Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Becket Mahnke, a pediatric cardiologist and seasoned Chief Medical Information Officer, to explore the evolving landscape of clinical informatics and practical strategies for making your clinical day more sustainable. Together, they dive into the complexities of electronic health record (EHR) systems—especially Epic—and discuss how thoughtful design, team-based approaches, and data-driven solutions can reduce physician burnout, enhance care efficiency, and foster more meaningful patient interactions.

From leveraging AI-powered ambient dictation and chart summarization tools, to reimagining clinic workflows and setting healthy boundaries for clinicians, this conversation is packed with insights to help you reclaim time for yourself while delivering excellent patient care. Whether you’re an EHR power user, an informatics enthusiast, or simply searching for ways to optimize your workday, you'll find actionable tips and a dose of inspiration in today's episode.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. C. Becket Mahnke:

Dr. C. Becket Mahnke is the Chief Medical Information Officer at Confluence Health and a practicing pediatric cardiologist. He is board‑certified in Clinical Informatics, an Epic‑certified Physician Builder, and serves on Epic's Physician Advisory Council. Under his leadership, Confluence Health has delivered measurable improvements in clinician experience—reducing EHR burden and after‑hours work, increasing patient portal adoption, and earning top‑quartile ARCH Collaborative EHR satisfaction, AMA Joy in Medicine™ Gold, and the WSMA Apple Award. His current focus is pragmatic, sustainable design and AI that protects clinician attention and improves care.

You can find Dr. C. Becket Mahnke on:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cbecketmahnke

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**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Cheryl Chase, a clinical psychologist and expert in attention and learning disorders, to explore the unique challenges clinicians face in making their workday more sustainable. Dr. Chase shares her journey from working with children to advising physicians and other adults, highlighting practical strategies for maintaining executive function, managing overwhelming administrative tasks like charting, and coping with burnout and decision fatigue.

The conversation dives deep into how both neurodiverse and neurotypical clinicians can adopt simple, habit-based solutions to tackle the ever-growing workload, find ways to set boundaries, and build systems that truly support wellbeing—inside and outside the clinic. Whether it's accepting that perfection is unattainable, learning to disappoint others when necessary, or using visual tools and external reminders to stay organized, Dr. Chase brings relatable wisdom and actionable advice to help listeners preserve their energy and get home with their work done.

If you’ve ever wondered how to start tackling that painful chart backlog, keep your executive function sharp throughout the day, or simply give yourself more grace at work, you’re in the right place. Get ready for a thoughtful, empowering discussion packed with ideas you can put into practice today.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. Cheryl Chase:

Dr. Cheryl Chase is a licensed clinical psychologist based in Independence, Ohio (a suburb of Cleveland), specializing in ADHD, learning disorders, and emotional challenges across the lifespan. Through PSYPACT, she is able to serve clients in over 42 states in the US. She’s also an international speaker and consultant, known for making complex topics like executive function and dyslexia both relatable and actionable. Whether she’s working with families, schools, or businesses, Dr. Chase blends science with real-world strategies—and a dose of humor.

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**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this special solo episode, Dr. Sarah Smith—family doctor, clinical day advisor, and charting coach—reflects on a major milestone: the five-year anniversary of the Charting Champions program. She shares her personal journey from burnout and paperwork overwhelm to developing sustainable strategies for physicians and clinicians to reclaim time, boost efficiency, and improve quality of life.

You’ll hear the inspiring story behind Charting Champions, how the program was built step-by-step, its expansion to help a diverse range of specialties, and real success stories from members who have transformed their clinical day. Dr. Sarah Smith also highlights the value of peer support, assistant coaches, and expert guest workshops that make this community thrive.

Whether you’re struggling with backlog, searching for better ways to manage your administrative burden, or simply wanting to enjoy more time outside of medicine, this episode is packed with practical advice, encouragement, and a celebration of what’s possible when strategy meets support. Stick around for updates on upcoming masterclasses, backlog events, and ways you can get more involved with a thriving network dedicated to making clinical medicine more sustainable—one chart at a time.

