Scalpel and Sword: Conflict and Negotiation in Modern Medicine

By Doctor Podcast Network, Lee Sharma MDSociety & Culture Medicine Health & Fitness Education Self-Improvement Personal Journals

Scalpel and Sword: Conflict and Negotiation in Modern Medicine episodes

May 18EP53 | Participation Trophy or Pattern Recognition? Worldview and Conflict in Medical Education
💰 This episode is sponsored by Gelt: The tech enabled tax firm for independent physicians.
Independent physicians face unique tax challenges that employed doctors don't. Multiple income streams, practice ownership, contract work, traditional CPAs aren't built for this complexity. Gelt is. Year-round strategy, optimization and compliance for physicians who chose independence over institution. Let Gelt handle your tax strategy, so you can focus more on your practice.
Take control of your tax strategy: www.joingelt.com/collaboration/scalpel-and-sword

Are today’s medical trainees becoming too sensitive, or are they responding to a completely different training environment than previous generations of physicians?
In this thoughtful solo episode of Scalpel and Sword, Dr. Lee Sharma examines the growing tension between senior physicians and newer generations of medical students and residents. From requests for frequent feedback to questioning hierarchy and seeking greater clarity, many behaviors often labeled as “entitlement” may actually reflect a different conditioning of excellence.
Dr. Sharma explores how modern learners were shaped by coaching models, continuous assessment, psychological safety, and rapid feedback loops, while earlier generations trained in systems built around endurance, hierarchy, ambiguity, and delayed evaluation. She explains how these differences create predictable friction in feedback styles, communication, and expectations within medical education.
Using the SPARK framework, Dr. Sharma offers physicians a practical approach to navigating generational conflict without lowering standards or compromising patient care. She discusses how real-time coaching, clear expectations, and intentional communication can strengthen learning environments while maintaining accountability and rigor.
This episode is a powerful reflection on leadership, medical education, workplace culture, and the evolving future of physician training.
Top 3 Takeaways:
Different Training Does Not Mean Lower Standards: Today’s medical students were raised in systems built around coaching, transparency, and continuous feedback rather than hierarchy and delayed evaluation. What older generations may interpret as entitlement or fragility is often a desire for clarity, growth, and optimization.

Real-Time Feedback Creates Faster Growth: Modern trainees often improve quickly when given clear expectations and actionable feedback in real time. Delayed criticism, vague instruction, and public correction can create confusion instead of growth.

The SPARK Framework Helps Resolve Generational Conflict: Conflict between educators and trainees often stems from differences in worldview rather than differences in commitment to patient care. By using the SPARK framework; Stop, Pause, Ask, Respond, and create a shared culture, physicians can move beyond assumptions and understand the intent behind questions, requests for feedback, and communication differences.
About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.
About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.
Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma
The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
16 min
May 11EP52 | Creating Sustainable Leadership with Erin Treacy
💰 This episode is sponsored by Gelt: The tech enabled tax firm for independent physicians.
Independent physicians face unique tax challenges that employed docs don't. Multiple income streams, practice ownership, contract work, traditional CPAs aren't built for this complexity. Gelt is. Year-round strategy, optimization and compliance for physicians who chose independence over institution. Let Gelt handle your tax strategy, so you can focus more on your practice.
Take control of your tax strategy: www.joingelt.com/collaboration/scalpel-and-sword
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What happens when the drive to succeed slowly turns into burnout, resentment, and exhaustion?
In this thoughtful and deeply relatable episode of Scalpel and Sword, Dr. Lee Sharma welcomes business and leadership coach Erin Treacy for a conversation about what it truly means to lead without losing yourself. Drawing from her experience growing up in a multigenerational family business and later leading alongside her own children, Erin shares powerful lessons about accountability, communication, and emotional steadiness in both work and family life.
Together, they explore why high achievers, especially physicians struggle to delegate, how “micro conversations” create stronger learners and teams, and why giving immediate feedback is essential for the next generation of medical professionals. Erin also discusses how Gen Z’s focus on boundaries emerged from watching previous generations burn themselves out, and why leaders must learn from younger professionals rather than dismiss them.
The conversation dives into people-first leadership, creating healthy workplace culture, and the importance of leading with intention instead of constant sacrifice. Filled with practical wisdom and compassionate insight, this episode offers physicians and leaders actionable strategies to build stronger teams, healthier workplaces, and more sustainable careers.
Top 3 Takeaways:
Two Minutes of Coaching Today Can Save Hours Later: Many leaders avoid delegation because teaching initially feels slower than simply doing the task themselves. But investing even two focused minutes into training and guiding someone builds confidence, creates future leaders, and ultimately frees up enormous amounts of time and mental energy in the long run.

