The Physician’s Journey

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Adam Saperstein about what happens when we move beyond the traditional divide between physician and patient and begin to recognize the shared humanity on both sides of the clinical encounter.

Dr. Saperstein is a family physician, Navy Captain, and Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Education in the Department of Family Medicine at the Uniformed Services University.

We discuss how complications during his wife’s pregnancy transformed his understanding of medicine from an “us vs. them” dynamic to one rooted in partnership and connection.

We also explore the role of medical humanities and the arts, authenticity and vulnerability, mentorship, and the importance of maintaining a beginner’s mind. It’s a conversation about seeing patients as partners, staying connected to our humanity, and becoming better physicians in the process.

In the Season 2 premiere of The Physician's Journey Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Lakshman Swamy for a deeply personal conversation about identity, belonging, burnout, and self-discovery.

Dr. Swamy is a pulmonary and critical care physician, educator at Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Health Alliance, Chief of Pulmonology at Monogram Health, and creator of Critical Care the Game.

In this episode, Dr. Swamy reflects on the pivotal experiences that shaped his life and career, from finding a sense of belonging in the ICU during his intern year to navigating the emotional toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. He shares how family, creativity, therapy, and storytelling helped him reconnect with himself, rediscover his authentic voice, and build a more meaningful life both inside and outside of medicine.

This is a powerful conversation about what it means to be a physician, what it means to be human, and how critical moments can become opportunities for growth, self-acceptance, and transformation.

Links: www.criticalcaregame.com

In this episode, Dr. Brian Garibaldi, Charles Horace Mayo Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for Bedside Medicine at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, shares his journey from basic science research to becoming a leading voice in clinical education and bedside medicine. We discuss his transformative experience helping establish a medical school in Malaysia and his leadership role at the Johns Hopkins Special Pathogens Center during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Garibaldi reflects on the irreplaceable value of bedside skills, the human connection that sustains both patients and physicians, the impact of mentorship on shaping a meaningful career in medicine, and the courage to embrace uncertainty along the way.

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Kaishauna Guidry shares her journey of applying to medical school later in life—and how resilience, family support, and a deep sense of calling helped her overcome setbacks to become a hospice physician. She describes how her life experiences became her “superpower” in caring for patients at the end of life and supporting families through complex dynamics with compassion.

Dr. Guidry also reflects on how hospice work has reshaped her philosophy of living, teaching her to value joy, peace, and presence each day. She now leads Mourning Dove Medical, the first concierge mobile hospice practice of its kind, and is the author of Dr. G’s Hospice Pocket Guide and The Real Deal About Hospice. She also hosts the podcast Dr. G at the Heart of Healthcare, where she continues her mission of advocacy, education, and mentorship.

Tune in to hear about resilience through service, the power of lived experience, and the humanity at the heart of end-of-life care.

Links: www.mourningdovemedical.com

In this episode, Dr. Andrés Sciolla, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at UC Davis, shares his remarkable journey from a working-class upbringing in Chile to becoming a medical educator and a leader in trauma-informed care. He reflects on facing discrimination for being gay during his early psychiatric training, rediscovering his passion for medicine and teaching, and finding a sense of belonging in the U.S. His story explores themes of identity, resilience, and the transformative power of mentorship. An inspiring conversation about embracing uncertainty, making the most of unexpected opportunities, and finding a place where you can be your true self.

Links: https://physicians.ucdavis.edu/medicalcenter/details/42404/andres-sciolla-psychiatry-sacramento

In this episode, Dr. Andrés Sciolla, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at UC Davis, shares his remarkable journey from a working-class upbringing in Chile to becoming a medical educator and a leader in trauma-informed care. He reflects on facing discrimination for being gay during his early psychiatric training, rediscovering his passion for medicine and teaching, and finding a sense of belonging in the U.S. He explores themes of identity, resilience, and the transformative power of mentorship. This inspiring conversation invites listeners to embrace uncertainty, seize unexpected opportunities, and seek out spaces where they can be their true self.

Links: https://physicians.ucdavis.edu/medicalcenter/details/42404/andres-sciolla-psychiatry-sacramento

In this episode, Dr. Indu Partha, a primary care physician and Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson, reflects on the defining moments that have shaped her career and medical identity. From beginning her first job part-time while pregnant to making a bold leap into academic medicine after a decade in community practice, Dr. Partha shares thoughtful insights on navigating vulnerability, overcoming self-doubt, and redefining success. This inspiring conversation highlights how careers can be reimagined and how growth is always possible.

Check out Dr. Partha´s podcast: The Ajo Way: Primary Care Pearls

In this episode, Dr. Richard Schaefer, an orthopedic surgeon and educator at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, reflects on his remarkable career and the powerful influence of mentorship. He shares insights from his 30 years in the U.S. Army, his transition to civilian practice, and his passion for medical education. Dr. Schaefer discusses the transformative impact of mentors on his personal and professional growth, the joy of teaching basic skills to medical students, and the importance of fostering a supportive learning environment. He also emphasizes the value of emotional intelligence, peer support, and the integration of art into medical training to cultivate compassionate, humanistic physicians. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on leadership, mentorship, and the evolving role of educators in shaping the culture of medicine.

In this episode, Dr. Megan (pronounced “Meegan”) Gerber shares personal experiences of trauma and loss that shaped her career path, ultimately leading her to focus on improving the health and well-being of trauma-exposed women. The conversation highlights the importance of flexibility in medicine and how moments of crisis can become turning points for both personal and professional growth.

Dr. Gerber graduated from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial Hospital. She also earned an MPH from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Throughout her career, she has been deeply involved in women’s health, serving in various leadership roles within the Veterans Health Administration, including as a Senior Consultant for the VA Central Office in Washington, DC.

In 2021, Dr. Gerber co-chaired the National Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence Task Force, leading to the creation of the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP), now the largest IPV program within the nation’s largest integrated healthcare network.

A dedicated medical educator, Dr. Gerber currently serves as Division Chief of General Internal Medicine, Vice Chair of Medicine for Faculty Development, Advising Dean, and Professor of Medicine at Albany Medical College. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and is the editor of Trauma-Informed Healthcare Approaches: A Guide for Primary Care (Springer).

Beyond medicine, Dr. Gerber is an avid abstract painter who explores the use of visual arts to promote healing for both patients and healthcare professionals.

Book Link: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-04342-1

Dr. Gerber´s website link:https://megangerbermd.net/

Dr. Kopacz is a psychiatrist in primary care at the Seattle VA, with a national position teaching Whole Health and person-centered care to VA staff. He is board-certified in psychiatry and integrative medicine and holds a position as an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington. David has spoken worldwide on self-care and well-being for veterans, staff, and health professional students. He is the author of Caring for Self & Others: Transforming Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Soul Loss; Re-humanizing Medicine; and several books with co-author Joseph Rael (Beautiful Painted Arrow), including Becoming Medicine: Pathways of Initiation into a Living Spirituality. In this interview Dr. Kopacz talks about his path to medicine, his experience with cancer, and how becoming a patient led him to reassess his understanding of health and healing.

Latest Book: 

https://creativecouragepress.com/our-books/caring-for-self-and-others/

Website:

https://www.davidkopacz.com/

Blog: 

https://beingfullyhuman.com/