Doctors Making A Difference

By Peter M. Crane, MDBusiness Medicine Health & Fitness Education Self-Improvement Investing

Doctors Making A Difference episodes

September 03Women's Sexual Health as the Fourth Pillar of Women's Health with Dr. Michael Reed | DMD#99
In this episode of Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane talks with Dr. Michael Reed about his unconventional career pivot. After years as department chair delivering thousands of babies, burnout, personal health transformation (weight loss and testosterone therapy), and a profound realization that women’s sexual health lacked clear clinical pathways, Reed trained with pioneer Michael Goodman, purchased his California practice mid-COVID, and built a cash-pay model centered on how women experience their anatomy.
They explore why women’s sexual health should stand alongside reproduction, disease management, and longevity as a foundational pillar of women’s health, complete with research infrastructure, clinical pathways, and training standards. Reed shares patient stories, training insights from his Institute of Restorative and Cosmetic Gynecology, and simple, high-impact actions every clinician can take today.
Top 3 Takeaways
Women’s sexual health belongs as a foundational pillar of women’s medicine. It currently lacks the research infrastructure, clinical pathways, and training standards that exist for reproduction, disease management, and longevity, yet it profoundly affects quality of life.
Legitimize concerns and give permission. Simple acts, naming the anatomy with a mirror, asking “Is intimacy a meaningful aspect of your life?”, and creating even a short referral pathway, can transform a patient’s experience and prevent her from giving up.
A clear vision + deliberate risk mitigation can enable bold career reinvention, even at mid-career. Reed’s story shows that holding the picture of the practice you want, closing knowledge gaps, and surrounding yourself with the right support can turn a leap of faith into lasting purpose.
About Dr. Michael Reed

Dr. Michael Reed is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and fellowship-trained cosmetic gynecologist whose clinical and research interests focus on the intersection of pelvic anatomy, sexual function, and psychosocial well-being. After nearly two decades in a high-volume Omaha practice (including department chair), he reinvented his career at age 50, trained extensively in cosmetic and restorative gynecology and sexual medicine, and now practices in Davis and Beverly Hills, California. He founded the Institute of Restorative and Cosmetic Gynecology, teaches internationally, and authored work on “The Fourth Pillar” of women’s health.
Connect with Dr. Michael Reed
Instagram: @thecosmeticgyn
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecosmeticgyn
YouTube: TheCosmeticGYN - Dr. Michael Reed
Email: [email protected]
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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
41 min
August 27Surviving a Brain Tumor, Finding Purpose & Protecting Your Future with Dr. Josh Daily | DMD#98
This episode is sponsored by NURP
NURP helps busy physicians grow their wealth through AI-powered algorithmic trading designed for demanding careers. No day trading, no guesswork, and no constant market watching required.
Ready to put your money to work? Visit start.nurp.com/doctors to learn more.
Trading involves risk, and results may vary. This is not financial advice.
—-----------------------------
In this episode of Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane talks with Dr. Josh Daily about the full life of an academic pediatric cardiologist busy family, teaching, research, and writing in the financial space, interrupted by a life-altering health crisis. Josh recounts the discovery of a large craniopharyngioma, the initial misdiagnosis, successful resection, recurrence years later, and remarkable response to targeted BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy.
They explore how limited experiences and emotion shape specialty choice, the practical importance of adequate life and disability insurance, the brokenness and privilege within the medical system, and the redemption that can emerge from profound loss: greater gratitude, deeper patient empathy, advocacy skills, and a new direction writing books on decision-making grounded in both best practices and Christian faith

Episode Highlights
Josh’s path into pediatric cardiology, driven more by competence, emotion, and mentorship than pure rational analysis

How he now teaches third-year medical students about the affect heuristic, limited experiences, and what actually drives long-term flourishing

The onset of fatigue, low testosterone, and headaches that led to the discovery of a 2.5 × 3 cm mass filling the third ventricle

Initial misdiagnosis as germinoma, the critical second opinion that identified craniopharyngioma, and the decision for complete resection