Micro Conversations Build Better Teams and Better Learners: Short, real-time feedback conversations are far more effective than waiting for formal reviews or evaluations. Whether encouraging growth or correcting mistakes, immediate feedback helps people learn faster, feel supported, and understand expectations clearly, especially for younger generations entering medicine and leadership roles.

People-First Leadership Includes Taking Care of Yourself: True leadership is not endless self-sacrifice. Erin explains how servant leadership without boundaries can lead directly to burnout and resentment. Creating a healthy culture means caring for employees, patients, and yourself equally, so everyone can show up energized, supported, and capable of doing meaningful work.
About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.
About the Guest:
Erin Treacy is a business and leadership coach who works with high-achieving professionals navigating pressure, responsibility, and change at work and at home. Raised in a multigenerational Appalachian family business, Erin brings practical experience and deep insight into communication, accountability, leadership, and workplace culture.
Her coaching focuses on helping leaders build stronger teams, healthier relationships, and sustainable success without sacrificing themselves in the process. Erin is especially passionate about people-first leadership, emotional steadiness, and helping professionals create workplaces where both individuals and organizations can thrive.
🔗 Connect with Erin Treacy
🌐 Website: coacherintreacy.com
📱 Instagram: @coacherintreacy
💼 LinkedIn: Erin Treacy
About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.
Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma

The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
54 min
May 04EP51 | The Invisible Hands on the Scalpel
What happens when those closest to the patient are no longer the ones driving care decisions?
In this powerful solo episode of Scalpel and Sword, Dr. Lee Sharma takes a hard, unfiltered look at the shifting power dynamics within modern healthcare. Moving beyond the exam room, she examines how three dominant forces - malpractice systems, administrative structures, and insurance companies, have steadily gained influence over clinical care, often without direct patient interaction.
Dr. Sharma unpacks how a system originally designed for accountability, efficiency, and cost management has evolved into one that can unintentionally foster fear, limit autonomy, and create distance between physicians and patients. From defensive medicine driven by litigation concerns to metrics-focused administration and restrictive insurance policies, the episode highlights how these external pressures shape everyday clinical decisions.
More importantly, this conversation is not about blame, it’s about awareness and action. Dr. Sharma challenges physicians to recognize these dynamics, understand their impact, and begin the work of reclaiming influence through leadership, communication, and advocacy. This episode is a call to step out of silence, re-center patient care, and restore balance in a system that has drifted too far from the bedside.
Top 3 Takeaways:
Power in Healthcare Has Shifted Away from the Bedside: Malpractice systems, administrative priorities, and insurance policies increasingly shape clinical decisions, often without direct patient involvement.

The Hidden Cost Is Human, Not Just Financial: Beyond metrics and efficiency, the system creates moral distress, erodes trust, and leaves both physicians and patients feeling disconnected.

