Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare

What if medicine's ancient rituals could evolve to heal the modern physician's soul, turning burnout into a blueprint for resilient leadership? In this episode, Dr. Andrea Austin speaks with Dr. Venkatesh Ramnath about his journey from ICU conflicts and existential doubt to pioneering the Health Architect model. Venkatesh recounts early career frictions like coding audits and rigid communication clashing with rural teams, that led to his 2015 rock bottom, and how embracing cognitive science, myths, and practical rituals helped him redesign his path. The conversation unpacks leadership as a learnable skill, the need to embed financial literacy and care networks in curricula, and fostering agency through evidence-based attitudes and collaborative debriefs. You’ll hear how they: If you’re rebuilding after burnout or redesigning med ed for the AI era, this episode offers a blueprint for wisdom over facts, progress over perfection. About the Guest: “Health architecture is about building foundations of agency and connection.” – Dr. Venkatesh Ramnath Dr. Venkatesh Ramnath is a pulmonary and critical care physician, health architect, writer, and host of the Be a Health Architect podcast. With experience spanning academic centers, rural border hospitals, and COVID ICUs, he transitioned from burnout to advocacy by fusing medicine with cognitive science and architecture metaphors. Venkatesh speaks on leadership, meaning-making, and innovation, contributing to outlets like the LA Times, and is authoring a book on a "new oath" for physician wellness. 📍 Connect with Venkatesh Substack: https://behealtharchitect.substack.com LinkedIn: Venkatesh Ramnath 📚 Resources + Mentions Awakening from the Meaning Crisis by John VervaekeDetermined: A Memoir of Burnout and Hope by James C. Turner The Self-Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer Be a Health Architect Podcast🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities ⁠⁠RecalibrateStarting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit. AAWEPHeart of Medicine in Uluru, Australiao Join us for this incredible one of a one-of-a-kind event in the heart of Australia at one of our most spectacular locations—Voyagers...

What does it actually mean to partner well, especially as a woman in medicine? In this Valentine’s Day episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Andrea Austin shares a short chapter from her book on partnering well after divorce. She reflects on boundaries, money, self-worth, and building a healthy, lasting relationship as a woman in medicine. Drawing from personal experience, Andrea explores how insecurity and self-sabotage can show up in relationships, why liking your partner matters as much as loving them, and how true partnership supports growth without self-erasure. This episode offers practical reflection for physicians and professionals navigating relationships, marriage, or personal healing. You’ll hear how Andrea: If you’re navigating relationships as a physician or professional, healing after heartbreak, or reimagining what partnership can look like, this episode offers clarity, warmth, and reassurance—right on time for Valentine’s Day. 📚 Resources + Mentions Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities ⁠⁠RecalibrateStarting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit. AAWEPHeart of Medicine in Uluru, Australiao Join us for this incredible one of a one-of-a-kind event in the heart of Australia at one of our most spectacular locations—Voyagers Resort in Central Australia in 2026. o Learn from some of the world's medical leaders in compassionate care, and how heart-centered healthcare can empower and heal healthcare workers and their patients. o For: Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Clinicians, Healthcare Leaders, Coaches and Supervisors of Medics, Patient Advocates and all healthcare workers. o When: 29-31 July 2026 Where: Voyages Ayers Rock Resort, Central Australia Women in Medicine Summit—------------------------------- 🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare! 🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠. Stay connected and keep making a difference: ✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and...

What happens when medical training, perfectionism, and codependency collide with marriage at a young age? In this solo episode, Dr. Andrea Austin reads from her book and reflects on her early marriage and divorce during medical school. With honesty and vulnerability, she explores how caretaking tendencies, cultural expectations, and the “achievement treadmill” contributed to a codependent relationship, and how choosing herself became a turning point toward healing. Andrea shares how compartmentalization and grit can keep physicians stuck in unhealthy situations, why vulnerability and trusted friendships matter, and how resilience is built not by enduring harm, but by listening to your inner voice. Drawing lessons from medical school, military training, and personal reflection, she reframes divorce not as failure, but as a courageous act of self-trust and growth. This episode is for physicians and healthcare professionals navigating heartbreak, relationship transitions, burnout, or major life changes, and for anyone learning how to partner well without losing themselves. You’ll Learn About: 📚 Resources + Mentions Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities ⁠⁠RecalibrateStarting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit. AAWEPHeart of Medicine in Uluru, Australiao Join us for this incredible one of a one-of-a-kind event in the heart of Australia at one of our most spectacular locations—Voyagers Resort in Central Australia in 2026. o Learn from some of the world's medical leaders in compassionate care, and how heart-centered healthcare can empower and heal healthcare workers and their patients. o For: Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Clinicians, Healthcare Leaders, Coaches and Supervisors of Medics, Patient Advocates and all healthcare workers. o When: 29-31 July 2026 Where: Voyages Ayers Rock Resort, Central Australia Women in Medicine Summit—------------------------------- 🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare! 🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠. Stay connected and keep making a difference: ✅ Subscribe to the...

