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The quality of our attention shapes every interaction we have, yet listening is often the first skill sacrificed when pressure, technology, and time constraints take over. Most clinicians spend years learning what to say, while spending little time learning how to effectively listen. In a healthcare system dominated by tasks, metrics, and efficiency, the ability to slow down and create genuine presence may be one of the most valuable skills we can cultivate.
In this episode, we explore why listening is both a mindset and a practical skill, how to listen more effectively, how small pauses can transform patient care, and why mindfulness extends far beyond meditation. Finally, we examine simple practices that help clinicians stay present, focused, and connected even during the busiest days.
đĄ Get Rob's Book
Supranormal: A Field Guide for the Impossible Job.
Tools, mindsets, and communication techniques so you don't get eaten alive by a job you're good at.
Buy it on Amazon
Guest Bio: Dr. Ronald Epstein â internationally recognized family physician, palliative care physician, educator, researcher and writer -- has devoted his career to understanding and improving communication and mindfulness in medicine. His scholarly articles have revolutionized doctorsâ view of their work, and his 2017 book, Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness and Humanity shows how becoming mindful can transform healthcare, build strong connections between doctors and patients, and help clinicians flourish while providing the best care for patients.
You can find Ron at www.ronaldepstein.com and learn about his workshops at www.mindfulpracticeinmedicine.com
We Discuss:Why listening may be the most important clinical skill we rarely teachThe 90-second habit that changes patient encountersWhat a near-missed surgical complication reveals about hierarchyThe difference between spending time and being presentThe difference between reacting and respondingA simple doorknob practice for transitioning between patientsHow "Find Your Feet" helps restore presence during stressful encountersWhy slowing down often improves performanceWhat mindfulness looks like beyond formal meditationMentioned in this episode:
Doctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized Wins
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The Out-On-Time Course
Built for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.
Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course
UnBurnable Registration is Now Open
We took the highest yield tools from our 1:1 coaching and created a community-based course with docs who get it and get you.
The UnBurnable Course
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Your ability to earn income is your most valuable financial asset. Physicians spend years protecting patients, building careers, and accumulating assets, yet many discover too late that the insurance designed to protect their income is full of loopholes, exclusions, and traps. Disability insurance sounds boring until the moment someone needs it, and then it becomes one of the most emotionally and financially consequential topics in medicine.
In this episode, we explore the hidden realities of physician disability insurance, why employer policies often fail when doctors need them most, and how to think strategically about protecting future income before health problems appear. We also walk through what physicians should do when filing a disability claim, and how to avoid sabotaging the process from the very beginning.
đĄ Get Rob's Book
Supranormal: A Field Guide for the Impossible Job.
Tools, mindsets, and communication techniques so you don't get eaten alive by a job you're good at.
Buy it on Amazon
Guest bio: Matthew Wiggins is the founder of Doc Insure and a leading educator in physician disability insurance. Since 2003, he has helped more than 15,000 doctors understand and secure income protection, while pioneering a faster, online-first way for residents, fellows, and attendings to compare personalized disability policies. Through Doc Insure, Matt makes a confusing and often overlooked topic practical, transparent, and easier to navigate so physicians can make informed decisions about protecting their future earnings. Matt and his crew will give you a quote on disability insurance through this link. Or you can set up a call to chat with them directly here.
We Discuss:
Why most employer disability policies leave physicians underprotectedHow true own-occupation coverage protects a physicianâs specialty incomeWhy physicians dramatically underestimate their chances of becoming disabledThe different disability risks facing procedural and cognitive specialtiesWhy disability claims often become adversarial and difficult to navigateHow detailed occupational documentation strengthens disability claimsWhy income documentation determines the value of a disability payoutHow understanding a diagnosis improves the strength of a disability claimWhy filing timing can affect whether benefits are approved and when payments beginWhy buying disability insurance during residency protects future insurabilityMentioned in this episode:
Get Out On Time
The Out-On-Time Course gives you the tools to complete your charts on shift, manage overwhelm and interruptions, and create fast, focused, kickass notes, so you can stay out of chart debt and get home on time. Self-paced. 12 hours AMA PRA Category 1 CME.
Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course
UnBurnable Registration is Now Open
We took the highest yield tools from our 1:1 coaching and created a community-based course with docs who get it and get you.
The UnBurnable Course
Doctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized Wins
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Medicine gives you a map. Pre-med, med school, residency, attending. Step by step, no shortcuts. Then one day, the map disappears and youâre there asking, âNow what?â
In this episode, Dr. Mizuho Morrison and I dig into what happens after training, when fulfillment, identity, and control are no longer prescribed. We talk about nonlinear careers in medicine, from part-time clinical work and motherhood to podcasting, entrepreneurship, leadership, and walking away from roles that no longer fit.