Here are 3 key takeaways for anyone striving for more sustainable and fulfilling clinical work:

Meet The Charting Coach:

Dr. Sarah Smith is a dedicated family doctor, clinical day advisor, and the innovative mind behind the Charting Champions coaching program. As host of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine podcast, Dr. Smith shares inspiring conversations with colleagues and world experts to help physicians find more sustainable ways to navigate their clinical day and carve out time for life outside medicine. In October 2020, she launched Charting Champions, which now celebrates its fifth anniversary, empowering doctors to transform their charting processes and clinical routines. With remarkable passion, Dr. Smith continues to support and guide healthcare professionals, equipping them with strategies to enhance well-being and thrive both in and out of practice.

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith is joined by Dr. Archana Shrestha—an emergency physician, certified coach, author, and founder of the Mama Doc School and Physician Wellness Solutions. Together, they dive deep into the journey of physician burnout, particularly from the perspective of emergency medicine. Dr. Shrestha shares her personal story of navigating the double burden of clinical and parental burnout, and how she transformed her approach to wellness by addressing not just physical exhaustion, but also the crucial mental and emotional components.

Listeners will hear about practical strategies for reclaiming energy, building emotional resilience, and making time for life outside of medicine. Dr. Shrestha opens up about the challenges women in medicine face, the importance of self-stewardship, and why addressing the dread around tasks like charting can have far-reaching impacts on personal health and quality of life. Whether you're looking to overcome burnout, manage stress eating, or simply feel more fulfilled in your medical career, this episode is packed with insightful advice and real-life inspiration for making clinical practice more sustainable.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. Archana Shrestha:

Dr. Archana Shrestha is an emergency physician, certified coach, author, and speaker who is passionate about helping physicians create lasting wellness. She is the founder and Chief Wellness Officer of Mama Docs School and Physician Wellness Solutions, where she leads programs designed to reduce burnout and help doctors reclaim their health, energy and joy in medicine. Drawing from both her personal journey and professional expertise, Dr. Shrestha’s mission is to empower physicians not just to survive the demands of medicine—but to truly thrive.

You can find Dr. Archana Shrestha on:

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In today’s episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Laura Suttin, a family physician from Texas who has transitioned from full-time clinical practice to a dynamic career in consulting, coaching, and leadership within healthcare organizations. Dr. Suttin shares her journey from frontline family medicine into administrative roles, highlighting the unique challenges faced in both spheres — from adapting to EMRs and managing work-life balance, to navigating the delicate balance between administrative demands and patient care.

Together, Dr. Suttin and Dr. Smith explore strategies for creating more sustainable clinical days, reducing administrative burdens, fostering effective team communication, and building supportive leadership structures that empower clinicians. Whether you’re a clinician yearning for more time and less burnout, or a healthcare leader aiming to build thriving teams, this conversation offers valuable insights and actionable ideas for making clinical practice more sustainable for everyone.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. Laura Suttin:

Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, former healthcare executive, certified coach, speaker, organizational consultant, and author of The Purposeful MD-Creating the Life You Love Without Guilt. With decades of leadership experience, Laura partners with healthcare organizations to realign leadership and culture around her proprietary Compass Framework: Purpose, Connection, Empowerment, and Joy. Her work addresses burnout at its root—by transforming misaligned, fragmented cultures into high-performing environments where people thrive, outcomes rise, and the business bottom line improves. Laura’s clients stop chasing short-term burnout fixes and instead build resilient, sustainable healthcare systems—where engagement grows and both people and performance flourish.

You can find Dr. Laura Suttin on:

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. David Park—a family physician, medical educator, executive coach, and true leadership enthusiast. Dr. Park shares his incredible journey, from immigrating to the U.S. from South Korea, to his early days as core faculty in New York, through pioneering roles as a founding dean in new medical schools across Nevada, Utah, and Montana.