How can healthcare professionals transform burnout and trauma into a revitalized life and practice? In this special episode of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Andrea Austin reads from her book Revitalized, focusing on the chapter "The Revitalization." She reflects on her own soul-level burnout at the end of the pandemic, sharing a formula for change: inflection point + inner work + clarity = revitalization. Drawing from personal experiences and expert insights, she emphasizes embracing the past's pain as part of growth, avoiding trauma loops, and intentionally "doing the work" for self-improvement. You'll hear how to: If you're a healthcare professional grappling with burnout, trauma, or the desire for more fulfillment, this episode offers empathetic guidance, reflective questions, and actionable steps to craft your own revitalization. 📚 Resources + Mentions Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing HeartlineGrounded Roots Mental Health Therapy (founded by Anna Rainville, LMFT)EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)International Coaching FederationIf I Betray These Words by Wendy Dean and Simon TalbotYour Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez https://drlornabreen.org DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities ⁠⁠RecalibrateStarting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit. AAWEPHeart of Medicine in Uluru, Australiao Join us for this incredible one of a one-of-a-kind event in the heart of Australia at one of our most spectacular locations—Voyagers Resort in Central Australia in 2026. o Learn from some of the world's medical leaders in compassionate care, and how heart-centered healthcare can empower and heal healthcare workers and their patients. o For: Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Clinicians, Healthcare Leaders, Coaches and Supervisors of Medics, Patient Advocates and all healthcare workers. o When: 29-31 July 2026 Where: Voyages Ayers Rock Resort, Central Australia Women in Medicine Summit—------------------------------- 🎧 Thanks for tuning into...

Why do so many healthcare providers still view obesity as a lifestyle choice rather than a complex chronic disease—and how can we change that? In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin interviews Dr. Katherine Saunders about her journey from pre-med influences to pioneering obesity medicine at Weill Cornell and co-founding FlyteHealth. They explore obesity's scientific underpinnings, the impact of weight bias, practical advice for EM physicians in brief encounters, common weight-promoting medications, the value of bariatric surgery, and emerging tools like genetic testing and AI-driven algorithms. Katherine emphasizes empathy, permission-based discussions, and multidisciplinary approaches to treat obesity as the root cause of over 200 comorbidities. You’ll hear how they: If you're a physician encountering obesity-related issues in acute care or seeking better ways to support patients, this episode delivers empathetic insights and actionable tools for transformative care. About the Guest: "Obesity isn't just a lifestyle problem, it's a complex chronic disease we can now treat effectively." – Dr. Katherine Saunders Dr. Katherine Saunders, MD, FTOS is a leading obesity medicine expert, co-founder and executive vice president of FlyteHealth, and clinical assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine. She received her undergraduate degree Phi Beta Kappa/Summa Cum Laude from Dartmouth College and her medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College, where she became a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She completed her residency at New York-Presbyterian and was the first obesity medicine fellow at Weill Cornell's Comprehensive Weight Control Center. Board-certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine, she hosts the Weight Matters podcast, speaks internationally, and has been recognized as a top influencer in wellness. 📍 Connect with Katherine LinkedIn: Katherine (Heyman) Saunders, MD, FTOS Flyte Health Website: https://www.flytehealth.com Flyte Medical (for patients): https://www.joinflyte.com 📚 Resources + Mentions American Board of Obesity MedicineWeight Matters PodcastRhythm PharmaceuticalsComprehensive Weight Control CenterRevitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline by Dr. Andrea Austin🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities ⁠⁠RecalibrateStarting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in...

