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White Coats of the Round Table

White Coats of the Round Table

Career Development for Healthcare Professionals. Discussing burnout, career transitions, and nontraditional career paths.

The Value of Clinicians in CME with Alex Howson

Mike and John are joined by Alex Howson to discuss the field of continuing medical education (CME) and its career opportunities. Alex shares her background as a trauma OR nurse and sociology professor before transitioning into medical writing and specializing in CME. She highlights the importance of empathy and patient perspective in CME writing and emphasizes the transferable skills that clinicians bring to the field. Alex also provides insights into the job market for CME writers and suggests steps for clinicians interested in pursuing a career in CME.
May 31, 2024

Setting your Career Goals

Mike and John discuss the importance of career planning and staying relevant in your field. They emphasize the need for both short-term and long-term goals, and the importance of aligning those goals with your personal values and higher calling. They also discuss the challenges of saying no to projects that don't align with your goals and offer strategies for having conversations with your superiors about your career objectives. The episode concludes with a discussion about the upcoming break and the importance of tradition and family.
May 24, 2024

The Industry of Medical Content with Nicole Plourd

Mike and John talk with Nicole Plourd, a physician assistant, as she shares her career trajectory from clinical practice to the pharmaceutical industry. She started in clinical practice, specializing in orthopedics and ENT, before transitioning to telemedicine dermatology. In her role, she also got involved in medical content review and marketing. Eventually, she moved into the pharmaceutical industry, working in medical content review and promotional review. Nicole emphasizes the importance of taking risks and trying new things, as well as seeking advice from others who have made similar career transitions.
May 17, 2024

Off-Script: Increasing Competition and Patient Options in Healthcare

Mike and John discuss the recent FTC ban on non-competes in contracts, which will have significant implications in the healthcare system. The elimination of non-competes will increase competition, raise wages, and provide more options for patients. The ruling will give more negotiating power to healthcare professionals and encourage employers to focus on employee retention and satisfaction.
May 10, 2024

Understanding SWOT Analysis for Career Planning

In this episode, Mike and John discuss the concept of SWOT analysis and its application in personal career planning. They explore how SWOT analysis can help individuals identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in order to make informed decisions about their career paths.
May 3, 2024

Building Resilience Through Recreation

In this episode, Mike and John are joined by Jenn Fluke to discuss the benefits of outdoor recreation in combating burnout. Jenn shares about her project, Inspiring Wild Hearts, which aims to help women overcome their fears and connect with nature. The conversation emphasizes the importance of resilience, pushing oneself, and finding balance in work and personal life through outdoor recreation as well as discusses the challenges of loneliness and social isolation, and the role of outdoor activities in building friendships and communities.
April 26, 2024

When to Say ‘Doctor’

The conversation explores the use of the term 'doctor' in healthcare and when it is appropriate to use. John and Mike discuss the different perspectives on when and how the term should be used, particularly in clinical settings while still emphasizing the importance of patient comfort and trust. They also touch on the importance of transparency, the changing dynamics of healthcare, and the potential misuse of the title on social media.
April 19, 2024

The Drawbacks of Bio-Hacking

Mike and John discuss the biohacking industry, focusing on the benefits and concerns associated with lifestyle modifications. They explore the idea of optimizing human function through practices such as exposure to natural light, breathing techniques, and structured routines. However, they also raise concerns about the potential for obsession and the need for evidence-based practices.
April 12, 2024
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White Coats of the Round Table

A podcast for healthcare professionals by healthcare professionals. Our mission through this project is to create a community for clinicians to learn and discuss all aspects of their career in healthcare.
We welcome all clinicians and medical professionals to use our content to build professional knowledge, and support and grow their careers.

Team

Michael Asbach

Michael Asbach

Michael Asbach, DMSc, PA-C, Psych-CAQ, is the associate director of interventional psychiatry at DENT Neurologic Institute. He holds clinical faculty appointments at several colleges. Dr. Asbach received his masters in Physician Assistant studies from Daemen College and his Doctorate of Medical Science (DMSc) with a concentration in healthcare leadership.

Michael is a nationally recognized educator who has participated in several national meetings and congresses. He has provided over 300 lectures on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry and medical education companies. His areas of interest include treatment resistant depression, bipolar disorder, and emerging treatments of mental illness.
John McDonald

John McDonald

A graduate from St. John Fisher College Wegmans School of Pharmacy. John currently works at Wegmans Food Market Inc. as a pharmacist. His experience has included Staff Pharmacist, Supervising Pharmacist, Division Wellness Coordinator, Business Partner Program Coordinator.

He has helped pharmacies expand their business outside of the retail setting through partnerships with local businesses to provide additional health benefits. John’s passion has always been to assist individuals and employers in meeting their goals in healthcare.

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