Sustainable Clinical Medicine with The Charting Coach

By Dr. Sarah SmithBusiness Medicine Health & Fitness Mental Health Careers

Sustainable Clinical Medicine with The Charting Coach episodes

December 22, 2025Holiday Replay _ Top Episodes of 2025 - Episode 122: Getting Work Done At Work
Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!
In this special episode, Dr. Sarah Smith joins forces with Dr. Priyanka Venugopal from the Unstoppable Mom Brain Podcast for a deeply insightful conversation all about reclaiming time and creating more sustainable clinical practices.
Together, they dive into the real-life struggles physicians face when it comes to finishing work at work—and not letting charting and paperwork spill into precious family time. Dr. Smith shares her own journey of burnout, the “aha” moments that changed her approach forever, and the practical strategies that helped her—and now hundreds of other clinicians—conquer endless documentation and interruptions.
This episode is packed with actionable gems, from simple mindset shifts to rethinking workflow, delegation, and team dynamics. Whether you're a physician, a professional working mom, or anyone craving more balance between career and home, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what’s possible. Tune in for tangible tips, relatable stories, and a whole lot of encouragement to create those “bucket loads of time” you’ve been searching for.
Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:
Redesign Your Workflow—One Small Step at a Time:
Challenging your status quo doesn't require a massive overhaul overnight. Dr. Smith emphasizes starting with one thing you wish were different, then getting curious about how to make that change—whether it’s charting as you go or setting clearer boundaries for finishing tasks before heading home.
Choose the 'Goat Track' over the 'Superhighway':
Our brains crave familiar (often inefficient) routines. Breaking those habits will feel awkward and slower at first, but staying consistent creates more “bucket loads of time”—those open evenings and weekends we all crave.
Teamwork and Delegation Create Freedom:
Whether you have a team or work solo, look for ways to delegate, systematize, and create assets that make recurring tasks easier. Training others (or even your future self!) means you spend your best energy on what truly requires your expertise.
Episode 102: Burn Stress. Lose Weight. Podcast (Formerly the Unstoppable Mom Brain Podcast)
https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/blog/getting-work-done-at-work-with-dr-sarah-smith
In this episode of the Unstoppable Mom Brain Podcast, I have Dr. Sarah Smith sharing her journey from being a rural family physician to becoming an expert in optimizing work-life balance for physicians, particularly focusing on completing tasks efficiently during clinical hours. Dr. Smith's transformation from struggling with work-life balance to finding simplicity and joy in her professional and personal life is inspiring. Through her coaching, she helps physicians reclaim their time, reduce stress, and prioritize their well-being while excelling in their careers. Tune in to this episode to unlock valuable insights and actionable strategies that will empower you to achieve greater balance, joy, and success in your professional and personal life.
Sarah Smith is the Charting Coach for Physicians and clinicians and a practicing Rural Family Physician in Alberta. Sarah is the founder of the Charting Champions Program helping more than 150 Physicians in the specific area of getting home with their charting done.
She has a passion for reducing burnout and overwhelm resulting from the administrative burden of clinical medicine. Using evidence-based coaching to help Physicians find their most simple solutions within the clinical environments that they work in.
Sarah is married to her husband of 21 years and has two sons and lives on her small farm. Evenings and weekends are for enjoying pursuits such as farming, exploring, reading and coaching.
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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.
43 min
December 15, 2025No Shame in Seeking Help When Doctors Need Healing. Insights from Both Sides of Care. - Ep.152
Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!
Today, we’re joined by Dr. Maire Daugharty, an accomplished anesthesiologist who made the bold transition into clinical mental health counseling. In this episode, Dr. Daugharty opens up about her personal experience with burnout, the journey that led her to psychotherapy, and the lessons she learned about mental health—both as a physician and as a therapist. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, someone navigating career changes, or simply interested in well-being, this conversation is packed with valuable insights and practical advice.
Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:
Burnout and Depression Are Distinct but Overlapping: Dr. Maire Daugharty emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between burnout and depression. Burnout is specifically related to work overload and emotional exhaustion, while depression is a broader mental health condition. Recognizing the difference is crucial for seeking the right kind of help and intervention.
Career Transitions Can Be Empowering and Challenging: Dr. Daugharty shares her journey from anesthesiology to clinical mental health counseling, highlighting the challenges of making a major career shift. She discusses the importance of self-reflection, support from loved ones, and the value of aligning one’s work with personal interests and well-being.
There Is No Shame in Seeking Help: A central message of the episode is that seeking psychotherapy or counseling is a sign of strength, not weakness. Dr. Daugharty encourages medical professionals (and everyone) to value their own well-being, challenge the stigma around mental health, and recognize that taking care of oneself is essential for providing the best care to others.
Meet Dr. Maire Daugharty:
I am an anesthesiologist, over the course of my career specialized in regional and cardiac anesthesia. I went back to graduate school and completed a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. I opened a practice working with a range of issues for adult individuals and couples including depression, anxiety, ramifications of childhood trauma, burnout, navigating conflict. I continue to work part time as an anesthesiologist on our general and obstetrical services, and work full time as a psychotherapist integrating mental health medication management when indicated.

