Why Great Doctors Struggle to Lead and How to Change It | Dr. Lee Scheinbart | Ep66

Why Great Doctors Struggle to Lead and How to Change It | Dr. Lee Scheinbart | Ep66

Can leadership be taught, or is it something physicians must intentionally pursue? In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Laura Suttin welcomes Dr. Lee Scheinbart, drawing from decades of experience in clinical practice and healthcare leadership, Dr. Scheinbart shares his journey from hematology-oncology physician to physician leadership advocate. Together, they unpack the misconceptions surrounding physician leadership, challenge the notion that all physicians are leaders, and examine why many physician executives are expected to "figure it out" without proper preparation. They explore: * Why physicians are often selected for leadership without formal training * The mindset shifts required to transition from clinician to leader * How physician training can unintentionally reinforce behaviors that hinder leadership success * The evolution of the Chief Medical Officer role over the last three decades * Why leadership education may be most impactful during residency training * The need for a modernized medical education system that incorporates human-centered skills alongside clinical excellence This conversation offers valuable insights for physicians, healthcare executives, educators, and anyone interested in building stronger healthcare leadership pipelines. Three Actionable Takeaways: * Leadership must be intentional: Leadership isn't simply holding a title. Focus on developing others, mentoring colleagues, and creating future leaders within your organization. * Recognize and challenge physician conditioning: Traits such as perfectionism, over-functioning, and self-sacrifice can support clinical success but may limit leadership effectiveness. Learning when to adapt these behaviors is critical. * Invest in leadership development early: Residency and early career transitions may provide the best opportunities to introduce leadership principles, emotional intelligence, and organizational awareness. About the Show: Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves. About the Guest: Dr. Lee Scheinbart is a former Chief Medical Officer, physician executive, educator, and leadership strategist. He currently serves as Chief Health Affairs Officer and Assistant Professor of Leadership Development at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is the principal instructor for the American Association for Physician Leadership's Chief Medical Officer Academy and the founder of The CMO Group, a physician-led advisory and leadership development organization focused on preparing the next generation of healthcare executives. He is also the creator and host of The Fire Chief Podcast, dedicated exclusively to the evolving role of Chief Medical Officers. Website: chiefmedicaloutlook.com [http://chiefmedicaloutlook.com] Podcast: The Fire Chief Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fire-chief/id1770754789] LinkedIn: Dr. Lee Scheinbart [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-scheinbart-md-cpe-faapl-820992151] About the Host: Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine. Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul. When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together. 🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com [http://drlaurasuttin.com/] 🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drlaurasuttinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/]  [https://linkedin.com/in/drlaurasuttin] 📸 Facebook: https://instagram.com/drlaurasuttinhttps://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD [https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD] Register for the Clinician Leadership Compass course to combat overwhelm and burnout.: www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses [http://www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses]   The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Patient Safety Starts with Speaking Up: A Conversation with Dr. Julie Siemers | Ep65

What if one question, one observation, or one conversation could prevent a medical error and save a life? In this eye-opening episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin welcomes for a candid discussion about one of healthcare’s most important and under-discussed issues: preventing patient harm. Drawing from more than four decades of nursing experience and years of patient safety research, Julie explains why medical errors continue to occur despite advances in technology and healthcare delivery. She shares how communication breakdowns, systems failures, cognitive biases, and a lack of transparency contribute to preventable harm in hospitals and clinics every day. Laura and Julie discuss the critical role patients and families play in recognizing changes in condition, asking questions, and becoming active participants in care. They also explore how healthcare organizations can create safer systems through better communication, psychological safety, root cause analysis, and stronger interdisciplinary collaboration. This conversation is a powerful reminder that safer healthcare begins when everyone (patients, families, clinicians, and leaders) works together. Three Actionable Takeaways * Become an active participant in your healthcare: Ask questions, understand your treatment plan, and never hesitate to speak up if something feels different or concerning. * Focus on communication before technology: Most patient harm events involve communication failures. Strong communication between providers, patients, and families remains one of the most effective safety tools available. * Look beyond individual mistakes and fix systems: Healthcare leaders should investigate why errors happen, identify system vulnerabilities, and address root causes to prevent future harm. About the Show: Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves. About the Guest: Dr. Julie Siemers is a nurse educator, patient safety advocate, author, and founder of LIFEbeat Solutions. With more than 45 years of healthcare experience, she is dedicated to preventing patient harm through education, awareness, and patient empowerment. Her work focuses on helping patients, families, nurses, and healthcare organizations recognize early signs of deterioration, improve communication, and create safer care environments. She is the author of Surviving Your Hospital Stay and a passionate advocate for transparency in healthcare. 