisting in a delayed C-section, realizing small actions foster teamwork and belonging. She discusses overcoming conflict avoidance, the emotional "bank account" in healthcare relationships, and scripting responses to personal attacks. Now in her 24-year solo practice and a health policy fellowship, Lee emphasizes listening to understand, pausing to respond, and viewing conflict as opportunity.You’ll hear how they: Build team belonging through "assists" and emotional investments for better patient outcomes Handle conflict by listening to understand, not respond, and redirecting personal attacks back to the core issue Advocate for autonomy, competency, and relational skills to combat burnout and improve healthcare systems Inspire change through vulnerability, scripting hard conversations, and pursuing additional education like conflict resolution degreesIf you’re facing workplace conflicts or seeking to reignite your passion in medicine, this episode provides honest insights and practical strategies for personal and systemic transformation.About the Guest"Conflict is not good or bad—it's an opportunity to improve and deepen relationships." – Dr. Lee SharmaDr. Lee Sharma is a board-certified OB/GYN in private practice for 24 years, with a master's in conflict resolution from Columbia College. Host of the podcast Scalpel and Sword, she consults on dispute systems, leadership, and conflict skills for hospitals and physicians. A health policy fellow at Brandeis University's Heller School, Lee advocates for women's health, teamwork, and systemic change, drawing from her experiences in Auburn, Alabama, where she returned to practice after training.📍 Connect with Lee       📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com        🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. SharmaPodcast: Scalpel and Sword 📚 Resources + Mentions 🔗 Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury 🔗 Caring Leadership in Turbulent Times by Josh Hartzell 🔗 Brandeis University Heller School Health Policy Fellowship (with Physicians Foundation)🔗 State Medical Association Meetings (e.g., Alabama Medical Association) 🔗 Resa Lewiss (keynote speaker on women's health and advocacy)🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways Foster Belonging Through Assists: Recognize needs and lend a hand without waiting to be asked, building emotional "bank accounts" for stronger teams. Try one "assist" this week to enhance workplace fulfillment and patient care.  Listen to Understand, Not Respond: In conflicts, pause and redirect personal attacks back to the core issue (e.g., "That's not what we're focusing on right now"). Practice scripting responses to stay composed and refocus on patient outcomes. View Conflict as Opportunity: Embrace vulnerability in hard conversations—admit "I don't know, but I'll find out"—to deepen relationships and drive change. Start with one reflective pause in a tense moment to turn challenges into growth.🩺 About the Host:Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the Show:Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.  🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting  2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community. ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How can podcasting transform the way we deliver health information to patients and providers?In this episode, Dr. Andrea Austin speaks with Dan Kendall, as he recounts his path from a sales career at Siemens to launching Digital Health Today in 2016, inspired by his family’s experience with multiple sclerosis and his daughter’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis. He discusses the power of podcasting to fill gaps in patient education, combat misinformation, and create human-centered content. From launching the Health Podcast Summit to developing Health Unmuted miniseries, Dan emphasizes serving niche audiences with authentic, trustworthy stories. The conversation explores challenges like funding, the allure of misinformation, and the need for ongoing dialogue to rebuild trust in healthcare.You’ll hear how they:Address the gap in patient education by creating audio miniseries tailored to newly diagnosed patientsCombat misinformation by prioritizing storytelling that’s evidence-based and human-centeredAdvocate for podcasting as a tool to empower patients and providers during commutes, workouts, or daily routinesInspire hope through a Health Content Integrity Pledge to ensure transparency and trust in health mediaIf you’re passionate about health communication or seeking ways to make patient education more accessible, this episode offers practical insights and a vision for change.About the Guests“Podcasting meets people where they are, filling the spaces between activities with transformative knowledge.” – Dan KendallDan Kendall is the founder of Mission-Based Media, a digital media company dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering audiences through trustworthy health information. With platforms like Health Podcast Network, Health Podcast Summit, and Health Unmuted, Dan leverages podcasting to deliver evidence-based content. Inspired by his family’s experience with chronic illness, including his daughter’s type 1 diabetes, he’s committed to making health information accessible and impactful. A Virginia Tech alum, Dan’s work is guided by the principle of service: Ut Prosim (“That I May Serve”).📍 Connect with DanWebsite: https://missionbasedmedia.comLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dankendallHealth Podcast Summit: https://healthpodcastsummit.com 📚 Resources + Mentions🔗 Earn It by Steve Pratt🔗 Health Content Integrity Pledge (Health Podcast Summit)🔗 Digital Health Today Podcast🔗 Health Unmuted Miniseries🔗 Rebel Healthcare by Susanna Fox🔗 Coalition for Trust in Health and Science🔗 World Economic Forum Zero Health Gaps Pledge🔑 Top 3 Key TakeawaysServe your audience: Create podcasts that address specific listener needs, like patient education miniseries for newly diagnosed conditions, to empower and inform.Combat misinformation with storytelling: High-quality, evidence-based content can engage audiences by being relatable and authentic, countering the allure of sensationalist narratives.Keep talking and listening: Rebuild trust in healthcare by fostering open dialogue, challenging personal biases, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder to solve systemic problems.🩺 About the HostDr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the ShowHeartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.  🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting  2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community. ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!Social Media MP4 Post“Podcasting can meet patients where they are with trustworthy health information.”In this episode of Heartline, Dan Kendall shares how podcasting can empower patients and combat misinformation. From Health Unmuted miniseries to the Health Content Integrity Pledge, discover how audio storytelling is transforming healthcare.🎧 Listen now and rethink health communication.👉 [Insert podcast link]Keywords (meta description)health podcasting, digital health, patient education, combating misinformation, Dan Kendall, Andrea Austin MD, Heartline podcast, Health Podcast Summit, Health Unmuted, physician wellness, trustworthy health informationKeyword hashtags (IG)#HeartlinePodcast #HealthPodcasting #DigitalHealth #PatientEducation #CombatingMisinformation #DanKendall #AndreaAustinMD #HealthPodcastSummit #HealthUnmuted #PhysicianWellness Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Can any physician pivot to open a ketamine clinic, and what does it take to do it safely?In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin continues her conversation with Dr. Kim Chan Ko, about common questions on ketamine infusions for mood disorders and chronic pain. As an ophthalmologist turned creative director for her emergency physician husband's clinic, Kim shares insights on transitioning careers, required training, and ethical considerations. She discusses building a patient-centered practice, managing risks like emergencies and addiction, and navigating business challenges while prioritizing family and values.You’ll hear how they:Clarify licensing and training needs for ketamine clinics, emphasizing specialties like emergency medicine, anesthesia, and psychiatry  Address safety protocols, including emergency preparedness, patient monitoring, and addiction risk management Explore staffing requirements, from nurses to administrative roles, and marketing strategies for attracting patients Inspire physician entrepreneurs with tips on balancing business with personal life, values alignment, and avoiding burnout through intentional pivotsIf you’re a physician considering ketamine therapy or entrepreneurial ventures, this episode provides honest FAQs and strategies for ethical, sustainable change.About the Guest“Action brings clarity.” – Dr. Kim Chan koDr. Kim Chan Ko is a board-certified ophthalmologist, diplomat of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and co-founder of Ketamine Startup, an online course teaching physicians to open ketamine infusion clinics. After years as creative director of Reset Ketamine in Palm Springs, CA, alongside her emergency physician husband, Kim stepped away from academic ophthalmology to pursue a path aligned with her passions for patient education, mentorship, and innovative healthcare. Her journey through burnout and coaching has shaped her mission to help physicians find clarity and build fulfilling careers.📍 Connect with KimWebsite: https://www.ketaminestartup.comInstagram: @resetketamine Personal Instagram: @dr.kimberlyco📚 Resources + Mentions Reset Ketamine: https://resetketamine.com · Ketamine Startup: https://ketaminestartup.com ·Free Business Plan and Checklist: https://ketaminestartup.com/revitalizingdoctor  American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists & Practitioners: https://askp.org  PHQ-9 and Beck Depression Inventory  for patient monitoring Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline by Dr. Andrea Austin🔑 Top 3 Key TakeawaysLicensing and Training for Ketamine Clinics: Any licensed physician can start a clinic with a DEA license and business permits, but prioritize safety through self-directed training, especially if from non-emergency/anesthesia backgrounds—focus on ketamine protocols for mood/pain disorders to ensure ethical, patient-centered care.Safety and Staffing Essentials: Equip clinics with emergency tools like crash carts and AEDs, hire trained nurses for infusions, and implement monitoring like PHQ-9 for outcomes; mitigate addiction risks with thorough screening and collaborative care involving psychiatrists or therapists.Balancing Business and Life: Align your clinic with personal values by revisiting goals regularly with partners, avoiding over-expansion that strains relationships, and starting small to test market viability while maintaining work-life boundaries.🩺 About the Host:Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the Show:Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting  2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community. ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when burnout pushes physicians toward innovative, autonomous careers?In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin continues her conversation with Dr. Kim Chan Co,  to speak about her journey from ophthalmology to launching Reset Ketamine in Palm Springs. Kim discusses supporting her husband Sam's shift from ER medicine to ketamine infusions, the clinic's focus on treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain, and the business challenges of starting a private practice. She emphasizes intentional use of ketamine, collaborative care, and the importance of "set and setting" to minimize risks like emergence phenomena or addiction.You’ll hear how they:Explore ketamine's evolution from ER staple to therapeutic tool for mood disorders and chronic pain ·Discuss managing patient expectations, emergencies, and addiction risks in a clinic setting  Share strategies for physicians considering their own ketamine clinics, including market research and business planning Inspire action amid burnout through small steps, clarity on values, and trying new pathsIf you’re a physician facing burnout or envisioning entrepreneurial ventures in medicine, this episode offers practical advice and motivational insights for reclaiming autonomy and purpose.About the Guest:“Action brings clarity.” – Dr. Kim Chan koDr. Kim Chan Ko is a board-certified ophthalmologist, diplomat of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and co-founder of Ketamine Startup, an online course teaching physicians to open ketamine infusion clinics. After years as creative director of Reset Ketamine in Palm Springs, CA, alongside her emergency physician husband, Kim stepped away from academic ophthalmology to pursue a path aligned with her passions for patient education, mentorship, and innovative healthcare. Her journey through burnout and coaching has shaped her mission to help physicians find clarity and build fulfilling careers.