Reclaiming Influence Starts with Awareness and Action: Physicians must step into leadership, engage in advocacy, and use communication proactively to rebalance the system.
About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.
About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.
Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma
The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
14 min
April 27EP50 | From Curiosity to Communication with Dr. Lillian Liang Emlet
What if the biggest threat to physician wellbeing isn’t burnout, but the way we’ve been trained to communicate, lead, and respond under pressure?
In this insightful episode of Scalpel and Sword, Dr. Lee Sharma sits down with Dr. Lillian Emlet, to explore the powerful intersection of communication, coaching, and system-wide resilience. Drawing from her experience in critical care, medical education, and personal transformation during the pandemic, Dr. Emlet shares how unintentional communication habits can create workplace trauma, and how coaching can unlock deeper awareness, curiosity, and growth. Together, they unpack how healthcare professionals can move beyond siloed thinking to build collaborative, high-functioning teams.
They also dive into the role of cognitive flexibility in high-stakes environments, the importance of active listening and permission-based communication, and why proactive system coaching is essential to prevent catastrophic breakdowns. Most importantly, they highlight how developing people, not just processes, is the key to a stronger, more human-centered healthcare system.
This episode offers both practical tools and a mindset shift for clinicians who want to communicate with intention, lead with empathy, and create meaningful change within their organizations.
Top 3 Takeaways:
Awareness Is the First Step to Transformation: You can’t change what you don’t recognize. Whether individually or as a team, honest self-assessment is the foundation for meaningful growth and improved communication.

Communication Skills Require Practice, Not Perfection: Great communication isn’t innate, it’s trained. Through repetition, feedback, and reflection, clinicians can refine both verbal and nonverbal skills to build trust and alignment.

Cognitive Flexibility Is a Superpower in Healthcare: The ability to pause, shift perspectives, and choose how to respond under pressure can turn conflict into collaboration and trauma into growth.
About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.
About the Guest:
Dr. Lillian Emlet is a critical care physician, educator, and certified professional coach. She serves as Associate Program Director of a multidisciplinary critical care fellowship and is a VitalTalk-trained faculty member specializing in communication skills for high-stakes clinical environments.
She is the founder of Transforming Healthcare Coaching, where she helps healthcare professionals and organizations build resilience, improve communication, and develop high-performing teams through systemic coaching strategies.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Lillian Emlet:
📧 Email: [email protected]

💼 LinkedIn: Dr. Lillian Emlet

🎙 Podcast: Transforming Healthcare Coaching (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)

About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.
Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma

The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
44 min
April 20EP49 | Creating Care Beyond the System with Dr. Jubril Oyeyemi
What if the patients you see suffering from lack of access aren’t choosing noncompliance, they simply lost insurance due to life circumstances?
In this powerful episode of Scalpel and Sword, Dr. Lee Sharma sits down with Dr. Jubril Oyeyemi, as he shares his unlikely journey from hospitalist to clinic founder after repeatedly witnessing patients return with advanced illness simply because they couldn’t afford medications or follow-up care.
They explore how deep listening to patients’ real stories breaks assumptions, how a clear and authentic “why” attracts passionate volunteers, and how approaching partnerships with humility and shared humanity prevents conflict. Most surprisingly, they discuss how giving time at the free clinic has become a powerful antidote to burnout for busy clinicians, reconnecting them with the pure joy of practicing medicine.
This conversation offers inspiration and practical wisdom for any physician who wants to make a tangible difference for the underserved while protecting their own sense of purpose.
Top 3 Takeaways:
Start Before You Feel Ready: Don’t overthink or wait for perfect conditions. Identify a clear community need and take the first step. Support, partners, and momentum will follow as you begin serving patients.

Lead with Shared Humanity Instead of “Us vs Them”: When you frame the mission as “this could be any of us,” it dissolves conflict and naturally draws volunteers and partners. A clear, authentic “why” creates alignment and keeps the team motivated even on hard days.

