Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare

Have you ever focused on the negative and ignored the positive? Join Marcus and The Hotness discuss the psychology of “done is better than perfect.” Don’t forget to be someone else’s cheer leader and be kind to yourself!

Resources for you:

• Learn more about the Seeing Eye: https://www.seeingeye.org
• More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/
• Learn more about Marcus’ Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/
• Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/
• Connect with The Hotness on Facebook: https://bit.ly/FB-Marvelyne
• Subscribe to the podcast on Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcast
• Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/Spotify-MarcusEngelPodcast

Date: 4/10/2023
Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare
Episode number and title: Episode 97 – Coming Up Short of Perfect

In this episode of Compassion & Courage, Marcus interviews Our Heart Speaks founder, Keith Rafal, MD. The two talk about extending compassion and building a community that can be mindful. Come join two experts in the field of compassion and listen to their own story of growth and how they are applying it patients and families. 

Key topics:

• 00:00 – Introductions
• 00:40 – Marcus Shares a quick story about his past with Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Specialist and Dr. Rafal talks about the history of the practice. 
• 02:41 – Keith talks about his career path and personal history.
• 05:41 – Marcus asks Keith if there was an “it” moment, where he knew was in the right field.
• 09:06 – The two talk about trauma patients and patients that have experienced change. 
• 12:20 – Keith shares a story about mindfulness and witnessing compassion that he experienced.
• 18:00 – Marcus brings up Keith’s Non-Profit, Our Heart Speaks and Keith breaks down what the organization is trying to accomplish.
• 25:30 – Marcus follows up and asks about how patient’s families are a part of the compassion and care journey. 
• 28:39 – Marcus asks his rapid-fire questions. Keith wants to leave people with, “We are one.” 
• 33:10 – Thank you and conclusions!

Resources for you: 

• More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/
• Learn more about Our Heart Speaks: www.ourheartspeaks.org
• Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/
• Learn more about Marcus’ Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/
• Subscribe to the podcast through Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcast
• Subscribe to the podcast through Spotify: https://bit.ly/Spotify-MarcusEngelPodcast

More About Keith W. L. Rafal, MD, MPH

Keith W. L. Rafal, MD, MPH is the former Medical Director of the Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island and former Chief of Rehabilitation and Restorative Care at Memorial Hospital of RI. He is the founder and director of Healing Choices, P.C. an integrative medicine private practice and on clinical faculty at Brown University and Tufts.
He has been passionate throughout his career on the importance of how the Mind, Body and Spirit shape our health and wellbeing and the special role that the arts and humanities offer. He is the founder of the nonprofit Our Heart Speaks, Inc, which supports the patient stories project, where the power of the human spirit is revealed. In collaboration with others, he is working to empower patients and their providers to rethink what is possible when faced with an acquired disability and in need of medical care and rehabilitation. We need not be defined by a medical diagnosis or disability.

Date: 4/3/2023
Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare
Episode title and number: Episode 96 – Keith Rafal, MD, MPH - Our Heart Speaks

In this episode, Marcus interviews Jennifer Krippner, the CXO of the Institute for Healthcare Excellence to learn:
-How a premature birth led to a desire to give back to healthcare.
-What docs, nurses and the rest of us can learn from the trainings Jennifer shares with physicians.
-How being present is our first step towards compassion.

Key topics:

• 00:00 – Introductions
• 00:50 – Marcus goes into a Jennifer Krippner’s background and asks how she got into healthcare.
• 06:00 – Jennifer talks about some of the gaps in healthcare and how she got buy in from clinicians. 
• 08:56 – Marcus asks about Relationship Centered Care. Jennifer talks about The Institute for Healthcare Excellence.
• 14:50 – Jennifer is asked if there is a particular story of compassion she would like to share. The two talk about Jennifer’s story and being open to listen. 
• 20:00 – The conversation turns to burnout and a team perspective of burnout. 
• 24:32 – Marcus asks his rapid-fire questions. Jennifer wants people to remember to “have courage, and be kind.”
• 27:40 – Thank you and conclusions!