Recovery challenges (third-nerve palsy, pituitary deficiencies) and the shock of rapid recurrence 3½ years later with progressive vision loss

Tracking down the NIH trial investigator, starting targeted therapy, dramatic tumor shrinkage (80% volume reduction in one month), and insurance battles

Living with panhypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus, adrenal insufficiency, and the ongoing medical fragility

How the experience increased empathy, explicit patient advocacy coaching, and a renewed sense of the sacredness of even “bread-and-butter” pediatric cardiology

The importance of term life and individual disability insurance and the specific regrets and lessons from having policies that were good but not ideal

Writing two books that integrate decision science, cognitive bias reduction, and Christian faith

The Alfred Nobel story and a practical invitation: write your own obituary or a letter from your deathbed to yourself today

Top 3 Takeaways
Specialty choice, and many other big decisions are often driven more by emotion and limited exposure than we realize, pulling back the curtain on cognitive biases can help learners and practicing physicians choose more wisely.

Adequate, well-structured disability and term life insurance matter far more than most physicians feel viscerally until a crisis hits; review and update coverage as income and family needs grow.

Profound loss is never “good,” yet it can produce deeper gratitude, sharper empathy, clearer priorities, and unexpected new callings when met with faith and intentional reflection.
About Dr. Josh Daily

Dr. Josh Daily is an academic pediatric cardiologist and fellowship program director at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. He co-directs the Personal and Professional Financial Essentials for Physicians course for fourth-year medical students, writes in the physician-finance space (including for The White Coat Investor), and conducts research on how physicians make specialty and other high-stakes decisions. He is a two-time craniopharyngioma survivor currently managed with targeted therapy and lives in Little Rock with his wife Lauren and their four children.
Connect with Dr. Josh Daily

Website: https://www.joshdaily.com
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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
43 min
August 20Multi-Cancer Early Detection & the Future of Cancer Screening with Dr. Candace Westgate | DMD#97
This episode is sponsored by NURP
NURP helps busy physicians grow their wealth through AI-powered algorithmic trading designed for demanding careers. No day trading, no guesswork, and no constant market watching required.
Ready to put your money to work? Visit start.nurp.com/doctors to learn more.
Trading involves risk, and results may vary. This is not financial advice.
—-----------------------------
In this episode of Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane speaks with Dr. Candace Westgate about her journey into medicine, her passion for cancer prevention, and the rapidly developing field of MCED testing. They explore how blood-based testing may detect multiple cancers before symptoms appear, what current research shows, and the challenges surrounding guidelines, cost, and insurance coverage.
Dr. Westgate also shares her deeply personal connection to cancer, including losing her father to pancreatic cancer and experiencing melanoma herself, and explains how these experiences shaped her mission to help patients detect cancer earlier.

Episode Highlights
Dr. Westgate's journey from South Africa to the United States and her unexpected path into OB/GYN

Why she deliberately chose what she called “happy medicine” after losing her father to pancreatic cancer at age 16

Her transition from traditional OB/GYN practice into cancer prevention, hereditary cancer risk assessment, and personalized medicine

The limitations of current cancer screening, particularly for cancers without established screening tests

Why approximately 70% of cancer deaths in the United States involve cancers for which there is no established screening test, according to the discussion

How multi-cancer early detection testing developed from research involving cell-free DNA in prenatal testing

The difference between inherited genetic testing and MCED testing

What PATHFINDER 2 revealed about MCED testing in a real-world U.S. population

The importance of specificity and positive predictive value when evaluating multi-cancer screening tests

Why MCED testing is intended to complement not replace, existing cancer screenings

What the NHS-Galleri randomized controlled trial revealed about stage I–IV cancer detection

The ongoing REACH trial and the need for more long-term evidence

Current questions surrounding guidelines, appropriate patient populations, cost, and insurance coverage

Dr. Westgate's personal melanoma experience and how it reinforced her passion for early detection

Her transition away from delivering babies and toward menopause care, personalized medicine, and cancer prevention

Why physicians should “stay curious” and continue following the rapidly evolving MCED field
Top 3 Takeaways
Cancer screening is entering a new era: Multi-cancer early detection aims to identify signals from multiple cancers through a single blood-based test, potentially expanding screening beyond the limited number of cancers currently covered by established screening programs.