🌐 Website: drjuliesiemers.com [http://drjuliesiemers.com] About the Host: Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine. Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul. When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together. 🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com [http://drlaurasuttin.com/] 🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drlaurasuttinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/]  [https://linkedin.com/in/drlaurasuttin] 📸 Facebook: https://instagram.com/drlaurasuttinhttps://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD [https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD] Register for the Clinician Leadership Compass course to combat overwhelm and burnout.: www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses [http://www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses]   The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Adaptive Resilience: Finding Clarity Under Pressure with Savio Clemente | Ep64

What happens when a life-threatening diagnosis transforms the way you lead, think, and care for others? In this deeply reflective episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin speaks with Savio Clemente, about resilience, healing, and what healthcare leaders can learn from navigating adversity firsthand. Savio shares his personal cancer journey, from an unexpected lymphoma diagnosis and emergency hospitalization to relapse, stem cell transplant, and recovery. Through those experiences, he discovered the importance of adaptive resilience; the ability to remain flexible, self-aware, and emotionally grounded while moving through uncertainty. Together, Laura and Savio explore the immense cognitive and emotional demands placed on healthcare workers, the loss of agency many clinicians experience during training, and why leadership begins with self-awareness and human connection rather than titles or hierarchy. Savio also introduces his “ALOHA” framework; a practical resilience tool designed to help leaders reconnect with themselves during moments of overwhelm and disruption. This episode is a powerful reminder that resilient leadership begins internally, and that clarity, compassion, and human connection remain essential in modern healthcare. Three Actionable Takeaways * Practice psychological distancing, not detachment: Step back from stressful situations just enough to gain perspective without emotionally disconnecting. This helps leaders respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. * Use the ALOHA framework during moments of overwhelm: Acknowledge where you are, Listen inwardly, Open yourself to insight, Harness what you learn, and Act intentionally. Small pauses can dramatically improve clarity and decision-making. * Prioritize stillness and nervous system regulation: Simple practices like deep breathing, reflection, prayer, or meditation can reduce cognitive overload and improve emotional resilience in high-pressure environments. About the Show: Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves. About the Guest: Savio Clemente is a board-certified health and wellness coach, journalist, keynote speaker, and bestselling author focused on resilience, cognitive performance, and leadership under pressure. As a two-time lymphoma survivor, he combines lived experience with research-backed strategies to help leaders navigate stress, uncertainty, and high-stakes environments with clarity and purpose. Through his TEDx talk, writing, and speaking engagements, Savio empowers audiences to rethink resilience, reconnect with themselves, and lead from a place of presence and humanity. 🌐 Website: saviopclemente.com [http://saviopclemente.com] About the Host: Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine. Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul. When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together. 🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com [http://drlaurasuttin.com/] 🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drlaurasuttinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/]  [https://linkedin.com/in/drlaurasuttin] 📸 Facebook: https://instagram.com/drlaurasuttinhttps://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD [https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD] Register for the Clinician Leadership Compass course to combat overwhelm and burnout.: www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses [http://www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses]   The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Power of Empathy in Healthcare with Chantal Lorio | Ep63