Together, they dive into the realities of building a meaningful, sustainable medical career while juggling clinical practice, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Dr. Park opens up about the personal lessons he’s learned—including the importance of taking care of your own well-being, strategies for time management, and why effective delegation can empower both you and your team. He also discusses the value of faculty development, executive coaching, and how reconnecting with your purpose can fuel longevity and joy in medicine.

If you’re a clinician looking to craft a career path that honors your ambition while making room for balance, this episode is packed with wisdom you can put into action. Let’s dive in!

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. David Park:

Dr. David Park is a dual board-certified family physician, medical educator, and nationally recognized leader in medicine. He has served in numerous leadership roles including medical school dean, residency program director, and president of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Dr. Park has served on boards of various medical organizations at the local, state, and nation levels. He is passionate about leadership development, health and wellness, and developing the next generation of physician leaders. He is also an executive coach and his mission is to cultivate leaders by inspiring purpose, building confidence, and developing action-oriented leadership skills with the ultimate goal of creating a legacy of leadership.

You can find Dr. Daavid Park on:

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Pam Pappas, a seasoned psychiatrist based in Scottsdale, Arizona, whose passion for supporting physicians through burnout has shaped a unique and impactful career. Drawing on her extensive background in psychiatry, integrative medicine, homeopathy, and spiritual wellness, Dr. Pappas shares her personal journey through multiple cycles of burnout and the hard-won wisdom that emerged from those experiences.

Together, Dr. Smith and Dr. Pappas explore the realities of working in high-pressure medical environments, the myth that changing jobs will always solve burnout, and the deep cultural expectations in medicine that can make doctors feel isolated and inadequate. Dr. Pappas discusses how coaching—still a novel concept for many in healthcare—became a lifeline for herself and now forms the cornerstone of her work with colleagues seeking more sustainable and fulfilling clinical lives.

Listeners will gain insight into the importance of self-reflection, tapping into one’s inner wisdom, and making authentic choices—whether that means reshaping your current position or making a courageous transition. This conversation offers tangible hope and guidance for clinicians who are craving real change and a more balanced, joyful path in medicine.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. Pam Pappas:

Pam Pappas MD, FAPA is a highly experienced psychiatrist and physician coach who helps physicians cultivate clarity, compassion, wisdom, and FUN in their personal lives, medical practices, teams, and organizations. She lives and works from a psychospiritual understanding that takes excess worry and stress off our minds, and revives hope, insight, autonomy, and sense of purpose. This "Wisdom-Informed" orientation allows more natural, fulfilling, and effective action in the world -- transforming burnout into wholehearted living, working, and leading.

You can find Dr. Pam Pappas on:

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Brittany Anderson, a passionate rural family medicine physician from Alabama who’s breaking the myth that private practice is dead.

Dr. Anderson shares her inspiring journey from employed, academic medicine—where bureaucracy and lack of autonomy led to burnout—to launching her own thriving private practice in 2022. She opens up about the challenges and rewards of creating a sustainable, patient-centered clinic from the ground up, how she built a strong team, and the financial realities of going solo.

Dr. Anderson also offers valuable advice for physicians considering private practice, emphasizing the importance of vision, efficient teamwork, and maintaining personal well-being along the entrepreneurial journey. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to make private practice work in today’s healthcare landscape, or you’re navigating burnout yourself, this episode is packed with practical insights, encouragement, and hope. Tune in and get ready to be inspired!

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. Brittney Anderson:

I’m Dr. Brittney Anderson, a board-certified family medicine physician and the founder and CEO of Anderson Family Care — a thriving private practice I launched in Alabama in 2022. I completed undergraduate studies at Duke University and medical school at UAB (Birmingham) I did my family medicine residency training at The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa).