We also get into what happened when Mizuho wore a continuous glucose monitor during emergency department shifts, and what it revealed about stress, cortisol, and the real physiologic cost of the job.
This is a conversation about agency, experimentation, and ownership, and how to build a medical career that actually works for your life, not just your training.
đĄ Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practiceđĄ
Guest Bio: Dr. Mizuho Morrison is a board-certified emergency physician in Southern California and CEO of EM:RAP. A graduate of the Los Angeles County + USC residency program, she has worked in both academic and community emergency medicine and has been a major voice in EM education for more than a decade. Miz was one of the first female EM podcasters, helped launch multiple EM:RAP programs, served as Editor-in-Chief and Senior Medical Director at Hippo Education, and co-hosted Essentials of Emergency Medicine. She is also an entrepreneur and cofounder of 3MD, Three Mommy Doctors, a medical device company that reimagined first-aid kits for kids. She lives in Orange County with her two children.
We Discuss:
The Train Track Problem in Medical CareersFulfillment Is Not One Standard Career ShapeSeasons, Experiments, and Knowing When to Move OnStress, Cortisol, and the Cost of Shift WorkBegin Before You Feel ReadyReclaiming Agency in a System That Keeps Asking for MoreMentioned in this episode:
Supranormal: A Field Guide for the Impossible Job
Rob's book is for anyone doing high-stakes, human-facing work who's ever thought I wasn't trained for this. Built from 20 years in emergency medicine and thousands of hours coaching physicians, Supranormal delivers the tools, mindset shifts, and communication techniques that don't show up on any board exam, but make all the difference in how you perform, connect, and build a career worth keeping.
Get Supranormal on Amazon
Doctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized Wins
Every other week, a few minutes of career-elevating insight delivered straight to your inbox.The Doctoring Done Well Newsletter is never lame, never spammy, and always fresh.
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UnBurnable Registration is Now Open
We took the highest yield tools from our 1:1 coaching and created a community-based course with docs who get it and get you.
The UnBurnable Course
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Itâs not uncommon for hospitals to provide clinicians with scorecards. While they may seem like a judgment of your quality of work, scorecards rarely provide data that will lead to flourishing in your career. But what if you made your own scorecard, filled with things that were important to you and fully within your control? If you nailed one of those each day at work, what would your experience be like?
In this episode, we explore what happened when Dr. Erin Broderick, a participant in the Unburnable Course, stopped using the hospitalâs scorecard as her main definition of success and created a more personal one instead. Erin talks about how she took a new approach to patient satisfaction surveys, one that has eliminated nearly all the stress and distress associated with them.
Finally, we look at how intentional practices during and after a shift made Erinâs work feel joyful and sustainable.
đĄ Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practiceđĄ
We Discuss:
Measuring success with a personal scorecardA post-shift routine that closes the dayClosing open loopsA novel approach to patient satisfaction surveysLetting go of metrics that donât serve youScheduling recovery during the shiftExtending intentionality beyond the hospitalMentioned in this episode:
Doctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized Wins
Every other week, a few minutes of career-elevating insight delivered straight to your inbox.The Doctoring Done Well Newsletter is never lame, never spammy, and always fresh.
Sign up for our Newsletter
Supranormal: A Field Guide for the Impossible Job
Rob's book is for anyone doing high-stakes, human-facing work who's ever thought I wasn't trained for this. Built from 20 years in emergency medicine and thousands of hours coaching physicians, Supranormal delivers the tools, mindset shifts, and communication techniques that don't show up on any board exam, but make all the difference in how you perform, connect, and build a career worth keeping.
Get Supranormal on Amazon
UnBurnable | Our Cohort-Based Burnout Prevention and Cure Course
We took the highest yield tools from our 1:1 coaching and created a community-based course with docs who get it and get you.
The UnBurnable Course
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If you have ever lost it mid-shift, frozen when you should have acted, or spent the next two weeks asking yourself what's wrong with me, you already know what character assassination feels like.
In this episode, we break down a simple and effective reframe that interrupts the self-flagellation shame spiral without making excuses or lowering standards. You will learn how to move from why did I to, of course, how to give yourself a legitimate and hard-earned break, and why self-compassion is not softness but one of the most underutilized performance tools in medicine. Topics include physician burnout, self-compassion, cognitive reappraisal, shame and self-criticism, communication under stress, and physician coaching.