Resources for you: 

• More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/
• Learn more about The Institute for Healthcare Excellence: www.iheteam.com
• Connect with Jennifer on Twitter: @jkkrippner
• Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/
• Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkrippner
• Learn more about Marcus’ Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/
• Subscribe to the podcast through Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcast
• Subscribe to the podcast through Spotify: https://bit.ly/Spotify-MarcusEngelPodcast

More About Jennifer Krippner

Jennifer Krippner is a leading expert on patient experience and relationship centered care. Jennifer has more than 20 years of expertise in strategic planning, patient experience, physician development and employee/community engagement. She’s passionate about building connections and relationships. Prior to her lead role at The Institute for Healthcare Excellence, she was a director of physician development and guest/public relations at Maple Grove Hospital in Minnesota. While there, she led staff-driven patient experience advisory teams and developed projects that directly contributed to consistent top tier performance in key patient and staff satisfaction results. Jennifer is a fierce advocate for connecting things, concepts and people, seen and unseen, that positively move the patient experience forward. Jennifer stands apart for her personal commitment to helping hospitals and health systems build a culture of excellence that leads to the delivery of exceptional patient-centered care. She is dedicated to guiding a differentiated human experience that optimizes outcomes for patients, individualizing services to address unique needs, and helping to restore joy and purpose to caregivers. While Jennifer takes great pride in her work, her true north remains her family, friends and relationships she develops.

Date: 3/27/2023
Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare
Episode title and number: Episode 95 – Jennifer Krippner - How to Create Compassionate Communities

Everyone welcome James to the C&C podcast family! Join Marcus and The Hotness in introducing James to the world and Team Marcus. In the episode Marcus talks about the James and the wonderful organization, The Seeing Eye, that has helped pair service dogs with people for almost 100 years. Come see James take the limelight and start his professional career!

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://bit.ly/cc-video-JAMES

Resources for you:

• Learn more about the Seeing Eye: https://www.seeingeye.org
• More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/
• Learn more about Marcus’ Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/
• Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/
• Connect with The Hotness on Facebook: https://bit.ly/FB-Marvelyne
• Subscribe to the podcast on Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcast
• Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/Spotify-MarcusEngelPodcast

Date: 3/20/2023
Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare
Episode number and title: Episode 94 – The Big Reveal – Introducing

Part 2 of the Hottness getting the scoop on the next adventure - Marcus heading off to The Seeing Eye to pick up a new pup! How does it really work? Is it like “the Bachelor” with a group of dogs begging to be “the one?!?”
What really goes into training and the best (and scariest!) parts of bringing home a new pup.
Plus an update on Elliot and how he’s doing in retired life!

Resources for you:

• More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/
• Learn more about Marcus’ Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/
• Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/
• Connect with The Hotness on Facebook: https://bit.ly/FB-Marvelyne
• Subscribe to the podcast on Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcast
• Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/Spotify-MarcusEngelPodcast

Date: 3/13/2023
Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare
Episode number and title: Episode 93 – Getting a New Seeing Eye Pup – Part 2

Listen in as Dr. Caprini shares how he helped invent a device that helped save Marcus’ life. Dr. Joseph Caprini, a vascular surgeon, shares how a disappointing military assignment spurred a career studying blood and vascular medicine. What’s it like to have something named after you? Tune in and find some inspirational stories of how being open can lead to more compassionate interactions.

Key topics:

• 00:00 – Introductions
• 00:46 – Dr. Joe Caprini reflects on how Marcus’ speech, and experience, has affected his practice.
• 04:30 – Marcus asks Joe about his motivation in joining healthcare and becoming a Doctor. 
• 09:00 – Marcus and Joe talk about compassion and inspiring good patient care. 
• 13:15 – Joe talks about his military medical career and his research into bleeding disorders.
• 20:04 – Marcus follows up and asks about Squeezy Boots and shares his experience with them. 
• 22:27 – Joe talks about a higher power and how things have aligned to help so many people. 
• 29:08 – Marcus asks his rapid-fire questions. Joe wants to leave the audience with: “Just love everyone, I’ll sort the rest out later. -signed God.”
• 31:16 – Thank you and conclusions! 