Connect with Dr. Maire Daugharty:
🌐 Website: www.mdaugharty.com
https://kevinmd.com/post-author/maire-daugharty
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maire-daugharty/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
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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.
32 min
December 08, 2025Episode 151 - Confidential Care How EAPs and Coaching Transform Physician Wellness
Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!
Today, we’re joined by Mary Remón, a licensed counselor and experienced coach who has spent over two decades supporting healthcare professionals. Mary brings a wealth of insight from her work managing Employee Assistance Programs and coaching physicians through the unique challenges of burnout, compassion fatigue, and career sustainability.
In this conversation, Mary and Dr. Sarah Smith dive deep into the realities of working in healthcare, the stigma around seeking help, and practical strategies for building resilience and well-being. Whether you’re a clinician, a leader, or simply interested in the human side of medicine, this episode is packed with wisdom and actionable advice.
Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:
Confidential Support Is Available for Healthcare Professionals: Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer confidential counseling and support for physicians and clinicians. Most concerns about privacy and stigma are unfounded—these services are designed to protect employees and are not part of personnel files or medical records, except in rare safety-related cases.
Burnout and Compassion Fatigue Are Common—But Not Personal Failures: Many physicians experience burnout, imposter syndrome, and compassion fatigue due to the demanding nature of their work. These are normal reactions to challenging environments, not signs of weakness or failure. Recognizing and talking about these issues is the first step toward healing.
Small, Positive Changes and Support Networks Make a Big Difference: Sustainable well-being comes from making small, manageable changes—like setting boundaries, celebrating small wins, and seeking support from peers or coaches. Sharing struggles and accepting help can break the cycle of isolation and lead to meaningful improvements in mental health and job satisfaction.
Meet Mary Remón:
Mary Remón is a licensed counselor, certified coach, and Certified Employee Assistance Professional with over 20 years of experience in healthcare. In her professional role, she has coached physicians and leaders at hundreds of healthcare institutions across North America, including many leading academic medical centers. Mary previously managed employee assistance programs on-site at two academic medical centers, supporting physicians, leaders and frontline staff. She continues to support physicians and leaders through her private practice.
Connect with Mary Remón:
🌐 Website: https://www.maryremon.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryremon/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryRemon.LCPC.LMHC.CEAP
SoMeDocs: https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/mary-remon-lcpc-cpc-ceap/
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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.
41 min
December 01, 2025Episode 150: Breaking the Silence Exploring the Hidden Struggles of Junior Doctors
Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!
In this podcast episode #150 we shine a light on the real experiences of early-career medical professionals and listening to the voices of junior doctors. I’m your host, Dr. Sarah Smith, and today we’re joined by Victoria Lister—researcher, workplace coach, and passionate advocate for change in healthcare.
Diving into the hidden struggles junior doctors face: the culture of silence, the impact of discrimination and burnout, and the critical importance of psychological safety at work. Victoria shares her research and personal insights on why so many doctors feel unable to speak up, and what leaders and colleagues can do to create safer, more supportive environments.
Whether you’re a medical professional, a student, or simply interested in the future of healthcare, this conversation is packed with eye-opening stories and practical advice. Let’s get started!
Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:
The Culture of Silence in Medicine: Junior doctors often feel unable to speak up about their working conditions due to fear of retaliation, career setbacks, and entrenched hierarchies. This silence can have serious consequences for both staff wellbeing and patient safety.
Psychological Safety is Essential: Creating environments where junior doctors feel safe to voice concerns is crucial. Leadership that listens, acts, and genuinely supports staff can transform toxic workplaces into supportive, high-performing teams.
Discrimination and Burnout are Widespread: Issues like bullying, harassment, and discrimination—based on gender, race, or background—are still prevalent in medical training. Addressing these challenges requires systemic change, open conversations, and collective action to ensure a healthier future for all healthcare professionals.
