Ever wonder why healthcare policy feels like a maze? Or how one doctor can spark systemic change? In this episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Andrea Austin talks with Dr. Scott Pasichow, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and a passionate advocate for equity and reform.

Scott’s advocacy journey began with a personal realization: the inequities in family leave policies for residents. His push for fairer policies led to incremental changes at the ACGME and ABEM, ensuring better support for new parents. From testifying on EMS bills to representing ACEP in the AMA House of Delegates, Scott’s work spans mental health, burnout, and student loan burdens.

You’ll hear how he:

• Turned a personal experience into a fight for equitable family leave policies
• Builds mission-driven teams by listening for dissent and fostering collaboration
• Uses storytelling to make policy issues resonate with lawmakers and the public
• Finds hope in the growing energy of physicians pushing for progress

If you’re frustrated by healthcare’s challenges or curious about advocacy, this episode offers practical insights and inspiration.

About the Guest

“The arc of history bends toward justice—but it takes people to pull on it.” – Dr. Scott Pasichow

Dr. Scott Pasichow is an emergency physician, assistant professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and a relentless advocate for healthcare reform. A former board member of the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association (EMRA) and current representative for ACEP in the AMA House of Delegates, Scott has testified on EMS and emergency medicine bills in multiple states. His work focuses on family leave equity, physician wellness, and protecting access to care. He lives in Maplewood, NJ, with his wife, two kids, two pit-mix dogs, and a growing New York Rangers collection.

📍 Connect with Scott  

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/spmd16.bsky.social

• 🔗 American Medical Association (AMA)
• 🔗 American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)
• 🔗 Tribal Leadership by Dave Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer-Wright
• 🔗 ACGME Family Leave Policy

• Advocacy starts with listening: Building effective teams means understanding dissent and aligning on shared goals.
• Storytelling drives change: Data informs, but personal stories make policy issues relatable and actionable.
• Incremental wins matter: From family leave to Medicaid access, small steps build toward lasting impact.

Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.

With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.

Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.

Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.

Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.

🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities

🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠

Starting in 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠

FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠

For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠

A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.

—-------------------------------

🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!

🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.

Stay connected and keep making a difference:

✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.

📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠

📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.

Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!

Healthcare’s broken system hurts patients and physicians, but collective action can heal it. In this episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, I sit down with Kim Downey, a physical therapist, three-time cancer survivor, and Community Ambassador for Medicine Forward and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation. Kim shares her transformative journey—facing thyroid and breast cancer, multiple surgeries, and the loss of her radiation oncologist to suicide—which sparked her mission to found Stand Up for Doctors. She discusses how gratitude, like thank-you notes, fosters connection, and how patients can advocate for physicians to improve care. Kim highlights the need for a culture shift in medicine, starting in med school, and emphasizes leadership and self-leadership to navigate toxic environments. Her upcoming 2026 retreat in New York promises community and resilience-building.

You’ll hear how to:

· Use gratitude to bridge patient-physician divides.
· Challenge limiting beliefs to find fulfilling work environments.
· Build a culture of kindness and collective advocacy in healthcare.

If you’re seeking hope amidst healthcare’s challenges, this episode offers actionable inspiration.

About the Guest

“If your goal is to change the world in one fell swoop, you will fail. But if you brighten the corner where you are, you will succeed.” – Kim Downey

Kim Downey is a physical therapist, three-time cancer survivor, and passionate advocate for physician well-being. As Community Ambassador for Medicine Forward and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, and founder of Stand Up for Doctors, she amplifies physicians’ voices through her YouTube channel, Substack, and book White Coats, Courageous Hearts. Her journey through thyroid and breast cancer, and the loss of her radiologist to suicide, fuels her mission to foster gratitude and systemic change in healthcare.

📍 Learn more at standupfordoctors.org or connect on 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-downey-a9307b72/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StandupforDoctors

📚 Resources + Mentions
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/@StandupforDoctors  – YouTube Channel, Substack, standupfordoctors.org
🔗 https://www.amazon.com/White-Coats-Courageous-Hearts-  by Kim Downey and contributors
🔗 Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation – drlornabreen.org
🔗 Medicine Forward – medicineforward.org
🔗 Healthcare Reinvention Collaborative – healthcarereinventioncollaborative.com
🔗 From Hurting to Healing by Dr. Simon Craig
🔗 Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways
· Gratitude, like thank-you notes, builds patient-physician connection and supports well-being.
· A culture of kindness, starting in med school, can transform healthcare’s toxic environments.
· Collective advocacy—patients and physicians together—creates ripples of systemic change.