📍 Connect with KimWebsite: https://www.ketaminestartup.comInstagram: @resetketamine Personal Instagram: @dr.kimberlyco📚 Resources + Mentions🔗 Reset Ketamine: https://resetketamine.com · 🔗 Ketamine Startup: https://ketaminestartup.com · 🔗 Free Business Plan Template: https://ketaminestartup.com/revitalizingdoctor · 🔗 American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists & Practitioners: https://askp.org ·🔗 PHQ-9 and Beck Depression Inventory (mentioned for patient monitoring)🔑 Top 3 Key TakeawaysKetamine as Therapy: When used intentionally in a supportive "set and setting," IV ketamine infusions can effectively treat refractory depression, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain with low addiction risk under supervision. Starting a Clinic: Research your market via directories like ASKP.org, clarify your "why," and use resources like business plan templates to navigate administrative challenges for greater autonomy. ·Overcoming Burnout: Take small, actionable steps toward change—action brings clarity. Explore new paths, align with your values, and don't fear trying (and pivoting from) ideas to find contentment.🩺 About the Host:Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the Show:Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.  🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting  2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community. ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when the “perfect” medical specialty no longer fits, and you dare to forge a new path?In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin sits down with Dr. Kim Chan Ko, a former academic ophthalmologist and co-founder of Ketamine Startup, to explore her transition from repairing eyes to building a ketamine infusion clinic and teaching other physicians to do the same. Kim opens up about the challenges of practicing at a high-pressure Level 1 trauma center, the emotional weight of patient care, and the struggle to reconcile her identity as an ophthalmologist with her need for creativity and connection.Through personal development coaching and a circuitous journey, Kim discovered her passion for patient education, mentorship, and innovative healthcare models. She shares how embracing her multifaceted identity and saying “yes” to new opportunities—like video editing and coaching—paved the way for her current work. This episode dives into the power of redefining “physician,” the value of coaching for personal growth, and the courage to step away from traditional medicine to serve patients on your own terms.You’ll hear how they:Navigate the emotional and professional challenges of leaving a specialty that no longer alignsUse coaching to uncover personal strengths and reframe physician identityEmbrace creative outlets like video editing to build new ventures in healthcareHighlight the growing trend of physicians starting independent practices, from ketamine clinics to telemedicineIf you’re a physician feeling stuck or seeking a more fulfilling career, this episode offers honest insights and practical inspiration for your own journey.About the Guest“I am a multifaceted individual. I am just practicing medicine.” – Dr. Kim Chan KoDr. Kim Chan Ko is a board-certified ophthalmologist, diplomat of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and co-founder of Ketamine Startup, an online course teaching physicians to open ketamine infusion clinics. After years as creative director of Reset Ketamine in Palm Springs, CA, alongside her emergency physician husband, Kim stepped away from academic ophthalmology to pursue a path aligned with her passions for patient education, mentorship, and innovative healthcare. Her journey through burnout and coaching has shaped her mission to help physicians find clarity and build fulfilling careers.📍 Connect with KimWebsite: https://www.ketaminestartup.com 📚 Resources + Mentions· 🔗 Co-Active Training Institute (formerly CTI): https://coactive.com· 🔗 Reset Ketamine: https://www.resetketamine.com🔑 Top 3 Key TakeawaysRedefine Your Identity as a Physician: Shifting from “I am an ophthalmologist” to “I practice medicine” opens up possibilities for multifaceted roles and reduces the pressure of tying your worth to a single specialty.Embrace the Meandering Journey: Career transitions don’t need to be linear. Exploring passions like teaching, mentoring, or creative skills can lead to unexpected and fulfilling paths.Coaching Unlocks Growth: Personal development programs, like the Co-Active Training Institute, help physicians ask powerful questions, foster self-discovery, and find clarity in their professional and personal lives.🩺 About the HostDr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the ShowHeartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.  🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting  2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How can emergency physicians thrive in a broken system while staying true to themselves? In part two of this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin and Dr. Leslie Crawford explores sustainable solutions for physician well-being and systemic change in healthcare. Leslie shares insights from her journey as an emergency physician, reflecting on the toll of circadian rhythm disruptions, the limitations of quick-fix administrative solutions, and the power of personal practices like meditation and fitness. From navigating burnout to embracing compassion over judgment, this episode offers practical strategies for physicians and system leaders alike.You’ll hear how they:Challenge quick-fix solutions like bonuses and travel nurses, advocating for cultural shifts in healthcare.Explore whether full-time emergency medicine is sustainable long-term and the value of diversifying income streams.Share mindfulness techniques, like five-minute meditations and loving-kindness practices, to combat burnout and judgment.Emphasize fitness and parasympathetic activities (e.g., yoga, swimming) for stress relief and longevity.Offer metaphors from surfing and paddleboarding to face life’s challenges with resilience and acceptance.If you’re feeling overwhelmed by shift work or seeking ways to reclaim joy in medicine, this episode provides actionable steps and hope for lasting change.About the Guest“Meditation isn’t about clearing your mind—it’s about investigating what’s there.” – Dr. Leslie CrawfordDr. Leslie Crawford is a board-certified emergency physician, Afghanistan combat veteran, and author of the Stress Relief Survival Guide. With experience on the COVID frontlines and a career shaped by military service, she has developed practical, research-backed techniques to manage stress in high-stakes environments. Now training to become a meditation teacher through The Path program, Dr. Crawford is passionate about helping physicians embrace mindfulness, track heart rate variability, and prioritize recovery to combat burnout.