In this episode, co-hosts Klaus Grim and Gillian Faith explore why healthcare teams struggle to see themselves as part of a larger system — and how shifting from blame to curiosity, fostering psychological safety, and embracing systemic team coaching can unlock stronger communication, collaboration, and wellbeing across every level of care. 

Discover how a future-focused, outside-in coaching approach helps healthcare teams break hierarchical barriers, amplify silent voices, and lead with both effectiveness and wellbeing at the forefront.

Chapters & Time-stamps

00:43 Why Teams Feel Stuck

02:09 Communication And Hierarchy

04:26 Seeing The Bigger System

07:49 Energy And Self Leadership

09:43 From Blame To Questions

13:27 What Team Coaches Do

17:07 Psychological Safety Matters

20:30 Changing Meeting Dynamics

23:21 Future Focused Teamwork

25:19 Leadership Needs Wellbeing

26:45 Invitation And Next Steps

Gillian Faith — Occupational Therapist, Healthcare Leader, HR Professional & Certified Mediator. Gillian brings extensive clinical and leadership experience across healthcare teams, with expertise in communication, team dynamics, and psychological safety.

Klaus Grim — Frontline Emergency Medicine PA & Systemic Team Coach. Klaus practices at the bedside while coaching healthcare teams, bringing a dual lens of clinical practice and team development.

Both are coaches at Transforming Healthcare Coaching, founded by Lillian Liang Emlet, a critical care ER physician, simulation educator, and healthcare leadership coach.

📚 References & Resources

Amy Edmondson — Researcher on psychological safety in healthcare teams; her studies found that higher-performing teams reported more mistakes because they discussed and learned from them openly.

Energy Leadership (iPEC) — Framework on catabolic vs. anabolic energy referenced throughout the episode.

Transforming Healthcare Coaching — Book a discovery call: transforminghealthcarecoaching.com

Related episode: Lillian's previous episode on Psychological Safety featuring Amy Edmondson

Learn more about Giving & Receiving Feedback in Healthcare

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Disclaimer: Although we are trained medical professionals, we are not acting in a clinical capacity on this podcast. We do not use our medical licenses or provide medical, mental health, or therapeutic services in this setting. The content shared in this episode is based on our personal experiences, opinions, and coaching backgrounds, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be taken as medical advice, therapy, or professional counseling, nor used as a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. Always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of our employers or affiliated organizations.

In this episode, Lillian sits down with Dusty Holcomb, founder & CEO of the Arcqus Group, to explore why leadership is a learned behavior — and why it starts with leading yourself.

They cover the critical difference between leadership and management, how healthcare professionals can find agency even early in their careers, and Dusty's five questions to connect purpose to performance:

Why are we here?

Where are we going?

How do we get there?

How do I fit in?

What's in it for me?

Dusty also shares his practical "rhythms of success" framework and his free My Rules of Engagement playbook + DISC assessment at myrulesofengagement.com.

Chapters and Time-Stamps

00:00 Leadership Is Learned

00:37 Meet The Guests

01:36 Scaling Leadership Impact

03:07 Lead Yourself First

07:04 Agency Without A Title

09:21 From Reactive To Proactive

12:23 Self Care Is Leadership

14:38 Five Questions For Clarity

16:45 Purpose Vision Plan Fit

24:27 Rhythms Of Success

31:42 Permission To Say No

34:07 Resources And Farewell

Key Takeaways

Leadership is influence — not a title or position

Self-leadership isn't selfish; it fuels authentic impact on others

The 5 Questions every leader must answer for their team: Why are we here? Where are we going? How do we get there? How do I fit in? What's in it for me?

Build Rhythms of Success — daily (5–7 min), weekly, quarterly, and annual check-ins

Give yourself permission to say no to protect your highest-value work

Guest: Dusty Holcomb

Founder & CEO, Arcqus Group — executive coaching & leadership consulting

26+ years senior executive experience across operations, marketing & multi-billion dollar organizations

Website: arcqusgroup.com

Free Resource Mentioned

📘 My Rules of Engagement — a free leadership clarity playbook + DISC assessment

🔗 https://dustyholcomb.com/ 

References

John Maxwell: "Leadership is influence — nothing more, nothing less."