🩺 About the Host

Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.

With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.

💫 About the Show

Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.

Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.

Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.

🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities

🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠

Starting in 2026,  I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠

FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠

For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠

A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.

—-------------------------------

🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!

🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.

Stay connected and keep making a difference:

✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.

 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠

📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.

Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!

Burnout and trauma can feel like dead ends, but what if they’re inflection points for growth? In this episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, I, Dr. Andrea Austin, share a deeply personal chapter from my book Revitalized, reflecting on my recovery from soul-level burnout during the pandemic. Drawing on lessons from therapy, coaching, and vulnerability, I explore the power of “and”—embracing pain while finding joy. I discuss top-down (e.g., CBT) and bottom-up (e.g., EMDR, somatic) therapies, along with the role of coaching for future-focused growth. Inspired by Dr. Lorna Breen’s story, I advocate for stigma-free mental health support and share the power of having hard conversations to foster revitalization.

You’ll hear how to:
· Differentiate therapy and coaching to address burnout or trauma.
· Embrace vulnerability to build connection and resilience.
· Navigate life quakes with intentional inner work.

If you’re grappling with burnout or trauma, this episode offers hope and practical steps for healing.

📚 Resources + Mentions
🔗 Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline – Available on Audible, Amazon, IngramSpark
🔗 drlornabreen.org – Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, Take Action Toolkit
🔗 If I Betray These Words by Wendy Dean and Simon Talbot
🔗 Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
🔗 Grounded Roots Mental Therapy – Anna Rainville, LMFT
🔗 Heartline Podcast, August 2023 – Dr. Michelle Wolfhouse on Burnout Recovery

🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways
· Inner work through therapy (top-down or bottom-up) and coaching can transform burnout and trauma into revitalization.
· Vulnerability in hard conversations fosters connection and healing, even if imperfect.
· Stigma-free mental health support, like the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, is critical for physicians.

🩺 About the Host

Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.

With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.

💫 About the Show

Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.

Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.

Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.

__________________

🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities

🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠

Starting in 2026,  I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠

FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠

For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠

A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.

—-------------------------------

🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!

🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.

Stay connected and keep making a difference:

✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.

📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠

📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.

Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!

Burnout doesn’t have to be the only option in medicine. 

In this conversation, Dr. Diane Shannon shares her personal journey through burnout and how she found her way through. 

We explore the small, yet impactful changes that can completely transform a physician’s career—whether it’s learning to set boundaries or recognizing the trauma and moral injury that so often go unspoken in our profession.

I’m excited to dive into how Dr. Shannon has been coaching and empowering other physicians, especially women physicians, to overcome the pressures of perfectionism, manage their emotional well-being, and embrace micro-changes that allow them to thrive instead of just survive. 

We also talk about how leadership and communication can shape the healthcare system and help doctors find balance in a system that’s so often stacked against them.

About the Guest

"Failure means you’re learning. And in healthcare innovation, learning fast is everything." – Dr. Diane Shannon

Dr. Diane Shannon is an internal medicine physician, wellness coach, writer, and podcaster. After experiencing burnout firsthand, Dr. Shannon left clinical practice to dedicate her career to helping other physicians prevent and overcome burnout. Through her podcast, Vital Signs: Thriving as a Woman in Medicine, and her coaching work, she empowers physicians, especially women, to set healthy boundaries, overcome guilt, and take back control of their careers.

She has spent over 20 years advocating for systemic changes in healthcare, helping physicians find fulfillment both in their work and personal lives.

📍 You can learn more about Dr. Diane Shannon at dianeshannon.com.
🎧 Listen to Vital Signs: Thriving as a Woman in Medicine
💌 Reach out via email: [email protected]

• Micro-changes are powerful:
  Even when the system feels overwhelming, small shifts—like adjusting how we respond to stress or setting clear boundaries—can dramatically change our experience in medicine.
• Burnout and moral injury are not the same:
  Burnout can be deeply personal, but moral injury is a systemic wound. We need safe spaces to process both—and the courage to name them when we see them.
• Effective leadership and communication can transform healthcare:
  We can’t fix the system alone, but we can build better teams, speak up strategically, and lead with empathy. That’s where real change starts.

🩺 About the Host

Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.

With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.

💫 About the Show

Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.

Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.

Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.

__________

🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities

🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠

Starting in 2026,  I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠

FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠

For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠

A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!

🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.

Stay connected and keep making a difference:

✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.

📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠

📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.

Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!

You shouldn’t need a PhD in insurance billing to understand why your medication costs $600 this month and $60 the next. But for millions of Americans, that’s the reality.

In this episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, I talk to pharmacist and startup founder Vinay Patel, whose decade-long career spans high-volume pharmacy operations, clinical program design, and now, drug pricing reform.

Vinay’s origin story begins with a moral injury: watching patients forced to choose between rent and medications. Instead of accepting the system as-is, he built one that works better. From negotiating fair reimbursement rates to empowering local pharmacies and cutting out predatory Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), his work is restoring agency—one prescription at a time.

You’ll hear how he:

• Turned failure and scarcity into a superpower as a founder
• Built a mission-driven team by prioritizing soft skills over perfect résumés
• Designed cost-plus drug programs that serve patients first
• Protects independent pharmacies while keeping GLP-1s accessible

About the Guest:

"Failure means you’re learning. And in healthcare innovation, learning fast is everything.” – Vinay Patel

Vinay Patel is a pharmacist, entrepreneur, and healthcare reformer. After years running a home delivery pharmacy for 15,000+ patients a month, he founded MakoRx, a company that bypasses traditional pharmacy benefit managers to lower costs for employers and improve access for patients.

Vinay’s mission is deeply personal—and systemic. His company’s cost-plus model strengthens local pharmacies, bypasses industry bloat, and brings transparency to one of healthcare’s most broken sectors.

📍 Learn more at makorx.com or connect with Vinay on LinkedIn.

📚 Resources + Mentions:

🔗 MakeRx – Official Site

🔗 Vinay Patel, Pharm.D. on LinkedIn

🔗 Bottle of Lies by Katherine Eban

🔗 Proactive MD – Advanced Primary Care Partner

🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways

• Drug prices in the U.S. vary wildly depending on who’s paying—and how Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) profit from the chaos.
• Moral injury can be a catalyst for innovation. When we step outside our comfort zone, change becomes possible.
• Independent pharmacies aren’t obsolete—they’re essential. Fair reimbursement and direct contracts can keep them alive.

🩺 About the Host

Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.

With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.

💫 About the Show

Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.

Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.

Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.

________

🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities:

🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠

Starting in 2026,  I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠

FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠

For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠

A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.

_____________

🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!

🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.

Stay connected and keep making a difference:

✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.

📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠

📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.

Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!

In episode 104, I sit down with David Norris, a seasoned entrepreneur and AI innovator, to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare. As the CEO of Affineon, David brings a wealth of experience and a passion for solving real-world problems in the medical field.

Our conversation delves into the exciting possibilities AI offers for reducing administrative burdens on healthcare providers, particularly in managing clinical inboxes. We discuss how AI can act as a powerful ally, helping clinicians focus more on patient care and less on paperwork.

Key insights from our discussion include:

• The importance of involving healthcare providers in the development of AI solutions
• How AI can triage clinical inboxes, saving hours of administrative work each week
• The role of AI in enhancing patient safety and improving care quality
• The need for responsible AI use in healthcare, including transparency and ethical considerations

Discover how to:

• Approach AI adoption in healthcare with optimism and practical considerations
• Balance the rapid pace of technological advancement with the need for thoughtful implementation
• Stay informed about AI developments in healthcare through various resources
• Maintain work-life balance as an entrepreneur or healthcare provider in the fast-paced world of medical technology

This episode offers valuable insights for healthcare professionals curious about AI's potential to alleviate administrative burdens and enhance patient care. It's a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand how AI is reshaping the healthcare landscape and how they can be part of this exciting transformation.

"I think based on what I've seen, I think it will produce results that will be better for patients, it will be safer and more trustworthy. And that's really, in the end, what you want is you want patients to feel a trust factor, that they're getting help." - David Norris

 

Join us for this thought-provoking conversation that challenges conventional views on AI in healthcare and inspires optimism about the future of medicine. Learn how embracing AI responsibly can lead to more fulfilling careers for healthcare providers and potentially transform patient care for the better.

Connect with David Norris and Affineon:

• Visit ⁠Affineon's website⁠
• Email David at [email protected]
• Look for Affineon at major healthcare conferences like HIMSS and HLTH

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

💫 Upcoming Events & Opportunities

🔥 ⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠

Starting August 2025, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.

•⁠ ⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠

FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.

•⁠ ⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠

For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.