What happens when the adrenaline of emergency medicine meets the high personal cost of shift work and family demands? In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin talks with Dr. Miranda Phillips about her transition from full-time trauma center EM to a life of financial freedom and wellness. Inspired by a mission trip to Guatemala at age 16, Miranda pursued medicine to make a profound impact. She reflects on loving EM's wide scope but leaving due to burnout, single parenthood challenges, and value misalignments. Discover how she built passive income surpassing her salary, healed through lifestyle medicine, and now helps physicians via investing education and holistic care. You'll hear how they: If you're an EM physician facing burnout or seeking financial and health freedom, this episode offers practical insights and encouragement for change. About the Guest: “I love what I'm doing. I love being financially free.” – Dr. Miranda Phillips Dr. Miranda Phillips is an emergency medicine physician, entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and international speaker. Starting her career in 2009 after a transformative mission trip, she practiced full-time EM until 2020, when burnout and family priorities led her to pivot. Co-founder of Elite Wealth and Wellness, she educates physicians on passive investing for financial independence. Board-certified in lifestyle medicine, she practices telemedicine at Saha Vita Institute, helping patients optimize health and reverse conditions like diabetes and hypertension. 📍 Connect with Miranda Website: https://elitewealthandwellness.com Email: miranda@elitewealthandwellness.com 📚 Resources + Mentions American College of Lifestyle MedicineSaha Vida Institute (Sarasota-based lifestyle medicine clinic)The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie WareRevitalized: Coaching for Physicians🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities ⁠⁠RecalibrateStarting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit. AAWEPHeart of Medicine in Uluru, Australiao Join us for this incredible one of a one-of-a-kind event in the heart of Australia at one of our most spectacular locations—Voyagers Resort in Central Australia in 2026. o Learn from some of the world's medical leaders in compassionate care, and how...

What draws someone with a big heart and endless curiosity into the narrowing path of medicine, and how do they reclaim their multifaceted self amid burnout and systemic challenges? In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin talks with Dr. Amanda River about her unconventional journey in emergency medicine, from medical school friendships to leading a cannabis clinic and pursuing lifestyle medicine. Amanda reflects on her sister's Ewing sarcoma diagnosis that sparked her interest in medicine, the sacrifices of medical training, and the pride and frustrations of EM practice. They discuss the pathology of long hours, sleep deprivation myths, understaffing, and metrics that prioritize billing over patient care, while exploring ways to align personal values with professional life. You'll hear how they: If you're an EM physician questioning the status quo or seeking ways to realign your practice, this honest conversation offers insights into building a more humane system. About the Guest: “Emergency medicine is a mindset, not a place.” – Dr. Amanda River Dr. Amanda River is an emergency medicine physician credentialing at a critical access hospital in rural Iowa, with locums experience in Oregon and Guam's public hospital. A former owner and medical director of a private cannabis medicine clinic, she is also board-certified in lifestyle medicine and passionate about integrating holistic approaches into EM. Her journey reflects a commitment to values-driven care, from farm roots to global practice. 📍 Connect with Amanda LinkedIn: Dr. Amanda River 📚 Resources + Mentions Emergency Mind podcast episode with Vinny Aurora (on sleep deprivation myths)It Takes Five to TangoRevitalized by Dr. Andrea Austin American Board of Lifestyle Medicine🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities ⁠⁠RecalibrateStarting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit. AAWEPHeart of Medicine in Uluru, Australiao Join us for this incredible one of a one-of-a-kind event in the heart of Australia at one of our most spectacular locations—Voyagers Resort in Central Australia in 2026. o Learn from some of the world's medical leaders in compassionate care, and how heart-centered healthcare can empower and heal healthcare workers and their...

In Part 2 of this two-part Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin and Dr. Mehrdad Soleimani picks up right where they left off: two emergency physicians who actually like coming to work, unpacking the systemic forces that are burning everyone else out. Dr. Mehrdad explains why he co-founded NeoMd Spa. It started with one vial of Botox and a refusal to be a 60-year-old shift-worker, how physicians surrendered control of their profession to corporations, and why financial wellness is the missing pillar no one talks about. Dr. Andrea and Dr. Mehrdad wrestle with the death of the democratic group, the rise of corporate metrics, and the urgent need for physicians to reclaim leadership, unity, and their voices. Wrapped in stories of cross-specialty happy hours, Peloton-fueled pandemic survival, and a beautiful real-time patient handoff, this episode is a rallying cry: stop complaining, start building, stay connected, and never forget, we are all members of one body. You’ll Hear How They: About the Guest “Just because I was born a man doesn’t mean I’m better than anybody else.” — Dr. Mehrdad Soleimani Dr. Mehrdad Soleimani is a board-certified emergency physician, Assistant Director of the Emergency Department at Temecula Valley Hospital, and Chair of the hospital’s Physician Wellness Committee. A former critical-care nurse, general surgery resident, proud girl-dad of three, and co-owner/medical director of NeoMed Spa, Mehrdad brings a rare blend of clinical expertise, emotional intelligence, and lived experience as an immigrant to his passionate advocacy for physician wellness and gender equity. Website: https://neomedicalspa.com Resources + Mentions https://neomedicalspa.comFinancial wellness as a pillar of physician well-being Visible Voices podcast with Dr. Risa Lavizzo-MoureyPersianpoetry: “Human beings are members of a whole…Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities ⁠⁠RecalibrateStarting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit. AAWEPHeart of Medicine in Uluru, Australiao Join us for this incredible one of a one-of-a-kind event in the heart of Australia at one of our most spectacular locations—Voyagers Resort in Central Australia in 2026. o Learn from some of the world's medical leaders in compassionate care,...

