Money decisions aren't always just about numbers, budgets, or financial knowledge. In Part 1 of our conversation, Dr. Billina Shaw explores the often-overlooked psychological side of money—examining how childhood experiences, professional training, past financial struggles, and deeply held beliefs can shape the way women physicians earn, spend, save, and think about wealth.

Dr. Billina Shaw is a Yale-educated triple board-certified psychiatrist (child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry; addiction medicine) with an MPH from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She has served as a Senior Medical Advisor at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), bringing federal-level expertise in behavioral health policy and implementation.

Dr. Shaw now works with high-achievers, leaders, and organizations to move from anxious and disconnected to purposeful, peaceful, and prosperous. Through her speaker platform and financial wellness coaching practice, she bridges clinical psychiatry, behavioral health strategy, and the psychological roots of financial decision-making and well-being.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How do childhood experiences and past financial struggles shape the way we think about and manage money?
• Why can financial advice focused on what we “should have” done earlier create guilt and shame rather than lasting change?
• How can medical training and a career centered on serving others affect physicians’ sense of worth and relationship with money?
• Why might women feel over-responsible for financial problems that aren't entirely theirs to solve?
• How can a past financial struggle continue to shape your identity even after your circumstances have changed?
• Why do some people continue to feel financially insecure even when they are objectively doing well?
• How can a scarcity mindset lead to overspending, hoarding, avoidance, or anxiety around money?
• What does your spending behavior reveal about the deeper needs or emotions you may be trying to meet?
• How can connecting your financial goals to your values and vision for your life make them more meaningful?
• Where do your core beliefs about money come from, and how can you begin to change beliefs that no longer serve you?
• Why can feeling worthy of wealth—and allowing yourself to want more—be an important part of changing your relationship with money?

Drawing on her background as a psychiatrist and financial wellness coach, Dr. Shaw shares why feelings of scarcity, guilt, shame, and unworthiness can persist even when someone's financial circumstances have changed. She also discusses how understanding your relationship with money, shifting your identity, and connecting your financial decisions to your deeper values can help you move toward greater peace, freedom, and abundance.

Interested in learning more about my telehealth direct specialty care practice? At AmazVita MD, I help patients optimize weight and metabolic health, harmonize hormones in peri/menopause, and enhance wellness and vitality. Accepting new patients now.

Website:
amazvitamd.com

Email:
[email protected]

Learn more about me or schedule a FREE coaching call:
https://www.joyfulsuccessliving.com/

Join the Voices of Women Physicians Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/190596326343825/

Connect with Dr. Shaw:

Website:
www.drbillina.com

LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-billina 

Instagram:
@drbillina

Text GROW to 55444 to join Dr. Shaw’s email list.

What does it really mean to have an AI assistant working alongside you? In Part 2 of our conversation, Dr. Ladan Davallow takes a closer look at the safety considerations involved in using AI, from protecting personal and patient information to setting appropriate guardrails for AI agents. She also shares more of the ways she uses AI to automate tasks, conduct research, create presentations and content, and support both her clinical practice and everyday life.

Dr. Ladan Davallow is a practicing pediatric endocrinologist and founder of Aimforth, where she teaches physicians how to use AI practically and responsibly to save time, reduce administrative burden, and make medicine work better—without compromising patient privacy, clinical judgment, or the human side of care.

Since 2023, she’s invested thousands of hours and five figures testing AI across clinical medicine, academia, private practice, and business. In this episode, she cuts through the hype to share what physicians actually need to know: which AI tools are worth their time and which aren’t, how to think about HIPAA compliance and patient privacy, what you should—and shouldn’t—put into AI, how to navigate hallucinations and unreliable outputs, and whether AI is really coming for physicians’ jobs. Most importantly, she shares what she wishes she’d known when she started, so physicians can use AI more confidently without spending years figuring it out themselves.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What privacy and security considerations should physicians keep in mind when using AI? 
• How can physicians protect personal and patient information when using AI tools and agents? 
• What guardrails should be put in place when giving AI access to other applications and information? 
• What kinds of tasks can physicians automate with AI? 
• How can AI assist with presentations, scheduling, patient care, research, and content creation? 
• How can physicians use AI for academic medicine and research? 
• How can AI be used as a personalized tutor, coach, or educational resource? 
• How can physicians decide which tasks to delegate to AI and which are better handled by a person?
• What possibilities emerge when physicians can build AI agents without extensive technical or coding skills?

