In this Heartline Echo Episode, we revisit a powerful conversation about recovery in healthcare. As part of a three-part series, this episode focuses on macro recoveries - extended breaks that go beyond standard vacations. I share my personal experience of taking a three-month sabbatical from clinical work, which led to a transformative shift in my approach to emergency medicine. Joined by Dr. Cheryl Martin and Dr. Dan Dworkis, we explore the importance of long-term recovery for healthcare professionals.
Key insights from our discussion include:
The changing landscape of emergency medicine and the increased challenges faced by healthcare workers
The value of extended breaks in regaining clarity, creativity, and passion for one's work
Strategies for maintaining clinical skills during periods of reduced shifts or extended time off
The importance of aligning one's career with personal values and priorities
Discover how to:
Recognize when you need more than just a vacation to recover from burnout
Navigate guilt and shame associated with taking extended breaks from clinical work
Create a sustainable career path that includes periods of rest and rejuvenation
Leverage insights from other high-performance fields to improve recovery practices in healthcare
This episode offers invaluable perspectives for healthcare professionals at all stages of their careers, especially those grappling with burnout or questioning their long-term sustainability in the field. We challenge the notion that full-time clinical work is the only path to success and explore alternative models for fulfilling medical careers.
"You are worth it. You are worth your recovery... You are 100% worth it. And you're worth that vacation and you're worth taking a sabbatical if you need it."
Join us for this thought-provoking conversation that advocates for "radical recovery" in healthcare. Learn how embracing extended periods of rest and reflection can lead to more sustainable, fulfilling careers and ultimately improve patient care.
This episode is part of a three-part series on recovery in healthcare. Don't miss the companion episodes on micro and meso recoveries, which are available on The Emergency Mind, episode 65 on YouTube or Apple and The Mindful Medic podcasts, respectively.

Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!
Ready to take the next step in your journey as a healthcare changemaker? Dr. Andrea Austin offers personalized coaching to empower healthcare professionals to thrive in their careers and rediscover their passion for medicine. Whether you're seeking clarity, balance, or strategies to overcome burnout, coaching with Dr. Austin can help you achieve your goals.

Learn more and book a free discovery call today at andreaaustinmd.com/coaching.
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April 8, 2025
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, the sixth president of Morehouse School of Medicine and first woman to lead as president and CEO, cuts through the noise with her refreshingly direct approach to diversifying healthcare.
"If Morehouse School of Medicine is not part of the DEI story, I don't know what the DEI story is," Dr. Rice says, refusing to back down from her mission despite today's challenging climate. She brings receipts too—showing exactly how diversity in medicine delivers measurable benefits in economic impact, patient satisfaction, and health outcomes.
Dr. Rice shares her practical wisdom for staying focused when leadership gets tough: "Sometimes you have to put on blinders so you don't become distracted and put earplugs in and only turn up the volume for things that are gonna keep you moving forward." She emphasizes the importance of regular connection with those she serves, keeping her calendar open on Friday afternoons for 15-minute conversations with anyone who needs to speak with her.
Her journey from rural Georgia to the pinnacle of medical leadership is remarkable—transitioning from a degree in chemical engineering to attending Harvard Medical School after realizing she needed to follow her own path rather than others' expectations. This willingness to pivot and trust herself has defined her leadership style, as she's moved through numerous academic and clinical roles to her current position.
Dr. Rice discusses the critical importance of trust in medicine and how physician diversity directly improves health outcomes: "The foundation of any relationship is trust." She explains how physicians who understand their patients' backgrounds can "meet them where they are" to create more effective care plans.
From tackling physician representation to building patient trust through cultural concordance, Dr. Rice offers a masterclass in purposeful leadership. She reminds us why this work matters now more than ever, summing up her philosophy with the powerful question she asks herself daily: "What would you do if you could not fail?"
This conversation isn't just about healthcare—it's about leading with conviction when the path gets rocky and remembering your "why" when challenges mount.
Guest & Host Links
Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr Valerie Montgomery Rice on LinkedIn
Learn more about Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG
About Morehouse School of Medicine
Connect with Inspiring Women
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April 8, 2025
We sit down with Julia Colson, the founder and executive director of the Seattle King County Clinic, to discuss the incredible journey of establishing a large-scale, volunteer-driven pop-up clinic providing free dental, vision, and medical services to thousands each year. She shares the clinic's origin story, spurred by a 60-minute episode that highlighted the healthcare struggles of everyday people and her realization of the parallels within her own life. Julia delves into the challenges of building such a unique healthcare initiative from scratch, emphasizing the essential role of openness, humility, and collaboration in shaping the clinic's success. Through heartfelt anecdotes and insights, we explore the powerful impact of the clinic in transforming both patient experiences and volunteer perspectives while also addressing how the initiative calls attention to the broader issues plaguing our healthcare system.