What does a man raised in a country where women are legally second-class citizens become one of the strongest male allies in American medicine? In Part 1 of this two-part Echo Episode, Dr. Mehrdad Soleimani pulls back the curtain on his improbable journey: fleeing Iran at 16, putting himself through nursing school as a first-generation immigrant, defending his female nursing colleagues from an abusive surgeon and then deciding that very night to become a doctor, switching specialties mid-residency, and ultimately landing in emergency medicine, where he now champions wellness, debriefing, and the “human factor.” Mehrdad and Andrea explore why stoicism and perfectionism are killing physicians, why it’s actually strength (not weakness) to feel deeply in the resuscitation room, and how small acts of allyship, from checking in on a new female colleague to calling consultants on her behalf, change culture one shift at a time. This episode is a love letter to every physician humanity and a masterclass in what authentic male allyship feels like on the ground. You’ll Hear How They: About the Guest “Just because I was born a man doesn’t mean I’m better than anybody else.” — Dr. Mehrdad Soleimani Dr. Mehrdad Soleimani is a board-certified emergency physician, Assistant Director of the Emergency Department at Temecula Valley Hospital, and Chair of the hospital’s Physician Wellness Committee. A former critical-care nurse, general surgery resident, proud girl-dad of three, and co-owner/medical director of NeoMed Spa, Mehrdad brings a rare blend of clinical expertise, emotional intelligence, and lived experience as an immigrant to his passionate advocacy for physician wellness and gender equity. Website: https://neomedicalspa.com Resources + Mentions ・ Debriefing after critical cases (including pediatric codes) ・ Hidden curriculum of medicine: stoicism, perfectionism, competition ・ Emotional regulation vs. emotional suppression ・ The power of 45-second empathy moments with patients Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities ⁠⁠RecalibrateStarting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit. AAWEPHeart of Medicine in Uluru, Australiao Join us for this incredible one of a one-of-a-kind event in the heart of Australia at...

What happens when your childhood calling collides with a system that limits your capacity to live it out? In this Echo Episode, Dr. Maria Sturchler shares her extraordinary journey from first-generation college student to educator to medical student, years after being told she “wouldn’t make it” in medicine. Now double board-certified in Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care, Maria reveals how serendipity, mentorship, and resilience brought her back to her original dream on her own terms. She and Andrea unpack the realities pushing talented clinicians out of traditional EM practice: night shifts, moral injury, violence in the ED, corporate interference, loss of autonomy, and the identity crisis that comes with stepping away. Maria gives voice to the hidden grief, burnout, and shame physicians carry when “the path” no longer fits. But this is not a story of defeat. Maria now leads an innovative palliative care model embedded inside the emergency department, freeing EM physicians from burdens that don’t belong to them, reducing patient suffering, and restoring meaning to clinical work. Her message is equal parts invitation and disruption: medicine is not a prison. It’s a “choose-your-own-adventure” and there are more off-ramps, pivots, and second chances than most physicians believe. You’ll Hear How They: imposter syndrome About the Guest “Medicine is choose-your-own-adventure.” — Dr. Maria Sturchler Dr. Maria Sturchler is a dual board-certified physician in Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care, a three-time Ironman competitor, and a former mathematics educator whose doctoral work examined gender disparities in STEM. After being discouraged from medicine early on, serendipity and mentorship led her back to her calling. Today, she helps patients, families, and clinici'hat integrate palliative medicine directly into emergency care. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mariasturchler Website: sturchlermd.com Resources + Mentions Unlocking Us podcast — Brené BrownBring ’Em All In (referenced EM mantra)Multidisciplinary collaboration models in palliative and acute careTop 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. --------------------------------------------------- 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities ⁠⁠RecalibrateStarting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may...