MCED is not a replacement for existing screening: Dr. Westgate emphasizes that emerging blood-based testing should currently be viewed as an addition to recommended screenings such as mammography, cervical cancer screening, and colorectal cancer screening.

Personal experiences can become a powerful source of purpose: Westgate's experiences with her father's pancreatic cancer, her mother's breast cancer, and her own melanoma ultimately strengthened her commitment to helping patients detect cancer earlier.
About Dr. Candace Westgate
Dr. Candace Westgate is the Director of Personalized Medicine at Community Health Network, a board-certified OB/GYN, menopause specialist, and cancer prevention expert. Her work focuses on personalized medicine, hereditary cancer risk assessment, multi-cancer early detection, and helping patients take a more proactive approach to cancer prevention. She previously developed the AHEAD program to bring genetics and personalized genomics into routine clinical care.
Connect with Dr Candace:
LinkedIn: Dr. Candace Westgate

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
45 min
August 13Cancer Changed Everything, Except Her Joy : Lessons on Living Fully with Elizabeth Roberts |LMC#96
This episode is sponsored by NURP
NURP helps busy physicians grow their wealth through AI-powered algorithmic trading designed for demanding careers. No day trading, no guesswork, and no constant market watching required.
Ready to put your money to work? Visit start.nurp.com/doctors to learn more.
Trading involves risk, and results may vary. This is not financial advice.
____________________________________
In this episode of Living with Metastatic Cancer, Dr. Peter Crane interviews his friend Elizabeth Roberts. Elizabeth shares how she discovered her breast cancer via a MyChart text message, the later diagnosis of brain and spine metastases after a car accident, and how she kept leading travel tours and finding joy despite fatigue, treatment, and an advancing prognosis. The conversation explores practical ways to talk with family about limited time, the power of saying the word “cancer” openly, reframing perspective through faith and gratitude, and leaving a legacy of hope rather than bitterness. Elizabeth’s story offers honest, uplifting insight for patients, caregivers, and clinicians navigating metastatic disease.
Episode Highlights
Elizabeth’s four-year journey: initial breast cancer diagnosis, later leptomeningeal disease involving brain and spine, and ongoing treatment

Finding out via a MyChart text alone at home, and the value of in-person delivery of hard news

Starting The Happy Wanderer travel company and continuing to lead (or arrange) trips even after diagnosis

Being hit by a drunk driver, persistent headaches, and the discovery of a brain tumor while in Switzerland

Choosing to say the word “cancer” often so others feel free to talk about it

How a metastatic diagnosis clarified what truly matters: family, relationships, and presence over busyness

Talking openly with family about a possible “expiration date,” planning meaningful time, and reducing fear around the subject

Faith, miracles, and the decision to remain joyful and present rather than bitter

Practical counsel for newly diagnosed patients and their loved ones: accept, share, plan, forgive, and keep something on the calendar
Top 3 Takeaways
You can have cancer and still choose happiness, life is meant to be lived and enjoyed even with a difficult diagnosis.

Talk openly with family about the diagnosis and possible limited time; planning together creates meaningful experiences and reduces isolation.