Dr. Davallow also shares some of the unexpected ways she has incorporated AI into her life, including creating a presentation on short notice, developing personalized systems for managing her household, and using AI to support her children's education.

Whether you're already using AI regularly or are just beginning to explore what it can do, this episode offers a look at the increasingly broad range of ways physicians can use AI to simplify their work and create more time for the things that matter most.

Interested in learning more about my telehealth direct specialty care practice? At AmazVita MD, I help patients optimize weight and metabolic health, harmonize hormones in peri/menopause, and enhance wellness and vitality. Accepting new patients now.

Website:
amazvitamd.com

Email:
[email protected]

Learn more about me or schedule a FREE coaching call:
https://www.joyfulsuccessliving.com/

Join the Voices of Women Physicians Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/190596326343825/

Connect with Dr. Ladan Davallow:

Save Your Seat for the FREE Live Masterclass:
Build Your First 3 AI Employees Live
https://www.aimforthstudio.com/masterclass 

Learn more about Aimforth - Practical AI for Physicians:
https://www.aimforthstudio.com

Ep 204: How to Create More Time and Money with an AI Team with Dr. Ladan Davallow Part 1

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-204-how-to-create-more-time-and-money-with-an-ai/id1630624425?i=1000782661448 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/64e35tqwcI1BcZjsWhLWbL?si=Oqp1MgkCQ5OQZzcDJe5PHA

What if AI could do more than write an email or summarize a document? In Part 1 of our conversation, Dr. Ladan Davallow shares how she went from experimenting with AI to building AI assistants that help her manage both her personal life and clinical practice. Drawing on her experience as a pediatric endocrinologist, practice owner, and physician who has spent thousands of hours exploring AI, she explains how physicians can begin using these tools in practical ways to reclaim their time and reduce administrative burden.

Dr. Ladan Davallow is a practicing pediatric endocrinologist and founder of Aimforth, where she teaches physicians how to use AI practically and responsibly to save time, reduce administrative burden, and make medicine work better—without compromising patient privacy, clinical judgment, or the human side of care.

Since 2023, she’s invested thousands of hours and five figures testing AI across clinical medicine, academia, private practice, and business. In this episode, she cuts through the hype to share what physicians actually need to know: which AI tools are worth their time and which aren’t, how to think about HIPAA compliance and patient privacy, what you should—and shouldn’t—put into AI, how to navigate hallucinations and unreliable outputs, and whether AI is really coming for physicians’ jobs. Most importantly, she shares what she wishes she’d known when she started, so physicians can use AI more confidently without spending years figuring it out themselves.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How did Dr. Davallow’s frustration with inefficiencies in medicine lead her to explore AI?
• How can physicians use AI to organize their lives, prioritize tasks, and manage their schedules?
• What can AI assistants and agents actually do for physicians beyond answering questions or generating text?
• How can AI help physicians work with lengthy medical records and other clinical information?
• How can physicians use AI scribes more effectively and reduce the amount of editing required?
• What should physicians know about HIPAA compliance and protecting patient information when using AI?
• How can physicians reduce the risk of hallucinations and inaccurate information in AI-generated outputs?
• How can physicians learn to use AI effectively without having a technical background?
• How might the rapidly evolving capabilities of AI change the way physicians work?

Dr. Davallow also shares how she taught herself to use AI, why she began investing significant time and money into learning the latest tools, and how those skills have allowed her to automate tasks and explore new possibilities beyond traditional clinical work.