What happens when you combine a lifetime of service, leadership, and a deep desire to uplift others? In this inspiring episode, Dr. Andrea Austin welcomes Paula Drivas, as she shares how her changemaking story started at age 13 as a candy striper in Queens and how a simple request to transfer to the emergency department shaped her life’s purpose. She walks listeners through an expansive 33-year career spanning emergency medicine, internal medicine, orthopedics, urgent care, academia, and leadership, culminating in her transition into coaching and medical administration. This conversation honors the evolution of medicine over three decades, from the loss of autonomy to intensifying metrics, and how Paula found her own path by listening to her heart, embracing spontaneity, and pursuing an MBA to impact healthcare at a systems level. A pivotal moment arrived when Paula experienced coaching for the first time during the pandemic, sparking an “aha” that shifted everything. She describes how coaching unlocked clarity she didn’t know she needed and how it inspired her to create the Provider Coach Project to offer free access to coaching for medical students, PA students, nurses, residents, and clinicians. The episode explores the urgent need for coaching in medicine, the role of value work, the emotional toll of modern healthcare, the DISC assessment as a tool for team growth, and why no one should have to navigate a healthcare career alone. This is a deeply human, energizing conversation about purpose, service, and building a future where every healthcare professional feels supported and empowered. You’ll Hear How They: If you’ve ever questioned your next step, felt the weight of modern medicine, or wondered how coaching could shift your career, this episode is for you. About the Guest: “Follow your heart. Never say never. You don’t know where life is going to take you.” – Paula Drivas Paula Drivas, PA-C, MBA is a Master Certified Physician Coach, seasoned emergency medicine PA, urgent care medical director, and founder of the Provider Coach Project, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing financial barriers to coaching for healthcare professionals and trainees. Over her 33-year career, Paula has practiced emergency medicine, internal medicine, urgent care, orthopedics, and medical education, and has served in multiple leadership roles. She holds an MBA and trained as a coach at the Physician Coaching Institute. Paula is passionate about empowerment, reflection, and helping clinicians reconnect to meaning and joy in their work. 📍 Connect with Paula Website: https://www.providerscoachproject.org 📚 Resources + Mentions Physician Coaching Institute Provider Coach Project DISC Assessment for communication + leadership Jen Sincero — You Are a Badass Jefferson Fisher — “Leave it on the table” 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication,...

What happens when compassion, strength, and military medicine collide? In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin speaks with Dr. Kat Landa, a Navy emergency physician whose career has taken her from a nontraditional path in medical school to a groundbreaking role as the first female battalion doctor assigned to a Marine Corps artillery unit. Kat recounts her childhood working in nursing homes, discovering medicine through geriatrics, and initially matching into family medicine before realizing her passion for emergency medicine. Her story takes a dramatic turn when she is unexpectedly assigned to 29 Palms as the first woman integrated into a previously all-male combat arms battalion—an environment shaped by intense hierarchy, alpha culture, and unspoken rules. She shares vividly, the shock of Marines lining up with “testicular pain” to see the new female doctor, navigating sexism, boundaries, and expectations to be the battalion’s “warm fuzzy”, the emotional labor women physicians disproportionately shoulder, the traumatic burden many Marines carry through TBI, PTSD, and toxic norms, the deep meaning she found advocating for vulnerable service members—sometimes saving lives and how burnout, deployment, and personal crisis pushed her toward meditation and self-reclamation Dr. Landa’s journey is raw, insightful, and deeply human, a reminder that leadership requires both backbone and heart, especially when systems aren’t built with you in mind. You’ll hear how they: If you’ve ever struggled to find your voice in a demanding system, this episode will move you, challenge you, and help you rediscover your center. About the Guest: “At your core, it’s still just you—and you have control over you.” – Dr. Kat Landa Dr. Kat Landa is a Navy emergency medicine physician whose career spans urgent care, family medicine internship, operational medicine with the Marine Corps, multiple deployments, and emergency department leadership. She was one of the first women assigned to a Marine Corps artillery battalion, where she learned to navigate gender dynamics, advocate for Marines suffering from invisible wounds, and lead with courage and compassion. Her interests include meditation, women’s leadership, stress physiology, military wellness, and redefining what it means to thrive in demanding environments. 📍 Connect with Kat She will soon launch a public-facing Instagram (to be added here when available). Show notes will be updated once her profile is live. 📚 Resources + Mentions: Meditation practices for stress reduction oncepts from military medicine: GMO tours, HPSP pathway Research on compassion in clinical encounters (45-second compassion study) Discussions on gender dynamics in medicine and the military 🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways: 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a...