Keep something to look forward to (a trip, a gathering, a simple drive) and focus on the relationships and moments that still remain fully available.
About the Guest:
Elizabeth Roberts is the founder of The Happy Wanderer, a travel company that organizes small-group trips (primarily to Europe and Switzerland). Diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago and later with leptomeningeal disease involving her brain and spine, Elizabeth has continued to travel, lead tours when possible, and approach life with remarkable positivity, faith, and openness. She lives in the same community as the host and is known for her uplifting example to friends and family.
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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
35 min
August 06Four Generations of Trust: Lessons from an Australian Dentist on Building Lifelong Patient Loyalty | DMD#95
This episode is sponsored by NURP
NURP helps busy physicians grow their wealth through AI-powered algorithmic trading designed for demanding careers. No day trading, no guesswork, and no constant market watching required.
Ready to put your money to work? Visit start.nurp.com/doctors to learn more.
Trading involves risk, and results may vary. This is not financial advice.
—-----------------------------
In this engaging episode of Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane welcomes Dr. Sasha Rutnam, a general dentist in Sydney, Australia, now caring for her fourth generation of patients. She discusses why allocating real time for communication is non-negotiable, how the mouth is a gateway to overall health, the realities of the Australian dental system, and the two books she wrote to help both patients and practitioners. The conversation explores trust-building, managing anxiety, prevention, emotional intelligence, and how soft skills drive long-term practice success and personal fulfillment.
Episode Highlights
Why spending 30–40 minutes talking with new patients builds trust that lasts generations

“Love is spelled T-I-M-E” how scheduling and staff culture protect sacred patient time

The Australian dental system: mostly private, limited public options, and insurance rebates

Pathway to becoming a dentist in Australia (5–7 years for general practice)

Oral-systemic connections: periodontal disease links to heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and more

Why dentists should never start major treatment the same day as the consult

How clear communication about risks and complications prevents complaints and builds loyalty

Why relationship skills and emotional intelligence are better for business than rushing procedures

Managing anxious or angry patients and turning them into lifelong advocates

How patient interaction (not just clinical work) has sustained her passion after 30+ years
Top 3 Takeaways
Trust is built by allocating enough time, giving full attention, and communicating clearly especially on the first visit.

Oral health is inseparable from general health; prevention and patient education pay dividends for both patients and practices.

Soft skills and emotional intelligence are not “nice extras” ; they are the foundation of referrals, retention, and long-term career satisfaction.
About Dr. Sasha Rutnam
Dr. Sasha Rutnam is a general dentist based in Sydney, Australia, with more than 30 years of experience. She practices comprehensive general dentistry with additional services in orthodontics, surgery, and implants. Known for exceptional patient communication and loyalty that spans four generations of families, she is also an author and coach who teaches other dentists how to build lasting connections. Her books focus on the oral-systemic health link and practical patient communication skills.
Connect with Dr. Sasha
Website: drsasharatnam.com

LinkedIn: Dr.Sasha Rutnam BDS(Sydney) MRCDS AAICD

Books on Amazon: – Beyond the Smile by Dr. Sasha Rutnam
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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
38 min
July 30Beyond The Stethoscope : Mindset, Entrepreneurship and Success with Curtis Wilkerson | DMD #94
This episode is sponsored by NURP
NURP helps busy physicians grow their wealth through AI-powered algorithmic trading designed for demanding careers. No day trading, no guesswork, and no constant market watching required.
Ready to put your money to work? Visit start.nurp.com/doctors to learn more.
Trading involves risk, and results may vary. This is not financial advice.
—-----------------------------
In this inspiring episode of Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane interviews Curtis Wilkerson, a driven second-year medical student, National Guard member, and founder of The Physician’s Mind podcast. Curtis discusses his journey from high school wrestler to future physician, the origins of his podcast, his views on AI in medicine, financial literacy for trainees, and his ambitious vision for a self-improvement platform and conference for medical professionals. He emphasizes maximizing personal potential, resilience, and purposeful living.
Episode Highlights
Knee injury as a wrestler sparked curiosity in anatomy and led him from nursing to medicine

The pivotal family friend comment: “Why not go all the way and be a doctor?”

Founding The Physician’s Mind podcast during a gap year to learn from successful physicians

Vision to become the go-to self-improvement platform for medical professionals

Thoughts on AI as a powerful tool rather than a replacement for physicians

Financial advice for medical students: smart budgeting, long-term thinking, and leveraging physician opportunities

Key interviews with Dr. Anna Lembke (Dopamine Nation), Dr. Jason Ryan (Boards & Beyond), Dr. Kevin Jubbal (Medical School Insiders), and Dr. Antonio Webb

Advice on setting ambitious goals and pursuing maximum potential
Top 3 Takeaways
Everyone has untapped potential, commit to the greatest version of yourself and pursue it relentlessly.