📍 Connect with LeslieWebsite: https://stressreliefsurvivalguide.comFacebook: https://web.facebook.com/stressreliefsurvivalguideInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stressreliefsurvivalguideLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliecrawfordmd📚 Resources + Mentions🔗 Stress Relief Survival Guide by Dr. Leslie Koenig 🔗 Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki🔗 TEAMSTEPPS (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety)🔗 Sharon Salzberg’s Loving-Kindness Meditation🔗 Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl🔑 Top 3 Key TakeawaysShift the culture, not just the schedule: Sustainable healthcare requires systemic changes, like fostering supportive leadership and team-based practices, rather than relying on bonuses or temporary staffing solutions.Diversify your career for freedom: Explore side gigs or passive income (e.g., real estate, coaching) to shift from “I have to” to “I want to” in emergency medicine, reducing financial and emotional pressure.Start small with mindfulness: Five-minute meditations in your car or simple practices like sun salutations can build resilience, reduce judgment, and restore compassion in high-pressure shifts.🩺 About the HostDr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the ShowHeartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.  🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting in 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How can emergency physicians thrive amidst chaos and stress? In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin reconnects with Dr. Leslie Crawford, a fellow residency alum, board-certified emergency physician, and creator of the Stress Relief Survival Guide. Dr.  Koenig shares her story of navigating COVID exposure, military service, and the demands of emergency medicine while raising a family. She discusses her transition to mindfulness, the power of heart rate variability (HRV) as a vital sign, and her journey to becoming a meditation teacher. From her "battery technique" for grounding thoughts to embracing meditation as a tool for neuroplasticity, Dr.  Crawford offers actionable strategies for physicians to combat burnout and reclaim balance. The conversation also explores the need to view physicians as elite performers, prioritizing recovery and self-care to sustain long-term impact.You’ll hear how they:Tackle stress with simple, evidence-based techniques like the battery method to stabilize emotions in minutesUse heart rate variability to monitor and improve physical and mental resilienceReframe meditation as an accessible practice for Type-A physicians, focusing on investigation rather than clearing the mindAdvocate for a cultural shift in medicine to prioritize physician recovery, drawing parallels to elite athletesIf you’re an emergency physician or healthcare professional seeking practical tools to manage stress and prevent burnout, this episode offers a lifeline of hope and strategies for change.About the Guest“Meditation isn’t about clearing your mind—it’s about investigating what’s there.” – Dr. Leslie CrawfordDr. Leslie Crawford is a board-certified emergency physician, Afghanistan combat veteran, and author of the Stress Relief Survival Guide. With experience on the COVID frontlines and a career shaped by military service, she has developed practical, research-backed techniques to manage stress in high-stakes environments. Now training to become a meditation teacher through The Path program, Dr. Crawford is passionate about helping physicians embrace mindfulness, track heart rate variability, and prioritize recovery to combat burnout.📍 Connect with LeslieWebsite: https://stressreliefsurvivalguide.comFacebook: https://web.facebook.com/stressreliefsurvivalguideInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stressreliefsurvivalguideLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliecrawfordmd📚 Resources + Mentions🔗 Stress Relief Survival Guide by Dr. Leslie Koenig 🔗 The Path Meditation Program🔗 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)🔗 Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning🔗 Wearable devices: WHOOP, Oura Ring🔑 Top 3 Key TakeawaysMaster Stress with Simple Tools: Use the "battery technique" to ground yourself by assigning positive and negative thoughts to a pen, fostering mindfulness and emotional stability in minutes.Track Heart Rate Variability (HRV): Monitor HRV as a vital sign of resilience using wearables like WHOOP or Oura Ring to optimize sleep, meditation, and recovery for better health.Reframe Meditation for Physicians: Embrace meditation as an investigative practice, not a quest for a clear mind, to build neuroplasticity and create space between stimulus and response.🩺 About the HostDr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the ShowHeartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.  🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting  2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when insurance companies and emergency physicians clash over fair payment, leaving patients caught in the middle? In this Echo Episode, part two of a two-part series, Dr. Andrea Austin talks with Dr. Jillian Schmitz about the pressing challenges in emergency medicine today.Dr. Schmitz explains the intricacies of surprise billing, where out-of-network emergency care leads to unexpected patient costs, and the No Surprises Act’s intent to protect patients by removing them from billing disputes. She highlights the implementation challenges, including insurance companies’ failure to follow regulations, skyrocketing arbitration fees, and delays in payments that threaten small practices. The conversation also explores ACEP’s advocacy efforts, the power of collective action, and an exciting initiative to accredit emergency departments to set standards for resources, staffing, and transparency.You’ll hear how they:Break down surprise billing and its impact on patients and emergency physiciansExpose flaws in the No Surprises Act’s implementation, including insurance companies’ manipulation of dispute processesAdvocate for collective action through ACEP membership, Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions, and sharing real-world storiesPropose accrediting emergency departments to ensure proper resources and fair practice environmentsChallenge