•⁠ ⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠

A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!

🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠.

Stay connected and keep making a difference:

✅ Subscribe to the ⁠Heartline newsletter⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.

📱 Follow us on social: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠ & ⁠YouTube⁠

📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Ingram⁠.

Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!

In episode 103, I sit down with Dr. Bradley Block, an ENT surgeon and host of the Physician's Guide to Doctoring podcast, to explore the art of effective communication in healthcare. Our conversation delves into the challenges physicians face when interacting with patients and offers practical strategies to enhance these crucial interactions.

Dr. Block shares his journey from an "uninspiring" path to medical school to becoming a passionate advocate for better doctor-patient communication. We discuss the importance of addressing patients' underlying concerns, navigating difficult conversations, and maintaining professional boundaries while providing compassionate care.

Key insights from our discussion include:

• The importance of identifying and addressing patients' unspoken worries
• Strategies for handling patients who arrive with preconceived notions from online research
• Techniques for maintaining professional boundaries when faced with inappropriate requests
• The value of self-care and resetting between patient encounters

Discover how to:

• Improve your communication skills to enhance patient satisfaction and reduce burnout
• Navigate challenging conversations with patients more effectively
• Maintain your professional integrity while addressing patient concerns
• Implement simple techniques to reset and recharge between patient encounters

This episode offers invaluable insights for healthcare professionals at all stages of their careers. Whether you're a medical student, resident, or experienced physician, you'll find practical tips to enhance your communication skills and improve your interactions with patients.

Join us for this thought-provoking conversation that challenges conventional approaches to doctor-patient communication and offers fresh perspectives on creating meaningful connections in healthcare settings.

• Patient Trust in the Age of Misinformation (JAMA, 2022)
   
• Susannah Fox’s Rebel Health — insights into patient-led education and online advocacy
   

Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) surgeon, storyteller, and the voice behind the long-running podcast Physician’s Guide to Doctoring. With over a decade of clinical experience and a passion for humanizing healthcare, Dr. Block has built a platform that gives physicians the tools to communicate better—with their patients, their peers, and themselves.

His journey into medicine wasn’t scripted, and neither was his evolution as a changemaker. What began as a personal quest to improve his own communication skills transformed into a community-driven resource covering everything we should have learned in med school—from patient experience and health policy to burnout and boundaries.

Dr. Block is also a founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network, where he helps amplify physician voices and build community through storytelling. When he’s not in the clinic or behind the mic, he’s probably sipping hot black tea (with a splash of whole milk) between patient encounters—and thinking about what it really means to be heard.

• Physician’s Guide to Doctoring Podcast
• Doctor Podcast Network
• Bradley Block, MD on LinkedIn

• Say the thing – Patients often leave unsatisfied not because you missed a diagnosis, but because you didn’t name their fear. Address it.
• Boundaries protect everyone – Saying no is hard. But it’s part of keeping the profession—and yourself—intact.
• Invite collaboration – Patients turning to Google or ChatGPT aren’t the enemy. They’re looking for agency. Invite them into the conversation.

Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.

With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.

Follow the journey of changemakers in medicine and join a community reimagining what’s possible in healthcare.

 

🌐 Website: andreaaustinmd.com

🎧 Listen + Subscribe:

• Apple Podcasts

• Spotify

• iHeartRadio

• Pandora

📸 Instagram: @andreaaustinmd

💬 LinkedIn: Andrea Austin, MD

Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.

Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.

Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.

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🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠

Starting August 2025, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠

FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠

For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠

A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.

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🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.

Stay connected and keep making a difference:

✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.

📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠

📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.

Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!

In episode 102, I sit down with Dr. Anita Bangale, a fellow emergency medicine physician who has expanded her career beyond the ER walls. We explore the concept of appreciative inquiry and how it can transform healthcare from within, focusing on what's going right rather than dwelling on the negatives.

Dr. Bangale shares her personal journey of rediscovering joy in medicine after experiencing burnout. She discusses the pivotal moment when she realized the need for change and how she embarked on a path of self-discovery and career diversification.

Key insights from our conversation include:

Discover how to:

Dr. Bangale's journey from burnout to a thriving, multifaceted career offers inspiration for healthcare professionals seeking to practice medicine on their own terms. Her insights on social prescriptions, ketamine therapy, and the importance of community in healing provide a fresh perspective on the future of healthcare.