Use AI as a tool to increase efficiency while keeping the human healing connection at the center of medicine.

Early financial decisions and daily habits compound; focus on long-term success rather than short-term comfort.
About Curtis Wilkerson
Curtis Wilkerson is a second-year medical student, National Guard member, fitness enthusiast, and founder/host of The Physician’s Mind podcast. Passionate about entrepreneurship and self-improvement, he interviews exceptional physicians to help medical students and doctors optimize their careers and lives. He is developing courses, writing a book, and planning a national conference for high-performing medical professionals.
Websites:
www.thephysiciansmind.com

Instagram: @thephysiciansmind

LinkedIn: Curtis Wilkerson
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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
36 min
July 23From Saving Limbs to Saving Lives: Dr. James Wittig on Sarcoma Surgery, Purpose & Physician Resilience | LMC#93
In this heartfelt episode of Living With Metastatic Cancer, Dr. Peter Crane interviews Dr. James C. Wittig, an orthopedic oncologist and sarcoma specialist. Dr. Wittig reflects on his unconventional path into medicine, the evolution of limb-sparing surgery for sarcoma patients, his deep commitment to vulnerable populations, and the personal calling that led him to launch the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. He also shares candid insights on physician burnout, finding joy in medicine, and living with purpose after facing his own health challenges.
Episode Highlights
Early aspiration to become a doctor, work as an EMT, and unexpected discovery of orthopedic oncology

Training with limb-sparing surgery pioneers Ralph Marcove and Martin Malawer

The shift from amputation to limb salvage in the 1980s–90s and the role of chemotherapy

Starting the first orthopedic oncology clinic at Bellevue Hospital for underserved patients

Performing over 200 complex cases in his first year of practice

Personal story as a first responder at Ground Zero on 9/11 and its lasting impact

Founding the Pediatric Cancer Foundation to support families with financial, nutritional, and holistic care (brain, body, soul, spirit)

Practical advice for physicians facing burnout: focus on joy, meditation, purpose, and compartmentalizing “noise”

Why he continues to compete only with himself to deliver better patient care
Top 3 Takeaways
True fulfillment in medicine comes from focusing on patients and competing with yourself rather than external pressures.

Even during personal health challenges, it’s possible to create meaningful impact, Dr. Wittig started a foundation while on medical leave.

Living every day with purpose and making your own happiness a priority allows you to show up fully for your patients and family.
About Dr. James Wittig
Dr. James C. Wittig is a board-certified orthopedic oncologist and sarcoma surgeon with over 25 years of experience. He specializes in the surgical treatment of bone and soft tissue tumors in children and adults. A graduate of NYU School of Medicine, he completed fellowships with leading experts in limb-sparing surgery. He previously served as Chair of Orthopedics and founded an orthopedic oncology clinic at Bellevue Hospital serving vulnerable populations. He is the founder of the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of New Jersey and maintains active educational and humanitarian efforts.
Websites:
jamescwittigmd.com

tumorsurgery.org

pediatriccancerfoundationnj.org
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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
38 min
July 16Pickleball After Chemo: The Future of Cancer Treatment with Dr. Brandon Mancini | LMC #92
This episode is sponsored by NURP
NURP helps busy physicians grow their wealth through AI-powered algorithmic trading designed for demanding careers. No day trading, no guesswork, and no constant market watching required.
Ready to put your money to work? Visit start.nurp.com/doctors to learn more.
Trading involves risk, and results may vary. This is not financial advice.
—-----------------------------
In this episode of Living with Metastatic Cancer, Dr. Peter Crane (physician and SFT patient) interviews Dr. Brandon Mancini. They cover Dr. Mancini’s journey from traditional radiation oncology to leading theranostics at Banff Health, the science behind molecularly targeted radiopharmaceuticals, current FDA-approved treatments, ongoing clinical trials, and how this field offers hope with highly precise, well-tolerated therapies. The conversation highlights opportunities for patients with rare and common cancers, practical access to treatments, and the rapid evolution of the field.
Episode Highlights
Dr. Mancini’s personal motivation: influenced by his mother’s breast cancer journey and her work as a clinical trials research nurse in radiation oncology