Whether you're already experimenting with AI or aren't sure where to begin, this episode offers a practical introduction to how physicians can start thinking about AI as an assistant rather than simply another tool to learn.

Interested in learning more about my telehealth direct specialty care practice? At AmazVita MD, I help patients optimize weight and metabolic health, harmonize hormones in peri/menopause, and enhance wellness and vitality. Accepting new patients now.

Website:
amazvitamd.com

Email:
[email protected]

Learn more about me or schedule a FREE coaching call:
https://www.joyfulsuccessliving.com/

Join the Voices of Women Physicians Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/190596326343825/

Connect with Dr. Ladan Davallow:

Save Your Seat for the FREE Live Masterclass:

Build Your First 3 AI Employees Live
https://www.aimforthstudio.com/masterclass 

Learn more about Aimforth - Practical AI for Physicians:
https://www.aimforthstudio.com

Dr. Maryam Sabetian was born in Tehran, Iran, into an interfaith family. Her father is a Baha’i, and her mother is Muslim. Like many Baha’i families in Iran, they faced significant religious persecution and discrimination. From the age of seven, Dr. Sabetian knew she wanted to become a physician. She was fascinated by science and dreamed of becoming a source of healing and comfort for people during their most vulnerable moments. Religious persecution, limited opportunities, and financial hardship ultimately forced her family to flee Iran. At the age of ten, they crossed the border into Pakistan with the help of a smuggler in search of safety and a better future. They settled in Islamabad, where they became part of a community of refugees awaiting resettlement. After being recognized as refugees by the United Nations, they applied for refugee visas through the U.S. Embassy. Their visas were approved on September 10, 2001, but were revoked the following day after the September 11 terrorist attacks. They waited another year and a half before their visas were finally reinstated.

Dr. Sabetian, her parents, and her younger brother, arrived in the United States at the end of 2002. She was thirteen years old and spoke very little English. Despite the challenges of adapting to a new country and language, Dr. Sabetian remained committed to her dream of becoming a physician. She attended Boise State University, where she majored in Molecular Biology, and later met her husband.  

Dr. Sabetian recently published her memoir, Flowers of Kindergarten, which chronicles her childhood in Iran, their escape to Pakistan, and the journey to the United States through the eyes of a young girl. Her hope in writing this memoir is to humanize the refugee experience, increase understanding of Iran and Persian culture, and preserve the memories of her childhood friend, Maryam, whose friendship profoundly shaped her life. 

In Part 1 of this two-part interview, Dr. Maryam Sabetian shares her remarkable journey from childhood in Iran to building a new life in the United States. She reflects on growing up in an interfaith family, fleeing religious persecution, living as a refugee in Pakistan, and the experiences that ultimately led her to a career in medicine.

Topics discussed include:

•  Growing up in Iran and dreaming of becoming a physician 
•  Religious persecution and the decision to leave Iran 
•  Escaping to Pakistan and navigating life as a refugee 
•  The impact of September 11 on her family's immigration journey 
•  Building a new life after arriving in the United States 
•  The role of friendship, family, and community throughout her journey 

And more!

This episode is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. In Part 2, Dr. Sabetian discusses adapting to life in the United States, her path to becoming a family physician, and the inspiration behind writing her memoir, Flowers of Kindergarten.

Interested in learning more about my telehealth direct specialty care practice? At AmazVita MD, I help patients optimize weight and metabolic health, harmonize hormones in peri/menopause, and enhance wellness and vitality. Accepting new patients now.