đĄ Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practiceđĄ
We discuss:
Why self-criticism after a hard moment often hurts more than the moment itselfThe difference between first-order distress and second-order distressWhat the research on rumination and shame actually showsWhy your brain treats harsh self-evaluation like a physical threatThe biology of performance under load and why grit has a limitThe of 'course' reframe and how to use it in real timeFour steps to move from character assassination to context assessmentWhy suppression makes it worse, and reappraisal changes the signalPre-shift dread and how to take the shame out of itWhy self-compassion is a performance tool, not a soft skillWhat this reframe is not: excuses, lowered standards, or avoiding accountabilityHow to start today with one sentenceMentioned in this episode:
Doctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized Wins
Every other week, a few minutes of career-elevating insight delivered straight to your inbox.The Doctoring Done Well Newsletter is never lame, never spammy, and always fresh.
Sign up for our Newsletter
Supranormal: A Field Guide for the Impossible Job
Rob's book is for anyone doing high-stakes, human-facing work who's ever thought I wasn't trained for this. Built from 20 years in emergency medicine and thousands of hours coaching physicians, Supranormal delivers the tools, mindset shifts, and communication techniques that don't show up on any board exam, but make all the difference in how you perform, connect, and build a career worth keeping.
Get Supranormal on Amazon
The Out-On-Time Course
Built for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.
Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course
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Emergency medicine has an interruption-based workflow. There's no getting around some of that, but recurrent interruptions erode quality of care, accuracy of documentation, concentration, and ultimately the ability to leave work on time. While some interruptions are unavoidable, most are predictable and preventable. Reclaiming control over interruptions is more than a way to improve efficiency; it's about patient safety, reducing medical errors, and safeguarding your mental health. Constant task switching creates cognitive load, contributing to emergency physician burnout and compromising clinical decision-making.
In this episode, we explore tactical and mindset shifts that emergency clinicians can use to reduce interruptions, enhance documentation efficiency, and avoid the hidden costs of task switching. We'll cover practical strategies for managing EKG interruptions, skillful ways to manage nursing questions, and setting boundaries all while maintaining team dynamics and patient care quality. Whether you're an emergency physician, PA, NP, or resident, these evidence-based strategies will help you work smarter, reduce stress, and reclaim control of your clinical day.
Finishing emergency department shifts with a stack of charts to complete gets old fast. This chart debt also contributes to burnout.
We will help you break bad habits and equip you with the skills to walk out the door unencumbered.
Out-On-Time is a course for emergency physicians and clinicians that teaches shift efficiency and real-time documentation, enabling you to write fast, focused charts that bill well and are medicolegally sound.
Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course
We Discuss:
The Cost of Interruptions in Emergency MedicineNot All Interruptions Are UrgentThe Cognitive Cost of Task SwitchingBecoming a Non-Interruptible ClinicianDeferring Without Alienating Your TeamProtecting Focus at the End of the ShiftFixing the EKG Interruption ProblemAsynchronous Communication That Actually WorksMentioned in this episode:
Supranormal: A Field Guide for the Impossible Job
Rob's book is for anyone doing high-stakes, human-facing work who's ever thought I wasn't trained for this. Built from 20 years in emergency medicine and thousands of hours coaching physicians, Supranormal delivers the tools, mindset shifts, and communication techniques that don't show up on any board exam, but make all the difference in how you perform, connect, and build a career worth keeping.
Get Supranormal on Amazon
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So many of our choices are shaped less by desire and more by expectation. We chase prestige, status, or recognition, only to arrive and realize we were climbing the wrong ladder. Beneath burnout and the friction, thereâs often the truth that we were never pursuing what we truly wanted. In this episode, we explore the concept of mimetic desire, how it misguides our ambitions, and how to reclaim our decisions. Finally, we examine how fear of judgment and shame shape our careers more than we think, and what it takes to break free.
Guest bio: Josh Russell, MD, is double board-certified in Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care. Heâs held leadership roles as a Chief Medical Officer in telehealth, artificial intelligence, and urgent care systems. Heâs an experienced clinician, writer, educator, and medical editor with a passion for making complex topics accessible.
LinkedIn article that spurred this podcast
Joshâs Website
We Discuss:Mimetic Desire: Chasing What Others WantThe Trap of âShouldâ: Internalized ShameThe Concentric Circles of StressorsFinding What You Really WantThe Ladder Against the Wrong WallActionable Reflection PracticesMentioned in this episode:
The Out-On-Time Course
Built for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.
Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course
Doctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized Wins
Every other week, a few minutes of career-elevating insight delivered straight to your inbox.The Doctoring Done Well Newsletter is never lame, never spammy, and always fresh.