To Volunteer: Seattle/King County Clinic - Seattle Center Foundation
Overview:
Transformed from watching "60 Minutes" to founding a clinic that serves 3,000 patients in four days
Used event planning background rather than healthcare expertise to approach problems differently
Created a collaborative model where diverse skills complemented each other's gaps
Challenged stereotypes by showing diverse patients - teachers, tech workers with insurance, not just unhoused individuals
Built community between patients and volunteers by midday of each clinic
Used the clinic as both immediate intervention and platform for advocacy
Incorporated storytelling through comics and patient narratives to humanize statistics
Balanced meeting urgent needs while pushing for systemic reform
Demonstrated how naivete and humility can be assets when creating innovative solutions
Prioritized listening and supporting patients over rushing through care
Helped providers reconnect with the human aspects of medicine, free from business metrics
Next Step:
Visit our website, Healthcare for Humans, and join our community to enjoy exclusive benefits at https://www.healthcareforhumans.org/support/
Support Our Mission: Non-clinicians, explore exclusive content and contribute to our collective journey.
Be an Active Participant: Go beyond listening. Shape our narrative by co-creating episodes with us.
Be part of our community by visiting https://www.healthcareforhumans.org/support/. Follow us on Instagram @healthcareforhumanspodcast
April 8, 2025
In this special ViVE conference edition of HITea With Grace, I’m joined by Rachel Blum, Vice President of Sales and Partnerships at Verato, for an important conversation about one of healthcare’s most foundational challenges: getting patient identity right.
Rachel shares her career journey into health IT leadership and breaks down the concept of Healthcare Master Data Management (MDM)—what it is, why it matters, and how it impacts nearly every facet of care delivery. We explore what happens when health systems don’t have a clear view of “who is who” across records and settings, and how a more unified identity approach can improve both clinical outcomes and operational efficiency.
In this episode, we dive into:
What Healthcare Master Data Management means in practice
Why patient identity is a core issue in healthcare transformation
Key challenges health systems face in adopting modern identity solutions
How a 360-degree view of the patient enhances outcomes and experiences
The implications of treating patients as consumers in a digital health environment
The role of AI in driving innovation in patient identity
Real-world success stories from hospitals leveraging identity tools to improve care
Rachel also opens up about the personal habits and life strategies that help her thrive in a demanding industry, and shares what she wishes she had known earlier in her career.
Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded conversation that sheds light on the hidden infrastructure powering patient-centered care.
April 8, 2025
Welcome to the debut episode of Executive Briefs—a new short-form series from Bright Spots in Healthcare designed to deliver fast, actionable insights for healthcare leaders. In under 10 minutes, host Eric Glazer shares 10 powerful storytelling takeaways from bestselling author Michael Lewis (Moneyball, The Big Short, The Blind Side) from his keynote address at League Connect 2025. Whether you're a health plan executive, provider leader, or innovator in digital health, these tips will help you better engage your team, inspire change, and drive results. Takeaways 00:50 – Why Michael Lewis and storytelling matter to healthcare leaders 01:42 – 1: Start with a question 02:15 – 2: Stories are about people 02:45 – 3: Good characters are great teachers 03:18 – 4: Find a fresh angle 03:55 – 5: Make data emotional 04:30 – 6: Tension drives the narrative 05:10 – 7: Keep it moving 05:50 – 8: Authenticity over polish 06:25 – 9: End with meaning 07:00 – 10: Tell stories that move people 08:10 – How leaders can apply these lesson

Learn more about League’s digital-first healthcare platform: https://league.com About Bright Spots in Healthcare Bright Spots in Healthcare spotlights real-world “bright spots” from health plans and providers to help leaders scale innovation and drive measurable improvement. We believe that finding and replicating bright spots is the most effective strategy to improve healthcare in our lifetime. Produced by Bright Spots Ventures. Learn more: brightspotsinhealthcare.com.