"There is so much power in being able to still practice emergency medicine or any field of medicine on your terms." - Dr. Anita Bangale

Join us for this thought-provoking conversation that challenges conventional career trajectories in medicine and inspires healthcare professionals to explore the full spectrum of possibilities in their field.

Connect with Dr. Anita Bangale:

🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!

Ready to take the next step in your journey as a healthcare changemaker? Dr. Andrea Austin offers personalized coaching to empower healthcare professionals to thrive in their careers and rediscover their passion for medicine. Whether you're seeking clarity, balance, or strategies to overcome burnout, coaching with Dr. Austin can help you achieve your goals.

🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at andreaaustinmd.com/coaching.

Stay connected and keep making a difference:

✅ Subscribe to the Heartline newsletter for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.

📱 Follow us on social: Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube

📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on Amazon or Ingram.

Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!

In this Heartline Echo Episode, I sit down with Sharee Johnson, a psychologist, executive coach, and author of "The Thriving Doctor," to explore the critical role of leadership in transforming healthcare. As we navigate the complexities of modern medicine, we delve into the essential skills and mindsets that can help physicians not just survive, but truly thrive in their careers.

Our conversation sheds light on the pressing need for a new approach to physician leadership, one that goes beyond traditional management and embraces a more holistic, human-centered perspective. We discuss the importance of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the courage to challenge the status quo in healthcare.

Key insights from our discussion include:

Discover how to:

This episode offers invaluable insights for physicians at all stages of their careers, from residents just starting out to seasoned practitioners looking to make a broader impact. It's a must-listen for anyone in healthcare seeking to understand the transformative potential of effective physician leadership.

"We need more personal boundaries and we need clarity around what we can and can't do. And we also need the capacity to adapt."

- Sharee Johnson

Join us for this thought-provoking conversation that challenges conventional notions of leadership in medicine and inspires healthcare professionals to embrace their potential as agents of positive change. Learn how developing your leadership skills can not only enhance your own career satisfaction but also contribute to creating a more sustainable and compassionate healthcare system for all.

Connect with Sharee Johnson:

Remember, healthcare leadership isn't just about titles or positions—it's about the impact you can make every day through your actions, decisions, and interactions. Start your journey towards more effective leadership today, and be part of the movement that's reshaping the future of healthcare.

🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!

Ready to take the next step in your journey as a healthcare changemaker? Dr. Andrea Austin offers personalized coaching to empower healthcare professionals to thrive in their careers and rediscover their passion for medicine. Whether you're seeking clarity, balance, or strategies to overcome burnout, coaching with Dr. Austin can help you achieve your goals.

🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠.

Stay connected and keep making a difference:

✅ Subscribe to the ⁠Heartline newsletter⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.

📱 Follow us on social: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠ & ⁠YouTube⁠

📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Ingram⁠.

Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!

In episode 101, I sit down with Dr. Cheryl Martin, emergency physician and host of The Mind Full Medic podcast, to explore the fascinating world of changemaking in healthcare. As we delve into the findings of my recent research, we uncover the essential ingredients that enable healthcare professionals to become effective agents of positive transformation.

Our conversation sheds light on the delicate balance between individual agency and organizational support, highlighting how these elements intertwine to create an environment where meaningful change can flourish. We discuss the challenges faced by changemakers in healthcare and the strategies they employ to overcome them.

Key insights from our discussion include:

Discover how to:

This episode offers invaluable insights for healthcare professionals at all levels who aspire to make a difference in their organizations and beyond. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting your journey in healthcare, you'll find practical strategies and inspiration to fuel your changemaking efforts.

"Changemaking is a really big part of that pathway to keeping passionate professionals engaged in healthcare." - Dr. Andrea Austin

Join us for this thought-provoking conversation that challenges conventional thinking about change in healthcare and inspires a new generation of changemakers. Learn how small acts of courage and strategic thinking can lead to significant positive transformations in our healthcare systems.

The paper discussed in this episode can be found here.

Connect with Dr. Andrea Austin:

🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!

Ready to take the next step in your journey as a healthcare changemaker? Dr. Andrea Austin offers personalized coaching to empower healthcare professionals to thrive in their careers and rediscover their passion for medicine. Whether you're seeking clarity, balance, or strategies to overcome burnout, coaching with Dr. Austin can help you achieve your goals.

🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at andreaaustinmd.com/coaching.

Stay connected and keep making a difference:

✅ Subscribe to the Heartline newsletter for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.

📱 Follow us on social: Instagram, LinkedIn & YouTube

📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on Amazon or Ingram.

Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today!