How can healthcare professionals create stronger patient connections without adding more stress or time to their already demanding workdays? In this episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Laura sits down with Dr. Chantal Lorio to discuss the transformative role empathy plays in healthcare. Drawing from over 30 years of clinical and leadership experience, Dr. Chantal explains how small moments of intentional connection can dramatically improve trust, communication, patient safety, and clinician wellbeing. The conversation explores the distinction between empathy and compassion, why patient experience is far more than satisfaction scores, and how emotional connection directly impacts honesty, compliance, and outcomes. Dr. Chantal also shares stories from her work coaching physicians and healthcare teams, revealing how empathy creates safer healthcare environments by encouraging patients to speak openly about their concerns. Together, they discuss burnout, emotional exhaustion, communication training in medicine, and why human connection may become healthcare’s most valuable skill in the age of artificial intelligence. Centered around Dr. Chantal’s new book I Get You. I Got You., this episode offers practical and hopeful strategies for helping clinicians reconnect with purpose while delivering care that truly heals. Three Actionable Takeaways: * Empathy and Compassion Are Not the Same Thing: Dr. Chantal explains that compassion focuses on fixing problems, while empathy focuses on helping patients feel understood. Clinicians often rush into solving medical issues without first acknowledging patients’ emotional experiences. Even a brief empathic connection can build trust and dramatically change the entire healthcare encounter. * Trust Improves Safety, Honesty, and Outcomes: Patients are more likely to follow recommendations and share important information when they trust their healthcare providers. Through real-world stories from patient safety rounds, Dr. Chantal demonstrates how empathy encourages patients to speak openly about concerns they otherwise might withhold, directly improving healthcare quality and safety. * Human Connection Will Always Matter in Healthcare: As AI and automation continue transforming healthcare, Dr. Chantal believes empathy and humanity will become even more important. Technology may enhance diagnosis and efficiency, but it cannot replace genuine human connection. Clinicians who strengthen communication and empathic skills will play a critical role in the future of patient care. About the Show: Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves. About the Guest: Dr. Chantal Lorio is a physician leader, executive coach, and patient experience expert with more than 30 years of healthcare experience. She has spent her career helping clinicians strengthen communication, build trust with patients, and improve healthcare outcomes through empathy-centered care. A professional certified coach with master’s degrees in leadership and healthcare management, Dr. Chantal previously served as Medical Director of Patient Experience and has coached physicians and healthcare teams across multiple organizations. She is the author of I Get You. I Got You.: The Secret to Creating an Empathic Connection with Every Patient Every Time. 🌐 Website: https://drchantallorio.com [https://drchantallorio.com]  🔗 LinkedIn: Chantal Lorio, DPM, MSHCM, MSLOD, FASCHE, PCC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantal-lorio-dpm-mshcm-mslod-fache-pcc-60705a7/] 📚 Book: I Get You. I Got You. [https://www.amazon.com/Get-You-Got-Creating-Connection/dp/B0G1ZWG6JD] About the Host: Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine. Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul. When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together. 🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com [http://drlaurasuttin.com/] 🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drlaurasuttinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/]  [https://linkedin.com/in/drlaurasuttin] 📸 Facebook: https://instagram.com/drlaurasuttinhttps://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD [https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD] Register for the Clinician Leadership Compass course to combat overwhelm and burnout.: www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses [http://www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses]   The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Compassionate Conversations: Transforming Dementia Care with Amy Shaw  | Ep62

What if the dementia journey didn’t have to be defined by fear, confusion, and guilt, but by clarity, compassion, and better days at home? In this heartfelt and practical episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin welcomes Amy Shaw, drawing from her unique path; from primate cognition research and wedding photography to palliative care and dementia support, Amy shares why our current medical model often fails families navigating dementia and how thoughtful, well-timed conversations can change everything. They discuss: * The critical importance of goals-of-care conversations * The “Arc of Conversation” framework from Amy’s medical textbook * Why dementia is frequently missed in clinic visits *  How caregivers can become “cognitive detectives” using practical, brain-based strategies  Amy also introduces her upcoming book for family caregivers and her new self-paced education course designed to give families a clear roadmap through every stage of the journey. This episode is essential listening for clinicians, caregivers, and anyone who wants to design healthcare that truly cares for both patients and the families who love them. Three Actionable Takeaways: * Start Goals-of-Care Conversations Early and Often: Normalize end-of-life and goals-of-care discussions during routine visits rather than waiting for a crisis. Use a structured approach like the Arc of Conversation to explore what the patient and family understand, fill in educational gaps, investigate their values and wishes, and then align care with what matters most to them. * Separate