Sign up for our Newsletter
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What if the true test of strength is focusing less on what we feel and more on what we do? In this episode, we explore a practical philosophy of action, presence, and personal agency with Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior. Finally, we dig into how small mindset shifts can transform both high-stakes moments and the quiet struggles of everyday life.
Guest bio: Dan Millman is a world champion athlete turned author, educator, and teacher of practical wisdom. With a background that spans competitive sports, university-level coaching, martial arts, and academic instruction, Dan brings a rare blend of physical discipline and philosophical insight to his work.
Following two decades of spiritual exploration, he developed what would become known as the Peaceful Warriorâs Way, an action-based approach to living with purpose. Dan is the author of 18 books, including the international bestseller Way of the Peaceful Warrior, which was adapted into a feature film. His writings have reached millions across 29 languages and continue to influence readers around the world.
We Discuss:
Peaceful Warrior Philosophy in ActionWhat We Control (And What We Donât)Action Over EmotionThe Three Rules of Wise LivingThe Power of Present Moment AwarenessMastery Through Deliberate PracticePurpose as a Practical ToolGrowth Without PerfectionWorking Within Broken SystemsPracticing LifeMentioned in this episode:
Free Tools To Make Medical Practice Easier
No fluff. Just good stuff.
Free Resources Link
The Out-On-Time Course
Built for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.
Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course
Supranormal: A Field Guide for the Impossible Job
Rob's book is for anyone doing high-stakes, human-facing work who's ever thought I wasn't trained for this. Built from 20 years in emergency medicine and thousands of hours coaching physicians, Supranormal delivers the tools, mindset shifts, and communication techniques that don't show up on any board exam, but make all the difference in how you perform, connect, and build a career worth keeping.
Get Supranormal on Amazon
Doctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized Wins
Every other week, a few minutes of career-elevating insight delivered straight to your inbox.The Doctoring Done Well Newsletter is never lame, never spammy, and always fresh.
Sign up for our Newsletter
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Your work world is built on endurance, intensity, and mastery. The culture is 'always on,' and you were trained to perform in conditions no one would call normal. The work is supranormal. It sits at the edge of reasonable and regularly exceeds what is sustainable by most standards. High performers like you often find themselves on an above-the-fray pedestal, expected to be tireless and self-sacrificing. Supranormal work can unlock extraordinary performance, but the cost adds up if it goes unchecked.
In this episode, we look at where this culture came from, the cortisol spikes that shape your days, the hidden curriculum of self-sacrifice, and the countermeasures that keep you from burning out. It is a straight look at the supranormal experience and what it takes to do this work without losing yourself to it.
ï»żAwake + Aware | Our 2026 Retreat
Join us at Awake and Aware, our 3-day retreat in Scottsdale, AZ. March 1-4, 2026. Space is limited.
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đ P.S. This is a CME event.
We discuss:âą Why medical culture expects you to perform inside conditions no one would call normal
âą What makes supranormal work different from ordinary high-stress work
âą How the âalways onâ ethos formed and why it persists
âą The hidden curriculum of self-sacrifice and the pedestal of being above the fray
âą Cortisol spikes, sympathetic load, and what chronic activation does to your body
âą Why self-preservation feels selfish in medicine and why that belief is wrong
âą The roots of modern training from monastic care to Halstedâs cocaine-fueled stamina
âą Why emergency medicine is an outlier in burnout, longevity, and physiological strain
âą The concept of parasympathetic nurturing as a countermeasure
âą How mindset changes biology and shifts performance
âą What it takes to last in supranormal work without losing yourself
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What if the best decision is to not decide at all? We waste valuable mental energy overthinking simple choices, especially when the outcomes are nearly identical. That kind of cognitive drain reduces our capacity to think clearly when decisions actually matter. In this episode, we explore how to reduce cognitive load, identify low-risk choices that can be automated or ignored, and recognize when deliberation is just noise. Finally, we break down how framing, values, and the right question can make even complex decisions frictionless.
Guest bio: Dan Dworkis MD, PhD is an emergency physician who is a clinical professor of emergency medicine at USC Keck School of Medicine. Heâs also host of the Emergency Mind podcast that focuses on helping individuals and teams perform better under pressure and the author of The Emergency Mind: Wiring Your Brain for Performance Under Pressure.
We Discuss:
The Three Types of Cognitive LoadHarvesting Free RollsApplying Dominance and Cutting Through Decisional NoiseHow to Stop Fretting Over Equivalent DecisionsNavigating EquipoiseMaking Big Life DecisionsMentioned in this episode:
5 Free Tools To Make Medical Practice Easier
Scripts for your least favorite conversations.The quick and dirty guide to calling consults. A 10-minute "Driveway Debrief" to switch off from work. My favorite documentation templates. Step-by-step guide for delivering the news of death.