misconceptions about ACEP’s ties to corporate medicine and emphasize its physician-led advocacyIf you’re an emergency physician feeling the weight of systemic challenges or seeking ways to drive change, this episode offers practical insights, advocacy strategies, and a hopeful vision for the future of emergency medicine.About the Guest:“Emergency physicians are resilient—we adapt to challenging situations with little information and make the best of it.” – Dr. Gillian SchmitzDr. Gillian Schmitz is a professor at the Uniformed Services University and an emergency physician at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. As the  past president and a member of the Board of Directors of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), she has been a leading voice in addressing workforce challenges, burnout, and policy reform in emergency medicine. A civilian working in military medicine, Gillian’s career blends clinical practice, academic teaching, and advocacy, inspired by her commitment to serving those who serve the country. Her work focuses on fostering resilience, improving team dynamics, and advocating for systemic changes to support emergency physicians.📍 Connect with GillianLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-schmitz-b88794302/Email: jillianmd@gmail.com📚 Resources + Mentions🔗 No Surprises Act🔗 ACEP Workforce Report🔗 ACEP Advocacy Resources🔗 Dare to Lead by Brené Brown🔗 The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown🔗 Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians🔑 Top 3 Key TakeawaysUnderstand and fight surprise billing: The No Surprises Act aims to protect patients, but enforcement gaps allow insurance companies to delay payments and manipulate disputes, threatening small practices. Share your stories to fuel advocacy.Join the collective: Support ACEP through membership or PAC contributions to amplify emergency physicians’ voices in Congress and drive policy changes like fair reimbursement and accreditation standards.Envision a better future: ACEP’s push to accredit emergency departments could set standards for resources, staffing, and transparency, improving practice environments and patient care nationwide.🩺 About the HostDr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the ShowHeartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.  🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting  2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community. ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it take to lead emergency medicine through unprecedented challenges like workforce shortages and systemic burnout?In this Heartline Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin sits down with Dr. Gillian Schmitz to explore her career trajectory, from civilian roles in military medicine to becoming ACEP's past president. Gillian reflects on her path, inspired by her father's military service, and how she balanced family life with a demanding career. They discuss the hidden opportunities in government jobs like those at the VA or Uniformed Services University, the resilience of EM physicians, and the impact of events like the FM talk that reshaped her focus on advocacy.You’ll hear how they:Navigate civilian careers in military and VA settings, highlighting opportunities for academic and clinical rolesAddress burnout and moral injury in EM, emphasizing resilience, teamwork, and the need for systemic supportExplore leadership in organized medicine, from grassroots involvement to national policy influenceDiscuss evolving reimbursement models, like the shift to thought-process-based documentation for better compensationIf you’re an EM physician facing burnout or seeking ways to amplify your voice in healthcare policy, this episode offers inspiration, practical advice, and a call to action for involvement in organized medicine.About the Guests“Emergency physicians are resilient—we adapt to challenging situations with little information and make the best of it.” – Dr. Gillian SchmitzDr. Gillian Schmitz is a professor at the Uniformed Services University and an emergency physician at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. As the  past president and a member of the Board of Directors of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), she has been a leading voice in addressing workforce challenges, burnout, and policy reform in emergency medicine. A civilian working in military medicine, Gillian’s career blends clinical practice, academic teaching, and advocacy, inspired by her commitment to serving those who serve the country. Her work focuses on fostering resilience, improving team dynamics, and advocating for systemic changes to support emergency physicians.📍 Connect with GillianLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-schmitz-b88794302/📚 Resources + Mentions· 🔗 American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)· 🔗 Uniformed Services University Job Opportunities· 🔗 FM Talk by Dr. Gillian Schmitz· 🔗 Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians🔑 Top 3 Key TakeawaysExplore Civilian Roles in Military Medicine: As a civilian, you can work in VA or military settings like the Uniformed Services University—ask around for openings and leverage networks for academic and clinical opportunities.Combat Burnout with Resilience and Teamwork: EM physicians thrive by adapting to challenges; focus on teamwork, advocacy, and organized medicine to address moral injury and systemic issues like workforce shortages.Embrace New Reimbursement Models: Shift to documenting thought processes and differentials for better compensation under updated guidelines, reducing unnecessary tests while improving patient care and practice sustainability.🩺 About the Host:Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the Show:Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.  🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting  2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community. ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when the demands of academic emergency medicine collide with personal health and family priorities? In this Heartline Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin speaks with Dr. Shannon McNamara about her transition from simulation director and ED physician to urgent care provider amid burnout, moral injury, and the pandemic.Shannon recounts her nomadic upbringing, love for emergency medicine's complexity, and challenges in dysfunctional systems—including chronic illness, night shifts, and institutional politics. She discusses stepping away from academics, embracing urgent care for autonomy and balance, and applying simulation principles like huddles and debriefs to real-world teams. The conversation explores dehumanizing healthcare conditions, the need for career mobility in EM, and redefining emergency medicine as a mindset, not a location.You’ll hear how they:Address moral injury from boarding, resource shortages, and systemic inequitiesUse complexity science to foster team communication and adaptability in high-pressure environmentsAdvocate for off-ramps in EM careers, from telemedicine to specialized outpatient practicesInspire hope through personal routines, boundaries, and upstream solutions for patient care.If you’re grappling with burnout or envisioning new paths in medicine, this episode provides honest insights and practical strategies for change.About the Guests“Emergency medicine is a mindset, not a place.” – Dr. Shannon McNamaraDr. Shannon McNamara is an emergency medicine physician, simulation educator, and writer with experience in academic centers across Philadelphia and New York. After facing burnout and long COVID, she transitioned to urgent care while maintaining her passion for humanizing healthcare through complexity principles and team dynamics. She runs the Plus Delta newsletter and speaks on resilience, career transitions, and innovative medical education.📍 Connect with ShannonNewsletter: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/shannonomac    Twitter: @ShannonMc 🔑 Top 3 Key TakeawaysEmbrace complexity in healthcare: Use simple tools like team huddles, pre-briefs, and debriefs to adapt to constant change and reduce moral injury.Redefine your career: Emergency medicine is a versatile mindset—explore off-ramps like urgent care, telemedicine, or specialized practices for better balance and impact.Prioritize personal boundaries: Amid turmoil, ground yourself with routines like nature walks, honest family communication, and mindful media consumption to sustain joy and resilience.🩺 About the Host:Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the Show:Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting in 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it take to break free from financial stress and become a changemaker in healthcare? In this episode, Dr. Andrea Austin connects with Michael Swartz, a fee-only financial planner and coach who specializes in guiding physicians from residency to retirement. Drawing from his work at Schwartz Financial Planning, and his Health and Wealthness podcast, Michael offers a roadmap for physicians to navigate financial challenges and align their careers with their purpose.They explore how the psychological weight of student loan debt can drive overwork and burnout, with Michael sharing strategies to reframe debt as an investment in future earning potential. He emphasizes the importance of a wealth-based mindset—where decisions are driven by values, not just income—and provides practical advice on balancing clinical demands with personal well-being. From empowering physicians to say “no” to toxic work environments to planning for a sustainable retirement. The conversation also covers the pitfalls of rigid financial goals, the power of coaching to shift mindsets, and the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive professionals who share your vision for change.If you’re a physician feeling trapped by student loans, overwork, or a misaligned career, this episode provides actionable tools and inspiration to reclaim financial and personal freedom.Together, they dive into:Reframing student loan debt as an investment in earning potential, not a burdenBalancing clinical work with personal well-being to avoid burnoutEmpowering physicians to make value-driven career decisions with financial confidencePractical retirement planning tips for high-income professionalsIf you’re a physician feeling trapped by financial pressures or seeking to align your career with your purpose, this episode offers actionable strategies to reclaim control and drive meaningful change.About the Guest:“I help physicians find clarity and confidence in their financial and personal lives.” – Michael SwartzMichael Swartz is a fee-only financial planner, coach, and owner of Schwartz Financial Planning, specializing in financial planning for physicians from residency to retirement. He is the author and host of Health and Wealthness, a book and podcast dedicated to guiding physicians through financial and life transitions. With personal insight from his wife’s career as a physician assistant, Michael helps physicians navigate student loans, career transitions, and retirement planning with a focus on empowerment and well-being.📍 Connect with MichaelWebsite: healthwealthness.comPodcast: https://healthwealthness.com/podcast   Book: Health and Wealthness: The Physician’s Guide to the Retirement Journey 📚 Resources + Mentions🔗 Health and Wealthness: The Physician’s Guide to the Retirement Journey by Michael Swartz🔗 Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert🔗 The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown🔗 Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians🔑 Top 3 Key TakeawaysReframe debt as an investment: Shift your mindset from seeing student loans as a burden to viewing them as an investment in your earning potential, reducing psychological stress and empowering long-term planning.Wealth is a mindset: True wealth means living aligned with your values, regardless of income, allowing you to make career decisions without financial pressure dictating your choices.Seek fee-only financial planners: Work with a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) to ensure unbiased, fiduciary advice tailored to physicians’ unique financial needs.🩺 About the HostDr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the ShowHeartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.  🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting August 2025, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 What does it take to lead change in healthcare’s most challenging environments? In this episode, Dr. Andrea Austin connects with Stephen Berkeley, a healthcare administrator turned change facilitator, and Anne Boland, a coaching psychologist, to explore how leadership, self-awareness, and curiosity can reshape healthcare systems.Stephen shares his 35-year journey in healthcare administration, from Australia to India, and how a shift from self-focused to service-oriented leadership transformed his approach. Anne reflects on her privilege of coaching leaders who turn dysfunctional teams into thriving ones, emphasizing the power of listening and collaboration. Together, they discuss overcoming biases against administrators, the value of triads in leadership, and the importance of mindful exits when it’s time to move on.You’ll hear how they:Reframe healthcare administration as a service-driven role, not the “dark side”Use 360 evaluations and coaching to foster self-awareness and growthSupport leaders through mindful entry and exit strategiesInspire hope through their Forks in the Road podcast and retreats for healthcare professionalsIf you’re navigating leadership challenges or seeking ways to create meaningful change, this episode offers practical wisdom and inspiration.About the Guests“Clarity and harmony within me and around me. My body is a temple.” – Stephen Berkeley“I never know what’s really going on in the other person or the system.” – Anne BolandStephen Berkeley is a change facilitator and coach with over 35 years of leadership experience in healthcare across Australia, England, and India. A former healthcare administrator, he now helps leaders build capacity for change through curiosity and service-oriented leadership.📍 Connect with Stephen Website: flyntrok.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephenberkeleyAnne Boland is a coaching psychologist working with healthcare, education, and professional services leaders. A former national director at EY Australia, she co-hosts the Forks in the Road podcast, sharing stories of leadership and transformation.📍Connect with AnneLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anne-boland-a9130312 📚 Resources + Mentions🔗 Forks in the Road Podcast🔗 The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge🔗 Clear Leadership by Gervase Bushe🔗 The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge🔗 The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown🔗 Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians🔑 Top 3 Key TakeawaysLeadership is a specialty: Whether clinician or administrator, effective leadership requires curiosity, listening, and aligning values to serve others.Self-awareness drives change: Tools like 360 evaluations, when paired with coaching and trust, help leaders grow and transform teams.Mindful exits matter: Move toward opportunities that align with your purpose and values, not away from dysfunction.🩺 About the HostDr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the ShowHeartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.  🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting  in 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 Ever wonder why healthcare policy feels like a maze? Or how one doctor can spark systemic change? In this episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Andrea Austin talks with Dr. Scott Pasichow, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and a passionate advocate for equity and reform.Scott’s advocacy journey began with a personal realization: the inequities in family leave policies for residents. His push for fairer policies led to incremental changes at the ACGME and ABEM, ensuring better support for new parents. From testifying on EMS bills to representing ACEP in the AMA House of Delegates, Scott’s work spans mental health, burnout, and student loan burdens.You’ll hear how he:Turned a personal experience into a fight for equitable family leave policiesBuilds mission-driven teams by listening for dissent and fostering collaborationUses storytelling to make policy issues resonate with lawmakers and the publicFinds hope in the growing energy of physicians pushing for progressIf you’re frustrated by healthcare’s challenges or curious about advocacy, this episode offers practical insights and inspiration.About the Guest“The arc of history bends toward justice—but it takes people to pull on it.” – Dr. Scott PasichowDr. Scott Pasichow is an emergency physician, assistant professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and a relentless advocate for healthcare reform. A former board member of the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association (EMRA) and current representative for ACEP in the AMA House of Delegates, Scott has testified on EMS and emergency medicine bills in multiple states. His work focuses on family leave equity, physician wellness, and protecting access to care. He lives in Maplewood, NJ, with his wife, two kids, two pit-mix dogs, and a growing New York Rangers collection.📍 Connect with Scott  BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/spmd16.bsky.social📚 Resources + Mentions🔗 American Medical Association (AMA)🔗 American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)🔗 Tribal Leadership by Dave Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer-Wright🔗 ACGME Family Leave Policy🔑 Top 3 Key TakeawaysAdvocacy starts with listening: Building effective teams means understanding dissent and aligning on shared goals.Storytelling drives change: Data informs, but personal stories make policy issues relatable and actionable.Incremental wins matter: From family leave to Medicaid access, small steps build toward lasting impact.🩺 About the HostDr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the ShowHeartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.  🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting in 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Healthcare’s broken system hurts patients and physicians, but collective action can heal it. In this episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, I sit down with Kim Downey, a physical therapist, three-time cancer survivor, and Community Ambassador for Medicine Forward and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation. Kim shares her transformative journey—facing thyroid and breast cancer, multiple surgeries, and the loss of her radiation oncologist to suicide—which sparked her mission to found Stand Up for Doctors. She discusses how gratitude, like thank-you notes, fosters connection, and how patients can advocate for physicians to improve care. Kim highlights the need for a culture shift in medicine, starting in med school, and emphasizes leadership and self-leadership to navigate toxic environments. Her upcoming 2026 retreat in New York promises community and resilience-building.You’ll hear how to:· Use gratitude to bridge patient-physician divides.· Challenge limiting beliefs to find fulfilling work environments.