Family Conversations from Patient Visits When Needed: Dementia by definition affects a person’s ability to serve as a reliable historian. Meet with family members separately to have frank, detailed conversations about what’s really happening at home. This preserves the patient’s dignity while giving caregivers the practical tools and understanding they need. * Give Caregivers a Clear Roadmap and Practical Strategies: Equip families with education about the dementia journey from the very beginning. Teach them stage-specific communication and support strategies that align with what is actually breaking in the brain. When caregivers understand the “what, when, and why” of dementia, stress decreases, guilt lightens, and they can respond with compassion instead of confusion or conflict. About the Show: Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves. About the Guest: Amy Shaw, P.A, is a dementia clinician, educator, and founder of Better Dementia, a national platform dedicated to helping families care for loved ones with clarity, confidence, and compassion. She is the author of The Arc of Conversation: A How-to Guide for Goals of Care Conversations, a medical textbook used by clinicians and educators.  Amy offer private one-on-one family guidance sessions online, which is especially helpful when families are spread out geographically. She also recently launched a self-paced digital course that teaches caregivers everything they need to understand the dementia journey,  including the stages, how to recognize where a loved one is, how to align communication and support strategies in ways that preserve dignity and reduce conflict, and what to expect medically as the disease progresses. The course also addresses when hospice care can begin and what hospice care can provide. It is a comprehensive framework designed to help families navigate this journey with clarity and avoid unnecessary crisis along the way. Connect with Amy Shaw: Website: betterdementia.com [http://betterdementia.com] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterdementia [https://www.facebook.com/betterdementia] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterdementia [https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterdementia] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterdementia [https://www.instagram.com/betterdementia] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@betterdementia [https://www.tiktok.com/@betterdementia] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyshawpa [https://www.youtube.com/@amyshawpa] About the Host: Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine. Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul. When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together. 🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com [http://drlaurasuttin.com/] 🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drlaurasuttinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/]  [https://linkedin.com/in/drlaurasuttin] 📸 Facebook: https://instagram.com/drlaurasuttinhttps://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD [https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD] Register for the Clinician Leadership Compass course to combat overwhelm and burnout.: www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses [http://www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses] Tags:  Dementia Care, Goals of Care Conversations, Caregiver Support, Palliative Care, End of Life Conversations, Better Dementia, Family Caregiving, Compassionate Care, Dementia Education, Hospice Care Social Media Hashtags: #DesigningHealthcareThatCares, #BetterDementia, #DementiaCare, #GoalsOfCare, #CaregiverSupport, #PalliativeCare, #EndOfLifeConversations, #FamilyCaregiving #CompassionateCare, #DementiaJourney YouTube Show Notes Compassionate Conversations: Transforming Dementia Care with Amy Shaw  | Ep61 🩺 Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin with guest Amy Shaw What if we could transform the dementia journey from one of fear and overwhelm into one of clarity, confidence, and compassion?  In this rich conversation, Dr. Laura Suttin speaks with Amy Shaw about why our medical system often misses dementia, the power of early and structured goals-of-care conversations, and practical tools that help families navigate every stage with dignity. Inside: * From wedding photographer to dementia clinician – the surprising preparation * Why medical training leaves clinicians unprepared for end-of-life conversations * The Arc of Conversation framework for goals-of-care discussions * Why dementia care must include the whole family * Becoming a “cognitive detective” – practical strategies for caregivers * The new self-paced education course and upcoming book for families ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Amy Shaw 01:00 – From primate cognition to wedding photography to palliative care 04:00 – The gap in medical training around end-of-life conversations 08:00 – The Arc of Conversation: Goals of care done right 13:00 – Normalizing death and hospice discussions 17:00 – Why dementia is missed in traditional clinic visits 20:00 – Better Dementia: Education, strategies & reducing caregiver stress 25:00 – Meeting with families separately to preserve dignity 28:00 – Practical tools for communication and conflict at home 32:00 – Self-paced education course and resources for families Thanks for listening! If this episode resonated, share it with a clinician colleague or a family member caring for someone with dementia. #DesigningHealthcareThatCares #BetterDementia #DementiaCare #GoalsOfCare #PalliativeCare #CaregiverSupport #EndOfLifeConversations #HospiceCare #FamilyCaregiving #CompassionateCare The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.