Free Resources Link
Doctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized Wins
Every other week, a few minutes of career-elevating insight delivered straight to your inbox.The Doctoring Done Well Newsletter is never lame, never spammy, and always fresh.
Sign up for our Newsletter
The Out-On-Time Course
Built for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.
Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course
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As students navigate an increasingly complex, competitive, and costly path to medical school, parents often find themselves uncertain about how to help without hindering growth. Meanwhile, institutions maintain opaque admissions practices, amplifying anxiety for both students and families. In this episode, we explore what parents need to know to truly support, not sabotage, their aspiring doctors. Finally, we pull back the curtain on everything from shadowing to AI in essays, offering a brutally honest look at what really matters in the application process.
Guest bio: Dr. Ryan Gray, a former Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force, is the founder of Medical School Headquarters and Meded Media, where he has become a leading voice in guiding pre-med and medical students toward careers in medicine. He is the author of The Premed Playbook series, including Guide to the Medical School Application Process, Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement, Guide to the Medical School Interview, and Guide to the MCAT. Dr. Gray also hosts several popular podcasts, including The Premed Years, OldPreMeds Podcast, The MCAT Podcast, and Specialist Stories.
We Discuss:
Support vs. SabotageThe Myth of the Perfect ApplicantWhy Checklists Aren't Really ChecklistsWhat Shadowing Really Tells YouWhat's the Deal With Volunteering Hours?Service for the Right ReasonsWhy Pre-Med Doesn't Mean Pre-DoctorUsing AI When Writing Med School EssaysCompressing Preclinical EducationThe Price of Applying and the Sneaky SecondariesWhy Don't Schools Post MCAT Cutoffs?How to Write a Good Letter of Recommendation and When to Say NoThank You NotesLetters of IntentShould Premeds Attend Non-Interview Info Sessions?Why Clinical Hours Are Non-NegotiableMentioned in this episode:
Free Tools To Make Medical Practice Easier
No fluff. Just good stuff.
Free Resources Link
The Out-On-Time Course
Built for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.
Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course
Doctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized Wins
Every other week, a few minutes of career-elevating insight delivered straight to your inbox.The Doctoring Done Well Newsletter is never lame, never spammy, and always fresh.
Sign up for our Newsletter
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A broken system wonât fix itself, and no one is coming to the rescue. Medicine is fraying under the weight of burnout, misaligned incentives, and systemic inertia. Yet, hope isnât lost. Change is still possible, but it wonât come from the top down. In this episode, we explore how grassroots leadership, inner work, and community involvement can become the antidote to despair in modern medicine. Finally, we dig into the personal cost of service and the tools we need to heal ourselves while fighting for change.
Guest bio: Dr. Andrea Austin is the inaugural Emergency Medicine Program Director at Sacred Heart in Pensacola, Florida. As a Navy veteran, her military service taught her how to perform under pressure and lead teams in high-stakes environments. She brings that same focus to her work in medical education, physician well-being, and healthcare systems change. Dr. Austin is the author of Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline and host of the Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare podcast.
Books mentioned in this episode
What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo
We Discuss:The Case for a New Residency ProgramWhat It Means to Be a Change MakerWorking Within the Domains of ChangeOvercoming Social Loafing in MedicineRethinking Suicide Risk in Emergency MedicineThe Call for Psychiatric Fellowships in EMReclaiming Wellness Through the âHeart LineâThe Inner Work is the System WorkBuilding a Portfolio CareerMentioned in this episode:
Coming Soon! The Out On Time Course
If you are on our mailing list, you will have early access and a few other surprises as well.
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The Out-On-Time Course
Built for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.
Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course
Never Lame. Never Spammy. Always Fresh.
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How can a person whoâs clearly lucid still be deemed incapable of making their own medical decisions? The answer lies in the misunderstood yet critical distinction between competence and decision-making capacity. While these terms are often used interchangeably in clinical settings, they carry vastly different meanings in law and medicineâdifferences that can determine whether a patient is treated, restrained, or left alone. In this episode, we explore how doctors can (and should) assess capacity, the legal boundaries of competence, and how not to get destroyed on the witness stand. Finally, we unpack a story involving a dog, a scrotum, and a tour of Coloradoâs emergency departments.