Volunteering Can Be an Antidote to Burnout: Giving focused, strings-free care in a mission-driven setting re-grounds physicians in their original purpose. Many volunteers report feeling renewed and energized, even when squeezing shifts into busy schedules.
About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.
About the Guest:
Dr. Jubril Oyeyemi is an award-winning primary care physician who practices full-time at Virtua Health in Camden, New Jersey. He serves on committees focused on bioethics, quality, patient safety, and continuity of care for complex patients. Passionate about healthcare access, he founded the Cherry Hill Free Clinic in 2017, a nonprofit primary care center dedicated to serving uninsured and underinsured patients free of charge. In just eight years, the clinic has grown to serve thousands and is now supported by nearly 200 dedicated volunteers.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Jubril Oyeyemi
🌐 Website: cherryhillfreeclinic.org
📧 Email: [email protected]
About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.
Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma
The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
39 min
April 15EP48 | True Crime Crossover: The Case of Lucy Letby with Heather Packer
You've heard how conflict in healthcare causes burnout and poor patient care, but what if it could send someone to prison for multiple life sentences?
In this gripping episode of the Scalpel and Sword Podcast, host Dr. Lee Sharma sits down with Heather Packer to examine the Lucy Letby case. What began as a spike in neonatal deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital quickly turned into accusations against one hardworking nurse.
They unpack the toxic dynamics between doctors and nurses, the ignored external report highlighting severe staffing and oversight failures, how Lucy’s keycard data and personal journals were used against her, the questionable expert witness, and the shocking new evidence from neonatologist Dr. Shoo Lee and 14 international colleagues who reviewed the cases for free and concluded: no murders occurred — only bad teamwork and substandard care.
This episode is a sobering look at what happens when healthcare teams fail to communicate, take ownership, and work together, and a powerful reminder of why accountability and trust matter more than ever.
Three Actionable Takeaways:
Take Ownership Instead of Looking for a Scapegoat: When things go wrong in healthcare, resist the urge to blame one individual. Ask hard questions about systems, staffing, training, and teamwork first. True leadership means owning the problem as a team.

Build Real Trust and Communication Across Roles: Doctor-nurse conflict thrives in environments where junior staff are afraid to call for help and senior doctors are disconnected. Create psychological safety so everyone can speak up without fear of retaliation. Strong teams save lives.

Prioritize Facts and Multiple Perspectives Over Quick Judgments: Before pointing fingers, gather all the evidence, including external reviews and nursing input. One paper, one expert, or one data point (like keycard scans) is rarely enough. Always look at the full picture, especially in high-stakes cases involving patient harm or legal consequences.
About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.
About the Guest:
Heather Packer is a dedicated healthcare professional with over 20 years of experience. A graduate of Auburn University with a degree in criminal justice, she is known and loved by her patients and colleagues for her compassion and hard work. Heather is also a passionate true crime enthusiast who loves diving deep into complex cases with Dr. Lee Sharma.
About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.
Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma
The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
49 min
April 13EP47 | The Alarm that No One Wants to Hear: Conflict and the Case of Lucy Letby
What if the biggest threat to vulnerable patients isn’t just individual wrongdoing, but a healthcare system that struggles to handle conflict, uncertainty, and early warnings?
In this powerful solo episode of the Scalpel and Sword Podcast, host Dr. Lee Sharma shares the disturbing and still-unfolding story of the Lucy Letby case at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit in the UK. Beginning in 2015, a series of sudden and unexpected collapses and deaths of premature infants occurred on the same nurse’s shifts. Doctors raised concerns about the pattern, but instead of a thorough investigation, hospital leadership reportedly responded with resistance, suggesting the physicians were bullying the nurse and even asking them to apologize.
Dr. Sharma traces how the case escalated: Lucy Letby was arrested, tried, and in 2023 convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven more. The story initially appeared to be a clear case of medical serial killing. However, a 2024 New Yorker article and a 2025 independent review led by Canadian neonatologist Dr. Shoo Lee and an international panel of experts dramatically challenged that conclusion. After re-examining the medical evidence for all 17 infants, the panel found no evidence of intentional harm. Instead, they pointed to systemic failures, unsafe staffing levels, inadequate resuscitation practices, delays in care, and a unit treating babies beyond its capabilities.
The episode explores the intense conflict dynamics unique to the NICU environment, where high-stakes decisions, extreme emotional pressure, and interdependent teamwork make teams especially vulnerable to narrative bias, suspicion, and fractured trust.
Three Actionable Takeaways:
Speak up early and document clearly when you see concerning patterns: Don’t wait for certainty. If you observe repeated safety issues or unusual clusters of events, raise concerns through proper channels with specific, factual observations, even when it feels uncomfortable or risks pushback.