Saint Francis of Assisi on walking your talk

Harvard study: Only 5% of employees can articulate their organization's strategy

Gen Y/Z research: 76% would leave for purpose-aligned organizations

Learn more about Giving & Receiving Feedback in Healthcare

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For personalized support in your life and work as a healthcare professional and leader, book a free call.

Disclaimer: Although we are trained medical professionals, we are not acting in a clinical capacity on this podcast. We do not use our medical licenses or provide medical, mental health, or therapeutic services in this setting. The content shared in this episode is based on our personal experiences, opinions, and coaching backgrounds, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be taken as medical advice, therapy, or professional counseling, nor used as a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. Always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of our employers or affiliated organizations.

What happens when a pediatrician gets tired of doctors feeling alone in medicine? He builds a community. In this episode, host Lillian Liang Emlet sits down with Dr. Zhen Chan — pediatrician, MD MBA, and founder of Grapevyne — to explore physician burnout, professional isolation, and how peer-driven communities can restore physician autonomy and career fulfillment.

 ​

Chapters & Time-stamps

0:00 — Intro & Teaser

1:51 — Welcome & Guest Bio

2:52 — Conversation Begins

3:09 — Building Community in Residency

5:07 — The Connector: Phi Delta Epsilon Story

6:58 — Post-Pandemic Isolation & Lost Community

8:59 — The MBA Lens: Seeing Medicine Differently

11:19 — Physician Isolation & Lost Autonomy

12:30 — Financial Literacy Gap in Medical Training

14:13 — What Is Grapevyne & Why It Exists

15:36 — Who Grapevyne Is For

17:37 — Business Culture of Support vs. Medicine

20:43 — Convincing Skeptical Doctors to Join

22:23 — Networking Tips: Always Ask for a Connection

24:43 — Physician Coaching & Grapevyne

26:37 — Community Stories: Real Impact

28:58 — Vision: A Clearinghouse for Physician Education

31:54 — Final Advice: Don't Go Through It Alone

33:20 — How to Find Grapevyne

 Topics Covered:

Why physician professional isolation drives burnout and loss of autonomy

How an MD MBA lens reshapes how doctors see healthcare systems

Building Grapevyne: from idea to a global peer-powered physician community

Practical networking tips for busy clinicians (once every two months = 6 new connections/year)

Why physician coaching is finally becoming normalized in medical education

The power of warm introductions and community-driven career transitions

 👨‍⚕️ Dr. Zhen Chan

Board-Certified Pediatrician | Founder & CEO, Grapevyne

MD MBA, University of Miami; Pediatrics Residency, New York Presbyterian

Pediatric venture capital, quality improvement, healthcare advocacy

Grapevyne.health (free to join)

Instagram: @Zhen_MD | TikTok: @ZhenMD | LinkedIn: Zhen Chan MD

Learn more about Giving & Receiving Feedback in Healthcare

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For personalized support in your life and work as a healthcare professional and leader, book a free call.

Disclaimer: Although we are trained medical professionals, we are not acting in a clinical capacity on this podcast. We do not use our medical licenses or provide medical, mental health, or therapeutic services in this setting. The content shared in this episode is based on our personal experiences, opinions, and coaching backgrounds, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be taken as medical advice, therapy, or professional counseling, nor used as a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. Always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of our employers or affiliated organizations.

What if the traits you've been hiding your whole career are actually your greatest strengths? Dr. Krystal Sodaitis — board-certified pediatrician turned health plan executive, life coach, and TEDx speaker — unpacks neurodiversity in medicine, physician career pivots, and why the "spiky profile" hiding in plain sight might be your superpower.

What You'll Learn

References Mentioned

Learn more about Giving & Receiving Feedback in Healthcare

Subscribe and Listen on:

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For personalized support in your life and work as a healthcare professional and leader, book a free call.

Disclaimer: Although we are trained medical professionals, we are not acting in a clinical capacity on this podcast. We do not use our medical licenses or provide medical, mental health, or therapeutic services in this setting. The content shared in this episode is based on our personal experiences, opinions, and coaching backgrounds, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be taken as medical advice, therapy, or professional counseling, nor used as a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. Always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of our employers or affiliated organizations.