Guest Bio: Rich Orman began his legal career as a public defender before moving into private practice. He soon joined the district attorneyâs office, where he spent most of his career and ultimately rose to the position of deputy district attorney. Over three decades in the courtroom, he tried some of the most complex and high-profile cases in the state. After retiring from law, Rich turned to filmmaking. He is the writer and director of the critically acclaimed Boundary Layer.
đĄ Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practiceđĄ
We Discuss:What Competence Actually Means in Legal TermsDefining Medical Decision-Making CapacityReal-Life Dilemmas in Emergency MedicineThe Right Terminology in DocumentationWhat Physicians Get Wrong in CourtHow to Testify Like a ProHow to Handle Yes/No Cross-ExaminationsOne Legal Nugget You Should Never ForgetMentioned in this episode:
The Out-On-Time Course
Built for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.
Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course
Decision Making Capacity Free Template
Need to document decision-making capacity quickly and accurately? I created this free resource so you donât have to waste time looking up the elements each time. Itâs an example of how it can be doneâuse it as a guide and make it your own.
Free Resources Link
Never Lame. Never Spammy. Always Fresh.
If youâd like a few minutes of career-elevating curated kickassery delivered to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
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Ever walk out of a shift and feel like the hospital came home with you? In medicine, the mental residue can cling long after the work day is done. One way to address this is boundary rituals, deliberate actions designed to process the day and allow you to leave work at work, be more present when you get home, and possibly even sleep better. As a bonus, the ability to disengage from work is one of the strongest predictors of reduced burnout.
In this episode, Mohamed Hagahmed, MD, shares how he creates this boundaryâthrough small rituals of gratitude, stillness, and reflection. From growing up as a refugee to serving as a sideline physician for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dr. Hagahmedâs path has been shaped by resilience, culture, and care. He explains how he learned to stop carrying unfixable wounds home, why kindness is clinical armor, and how tiny acts of self-compassion can protect meaning in medicine.
Guest Bio: Mohamed Hagahmed, MD a Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, Associate Medical Director at the Center for Emergency Medicine, and EMS Medical Director for several systems in Western Pennsylvania. On top of that, he works in high-acuity emergency departments across the region. Heâs a graduate of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, passionate about resuscitation, critical care, and toxicology education. And heâs the creator and host of EMERGE in EM, a podcast focused on emergency medicine education and global health empowerment.
We Discuss:
Growing up as a refugee and finding purpose in emergency medicineThe toll of moral injury and why staying closed and rigid nearly broke himSmall rituals that help shed the emotional residue of a shiftUsing gratitude and stillness as tools for resilienceHow changing clothes, music, and even snacks can protect emotional healthTurning frustration into advocacy for immigrant health and systemic changeAdvice for new attendings on protecting the threshold between work and homeMentioned in this episode:
5 Free Tools To Make Medical Practice Easier
Scripts for your least favorite conversations.The quick and dirty guide to calling consults. A 10-minute "Driveway Debrief" to switch off from work. My favorite documentation templates. Step-by-step guide for delivering the news of death.
Free Resources Link
Distilled Kickassery Every Other Saturday
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The best communication in high-stakes environments isnât complicated. Quite the opposite - itâs structured, clear, and consistent. Small, deliberate shifts in how we transfer information can dramatically improve patient safety, team efficiency, and workplace culture. In this episode, we explore three simple but transformative communication habits that reduce errors and build trust among teams. Finally, we share practical tools you can use today to tighten your communication and improve safety without adding extra workload.
We Discuss:
The Three-Way Repeat-Back: âThatâs Correctâ Changes EverythingPhonetic Clarifications: Stop the âNormanâ ProblemNumbers: Say the DigitsWhiteboards: The Cheapest Safety Tool in the RoomChecklists: Mastering the BasicsCheaper Than Dirt, More Precious Than GoldMentioned in this episode:
The Out-On-Time Course
Built for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.
Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course
Doctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized Wins
Every other week, a few minutes of career-elevating insight delivered straight to your inbox.The Doctoring Done Well Newsletter is never lame, never spammy, and always fresh.
Sign up for our Newsletter
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Stressful events can hijack cognition, cloud judgment, and leave emotional residue that can fuel long-term burnout. For acute care clinicians, those moments of emotional overwhelm, when heart rate spikes and the thinking brain goes offline, can have consequences that last far beyond the shift. While long-term resilience is essential, itâs often the just-in-time strategies that determine whether we break down or rise to the moment. In this episode, we explore the physiology and psychology of real-time emotional regulation with Scott Weingart, MD, co-creator of the Beat the Stress Fool protocol. Finally, we uncover how practices like gratitude flooding and negative visualization can inoculate against burnout and offer emotional integrity in the most harrowing moments of care.