How do we solve one of healthcare’s biggest crises—the workforce shortage—while making opportunity more equitable? In this enlightening episode, Dr. Andrea Austin interviews Van Ton-Quinlivan, founder and CEO of Futuro Health and a key voice in reimagining workforce development. Van shares her powerful personal story—from refugee beginnings to shaping California’s healthcare education strategy—and the values that fuel her changemaking leadership: courage, equity, and collaboration. Together, Andrea and Van explore: Futuro Healthdebt-free Through vivid examples and real stories—like Tamika, a hospital security guard turned phlebotomist—Van illustrates how unlocking human potential can rebuild the workforce from the ground up. If you’re a healthcare leader, educator, or clinician wondering how to strengthen the system while expanding opportunity, this episode will leave you inspired to think bigger and act bolder. About the Guest: “When it comes to workforce development, it’s a team sport, not an individual sport.” – Van Ton-Quinlivan Van Ton-Quinlivan is a nationally recognized workforce development innovator and the founder and CEO of Futuro Health, a nonprofit creating the nation’s largest network of allied healthcare workers. Appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, she chairs the state’s Healthcare Workforce Education and Training Council and has been named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Healthcare (2024) and Top 100 Influential Higher Education Leaders (2025). A refugee from Vietnam, Van’s journey from the daughter of a brain surgeon and teacher to an influential changemaker embodies resilience and purpose. She holds dual graduate degrees in Education Policy and Business from Stanford University and is the author and podcast host of Workforce RX, where she highlights agile, multicultural solutions for the future of work and health. 📍 Connect with Van: futurohealth.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/vtquinlivanPodcast:Workforce RX Book:Workforce RX: Agile and Inclusive Strategies for the Future of WorkResources + Mentions Futuro Health California Healthcare Workforce Education and Training Council World Health Organization & G7 Brain Economy Summit Built to Last by Jim Collins Caring With Courage (BBC Nursing Series) collaborate to create talent pools🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. --------------------------------------------------- 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities Starting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in...

What happens when a simple act of initiative in the OR sparks a lifelong pursuit of conflict resolution and systemic change in medicine? In this inspiring episode, Dr. Andrea Austin chats with Dr. Lee Sharma about her path from private practice frustrations to earning a master's in conflict resolution amid burnout doubts. Lee recounts her "aha" moment assisting in a delayed C-section, realizing small actions foster teamwork and belonging. She discusses overcoming conflict avoidance, the emotional "bank account" in healthcare relationships, and scripting responses to personal attacks. Now in her 24-year solo practice and a health policy fellowship, Lee emphasizes listening to understand, pausing to respond, and viewing conflict as opportunity. You’ll hear how they: If you’re facing workplace conflicts or seeking to reignite your passion in medicine, this episode provides honest insights and practical strategies for personal and systemic transformation. About the Guest "Conflict is not good or bad—it's an opportunity to improve and deepen relationships." – Dr. Lee Sharma Dr. Lee Sharma is a board-certified OB/GYN in private practice for 24 years, with a master's in conflict resolution from Columbia College. Host of the podcast Scalpel and Sword, she consults on dispute systems, leadership, and conflict skills for hospitals and physicians. A health policy fellow at Brandeis University's Heller School, Lee advocates for women's health, teamwork, and systemic change, drawing from her experiences in Auburn, Alabama, where she returned to practice after training. 📍 Connect with Lee 📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com 🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma Scalpel and Sword 📚 Resources + Mentions 🔗 Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury 🔗 Caring Leadership in Turbulent Times by Josh Hartzell 🔗 Brandeis University Heller School Health Policy Fellowship (with Physicians Foundation) 🔗 State Medical Association Meetings (e.g., Alabama Medical Association) 🔗 Resa Lewiss (keynote speaker on women's health and advocacy) 🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities Starting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit. ⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia...

How can podcasting transform the way we deliver health information to patients and providers? In this episode, Dr. Andrea Austin speaks with Dan Kendall, as he recounts his path from a sales career at Siemens to launching Digital Health Today in 2016, inspired by his family’s experience with multiple sclerosis and his daughter’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis. He discusses the power of podcasting to fill gaps in patient education, combat misinformation, and create human-centered content. From launching the Health Podcast Summit to developing Health Unmuted miniseries, Dan emphasizes serving niche audiences with authentic, trustworthy stories. The conversation explores challenges like funding, the allure of misinformation, and the need for ongoing dialogue to rebuild trust in healthcare. You’ll hear how they: If you’re passionate about health communication or seeking ways to make patient education more accessible, this episode offers practical insights and a vision for change. About the Guests “Podcasting meets people where they are, filling the spaces between activities with transformative knowledge.” – Dan Kendall Dan Kendall is the founder of Mission-Based Media, a digital media company dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering audiences through trustworthy health information. With platforms like Health Podcast Network, Health Podcast Summit, and Health Unmuted, Dan leverages podcasting to deliver evidence-based content. Inspired by his family’s experience with chronic illness, including his daughter’s type 1 diabetes, he’s committed to making health information accessible and impactful. A Virginia Tech alum, Dan’s work is guided by the principle of service: Ut Prosim (“That I May Serve”). 📍 Connect with Dan Website: https://missionbasedmedia.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dankendall Health Podcast Summit: https://healthpodcastsummit.com 📚 Resources + Mentions Earn It by Steve PrattHealth Content Integrity Pledge (Health Podcast Summit)Digital Health Today PodcastHealth Unmuted MiniseriesRebel Healthcare by Susanna Fox Coalition for Trust in Health and Science🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities Starting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit. ⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit |...