· Build a culture of kindness and collective advocacy in healthcare.If you’re seeking hope amidst healthcare’s challenges, this episode offers actionable inspiration.About the Guest“If your goal is to change the world in one fell swoop, you will fail. But if you brighten the corner where you are, you will succeed.” – Kim DowneyKim Downey is a physical therapist, three-time cancer survivor, and passionate advocate for physician well-being. As Community Ambassador for Medicine Forward and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, and founder of Stand Up for Doctors, she amplifies physicians’ voices through her YouTube channel, Substack, and book White Coats, Courageous Hearts. Her journey through thyroid and breast cancer, and the loss of her radiologist to suicide, fuels her mission to foster gratitude and systemic change in healthcare.📍 Learn more at standupfordoctors.org or connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-downey-a9307b72/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StandupforDoctors📚 Resources + Mentions🔗 https://www.youtube.com/@StandupforDoctors  – YouTube Channel, Substack, standupfordoctors.org🔗 https://www.amazon.com/White-Coats-Courageous-Hearts-  by Kim Downey and contributors🔗 Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation – drlornabreen.org🔗 Medicine Forward – medicineforward.org🔗 Healthcare Reinvention Collaborative – healthcarereinventioncollaborative.com🔗 From Hurting to Healing by Dr. Simon Craig🔗 Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways· Gratitude, like thank-you notes, builds patient-physician connection and supports well-being.· A culture of kindness, starting in med school, can transform healthcare’s toxic environments.· Collective advocacy—patients and physicians together—creates ripples of systemic change.🩺 About the HostDr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the ShowHeartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.  🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting in 2026,  I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system. Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Burnout and trauma can feel like dead ends, but what if they’re inflection points for growth? In this episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, I, Dr. Andrea Austin, share a deeply personal chapter from my book Revitalized, reflecting on my recovery from soul-level burnout during the pandemic. Drawing on lessons from therapy, coaching, and vulnerability, I explore the power of “and”—embracing pain while finding joy. I discuss top-down (e.g., CBT) and bottom-up (e.g., EMDR, somatic) therapies, along with the role of coaching for future-focused growth. Inspired by Dr. Lorna Breen’s story, I advocate for stigma-free mental health support and share the power of having hard conversations to foster revitalization.You’ll hear how to:· Differentiate therapy and coaching to address burnout or trauma.· Embrace vulnerability to build connection and resilience.· Navigate life quakes with intentional inner work.If you’re grappling with burnout or trauma, this episode offers hope and practical steps for healing.📚 Resources + Mentions🔗 Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline – Available on Audible, Amazon, IngramSpark🔗 drlornabreen.org – Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, Take Action Toolkit🔗 If I Betray These Words by Wendy Dean and Simon Talbot🔗 Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez🔗 Grounded Roots Mental Therapy – Anna Rainville, LMFT🔗 Heartline Podcast, August 2023 – Dr. Michelle Wolfhouse on Burnout Recovery 🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways· Inner work through therapy (top-down or bottom-up) and coaching can transform burnout and trauma into revitalization.· Vulnerability in hard conversations fosters connection and healing, even if imperfect.· Stigma-free mental health support, like the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, is critical for physicians.🩺 About the HostDr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the ShowHeartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.__________________🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting in 2026,  I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Burnout doesn’t have to be the only option in medicine. In this conversation, Dr. Diane Shannon shares her personal journey through burnout and how she found her way through. We explore the small, yet impactful changes that can completely transform a physician’s career—whether it’s learning to set boundaries or recognizing the trauma and moral injury that so often go unspoken in our profession.I’m excited to dive into how Dr. Shannon has been coaching and empowering other physicians, especially women physicians, to overcome the pressures of perfectionism, manage their emotional well-being, and embrace micro-changes that allow them to thrive instead of just survive. We also talk about how leadership and communication can shape the healthcare system and help doctors find balance in a system that’s so often stacked against them. About the Guest"Failure means you’re learning. And in healthcare innovation, learning fast is everything." – Dr. Diane ShannonDr. Diane Shannon is an internal medicine physician, wellness coach, writer, and podcaster. After experiencing burnout firsthand, Dr. Shannon left clinical practice to dedicate her career to helping other physicians prevent and overcome burnout. Through her podcast, Vital Signs: Thriving as a Woman in Medicine, and her coaching work, she empowers physicians, especially women, to set healthy boundaries, overcome guilt, and take back control of their careers.She has spent over 20 years advocating for systemic changes in healthcare, helping physicians find fulfillment both in their work and personal lives.📍 You can learn more about Dr. Diane Shannon at dianeshannon.com.🎧 Listen to Vital Signs: Thriving as a Woman in Medicine💌 Reach out via email: diane@dianeshannon.com🔑 Top 3 Key TakeawaysMicro-changes are powerful:Even when the system feels overwhelming, small shifts—like adjusting how we respond to stress or setting clear boundaries—can dramatically change our experience in medicine.Burnout and moral injury are not the same:Burnout can be deeply personal, but moral injury is a systemic wound. We need safe spaces to process both—and the courage to name them when we see them.Effective leadership and communication can transform healthcare:We can’t fix the system alone, but we can build better teams, speak up strategically, and lead with empathy. That’s where real change starts.🩺 About the HostDr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the ShowHeartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. __________🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting in 2026,  I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.