Website:
amazvitamd.com

Email:
[email protected]

Learn more about me or schedule a FREE coaching call:
https://www.joyfulsuccessliving.com/

Join the Voices of Women Physicians Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/190596326343825/

Connect with Dr. Sabetian:

Flowers of Kindergarten:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H3WXQ127

Dr. Julie Shamas is a board-certified emergency physician with 25 years of frontline experience. For over two decades, she managed the unexpected for a living—trauma, crisis, split-second decisions that meant the difference between life and death. Her expertise extends far beyond the emergency department. Dr. Shamas has extensive training in disaster medicine, including CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) response protocols. She has led hospital disaster drills across multiple healthcare systems, training doctors and staff on emergency preparedness at an institutional level. Her federal experience includes work with DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team), where she served in leadership, and collaboration with FBI rapid response teams in Texas. She has lectured medical professionals on real-world threats—not hypothetical scenarios, but documented events like the Aum Shinrikyo chemical attacks and projected threats to civilian infrastructure.

Even the best-planned trip can take an unexpected turn. In Part 2 of our conversation, Dr. Julie Shamas shares practical strategies for handling travel emergencies—from losing your passport or phone to missing a cruise departure or getting stranded by severe weather. Drawing on decades of experience as an emergency physician, she explains how a little preparation can turn a crisis into a manageable setback.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What should you do if your wallet, passport, phone, and cash are stolen while traveling?
• How can you prepare before your trip so that losing your important documents doesn’t become a catastrophe?
• What should you do if you’re traveling alone and suddenly lose access to everything you need?
• Who should you contact if a medical emergency occurs while you’re traveling or on a cruise?
• What happens if you miss your cruise ship or become separated from it while in port?
• How should you prepare for travel disruptions caused by hurricanes or other natural disasters?
• What travel insurance and credit card benefits should you understand before your trip?
• What unique challenges can arise when children or teenagers are traveling alone?
• Why is having a strong community just as important as having a well-packed suitcase when the unexpected happens?

Dr. Shamas also shares several memorable real-life stories—including a cruise ship emergency involving her daughter’s insulin-dependent diabetes—that illustrate how preparation, quick thinking, and knowing the right resources can make all the difference.

Whether you’re planning your next vacation or simply want greater peace of mind when you travel, this episode offers practical lessons that will help you feel more prepared for the unexpected.

Interested in learning more about my telehealth direct specialty care practice? At AmazVita MD, I help patients optimize weight and metabolic health, harmonize hormones in peri/menopause, and enhance wellness and vitality. Accepting new patients now.

Website:
amazvitamd.com

Email:
[email protected]

Learn more about me or schedule a FREE coaching call:
https://www.joyfulsuccessliving.com/

Join the Voices of Women Physicians Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/190596326343825/

Connect with Dr. Shamas:

Website: preppingpartner.com

Free Guides: preppingpartner.com/free-guides

Free Prep Talks: preppingpartner.com/prep-talks

STRANDED: preppingpartner.com/stranded

Free 30-minute intro call: calendly.com/greg-preppingpartner/30min

Doctor Preppers (Facebook group): facebook.com/groups/1075520334511255

Emergency Ready Foundation course: preppingpartner.com/founding_member_enrollment

Professional Preppers Network (Facebook group): facebook.com/groups/4209544192667497

Email: [email protected]

Ep 201: What Would You Do If? How to Prepare for the Travel Scenarios Most People Overlook with Dr. Julie Shamas Part 1

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/voices-of-women-physicians/id1630624425?i=1000777701423

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/70TAM6wKDPzclJs499CZ8d?si=EErhQ21ST7qAJMMUVxa8Yw

Dr. Julie Shamas is a board-certified emergency physician with 25 years of frontline experience. For over two decades, she managed the unexpected for a living—trauma, crisis, split-second decisions that meant the difference between life and death. 

Her expertise extends far beyond the emergency department. Dr. Shamas has extensive training in disaster medicine, including CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) response protocols. She has led hospital disaster drills across multiple healthcare systems, training doctors and staff on emergency preparedness at an institutional level. 

Her federal experience includes work with DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team), where she served in leadership, and collaboration with FBI rapid response teams in Texas. She has lectured medical professionals on real-world threats—not hypothetical scenarios, but documented events like the Aum Shinrikyo chemical attacks and projected threats to civilian infrastructure.