I know firsthand how overwhelming (and exhilarating) it can be to step away from traditional models and create something of your own. That’s why I’m passionate about helping other physicians reclaim their freedom and joy in medicine by launching successful private practices of their own.

In addition to my clinical and coaching work, I host the podcast, Physicians Hanging a Shingle, and I’m honored to serve as current Board Chair of the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians and Vice-Speaker for the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. I also serve on numerous boards throughout my community and state, working to amplify the voice of physicians and improve healthcare access in Alabama.

You can find Dr. Brittney Anderson on:

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Marcia Kashani, a nurse and experienced healthcare improvement advisor, to explore practical strategies for making your clinical day more efficient, effective, and—most importantly—sustainable. Drawing on years of experience facilitating primary care transformation and team-based initiatives, Dr. Kashani shares stories of real-world success: from leveraging the strengths of every team member, to optimizing clinic workflows, and even reimagining how tasks get delegated to maximize value for both clinicians and patients.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by a never-ending list of tasks, long wait times for appointments, or the challenge of figuring out what you can hand off—and to whom—this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Dr. Smith and Dr. Kashani offer actionable insights into improving access, reducing unnecessary physician workload, and embracing change as a path to better care and a better work-life balance. Whether you’re part of a large clinic or running a small practice, you’ll find inspiration and hope for positive change right here. Tune in and take one step closer to reclaiming time for your patients—and yourself!

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. Marcia Kashani:

Marcia has over 40 years of front-line nursing and progressive leadership experience in primary care, community care and acute care. Notable accomplishments include involvement in the business planning and governance of multiple Primary Care Networks in the Edmonton Zone.

In 2005 her focus turned to Quality Improvement and System Redesign where she became the first non-physician AIM faculty, participating in several AIM collaboratives.  She completed the Improvement Advisor Program through the Institute of Healthcare Improvement and continued as a facilitator for the program.

Most recently, Marcia has been a project manager with the Edmonton Zone Primary Care Networks team and North Zone Primary Care Business Unit, including work with Transitions of Care, Specialty Access and Referral teams, and assisting Practice Facilitators with improvement initiatives.

You can find Dr. Marcia Kashani on:

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Jeff Cohn, a retired hematologist-oncologist whose journey took him from the patient bedside to the halls of hospital leadership and, ultimately, to coaching fellow physicians. Dr. Cohn shares deeply moving stories from his clinical days—like orchestrating a final, meaningful anniversary for two dying patients—as well as the challenges and motivations that led him to transition into healthcare quality improvement.

Through engaging anecdotes, Dr. Cohn reveals how he championed transformative approaches to organizational change, particularly the innovative use of “positive deviance” to tackle MRSA infections in the hospital. He explains how listening to frontline healthcare workers and drawing out internal best practices led to remarkable reductions in hospital-acquired infections—by 85%! Along the way, you'll learn about practical facilitative techniques, such as “liberating structures,” that empower teams and ensure every voice is heard.

The episode also delves into the realities of clinician burnout, the complexities of driving system-wide change, and Dr. Cohn’s current passion: coaching physicians in positive intelligence and mental fitness. Whether you’re a healthcare professional or simply interested in sustainable, people-centered medicine, this conversation offers inspiring perspectives and actionable insights on making systems—and ourselves—work better.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Meet Dr. Jeff Cohn:

I'm a native Philadelphian, trained as a hematologist/medical oncologist. I practiced/taught/did clinical research full-time for the first 15 years of my career. I then was asked to assume various non-clinical roles (division head, interim Chair of Internal Medicine, Chief Quality Officer). The Chief Quality Officer role ultimately became a full-time role and I held that position for 12 years. Since then I've led a non-profit organization for three years (Plexus Institute) and worked with a couple of design teams as the medical director. I'm now working as a Mental Fitness and Leadership coach with physicians. Along the way I obtained a Masters in Healthcare Management from Harvard School of Public Health.

You can find Dr. Jeff Cohn on:

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.