Can any physician pivot to open a ketamine clinic, and what does it take to do it safely? In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin continues her conversation with Dr. Kim Chan Ko, about common questions on ketamine infusions for mood disorders and chronic pain. As an ophthalmologist turned creative director for her emergency physician husband's clinic, Kim shares insights on transitioning careers, required training, and ethical considerations. She discusses building a patient-centered practice, managing risks like emergencies and addiction, and navigating business challenges while prioritizing family and values. You’ll hear how they: If you’re a physician considering ketamine therapy or entrepreneurial ventures, this episode provides honest FAQs and strategies for ethical, sustainable change. About the Guest “Action brings clarity.” – Dr. Kim Chan ko Dr. Kim Chan Ko is a board-certified ophthalmologist, diplomat of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and co-founder of Ketamine Startup, an online course teaching physicians to open ketamine infusion clinics. After years as creative director of Reset Ketamine in Palm Springs, CA, alongside her emergency physician husband, Kim stepped away from academic ophthalmology to pursue a path aligned with her passions for patient education, mentorship, and innovative healthcare. Her journey through burnout and coaching has shaped her mission to help physicians find clarity and build fulfilling careers. 📍 Connect with Kim Website: https://www.ketaminestartup.com Instagram: @resetketamine Personal Instagram: @dr.kimberlyco 📚 Resources + Mentions https://resetketamine.comhttps://ketaminestartup.comhttps://ketaminestartup.com/revitalizingdoctor https://askp.orgPHQ-9 and Beck Depression Inventory Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline by Dr. Andrea Austin🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities Starting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit. ⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠—------------------------------- 🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare! 🌟 Learn more and book a free...

What happens when burnout pushes physicians toward innovative, autonomous careers? In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin continues her conversation with Dr. Kim Chan Co, to speak about her journey from ophthalmology to launching Reset Ketamine in Palm Springs. Kim discusses supporting her husband Sam's shift from ER medicine to ketamine infusions, the clinic's focus on treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain, and the business challenges of starting a private practice. She emphasizes intentional use of ketamine, collaborative care, and the importance of "set and setting" to minimize risks like emergence phenomena or addiction. You’ll hear how they: If you’re a physician facing burnout or envisioning entrepreneurial ventures in medicine, this episode offers practical advice and motivational insights for reclaiming autonomy and purpose. About the Guest: “Action brings clarity.” – Dr. Kim Chan ko Dr. Kim Chan Ko is a board-certified ophthalmologist, diplomat of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and co-founder of Ketamine Startup, an online course teaching physicians to open ketamine infusion clinics. After years as creative director of Reset Ketamine in Palm Springs, CA, alongside her emergency physician husband, Kim stepped away from academic ophthalmology to pursue a path aligned with her passions for patient education, mentorship, and innovative healthcare. Her journey through burnout and coaching has shaped her mission to help physicians find clarity and build fulfilling careers. 📍 Connect with Kim Website: https://www.ketaminestartup.com Instagram: @resetketamine Personal Instagram: @dr.kimberlyco 📚 Resources + Mentions Reset Ketamine: https://resetketamine.comKetamine Startup: https://ketaminestartup.comhttps://ketaminestartup.com/revitalizingdoctorAmerican Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists & Practitioners: https://askp.orgPHQ-9 and Beck Depression Inventory 🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host: Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show: Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities Starting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit. ⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠—------------------------------- 🎧...

What happens when the “perfect” medical specialty no longer fits, and you dare to forge a new path? In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin sits down with Dr. Kim Chan Ko, a former academic ophthalmologist and co-founder of Ketamine Startup, to explore her transition from repairing eyes to building a ketamine infusion clinic and teaching other physicians to do the same. Kim opens up about the challenges of practicing at a high-pressure Level 1 trauma center, the emotional weight of patient care, and the struggle to reconcile her identity as an ophthalmologist with her need for creativity and connection. Through personal development coaching and a circuitous journey, Kim discovered her passion for patient education, mentorship, and innovative healthcare models. She shares how embracing her multifaceted identity and saying “yes” to new opportunities—like video editing and coaching—paved the way for her current work. This episode dives into the power of redefining “physician,” the value of coaching for personal growth, and the courage to step away from traditional medicine to serve patients on your own terms. You’ll hear how they: If you’re a physician feeling stuck or seeking a more fulfilling career, this episode offers honest insights and practical inspiration for your own journey. About the Guest “I am a multifaceted individual. I am just practicing medicine.” – Dr. Kim Chan Ko Dr. Kim Chan Ko is a board-certified ophthalmologist, diplomat of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and co-founder of Ketamine Startup, an online course teaching physicians to open ketamine infusion clinics. After years as creative director of Reset Ketamine in Palm Springs, CA, alongside her emergency physician husband, Kim stepped away from academic ophthalmology to pursue a path aligned with her passions for patient education, mentorship, and innovative healthcare. Her journey through burnout and coaching has shaped her mission to help physicians find clarity and build fulfilling careers. 📍 Connect with Kim Website: https://www.ketaminestartup.com 📚 Resources + Mentions · 🔗 Co-Active Training Institute (formerly CTI): https://coactive.com · 🔗 Reset Ketamine: https://www.resetketamine.com 🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities Starting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career....