Some of the topics we discussed were:

• Common travel scenarios that can quickly become emergencies
• Backup communication methods for when phones and GPS aren’t available
• Planning ahead for international travel and large-scale disruptions
• Practical lessons from real-world travel emergencies
• Building a preparedness checklist to make travel safer and less stressful
• Travel preparedness tips that makes travel safer and less stressful
• How to prepare before your trip for handling unexpected situations

And more!

Interested in learning more about my telehealth direct specialty care practice? At AmazVita MD, I help patients optimize weight and metabolic health, harmonize hormones in peri/menopause, and enhance wellness and vitality. Accepting new patients now.

Website:
amazvitamd.com

Email:
[email protected]

Learn more about me or schedule a FREE coaching call:
https://www.joyfulsuccessliving.com/

Join the Voices of Women Physicians Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/190596326343825/

Connect with Dr. Shamas:

Website: preppingpartner.com

Free Guides: preppingpartner.com/free-guides

Free Prep Talks: preppingpartner.com/prep-talks

STRANDED: preppingpartner.com/stranded

Free 30-minute intro call: calendly.com/greg-preppingpartner/30min

Doctor Preppers (Facebook group): facebook.com/groups/1075520334511255

Professional Preppers Network (Facebook group): facebook.com/groups/4209544192667497 

Email: [email protected]

Dr. Meaghan Andre is a board-certified pediatrician and the founder of Empowering Pediatric Wellness, a concierge-style pediatric practice in Princeton, NJ. She created her DPC model to offer families the kind of care she believes in—personal, preventive, and rooted in lifestyle medicine. Her passion lies in helping children thrive through a whole-child approach that honors each family’s values, rhythms, and wellness goals.

Some of the topics we discussed were:

• Balancing an employed position while growing a pediatric DPC practice
• Creating a flexible practice model through scheduling, telemedicine, and home visits
• Using AI, automation, and virtual assistants to streamline administrative tasks
• Setting healthy boundaries while providing personalized access for patients and families
• Building referral networks through community partnerships and professional relationships
• Growing your practice organically through networking, events, social media, and patient referrals
• Leveraging testimonials, online reviews, and automated follow-up to support practice growth
• Why reaching out to mentors and learning from other physicians can accelerate your journey

And more!

Interested in learning more about my telehealth direct specialty care practice? At AmazVita MD, I help patients optimize weight and metabolic health, harmonize hormones in peri/menopause, and enhance wellness and vitality. Accepting new patients now.

Website:
amazvitamd.com

Email:
[email protected]

Learn more about me or schedule a FREE coaching call:
https://www.joyfulsuccessliving.com/

Join the Voices of Women Physicians Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/190596326343825/

Connect with Dr. Andre:

Website:
www.EmpoweringPediatricWellness.com

Instagram:
@EmpoweringPediatrician

Email:
[email protected]

Dr. Meaghan Andre is a board-certified pediatrician and the founder of Empowering Pediatric Wellness, a concierge-style pediatric practice in Princeton, NJ. She created her DPC model to offer families the kind of care she believes in—personal, preventive, and rooted in lifestyle medicine. Her passion lies in helping children thrive through a whole-child approach that honors each family’s values, rhythms, and wellness goals.

Some of the topics we discussed were:

• Dr. Andre’s journey from traditional pediatrics to pediatric Direct Primary Care 
• Defining your mission and ideal patient before launching your practice
• Building an essential startup checklist—from forming an LLC to finding office space
• Keeping startup costs low with a lean, flexible practice model
• Learning from the DPC community and avoiding common startup mistakes
• Finding mentors and resources to simplify the launch process
• Balancing an employed position while gradually launching a DPC practice
• Growing your practice one step at a time with a progress-over-perfection mindset

And more!

Interested in learning more about my telehealth direct specialty care practice? At AmazVita MD, I help patients optimize weight and metabolic health, harmonize hormones in peri/menopause, and enhance wellness and vitality. Accepting new patients now.