Resources for you: 

• More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/
• Learn more about the Caprini Risk Score: www.capriniriskscore.org 
• Connect with Dr. Caprini on Twitter: @caprinijoseph
• Connect with Dr. Caprini on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/venousresourcecenter 
• Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/ 
• Learn more about Marcus’ Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/ 
• Subscribe to the podcast through Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcast 
• Subscribe to the podcast through Spotify: https://bit.ly/Spotify-MarcusEngelPodcast 

More About Joseph A. Caprini, MD:
Joseph A. Caprini, MD, is a Senior Clinician Educator at the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago. He is also an Emeritus physician at NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL. Dr. Caprini has authored or co-authored more than 480 articles, book chapters, and abstracts on the study and treatment of venous thromboembolism, venous insufficiency, and related topics. He has delivered more than 1800 lectures worldwide on a variety of topics including venous thromboembolism, laparoscopic surgery, wound care, and compression therapy. His society memberships include the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis and the American Venous Forum, where he is a Distinguished Fellow and served as President 2009-2010.  He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Society for Vascular Surgery, a Founding Member and the first Honorary Fellow of the European Venous Forum, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Hematology. He is Co-chair of the Technical Advisory Panel of JCAHO (2005 to date). He received the 2021 Founders Award from the American Venous Forum, and a lifetime achievement award from the Charing Cross Symposium in 2021. He worked with a group of scientists including Dr. Juan Arcelus to develop a DVT Risk Assessment protocol, which has been validated in more than 5 million patients, involving more than 300 peer reviewed publications, used in many countries across the globe. The score can be calculated and downloaded on the website www.capriniriskscore.org. This site contains his videos (110 to date), and all 310 citations and abstracts for articles using the Caprini Risk Score.  The list is updated weekly from PubMED.

Date: 3/6/2023
Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare
Episode title and number: Episode 92 – Dr. Joe Caprini - The Compassion of In-Laws

Part 1 of the Hottness getting the scoop on the next adventure - Marcus heading off to The Seeing Eye to pick up a new pup! How does it really work? Is it like “the Bachelor” with a group of dogs begging to be “the one?!?”
What really goes into training and the best (and scariest!) parts of bringing home a new pup.
Plus an update on Elliot and how he’s doing in retired life! 

Resources for you:

• More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/
• Learn more about Marcus’ Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/
• Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/
• Connect with The Hotness on Facebook: https://bit.ly/FB-Marvelyne
• Subscribe to the podcast on Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcast
• Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/Spotify-MarcusEngelPodcast

Date: 2/27/2023
Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare
Episode number and title: Episode 91 – Getting a New Seeing Eye Pup – Part 1

Marcus welcomes Nicole Rakowski and how a hike nearly turned deadly and what Nicole saw while thinking she was dying. Find out how collaboration between strangers saved her life and what her experience teaches about patient experience. The two trauma survivors discuss pain and when to throw Maslow’s pyramid out the window. Before the two-talk patient experience in hospitals, they touch on Nicole’s other work, that of being a professional athlete and her passion for all things physiology and kinesiology to help people live their best lives. Don’t miss this special episode with two survivors and thrivers.

Key topics:

• 00:00 – Introductions
• 01:15 – Marcus asks Nicole to share her story of trauma and compassion.
• 08:20 – Nicole answers some follow up questions and asks if there were any standout acts of compassion that she experienced. 
• 13:11 – Nicole shares her working experience, both before and after her accident.
• 16:44 – Marcus and Nicole talk about the emotional and psychological support systems that are so important around trauma. 
• 20:20 – Nicole talks about the interaction between her personal experience and professional goals in healthcare and life in general.
• 28:00 – Marcus and Nicole circle back to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and how it may not always be the best care plan. Sometimes there are real needs psychological needs getting in the way of healthcare. 
• 32:52 – Marcus asks his rapid-fire questions, but with a twist! Nicole would like people to remember to “be kind to one another.”
• 36:30 – Thank you and conclusions! 

Resources for you: 

• More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/
• Connect with Nicole on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rakowskinicole/
• Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/
• Learn more about Marcus’ Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/
• Subscribe to the podcast through Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcast
• Subscribe to the podcast through Spotify: https://bit.ly/Spotify-MarcusEngelPodcast

More About Nicole Rakowski:
Nicole is currently completing her PhD in Health Management through the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University and is also part of the sessional faculty teaching various courses. Her research interests include healthcare governance structures, digital health technologies and genomics, fitness and physiology, complex chronic conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, and management techniques used to improve the patient experience.
Nicole’s particular dissertation focuses on obesity, specifically examining health services and policy frameworks related to risk factors with a focus on disease prevention, control and management at the local, national and international level. The question of whether digital health-based policies, strategies and approaches designed to prevent, control, or reverse obesity can be used to effectively enhance population health and improve health systems is an important one from a health systems and management point of view. Understanding how and why individuals engage with digital health technologies in an effort to prevent and control obesity is crucial to disease prevention at a population level.