Treat conflict and disagreement as essential safety tools, not threats: Healthcare leaders must create cultures where raising alarms is welcomed rather than punished. Resistance to concerns often signals deeper organizational problems that can endanger patients.

Avoid rushing to narrative certainty in complex medical cases: When tragedy strikes repeatedly, resist the urge to lock onto one explanation too quickly. Consider systemic factors, staffing issues, and natural causes alongside individual actions, and remain open to new evidence and expert review.
About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.
About the Host:

Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.
Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma
The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
16 min
April 06EP46 | Building Trust in the Process with Karl Pister
What if the conflict you're avoiding could actually become one of your most powerful tools for building trust, improving culture, and retaining top talent in healthcare?
In this insightful episode of the Scalpel and Sword Podcast, host Dr. Lee Sharma welcomes Karl Pister, as he brings deep expertise in conflict management, mediation, emotional intelligence, and leadership development.
Together they unpack why many high-performing physicians are promoted into leadership roles despite lacking skills in communication and conflict resolution. They discuss the dangers of tolerating toxic high producers, the importance of setting clear behavioral expectations early, and how proactive leadership, (like the CEO who bluntly told new physicians “if you’re a whiner, a loser, or a jerk, you won’t be here long”) can transform workplace culture. Karl shares powerful stories from his coaching practice, including observing open-heart surgeries to truly understand a surgeon’s world and build genuine trust.
The conversation dives into practical strategies: using the “prism” metaphor to see situations from others’ perspectives: The three types of conflict (task, relationship, and value-based), the critical role of strong listening (including hearing what’s behind the silence)and why following a structured mediation process, instead of rushing to false harmony, leads to real resolution and stronger relationships. They also explore why healthcare’s siloed, individually focused training makes conflict resolution especially challenging for physicians, and how intentional training in these “soft” skills can dramatically improve team dynamics and patient care.
Three Actionable Takeaways:
Treat conflict as a trainable leadership skill, not something to avoid: Leaders should stop giving high performers a free pass on toxic behavior. Set clear expectations early, address issues proactively, and use structured processes rather than waiting for a crisis or HR disaster.

Build trust through deep listening and understanding the other person’s “prism”: Before solving problems, take time to truly hear people including what they’re not saying. Use looping (reflecting back what you heard) and make the effort to see the situation through their filter or life experiences.

Follow the process and separate types of conflict: Don’t rush to “move forward” without addressing task, relationship, or value-based issues properly. Guard the mediation process with clear ground rules, give people time to be heard, and handle relationship repair separately when needed.
About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.
About the Guest:
Karl Pister is the founder and president of The Coaching Group, an executive coaching and organizational consulting firm. With over 34 years of experience in coaching, training, and counseling, and a focus on healthcare leadership since 2008, Karl brings deep expertise in conflict management, mediation, executive development, and emotional intelligence. He holds degrees from Brigham Young University and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation, as well as a John Maxwell Team certified coach. Karl also hosts The Healthcare Leadership Excellence Podcast.
Website: coachinggroupinc.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karlpister

Phone: (503) 381-8705)
About the Host:

Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.
Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma
The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
46 min
March 30EP45 | No Lone Surgeons: Why Team Building belongs in Graduate Medical Education
What if the biggest threat to patient safety isn’t a lack of medical knowledge, but the inability of highly trained professionals to work effectively together under pressure?
In this powerful solo episode of the Scalpel and Sword Podcast, host Dr. Lee Sharma challenges the persistent myth of the lone hero in medicine. The brilliant surgeon or decisive physician who single-handedly saves the day. She argues that while medical education still emphasizes individual mastery, real-world care in operating rooms, labor and delivery units, trauma bays, and ICUs depends entirely on seamless team performance.
Dr. Sharma explores how current medical training, with its focus on solo exams, individual evaluations, and technical skills, leaves physicians unprepared for the team-based reality of modern healthcare. Highlighting that most adverse events stem not from knowledge gaps, but from communication breakdowns, hierarchy issues, unclear roles, and unspoken assumptions.
Dr. Sharma makes a compelling case that teamwork is not a soft skill, it is a critical, life-saving clinical competency. As healthcare grows more complex, the future of safe, high-quality patient care hinges on training physicians not just to wield the scalpel, but to lead and function effectively within human systems.
Three Actionable Takeaways:
Treat teamwork as a core clinical skill: Program directors and educators should integrate structured, ongoing team training into residency and fellowship curricula, not as occasional simulations or lectures, but as deliberate practice comparable to surgical technique or procedural skills.

Build psychological safety and communication protocols: Teach residents how to speak up across hierarchy, clarify roles in emergencies, give and receive critical feedback, and engage in productive disagreement. These behaviors can and should be practiced and evaluated.

Debrief the team, not just the medicine: After critical events, shift some debrief time to how the team communicated and functioned. Turn real clinical moments into learning opportunities about human dynamics and system performance.
About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.
About the Host:

Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.
Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma

The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
13 min
March 23EP44 | The Daily Practice of Leadership with Dr. Jessica Bunin - Part 2
What if the most powerful leadership skill isn’t being the smartest person in the room, but learning how to follow well, reflect honestly, and see every piece of constructive feedback as an act of love?
Picking up right where Part 1 left off, Dr. Jessica Bunin shares the practical, human side of the CLEAR framework in action, from a deeply personal peer conversation about abortion that permanently widened her lens, to tackling real institutional conflicts (LGBTQ+ and Christian student groups, military vs. civilian, basic scientists vs. clinicians). She shows exactly how starting civil discourse education at the top (deans and chairs first) created measurable cultural change, including higher belonging, more hope for the institution, and people voluntarily returning to debrief tough talks. Listeners hear powerful workshop stories, including the skeptic who couldn’t sleep the night before, then asked for a hug and volunteered to market the program, and the everyday tools that turn “that conversation went sideways” into rapid improvement: simple reflection questions, personal “pause phrases” to catch defensiveness in real time, and the daily seamless shift between leader and follower roles.
Dr. Bunin proves that durable leadership cultures are built one honest, reflective conversation at a time and that followership may actually be even more important than leadership.
Three Actionable Takeaways
After any difficult conversation, debrief with three quick reflection questions: “How did it feel at the start? When exactly did it go off-track? What one tiny change (pause phrase, common ground, or timeout) would make it better next time?”

Find or become a feedback partner or build a personal board of directors outside your daily circle, someone who will be radically honest so you can see blind spots and grow faster.

Embrace followership as the other side of leadership: use the same CLEAR skills to support your leader’s mission while constructively challenging when needed, because the best leaders were once, and still are excellent followers.
About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.
About the Guest:
Jessica Bunin, MD, MHPE, FACP, FCCM, CEC, is retired Colonel, co-founder and chief architect of All Levels Leadership, and a critical care physician and professor of medicine and health professions education at the Uniformed Services University. A West Point graduate with an MD from Tulane and 23 years of Army service (including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan), she has served as critical care program director, assistant dean for faculty development, associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, and associate dean for community and educational culture. She is a certified executive coach passionate about teaching healthcare leaders the practical skills of psychological safety, civil discourse, and high-stakes communication that turn conflict into collaboration.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Jessica Bunin
🌐 Website: alllevelsleadership.com
📘 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessica-bunin

About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.
Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma
The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

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31 min

About Scalpel and Sword: Conflict and Negotiation in Modern Medicine

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Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the…

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Scalpel and Sword: Conflict and Negotiation in Modern Medicine

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About Scalpel and Sword: Conflict and Negotiation in Modern Medicine