How can emergency physicians thrive in a broken system while staying true to themselves? In part two of this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin and Dr. Leslie Koenig explores sustainable solutions for physician well-being and systemic change in healthcare. Leslie shares insights from her journey as an emergency physician, reflecting on the toll of circadian rhythm disruptions, the limitations of quick-fix administrative solutions, and the power of personal practices like meditation and fitness. From navigating burnout to embracing compassion over judgment, this episode offers practical strategies for physicians and system leaders alike. You’ll hear how they: If you’re feeling overwhelmed by shift work or seeking ways to reclaim joy in medicine, this episode provides actionable steps and hope for lasting change. About the Guest “Meditation isn’t about clearing your mind—it’s about investigating what’s there.” – Dr. Leslie Koenig Dr. Leslie Koenig is a board-certified emergency physician, Afghanistan combat veteran, and author of the Stress Relief Survival Guide. With experience on the COVID frontlines and a career shaped by military service, she has developed practical, research-backed techniques to manage stress in high-stakes environments. Now training to become a meditation teacher through The Path program, Dr. Koenig is passionate about helping physicians embrace mindfulness, track heart rate variability, and prioritize recovery to combat burnout. 📍 Connect with Leslie https://stressreliefsurvivalguide.comhttps://web.facebook.com/stressreliefsurvivalguidehttps://www.instagram.com/stressreliefsurvivalguidehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliecrawfordmd📚 Resources + Mentions Stress Relief Survival Guide by Dr. Leslie Koenig Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert KiyosakiTEAMSTEPPS (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety)Sharon Salzberg’s Loving-Kindness MeditationMan’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways Shift the culture, not just the schedule:Diversify your career for freedom: ExploreStart small with mindfulness🩺 About the Host Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities Starting in 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit. ⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat |...

How can emergency physicians thrive amidst chaos and stress? In this Echo Episode, Dr. Andrea Austin reconnects with Dr. Leslie Koenig, a fellow residency alum, board-certified emergency physician, and creator of the Stress Relief Survival Guide. Dr. Koenig shares her story of navigating COVID exposure, military service, and the demands of emergency medicine while raising a family. She discusses her transition to mindfulness, the power of heart rate variability (HRV) as a vital sign, and her journey to becoming a meditation teacher. From her "battery technique" for grounding thoughts to embracing meditation as a tool for neuroplasticity, Dr. Koenig offers actionable strategies for physicians to combat burnout and reclaim balance. The conversation also explores the need to view physicians as elite performers, prioritizing recovery and self-care to sustain long-term impact. You’ll hear how they: If you’re an emergency physician or healthcare professional seeking practical tools to manage stress and prevent burnout, this episode offers a lifeline of hope and strategies for change. About the Guest “Meditation isn’t about clearing your mind—it’s about investigating what’s there.” – Dr. Leslie Koenig Dr. Leslie Koenig is a board-certified emergency physician, Afghanistan combat veteran, and author of the Stress Relief Survival Guide. With experience on the COVID frontlines and a career shaped by military service, she has developed practical, research-backed techniques to manage stress in high-stakes environments. Now training to become a meditation teacher through The Path program, Dr. Koenig is passionate about helping physicians embrace mindfulness, track heart rate variability, and prioritize recovery to combat burnout. 📍 Connect with Leslie https://stressreliefsurvivalguide.comhttps://web.facebook.com/stressreliefsurvivalguidehttps://www.instagram.com/stressreliefsurvivalguidehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliecrawfordmd📚 Resources + Mentions 🔗 Stress Relief Survival Guide by Dr. Leslie Koenig 🔗 The Path Meditation Program 🔗 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) 🔗 Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning 🔗 Wearable devices: WHOOP, Oura Ring 🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways 🩺 About the Host Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out. With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart. 💫 About the Show Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible. Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done. Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart. 🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities Starting 2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and...