Can you be a promoted healthcare leader and a great mom? Recorded live from Sedona, Arizona, host Dr. Lillian Liang Emlet and Gillian Faith celebrate Mother's Day with an honest, unfiltered conversation about the myths, struggles, and strategies of being a mom in medicine. No fluff — just real talk from two women who've lived it.

00:57 Mothers Day In Sedona

References & People Mentioned

Shonda Rhimes — commencement speech on success vs. "failing" at home

Dr. Lisa Muehlenbein — MEDLIFE Matrix; nurturing primary relationships

Mel Robbins — High Five Habit & self-compassion framework

Learn more about Giving & Receiving Feedback in Healthcare

Subscribe and Listen on:

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For personalized support in your life and work as a healthcare professional and leader, book a free call.

Disclaimer: Although we are trained medical professionals, we are not acting in a clinical capacity on this podcast. We do not use our medical licenses or provide medical, mental health, or therapeutic services in this setting. The content shared in this episode is based on our personal experiences, opinions, and coaching backgrounds, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be taken as medical advice, therapy, or professional counseling, nor used as a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. Always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of our employers or affiliated organizations.

Silence in medicine isn't protection — it's the source of burnout. Host Dr. Lillian Liang Emlet sits down with Dr. R. Lee Sharma, OBGYN, trained mediator, and conflict analyst, to reframe how healthcare professionals think about conflict. Learn why conflict is a vital sign, not a failure — and what to do about it.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Silence Fuels Burnout 

01:22 Meet Dr. Lee Sharma

02:05 Why Conflict Matters

04:35 The Hidden Cost of Silence

09:07 Conflict as a Vital Sign

10:20 Why She Got Trained

14:47 SPARC Rapid Framework

20:33 Designing Safer Systems

30:10 Alignment Over Compromise

31:20 Starting Hard Conversations

34:51 Where to Find Dr. Sharma

36:46 Final Takeaways & Outro

Guest: Dr. R. Lee Sharma

🔬 OBGYN | Mediator | Conflict Analyst | Speaker | Podcast Host

🎙️ Scalpel and Sword Podcast

🌐 rleesharma.com | 💼 LinkedIn: Dr. R. Lee Sharma

📩 Residency workshops, faculty & organizational consulting

References Mentioned

Dr. Jessica Bunin — All Levels Leadership; Civil Discourse framework

Haavi Moreim - JD, PhD Professor at University of Tennessee Health Science Center ;  "Guardian of the Process"

Atul Gawande — surgical peer observation & debriefing

VitalTalk — end-of-life communication training

#HealthcareLeadership #PhysicianBurnout #ConflictResolution #MedicalPodcast

Learn more about Giving & Receiving Feedback in Healthcare

Subscribe and Listen on:

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For personalized support in your life and work as a healthcare professional and leader, book a free call.

Disclaimer: Although we are trained medical professionals, we are not acting in a clinical capacity on this podcast. We do not use our medical licenses or provide medical, mental health, or therapeutic services in this setting. The content shared in this episode is based on our personal experiences, opinions, and coaching backgrounds, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be taken as medical advice, therapy, or professional counseling, nor used as a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. Always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of our employers or affiliated organizations.

Dr. Cindy Van Praag — anesthesiologist, wellness coach, and founder of Inspired Moms MD — joins Lillian Liang Emlet to unpack why so many accomplished physician mothers still feel like they're not enough, and what to do about it. From the masks we wear in different roles, to the hidden energy leaks sabotaging your day, to the power of standing firm in your values, this conversation is a candid guide to thriving — not just surviving — in medicine and motherhood. If you're a woman physician ready to stop running on autopilot and start living with intention, this episode is for you.

Chapters:

Learn more about Giving & Receiving Feedback in Healthcare

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For personalized support in your life and work as a healthcare professional and leader, book a free call.

Disclaimer: Although we are trained medical professionals, we are not acting in a clinical capacity on this podcast. We do not use our medical licenses or provide medical, mental health, or therapeutic services in this setting. The content shared in this episode is based on our personal experiences, opinions, and coaching backgrounds, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be taken as medical advice, therapy, or professional counseling, nor used as a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. Always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of our employers or affiliated organizations.