đĄ Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practiceđĄ
Scott Weingart, MD, is an emergency department intensivist and physician coach based in New York. He completed fellowships in Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, and ECMO, and is internationally recognized for his expertise in resuscitation and critical care. As the creator of the EMCrit podcast, with over 40 million downloads, he has shaped how clinicians think and perform under pressure. Together, Scott and I co-founded Guidewire Coaching, where we create and teach tailored courses to address the real-world pain points of acute care medicine.
We Discuss:Rapid stress reset with âBeat the Stress FoolâBreathing techniques that calm the nervous systemSelf-talk under pressureMental rehearsal that ends in successTrigger words for fast de-escalationGratitudinal flooding as a shield during emotional overloadReal-time tools for grief resilienceThe quiet strength of negative visualizationTeaching stress tools to trainees without pushbackMentioned in this episode:
Never Lame. Never Spammy. Always Fresh.
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The Out-On-Time Course
Built for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.
Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course
5 Free Tools To Make Medical Practice Easier
Scripts for your least favorite conversations.The quick and dirty guide to calling consults. A 10-minute "Driveway Debrief" to switch off from work. My favorite documentation templates. Step-by-step guide for delivering the news of death.
Free Resources Link
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No one enters medicine expecting to land on a performance improvement plan, yet for many physicians, it becomes a disorienting reality. A PIP can feel like both a warning and a test, raising existential fears about career, reputation, and future. Behind the formal language is often a complex mix of organizational risk management and legitimate behavioral concerns. In this episode, we explore what it really means to be placed on a PIP, how to navigate the process effectively, and why resistance is rarely a successful strategy. Finally, we share a structured approach to coaching through a PIP that can turn even the most fraught situation into meaningful professional growth.
đĄ Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practiceđĄ
We Discuss:
Understanding the Purpose and Structure of a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)Variability and Pitfalls in PIPsWhy Coaching Matters During a PIPCommon Reactions and Emotional TollStructural Flaws That Undermine PIPsNegotiating and Responding to a PIPThe Myth of Performance ImmunityA Coaching Framework for Navigating PIPsCollaborating With LeadershipSuccess and Long-Term ImpactMentioned in this episode:
Distilled Kickassery Every Other Saturday
Sign up for our Newsletter
5 Free Tools To Make Medical Practice Easier
Scripts for your least favorite conversations.The quick and dirty guide to calling consults. A 10-minute "Driveway Debrief" to switch off from work. My favorite documentation templates. Step-by-step guide for delivering the news of death.
Free Resources Link
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What if addiction isnât about drugs, but about pain? Beneath compulsive behaviors often lie histories of trauma, anxiety, and unmet emotional needs, hidden behind layers of stigma and misunderstanding. In medicine, addiction is still often mischaracterized as a moral failing rather than a treatable illness with deep psychological roots. In this episode, we explore the personal and professional evolution of Dr. Casey Grover, an addiction medicine physician who reframed both his own struggles and the way he cares for patients. Finally, we uncover how shifting mindset and language can transform both clinical outcomes and clinician well-being.
đĄ Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practiceđĄ
Guest bio: Dr. Casey Grover is a board-certified physician in Addiction Medicine and Emergency Medicine at Montage Health, where he also serves as Chief of Staff. He is the Physician Champion for the Monterey County Prescribe Safe Initiative, a program focused on reducing opioid misuse through education, safe prescribing, and improved treatment access. In addition to his clinical and leadership roles, Dr. Grover hosts the podcast Addiction Medicine Made Easy, where he breaks down complex topics to make addiction care more approachable for both providers and the public.
We Discuss:
What is Addiction?When Food Becomes a Coping MechanismThe Stigma of AddictionThe Neurology of AddictionDivided Views on SobrietyWhy Some People Recover and Others RelapseThe Reason Some Brains Get HookedAddiction vs. Dependence â and Why Stigma Makes It WorseBuilding Trust with PatientsFrom Frustration to Compassion: Reframing Patient EncountersTrauma, PTSD, and Personal ReckoningThe Practice of Addiction MedicineMentioned in this episode:
The Out-On-Time Course
Built for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.
Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course
Never Lame. Never Spammy. Always Fresh.
If youâd like a few minutes of career-elevating curated kickassery delivered to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
Sign up for our Newsletter
5 Free Tools To Make Medical Practice Easier
Scripts for your least favorite conversations.The quick and dirty guide to calling consults. A 10-minute "Driveway Debrief" to switch off from work. My favorite documentation templates. Step-by-step guide for delivering the news of death.