April 7, 2025
Dr. Lennard Lee is a force of nature in medicine. He is the Chief Medical Office at the Ellison Institute of Technology. Since 2020, he has led groundbreaking national programs that unite scientists, clinicians, and policymakers to advance the development of cancer vaccines. Dr. Lee co-founded the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launchpad, an initiative designed to streamline patient enrollment in cancer vaccine trials. He's spearheading efforts to enroll 10,000 patients by 2030, accelerating trials and ensuring the latest breakthroughs reach those in need. His work has earned him top honors such as the ACP McElwain Prize, IAP Outstanding Young Physicians Award, DSIT Superhero Award, and the UK Science & Engineering Infinity Award.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How he built the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launchpad
The UK's role in global cancer vaccine development and clinical research
Insights into successful cancer vaccine trials, including promising results from Devon
The risk-benefit analysis of shifting to a vaccine-first approach for cancer treatment
Current progress and breakthroughs in cancer vaccine clinical trials
How research and development investments are being managed to sustain innovation
Dr. Lee's predictions for when preventative cancer vaccines might become widely available
Strategies for ensuring global access and affordability of cancer vaccine technologies
How collaboration between pharma and biotech is accelerating innovation
The evolution of cancer staging and diagnostics in a vaccine-driven treatment landscape
April 7, 2025
In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Peter Rady and Brendan Tang during the hustle and bustle of Australian Healthcare Week. They dive into how Medicity is evolving now that they're part of Streamline Solutions and what that means for the future of healthtech.Recorded live at Australian Healthcare Week, this episode captures some interesting discussions and insights happening in the healthtech scene.Key Takeaways:• Medicity's Big Move: Medicity is now under the Streamline Solutions umbrella, thanks to a successful partnership over the last eight years.• Strong Cabrini Ties: Originating from the Cabrini Technology Group, Medicity maintains a solid relationship with Cabrini, fueling their continuous growth and innovation.• Streamline's Experience: With a wide experience across sectors, especially in healthcare, Streamline Solutions offers a solid platform for Medicity to broaden their impact.Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.Loving the show? Leave us a review, and share it with someone who might get some value from it.Keen to take your healthtech to the next level? Become a THT+ Member for access to our online community forum, meet ups, special offers and more exclusive content. For more information visit talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus
April 7, 2025
2025-04-04 Hosts Craig Lipset and Jane Myles were joined by Kaitlin Morrison from UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. She shared her experiences with the potential of decentralized clinical trials, particularly in oncology, to expand participation beyond academic medical centers. We discussed the challenges of conducting clinical trials, the importance of trust and information sharing in building partnerships with local healthcare providers, and the potential benefits of working with these providers.Episode Resources:Conducting Clinical Trials With Decentralized ElementsIntegrating Randomized Controlled Trials for Drug and Biological Products Into Routine Clinical PracticeYou can join TGIF-DTRA Sessions live on Friday's at 12:00 PM ET by checking out our LinkedIn. Follow the Decentralized Trials & Research Alliance (DTRA) on LinkedIn to see what sessions are coming next and get the link to join. Learn more about Membership options and our work at www.dtra.org.
April 7, 2025
Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital.
News sources for this episode:
Kelly Gooch, “24 hospitals, health systems cutting jobs,” March 21, 2025, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/20-hospitals-health-systems-cutting-jobs/?origin=BHRSUN&utm_source=BHRSUN&utm_medium=email&utm_content=newsletter&oly_enc_id=8018I7467278H7C; Becker’s Hospital Review.
Madeline Ashley, “2 Ohio hospitals abruptly halt operations,” March 28, 2025, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/2-ohio-hospitals-abruptly-halt-operations/#:~:text=Insight%20Hospital%20and%20Medical%20Center,Dallas%2Dbased%20Steward%20Health%20Care, Becker’s Hospital Review.
Patty Wight, “MaineGeneral Health to lay off full-time equivalent positions,” March 24, 2025, https://www.mainepublic.org/health/2025-03-24/mainegeneral-health-to-lay-off-100-full-time-equivalent-positions, Main Public.
Drew Davison, “UTA Takes Lead with Mobile Lab to Address Rural Health Care Crisis,” March 31, 2025, https://www.uta.edu/news/news-releases/2025/03/31/uta-takes-lead-with-mobile-lab-to-address-rural-health-care-crisis, The University of Texas at Arlington.
Thank you for listening to another episode of Rural Health Today, the podcast where we connect you to what really matters in rural health. Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.
April 7, 2025
On this episode host Justin Barnes recorded live at HIMSS25 in Las Vegas. Stay tuned for the next few weeks to hear all his guests.This week his guests are Erik Pupo, Director, Commercial Health IT Advisory at Guidehouse and Hugh Rivers, Director, Head of Sales, U.S. Provider Segment Healthcare, Life Sciences at AWS.
April 7, 2025