Career pivot from community radiation oncology to subspecializing in theranostics after training in Germany

Explanation of theranostics: pairing diagnostic and therapeutic radiotracers that target specific proteins on or around tumor cells

FDA-approved treatments for metastatic prostate cancer (Pluvicto) and neuroendocrine tumors

Exciting targets like FAP (fibroblast activation protein) for pan-cancer “basket” trials, including sarcomas and SFT

Combination therapies, alpha vs. beta emitters, dosing/scheduling innovations, and moving treatments earlier in the disease course

Banff Health’s comprehensive program, clinical trials across ~15 tumor types, and serving patients from 26 states and 2 countries

Patient experience: minimal side effects allowing normal activities soon after treatment

Future outlook: more approvals, earlier use, broader targets, and reduced reliance on traditional chemotherapy
Top 3 Takeaways
Theranostics represents a new era of precision medicine, highly targeted radiopharmaceuticals attack cancer at the molecular level while sparing healthy tissue, often with excellent tolerability.

Patients with rare cancers like solitary fibrous tumors can benefit from emerging FAP-targeted trials and should explore clinical trial options and specialized centers.

The field is advancing rapidly: centralized expertise, more trials, and earlier intervention are expanding access and improving outcomes across many tumor types.
About Dr. Brandon Mancini
Dr. Brandon Mancini is a radiation oncologist and Medical Director at Banff Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan, one of the world’s leading centers for theranostics. After a decade in traditional radiation oncology, he trained in Germany and helped launch Banff Health’s program in 2022. He specializes in targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies and is deeply involved in clinical trials expanding this field.
Connect with Dr. Brandon Mancini
Banff Health: banffhealth.com
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 conversation

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
39 min
July 09Algorithmic Trading, Financial Freedom & Alternatives for Busy Physicians With Jeff Sekinger | DMD#91
This episode is sponsored by NURP
NURP helps busy physicians grow their wealth through AI-powered algorithmic trading designed for demanding careers. No day trading, no guesswork, and no constant market watching required.
Ready to put your money to work? Visit start.nurp.com/doctors to learn more.
Trading involves risk, and results may vary. This is not financial advice.
—-----------------------------
In this episode of Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane interviews Jeff Sekinger, founder of NURP (algorithmic trading software), Zero Percent (financial education), and Orca Capital (digital asset hedge fund). Jeff shares his journey from JPMorgan to entrepreneurship, the inspiration behind creating accessible quant strategies for non-accredited investors, and how NURP’s Midas strategy brings hedge fund-level tools to individual brokerage accounts.
The conversation covers the challenges physicians face with time, financial education, and diversification; the power of positive expectancy strategies; market-neutral trading vs. traditional buy-and-hold; liquidity and autonomy in algorithmic trading; and realistic portfolio allocation (1-20%). Jeff emphasizes education, risk management, backtesting, and third-party verification while stressing that this is not financial advice and trading involves significant risk.
Episode Highlights
Jeff’s early investing lessons from his dad and transition from JPMorgan to founding three finance companies

The gap between ultra-high-net-worth access (private equity, hedged products) and what most physicians can realistically get

Modern Portfolio Theory, the Efficient Frontier, and the role of uncorrelated alternatives

Why most day traders lose money and how algorithmic software removes emotion, timing, and execution errors

Midas strategy: Gold-focused, backtested 15+ years, live 16-month track record with strong outperformance

Investor autonomy, keep capital in your own brokerage, full liquidity, adjustable risk settings, equity protection

Market-neutral exposure: Strategy sits in cash and only trades on high-probability setups

Common physician investing pitfalls and the value of diversification beyond 401(k)s and index funds

Demo/trial option for physicians to test the strategy risk-free before committing capital

Transparency through MyFXBook verification and Alpha Performance Services
Top 3 Takeaways
Financial independence gives physicians the freedom to pursue mission-driven work, lack of it quietly limits options.