Free Resources Link
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What is it about your work that still lights you up inside? At the center of every profession is a core - the reason we chose it in the first place, the part that feels meaningful no matter the chaos around it. When we reconnect with that core, even amid challenge, fulfillment often follows. Sometimes, though, that spark fades. Sometimes the core of what we love evolves, shifts direction, or gets buried under layers of stress and routine. In this episode, we explore how to evaluate your relationship with the essence of your work and how small (or big) recalibrations can realign your day-to-day with what matters most. Finally, we share strategies to clear out the noise, fuel the flame, and shape a career that energizes rather than drains.
đ§ UnBurnable | Our Cohort-Based Burnout Prevention and Cure Course
As physician coaches, my partner, Scott Weingart, and I have noticed a clear pattern: some doctors are thoroughly burned out, and many others are on the path toward it. Almost all were shortchanged in their medical training, having been molded into excellent clinicians but given virtually no tools for retaining joy and equanimity throughout their careers.
This course will teach you the hidden anti-burnout curriculum.
Learn more at unburnablecourse.com đ
We Discuss:Starting with the central question: How do you feel about the core of your work?Using the stories you tell about your job as diagnostic tools. What tone are you bringing to those tales?What is a micro recalibration, and how can it reshape your workday from within your current job?How do you recognize when overwhelm is a sign of a broken approach, not a broken you?Exploring macro recalibrations. What if you love the work, but the environment is eating you alive?Running the âlook-around testâ to evaluate other institutions.Identifying âgravity problems.â Which issues can't be solved within your current system?Considering a mega recalibration. What does it mean to step away from the work entirely?How identity and sunk costs keep us rooted in roles we may have outgrown.Visualizing the flame and smoke of your career. Whatâs burning bright, and whatâs clouding the view?Defining what a fulfilling day looks like. Is that kind of day even possible where you are now?Use a five-year future vision to clarify whether your current job fits into your ideal life.Why walking away doesnât have to mean burning it down. What might rediscovery look like instead?You donât have to burn it all down to rediscover what lights you up.đĄ Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practiceđĄ
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Burnout isnât just emotional, itâs financial. Many doctors put off financial planning until theyâre deep in debt, stuck in lifestyle inflation, and too burned out to pivot. In this episode, The White Coat Investor Jim Dahle lays out how to build a burnout-resistant career by making smart, intentional money decisions, whether youâre a student or a seasoned physician.
We delve into frugality (the useful and the absurd), how burnout can quietly become your biggest financial threat, what makes a solid investment plan, the waterfall method of managing your money, and why many doctors end up wealthy on paper but broke in practice. Plus: when hiring a financial advisor is the smartest move you can makeâand when itâs the worst.
Guest bio: Jim Dahle, MD, FACEP is a practicing emergency physician and the founder of The White Coat Investor. After early experiences with predatory financial advisors, he taught himself personal finance and saw firsthand how financial literacy transformed his life. Motivated to help colleagues avoid similar pitfalls, he launched The White Coat Investorâthen the only unbiased financial education resource for physicians. More than a decade later, Dr. Dahle continues to lead the organization as CEO, columnist, and podcast host, staying true to its mission: âhelp those who wear the white coat get a fair shake on Wall Street.â
We Discuss:Financial goals as the âgame,â not competition with othersEmbracing frugality (and where it can go too far)Burnout as a major financial riskStrategies to reduce burnout, including working less and managing spendingUnderstanding your financial âbasementâ (minimum monthly needs)Lifestyle creep and how to monitor itThe âlive like a residentâ strategy post-trainingNet worth versus income, and why physicians sometimes retire brokeThe financial âwaterfallâ (how to prioritize where your money goes)Why trying to beat the market usually backfiresWhole life insurance: the hype versus realityCreating an Investment Policy Statement (IPS)Real estate investing: REITs versus hands-on ownershipDesigning your life and shifts as a financially independent physicianThe "night shift marketplace" modelWhen to work with, or fire, a financial advisorCase study: mid-career physician financial planningMentioned in this episode:
5 Free Tools To Make Medical Practice Easier
Scripts for your least favorite conversations.The quick and dirty guide to calling consults. A 10-minute "Driveway Debrief" to switch off from work. My favorite documentation templates. Step-by-step guide for delivering the news of death.
Free Resources Link
Recalibrate Your Career
I work with physicians to help them flourish in medical practice. If you're feeling stuck, burned out, or in trouble at work because of communication or conflict, check out our FAQ page for more info. Ready for real change? Book a discovery call. Itâs free, low-pressure, and will give you clarity on your next steps.
Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching
The Out-On-Time Course
Built for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.
Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course
- Visa fler