Date: 2/20/2023
Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare
Episode title and number: Episode 90 - Nicole Rakowski - Compassionate Strangers in a Moment of Crisis

Join Marcus and the Hotness - and learn what Marvelyne OTHER nick name is… and why in the “adventure of the day”!
M & M will talk about the vastly different ways they use to manage stress - and why that can stress the other one out!
Find out what first attracted Marcus to Marvelyne - and why is that important for everyone.
The secret to good gift giving, and learning compassion thru the major job of good communication!

Resources for you:

• More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/
• Learn more about Marcus’ Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/
• Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/
• Connect with The Hotness on Facebook: https://bit.ly/FB-Marvelyne
• Subscribe to the podcast on Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcast
• Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/Spotify-MarcusEngelPodcast 

Date: 2/13/2023
Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare
Episode number and title: Episode 89 – Valentine’s Day Episode

In this extremely heartfelt interview, Marcus has the honor of sharing time and stories with Lt Col Dru Aycock, RN, USAF. Want real stories of compassion during the heat of battle? Or, want to learn how to evacuate hospitals full of patients during a disaster? Of Course you do! Hear how a love of video games became a tool of distraction and compassion when being fired upon. Hear about Dru’s Master’s Degree and how it may end up saving your life some day. There’s a story about bagels that’s really not about bagels and it shares what we can learn from the true front lines of war. Find out how Marcus and Dru were passing ships in the night decades ago and what brought them together again. You’ll hear a very sweet tribute to Garrett, Marc’s third Seeing Eye dog, and more stories about how compassion comes together in big, big ways.

Key topics:

• 00:00 – Introductions
• 01:20 – Marcus asks Lt Col Aycock about his career and how one gets into a specialty like mass casualty.
• 07:38 – Dru is asked about working in St. Louis, MO in the ‘90s and how that service population affected his practice and service in the military.
• 11:18 – Dru talks about the differences between the civilian practice and military practice. Compassion is a straightforward in a combat situation, everyone is a brother and sister, and that makes everything more urgent.
• 21:50 – Marcus asks Dru about of the some of the mass casualty events he has worked over the years. Dru starts with a story around Hurricane Katrina.
• 27:15 – Dru is asked to share a time he witnessed compassion. Dru shares a story about his first deployment and a child in the back of an airplane.
• 40:00 – Marcus asks his rapid-fire questions. Dru would like people to just “care more for each other.”
• 43:36 – Thank you and conclusions! 

Resources for you: 

• More communication tips and resources for how to cultivate compassion: https://marcusengel.com/freeresources/
• Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusengel/
• Learn more about Marcus’ Books: https://marcusengel.com/store/
• Subscribe to the podcast through Apple: https://bit.ly/MarcusEngelPodcast
• Subscribe to the podcast through Spotify: https://bit.ly/Spotify-MarcusEngelPodcast

More About Lt Col Dru “Bwanna” Aycock RN (JAN):

“Just a nurse”
RN in 1993 bachelors degree in nursing
ER/Trauma Nurse since ‘94
Entered USAF in ‘97 as ER/Trauma Nurse
CCATT(critical care air transport) nurse in 1999
FLIGHT nurse in 2000 (Aeromedical Evacuation)
7 deployments into 3 conflict zones (AE)
5 humanitarian support deployments (AE)
Master’s Degree in Emergency and Disaster Management
Current job: Chief of Global Aeromedical Evacuation branch of 618th Air Operations Center at Scott AFB Illinois.  Will retire from AF in August of 2024 with 27.5 years.  

To be honest, I’m not really into all those letters behind my name. Only thing I value others to know is that I’m an RN. The “just a nurse” thing is a bit of an inside joke. A passing comment by an over-confident doctor that I decided to own. If you need anything else just ask me tomorrow when we speak.

Date: 2/6/2023
Name of show: Compassion & Courage: Conversations in Healthcare
Episode title and number: Episode 88 – Lt Col Drew Aycock – Compassion Under Gunfire