Meet Victoria Lister:
Victoria Lister is a researcher in the Business School at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. Her PhD research investigates junior doctors’ working conditions silences and how the medical profession acts as a barrier to voice. To support junior doctors, Victoria trained as a workplace coach and is currently researching and delivering a ‘coaching for communication’ program for emergency medicine clinicians. She also works on other research projects in the medical context; has consulted on a healthcare workforce wellbeing initiative and a cultural change program designed to address bullying, harassment and discrimination in medicine; and has published on these themes.
Connect with Victoria Lister:
🌐 Website: https://www.victorialister.com/
linkedin.com/in/victoria-lister
https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=Fzi-II4AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
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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.
52 min
November 24, 2025Episode 149: Fair Play, Mental Load & Women Physicians
Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!
In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith explores the challenges of balancing mental load and domestic labor, particularly for women in medicine. She is joined by Dr. Pip Houghton, a family physician, facilitator, and advocate for women’s wellness.
Dr. Houghton shares her expertise in mental health and her personal journey with the Fair Play Method, offering practical strategies for creating more equitable and joyful lives at home and at work. Together, they discuss how open communication, trust, and small changes can lead to big results for busy professionals and families.
Listeners will gain valuable insights into sharing responsibilities, building supportive partnerships, and lightening the mental load—making this episode a must-listen for anyone seeking balance and sustainability in their personal and professional lives.
Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:
The Fair Play Method Empowers Equitable Domestic Labor Pip Houghton shares how the Fair Play Method helps families clearly define, distribute, and take ownership of household tasks. This system reduces mental load, prevents resentment, and creates more space for joy, self-care, and professional fulfillment—especially for women physicians.
Open Communication and Trust Are Essential Successful implementation of Fair Play and equitable labor requires honest conversations and mutual trust between partners. Letting go of micromanagement and allowing each person to fully own their responsibilities is key to reducing stress and building a supportive partnership.
Small Changes Lead to Big Results Pip emphasizes starting with one small task—like managing garbage or backpacks—to build momentum and confidence. Gradually, these small wins can transform household dynamics, involve children in responsibilities, and even improve teamwork in professional settings.
Meet Dr. Pip Houghton:
Dr Phillippa "Pip" Houghton is a family physician on Vancouver Island providing addiction, mental health and primary care to adults and youth in her community. Dr Pip completed a B.Sc. in Kinesiology from the University of Victoria (2011), medical school at The University of Wollongong (2015) and family practice residency through the University of British Columbia in 2019. In addition to her formal education, Dr Pip is particularly supporting families in navigating the many challenges that we all face when it comes to balancing the demands of the three P’s (partner, professional, parent). Dr Pip has pursued additional education in the areas of perinatal Mental Health, digital health and wellness and most recently as a Fair Play Facilitator. In addition to her assigned roles, Dr Pip is also a mother to three boys, wife to an amazing husband, house hippo owner, new-ish CrossFit enthusiast, creative writer, book club enthusiast and cut-flower garden newbie.
Connect with Dr. Pip Houghton:
🌐 Website: www.timeoutmd.ca
🗣️ Speaking & Workshops: Revived Physician Retreat
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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.
31 min
November 17, 2025Episode 148: Optimizing Workflow and Team Roles in EHR for Sustainable Clinical Practice
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:
Thoughtful EHR Design: Dr. Becket Mahnke emphasized that EHR systems, especially EPIC, are shaped by user requests—leading to many ways to do the same thing, but also plenty of opportunities to streamline workflows by standardizing processes at the organizational level.
Teamwork for Efficiency & Wellness: Measuring teamwork (like tracking how many orders are started by team members rather than just physicians) can reveal powerful opportunities for redesigning clinical workflows. Taking a team-based approach relieves cognitive load and enables clinicians to spend more quality time with patients.
