Heroes of Healthcare

From an administrative assistant to a Vice President.

In this episode, Tim talks to Elisa Arespachonga, the Vice President of Clinical Affairs and Workforce for the American Hospital Association (AHA). Elisa shares her journey from starting as a secretary at the AHA to holding a significant leadership position, where she now focuses on improving the healthcare system across the U.S. She discusses the evolving landscape of healthcare, the challenges of workforce shortages, and the importance of creative solutions to maintain high standards of patient care. Elisa also touches on the critical issue of healthcare worker burnout and the need for systemic changes to support the well-being of those on the frontlines. This episode offers valuable insights into the current state of healthcare and the importance of leadership and innovation in addressing the challenges faced by the industry.

In this Episode:

• Healthcare careers, policy, and administration
• Health equity and access to care
• Improving healthcare delivery by reducing burdens on caregivers
• Workforce challenges, including burnout and inefficient processes

Transforming adversity and loss into a powerful force for change in cancer advocacy, we sit down with Andrea Wilson Wood, Founder of Blue Faery. 

Andrea shares some powerful stories of overcoming personal and familial adversity, including childhood trauma, addiction, raising her sister, and the challenges of managing a serious illness. She reflects on her experiences with resilience and humor, especially through her sister Adrienne’s battle with liver and lung cancer.

Andrea shares the profound impact of Adrienne’s cancer diagnosis on her family, the importance of collaboration in her treatment, and the ongoing efforts of Blue Faery to improve liver cancer research and advocacy.

Key Discussion Points:

• Overcoming childhood adversity 
• Gaining custody of a sibling and raising them as your own
• Managing a cancer diagnosis and the approach to treatment
• The motivation behind creating a nonprofit to advance liver cancer research and support.

Is our healthcare system failing older adults? 

In this eye-opening episode, we talk with Dr. Sally Brooks to uncover the hidden challenges of geriatric care and physician burnout. She explains the urgent need for better support in internal and family medicine, with an emphasis on the unique needs of older patients. Our conversation tackles burnout, work-life balance, and the importance of prioritizing patient care over administrative tasks. We also take a look at transitioning into healthcare leadership roles to advocate for effective changes in our healthcare system to better serve our older population.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Healthcare Challenges for Older Adults
• Physician Burnout and Work-Life Balance
• Leadership in Healthcare

In this episode, Tim talks with Dr. Anna Legreid Dopp, the Senior Director of Government Relations at ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists), to discuss the vast world of pharmacy. Anna shares how she got into the profession, the pivotal role a community pharmacist plays as an access point to healthcare, and how improvements are being made for patient relations and the well-being of pharmacists. Dive in to learn about the pharmacist's multi-faceted role in healthcare and the need for continued support.

• How pharmacies are a healthcare access point to all communities, small and large 
• The way to bring back the heart of that care delivery in pharmacy in our current day
• The evolution of pharmacy and how many roles they play for patients

In this episode, Tim sits down with Dawn Morton-Rias, President & CEO of the NCCPA, to talk about the evolving world of being a PA (Physician Assistant/Associate). Dawn shares her journey of how she began in the PA field when it was first established and breaks down the vital need for PAs in the current healthcare field to fill the missing gaps. Learn about the issues facing the industry, the process of becoming a PA, the importance of provider self-care, and the impact that PAs provide to patients across the country.   

We discuss:

• How the PA industry can fill the current gap in the healthcare field 
• The importance of compassionate care for patients that PA's are taught to provide
• The reasons to become a PA on one's professional pursuit
• Finding impactful purpose in the healthcare space
• Finding balancing through self-care as a PA and provider to prevent burnout 

Tim sits down with Sharon Woodworth, a healthcare architect, to discuss the importance of designing healthcare facilities that can adapt to changing patient needs and technologies, emphasizing the need for flexibility in space usage, collaboration between architects and clinical staff, and the collection of data to inform design decisions. Sharon highlights the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare architecture, including staff shortages, delayed care, and the need for infrastructure upgrades to support new technologies.

Join us as we discuss:

• Sharon’s career path from Nurse to Architect
• Designing hospitals, emergency rooms, and facilities for optimal patient care
• Designing healthcare facilities for flexibility and creativity
• Healthcare architecture, staff shortages, and technology changes

How can one care for others when they are not okay themselves?

This question has resonated throughout the life of our guest today, Dr. Natalie Dougé, a provider in the Department of Medicine at Montefiore Einstein, specializing in Internal Medicine.

Born and raised in the Bronx as a first-generation American, Dr. Dougé recounts her frontline experiences during the initial COVID-19 outbreak and the profound impact it had on her professional and personal life. This led her to embark on a journey of self-discovery and self-care after experiencing burnout, becoming a locum tenens doctor to continue sharing her profession with love and passion across America. 

We also discuss: 

• The importance of taking a break before pursuing a career in medicine.
• Dr. Dougé’s participation in The First Wave documentary by National Geographic (available in Hulu), and the challenges experienced by healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• How humility and openness to new experiences can lead to becoming outstanding healthcare professionals.

In this episode, Dr. Earley shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a medical family in Cincinnati to becoming a prominent addiction medicine physician. He discusses the personal trials that led him to his career, including his battle with addiction and how it shaped his compassionate approach to patient care. Dr. Earley also elaborates on his role at the Georgia Professional Health Program and the challenges physicians face today, emphasizing the importance of supporting healthcare providers' well-being.

We'll Discuss...

• The importance of compassion in healthcare and how personal experiences can deepen empathy and improve patient care.
• The resilience required to overcome addiction and transform it into a professional strength.
• The critical need for healthcare systems to support physicians' mental health and work-life balance to ensure the best care for patients.

In this episode, Dr. Gregory Charlop, MD shares his journey from an aspiring rock star to becoming a pediatric anesthesiologist. 

Listeners will learn about…

• How passions and interests can influence career choices.
• The rigorous pathway to becoming a physician, including the realities of medical school, residency, and the optional fellowship training.
• The benefits of alternative career models like locum tenens for achieving work-life balance and greater control over personal schedules.
• Effective strategies for preventing burnout and enhancing quality of life.

In this episode, Tim is joined by Anne Anderson, a seasoned expert in the locum tenens industry, to explore the world of temporary healthcare staffing. With over three decades of experience, Anne delves into how locum tenens has reshaped the healthcare landscape, offering flexibility to healthcare professionals and ensuring communities receive the care they need.

Tim and Anne also discuss:

•  Anne's unexpected journey from an office manager to a leading figure in healthcare staffing
• The evolution of locum tenens from a niche solution to a vital component of healthcare delivery
• The importance of adaptability and work-life balance in healthcare for patients and providers
• The personal stories of impact and resilience she's encountered along the way

TAKEAWAYS

• Embracing locum tenens as a career path can offer healthcare professionals unprecedented flexibility and work-life balance, which is crucial for their mental well-being and long-term career satisfaction.
• The growth of locum tenens in the healthcare industry demonstrates the importance of adaptive staffing solutions in meeting the evolving needs of healthcare facilities and ensuring care continuity.
• Working in various healthcare settings as a locum tenens professional broadens your clinical skills and enhances your adaptability to different work environments and patient needs.
• Locum tenens is essential for addressing healthcare disparities, ensuring communities have access to quality healthcare services regardless of geographic or economic barriers.