Website:
amazvitamd.com

Email:
[email protected]

Learn more about me or schedule a FREE coaching call:
https://www.joyfulsuccessliving.com/

Join the Voices of Women Physicians Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/190596326343825/

Connect with Dr. Andre:

Website:
www.EmpoweringPediatricWellness.com

Instagram:
@EmpoweringPediatrician

Email:
[email protected] 

Elisa Rosier, MD, FAAP, is a pediatrician, mother, and minimalist who helps physicians reclaim focus and freedom through intentional living. Currently writing her first book, Guided Focus, she lives a nomadic life between a frontier Alaska homestead and locum work in the Lower 48—proving that having less stuff creates more space to say yes to meaningful opportunities. Her work blends medicine, minimalism, and advocacy to support well-being for physicians and improved access to care for children in rural communities.

Some of the topics we discussed were:

• Why Dr. Rosier chose a career in locum tenens
• What physicians should know before getting started with locums
• Adjusting to new clinical settings, teams, and EMRs
• Traveling light and creating routines that support life on assignment
• Building community and staying connected while working away from home
• Creating healthier boundaries between work and personal life
• Dr. Rosier’s Guided Focus method for overcoming procrastination and finishing documentation before the end of the workday
• Using simple systems to build productive habits and reduce mental clutter

And more! 

Interested in learning more about my telehealth direct specialty care practice? At AmazVita MD, I help patients optimize weight and metabolic health, harmonize hormones in peri/menopause, and enhance wellness and vitality. Accepting new patients now.

Website:
amazvitamd.com

Email:
[email protected]

Learn more about me or schedule a FREE coaching call:
https://www.joyfulsuccessliving.com/

Join the Voices of Women Physicians Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/190596326343825/

Connect with Dr. Rosier:

Email:
[email protected]

Website:
websitehttps://www.pacificpediatricsak.com/ 

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587429145074

Erica Bove, MD, is a double board certified OB-GYN and Reproductive Endocrinologist (REI) physician at the University of Vermont, She is also the CEO and founder of Love and Science: Thriving Through Infertility.  She has a keen interest in marrying an evidence-based approach with intuitive knowing in the context of a trusting relationship. She empowers women physicians to build their families with confidence, self compassion and community. Her mission is to heal and support the healers and to create a legacy she is proud of.  

In her free time, she enjoys running, yoga, kayaking, skiing, reading, writing, and spending time with her inner circle.

Some of the topics we discussed were: 

• Dr. Kristin Neff’s three pillars of mindful self-compassion
• Why self-compassion is often difficult for high-achieving women
• The role “should” thinking plays in self-criticism and moving beyond it
• Approaching setbacks with curiosity instead of self-judgment
• What Dr. Bove calls “authentic hope” and how it differs from toxic positivity or wishful thinking
• Clarifying values and reconnecting with a deeper “why”
• Cultivating community, gratitude, and celebrating small wins
• Savoring positive experiences in addition to listing moments of gratitude
• Supporting the whole person, not just the diagnosis
• Practicing healing through both science and compassion
• How self-compassion calms the nervous system and supports emotional and physical well-being
• Supporting patients through difficult decisions and setbacks
• Identifying limiting beliefs and subconscious patterns
• Training the brain to notice what works 
• Setting boundaries and avoiding depletion
• Healing the healer through compassion and connection

Interested in learning more about my telehealth direct specialty care practice? At AmazVita MD, I help patients optimize weight and metabolic health, harmonize hormones in peri/menopause, and enhance wellness and vitality. Accepting new patients now.

Website:
amazvitamd.com

Email:
[email protected]

Learn more about me or schedule a FREE coaching call:
https://www.joyfulsuccessliving.com/

Join the Voices of Women Physicians Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/190596326343825/

Connect with Dr. Bove:

Website:
loveandsciencefertility.com

LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/erica-bove-0701a0173

IG:
https://www.instagram.com/loveandsciencefertility/

FB:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692167183

Podcast:
loveandsciencefertility.com/podcast