Algorithmic trading can provide uncorrelated, market-neutral exposure with positive expectancy, but it still carries real risk of loss and belongs as a small, diversified portion (1-20%) of a broader portfolio.

Busy professionals benefit from tools that remove emotion and manual execution, education, backtesting, liquidity, and personal control are essential when exploring alternatives.
About the Guest
Jeff Sekinger is the founder of NURP, Zero Percent, and Orca Capital. With experience at JPMorgan in asset management, he builds financial education tools and algorithmic trading strategies designed to give higher-net-worth individuals (including many medical professionals) access to sophisticated, quantitative approaches in their own brokerage accounts.
Connect with Jeff Sekinger
Website: start.nurp.com/doctors
Learn more and try the demo at nurp.com
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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
41 min
July 02Bariatric Surgery Versus GLP-1s: The Real Talk on Weight Loss That Works | Dr. Alexa Roth | DMD#90
This episode is sponsored by NURP
NURP helps busy physicians grow their wealth through AI-powered algorithmic trading designed for demanding careers. No day trading, no guesswork, and no constant market watching required.
Ready to put your money to work? Visit start.nurp.com/doctors to learn more.
Trading involves risk, and results may vary. This is not financial advice.
—-----------------------------
In this episode of Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane interviews Dr. Alexa Roth, a bariatric surgeon and obesity medicine specialist running a Center of Excellence program in Idaho. Dr. Roth discusses her path from competitive athlete and reluctant surgery student to falling in love with bariatric surgery, the psychological aspects of weight management, and how to approach patients with empathy and evidence-based options. They explore the strengths and limitations of lifestyle changes, GLP-1 medications, and surgical interventions, cost comparisons, insurance challenges, medical tourism risks, and early intervention in pediatric obesity. Dr. Roth also shares insights on public education through social media and her website.
Episode Highlights
From competitive athlete and internal medicine leanings to discovering a passion for surgery during a long Nissen redo case

Why bariatric surgery offers uniquely rewarding long-term patient relationships and near-100% satisfaction

The combination of technical laparoscopic skill, psychology/psychiatry overlap, and life-changing outcomes that drew her to the field

Patient-centered approach: Meeting patients where they are, understanding their story, and avoiding shame/blame messaging

Spectrum of treatments, lifestyle (5-7% TBWL), medications (up to ~22%), and surgery (20-40%+ TBWL), and how to match them to patient goals

GLP-1 revolution making obesity more approachable and increasing patient willingness to seek care

Cost comparison: Bariatric surgery often pays for itself in under a year vs. ongoing brand GLP-1 costs; long-term savings for the healthcare system

Risks of medical tourism (lack of follow-up, complications, nutritional issues) and the importance of comprehensive lifelong support

Early intervention in children and adolescents; family-wide benefits when adults pursue treatment

Using authentic, short-form social media content to combat misinformation and educate the public
Top 3 Takeaways
Obesity is a chronic disease driven by genetics, epigenetics, and environment. Treat it with the same nuance and tools (lifestyle + meds + surgery) as diabetes or hypertension, not just “eat less and move more.”

The best treatment is the one the patient will actually stick with; shared decision-making using realistic expectations on efficacy, cost, and lifelong commitment leads to better adherence.

Surgery and medications are complementary tools, not competitors. Comprehensive programs that offer all options deliver superior, sustainable results and change entire families.
About Dr. Alexa Roth
Dr. Alexa Roth is a board-certified bariatric surgeon and obesity medicine specialist in Idaho. She leads a comprehensive weight management program recognized as a Center of Excellence. A former competitive swimmer and triathlete, she brings discipline and empathy to her practice. She is passionate about patient education, reducing stigma around obesity, and using social media to share evidence-based information.
Website: www.drrothweightloss.com
Instagram: @drrothweightloss
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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
40 min

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