AI & Ambient Documentation: Dr. Becket Mahnke shared how new AI-driven ambient dictation and chart summarization tools are true game changers, letting providers focus on real patient conversations—benefiting not just the clinician, but also the patient experience.
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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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.
44 min
November 10, 2025Episode 147: Surviving the Clinical Day - Neurodiverse Strategies Boost Physician Wellbeing
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:
Habits Beat Willpower: Whether it's charting, managing emails, or tackling that overwhelming to-do pile, consistent habits and small rewards can make all the difference. Set up simple, repeatable systems to take the edge off tasks you hate—pair a reward with every chart completed, or celebrate reaching micro-goals.
Radical Acceptance & Boundaries: It's okay (and necessary) to get comfortable disappointing others. You can't (and shouldn't) say yes to everything—prioritize your energy for the things and people that matter most. Set clear boundaries for email, patient messages, and team interruptions.
Support Your Executive Function: Fatigue and burnout are real. Proactively support your brainpower with quality sleep, mindful breaks, minimal task switching, and templates to reduce decision fatigue. Even short, timed bursts of focused work can move you forward!
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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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.
1 hr 6 min
November 03, 2025Episode 146: Five Years of Charting Champions, Success Stories and Strategies for Sustainable Clinical Medicine
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:
Sustainable Strategies Work: The Charting Champions approach (now with 1,500+ doctors) has led to a significant reduction in hours spent on charting and paperwork outside of clinical hours—without impacting patient care or volume.
Improved Quality of Life: Data from the program shows doctors reported greater focus, more control over their day, increased mental energy, and a marked decrease in burnout and work-related dread.
Community & Lifelong Support: Lifetime access, peer support, and live coaching calls offer tailored help for every stage and change in a clinician’s career. Programs like Backlog Buddies provide a judgment-free space to tackle paperwork with others, making tough tasks more doable—and even fun!
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.
52 min
October 27, 2025Episode 145: Emotional Intelligence for Physicians & Why Self-Stewardship Matters
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:
Burnout has multiple layers: It isn’t just physical exhaustion. Addressing mental and emotional fatigue is just as crucial for true recovery and lasting wellness.
Processing emotions is a skill, not a luxury: Dr. Shrestha details a practical method
(the “H & P” approach) for health professionals to name, rate, and process difficult emotions—crucial in high-stress environments like the ER.
Self-stewardship is essential: True self-care goes beyond the occasional treat; it’s about reclaiming basic needs like sleep, movement, healthy food, and time for yourself—so you can give your best at work and at home.
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:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mightymommd/
https://www.mamadocsschool.com/
https://physicianwellnesssolutions.com/
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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.
44 min
October 20, 2025Episode 144: How Administrative Roles Impact Physician Well-being and Burnout
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:
Effective Leadership Matters: Suttin emphasized how team well-being starts with leadership—respect, transparency, and clear communication are foundational to a clinic’s success.
Boundaries Create Balance: She shared actionable strategies for clinicians to set boundaries between administrative duties and patient care, like physical/electronic separation and explicit policies for inbox coverage. These systems help prevent overwhelm and improve workflow.
Team-Based Support Reduces Burden: Morning team huddles, warm handovers, and a buddy system for inbox management are just a few processes that can bring teams together, streamline care, and foster continuity for patients.
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:
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauraksuttin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurasuttinmdcoach
Ticktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepurposefulmd
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@thepurposefulMD
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40 min

About Sustainable Clinical Medicine with The Charting Coach

From the publisher's feed

On the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast we are capturing the stories of physicians who have made clinical medicine sustainable in their own lives, including their before and after stories. …