 Physician Assistant Fedna Morency — locum tenens traveler, entrepreneur, and founder of the Travel PA Course — joins host Klaus Grim to talk about what it actually takes to thrive in medicine on your own terms. From leaving toxic work environments to discovering the power of financial leverage and mindset, they explore how healthcare professionals can reclaim their time, build real wealth, and lead with bold self-advocacy. If you're a PA feeling underpaid or burned out, Fedna's story and her Travel PA Your Way to Wealth community offer a practical roadmap to designing a career — and a life — you actually love.

00:00 Compassion Exploited

Learn more about Giving & Receiving Feedback in Healthcare

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For personalized support in your life and work as a healthcare professional and leader, book a free call.

Disclaimer: Although we are trained medical professionals, we are not acting in a clinical capacity on this podcast. We do not use our medical licenses or provide medical, mental health, or therapeutic services in this setting. The content shared in this episode is based on our personal experiences, opinions, and coaching backgrounds, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be taken as medical advice, therapy, or professional counseling, nor used as a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. Always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of our employers or affiliated organizations.

What separates great clinicians from great leaders? In this episode, Dr. Klaus Grim and Dr. Lillian Liang Emlet explore the science of deliberate practice — a structured, feedback-driven approach to building leadership skills that goes far beyond experience alone. Whether you're stepping into a new role or looking to level up, this episode will show you how to grow on purpose.

0:00 Why Practice Matters

Learn more about Giving & Receiving Feedback in Healthcare

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Disclaimer: Although we are trained medical professionals, we are not acting in a clinical capacity on this podcast. We do not use our medical licenses or provide medical, mental health, or therapeutic services in this setting. The content shared in this episode is based on our personal experiences, opinions, and coaching backgrounds, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be taken as medical advice, therapy, or professional counseling, nor used as a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. Always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of our employers or affiliated organizations.

Dr. Carolyn Roy-Bornstein — pediatrician, author, and writer-in-residence — joins host Dr. Lillian Liang Emlet to talk about what it actually takes to flourish in medicine. From evidence-based gratitude practices to reflective writing, they explore how healthcare professionals can reclaim joy, build resilience, and lead with self-compassion.

0:37 - Meet Dr. Carolyn Roy-Bornstein

Dr. Roy-Bornstein's new book A Prescription for Burnout Pre-Order (releases April 28)

Dr. Roy-Bornstein's Website

Dr. Roy-Bornstein's LinkedIn

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Mentioned in the episode:

Rita Charon, MD

https://sps.columbia.edu/person/rita-charon-md-phd

Tyler J. VanderWeele, MD Human Flourishing

https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/people/tyler-j-vanderweele

Suzanne Segerstrom, MD, author of Breaking Murphy’s Law

https://health.oregonstate.edu/directory/suzanne-segerstrom

https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Murphys-Law-Optimists-Pessimists/dp/1593855923

Beyond Moral Injury by Lisa Rosenbaum, MD

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38265727/

Hong Kong gratitude study:

Cheng SK, Tsui PK, Lam JH. Improving mental health in health care practitioners: randomized controlled trial of a gratitude intervention. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2015;83(1):177–186.

https://www.ovid.com/journals/jccpy/abstract/10.1037/a0037895~improving-mental-health-in-health-care-practitioners?redirectionsource=fulltextview

Martin Seligman’s Positive Psychology study with nurses:

Luo, Y., Li, H., Plummer, V., Cross, W. M., Lam, L., Guo, Y., . . . Zhang, J. (2019). An evaluation of a positive psychological intervention to reduce burnout among nurses. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 33(6), 186-191.

https://www.psychiatricnursing.org/article/S0883-9417(18)30463-1/abstract

Kristin Neff, MD UT Austin self-compassion

https://centerformsc.org/pages/kristin-neff-co-founder

University of Michigan Sacred Moments research

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2834653?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jamajno&utm_term=17169948338&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=826352667

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/well-being-michigan-medicine/sacred-moments-human-connection-health-care-and-well-being

For personalized support in your life and work as a healthcare professional and leader, book a free call.

Disclaimer: Although we are trained medical professionals, we are not acting in a clinical capacity on this podcast. We do not use our medical licenses or provide medical, mental health, or therapeutic services in this setting. The content shared in this episode is based on our personal experiences, opinions, and coaching backgrounds, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be taken as medical advice, therapy, or professional counseling, nor used as a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. Always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical or mental health concerns. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not represent the positions of our employers or affiliated organizations.