Dr. Tony Kovatch, known as "Slow Tony" after being the last to cross the finish line at the 2025 Pittsburgh Marathon, shares insights from his 40+ years as a pediatrician and his philosophy on living a meaningful life shaped by personal struggles and professional triumphs.

• Early exposure to his mother's battle with Huntington's disease influenced his decision to become a doctor
• Viktor Frankl's logotherapy provided a framework for finding meaning in suffering throughout his life 
• The importance of treating doctors as humans, not expecting superhuman perfection
• How obsessive-compulsive personality traits can be channeled positively 
• Pediatricians need to focus on the "little things" that patients remember—returning calls, showing kindness
• Parenting advice: use positive reinforcement abundantly and recognize your words become children's inner voices
• Running as both physical discipline and spiritual practice, even when finishing last
• The metaphor of marathon running: "Your times become slower and slower, but the experience of the race is unchanged"
• Finding meaning in retirement 

Never stop doing good for goodness' sake alone, without expecting any return on your investment of kindness.

Dr. Kovatch writes on Medium-

https://medium.com/@kovatcha42/stopping-the-hemorrhage-a-warm-well-lighted-place-b8e8ce27cbd4

"Out of the Old Black Bag" by Dr. Anthony Kovatch

https://issuu.com/ssmsdept/docs/bulletin_22.sept_final/s/16962787

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/tony.kovatch.12

WPXI News Article Pittsburgh Marathon

https://www.facebook.com/wpxi/posts/anthony-kovatch-73-a-retired-pediatrician-from-the-north-hills-proudly-finished-/1083758973788232/

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl https://amzn.to/4lIiYbK (paid link)

Let us know how we are doing.

Support the show

Visit👉 thrivingyinzers.com for resources to help you keep going and growing.

• Tackle your to-do list and organize your space with TY Services.
• Shop our TY Toolkit for practical tools, books, and organizing essentials to help you manage life with more ease and intention.
• Books referenced on the podcast are available in the TY Toolkit, but here are our top 3 picks.

👉 Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl (paid link)

👉Atomic Habits by James Clear (paid link)

👉Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck (paid link)

Help Us By:

1. Share the podcast with your friends and family

2. Rate and Review!

3. Shop our TY Toolkit at thrivingyinzers.com or through Amazon Associates links listed above for books & resources mentioned on the podcast to keep you inspired. We receive a small commission for your purchase which helps support the podcast.

This podcast is a production of Thriving Yinzers LLC.

Follow “This is It! The Podcast by Thriving Yinzers” on Facebook

Follow on Instagram @typghpod