February 26, 2026

DMD # 72 | Continuing Education, Burnout Prevention, and Creative Pursuits in Medicine

36 minutes

Dr. Dave Davis, the most cited primary care physician in Canada, joins Dr. Peter Crane to share his career journey from clinical practice to revolutionizing CME. With decades in family medicine, academia at McMaster and the University of Toronto, and innovative research, Dave discusses the inefficacy of traditional lectures, effective learning strategies like problem-based learning and point-of-care tools, and the importance of relationships in medicine. The conversation delves into avoiding burnout by listening to one's "gut," pivoting to meaningful roles like underserved community care during the AIDS epidemic, and exploring creativity through science fiction novels and historical fiction. Dave also highlights volunteer work in retirement as a source of fulfillment. This episode offers physicians insights on staying engaged, balancing professional demands, and embracing holistic personal growth for long-term career satisfaction.

Episode Highlights

Dave's early career spark in CME after attending ineffective lectures, leading to research and roles at McMaster and University of Toronto

Publishing a provocative JAMA paper showing traditional CME lectures fail to change behavior, based on randomized trials and reviews

Effective CME alternatives: Daily journal reading, colleague discussions, small-group sharing, point-of-care lookups, and quality improvement with feedback

Shift from pharmaceutical-sponsored CME to unbiased, embedded learning in practice, like electronic consultations and specialist input

Personal strategies for staying current: Treating medicine as a "school without walls," using computers for quick answers, and daily patient-driven research Burnout onset after 10-12 years in routine practice; rediscovering joy through teaching doctor-patient relationships and pivoting during 1987 Ontario physician strike

Transformative move to urban community health center: Handling AIDS cases, collaborating with multidisciplinary team, and feeling "alive" in meaningful care

Balancing academia: 60% clinical practice with 40% research at University of Toronto, allowing time for reflection and sharing experiences

Writing origins in high school science fiction ideas; completing novels like "Potter's Tale" (inspired by Da Vinci Code structure) and "The Last Immortal" on eternal life

Current project: Historical fiction novel "Clandestine" based on secret Warsaw Ghetto medical school during WWII, involving research trips and interviews

Writing process tips: Join critique groups for humility, take online courses (e.g., Dan Brown's MasterClass), start small with memoirs or local pieces, and allocate dedicated time

Volunteerism in retirement: Running church-based drop-in center for homeless and seniors, focusing on listening to personal stories for healing and connection

Core advice: Prioritize relationships with patients, family, and colleagues; listen to what energizes you to avoid becoming an "empty shell" post-career

Top 3 Takeaways

Rethink CME: Move beyond lectures to interactive, patient-centered strategies like point-of-care research and small-group discussions for better retention and application.

Combat burnout: Listen to your "gut" by identifying what energizes you, whether teaching, community service, or creative hobbies and make time for it amid professional demands.

Embrace wholeness: Cultivate relationships, volunteerism, and personal passions like writing to become a fuller person, ensuring long-term fulfillment in and beyond medicine.

About Dr. Dave Davis

Dr. Dave Davis is a retired family physician, educator, and author, renowned as Canada's most cited primary care physician for his influential research on continuing medical education (CME). With a career spanning clinical practice, academia at McMaster University and the University of Toronto, and roles in quality improvement, he pioneered evidence-based approaches to physician learning. Dave's work includes randomized trials challenging traditional CME methods and promoting embedded, systems-based strategies. In retirement, he authors science fiction and historical fiction novels, volunteers at a community drop-in center, and shares insights via TikTok and his website.

His experiences—from underserved AIDS care to creative writing, emphasize holistic physician wellness.

Website; https://drdavedavis.com

LinkedIn: Dave Davis

TikTok: Dave Davis

About the Host:

Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch.

Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible.

About the Show:

Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine.

In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole.

Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com

LMC Series Note:

Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease—through candid physician–patient conversations.

The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances.

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By Peter M. Crane, MD