Posts by Patty Fahy
The Business School Mindset Doesn’t Mind Physician Burnout
Even those of us with a meditation cushion and a gong app are likely to recoil when mindfulness practices are suggested as solutions for physician burnout. Sure, these practices are important. No, they do not address the causes of physician burnout. Certainly, a more genuine effort by organizational leaders would be to respond to the…
Read MoreEpisode 13 – A National Leader with Tenacity and Compassion
Former AMA President Barbara McAneny is a relentless patient advocate who sees the harm done by the rapacious medical industrial complex. She spells out the toxicity caused by health system consolidation, purchase of physicians’ practices, and financial exploitation of government programs intended to serve the poor. Dr. McAneny, an oncologist, comes by her in-depth knowledge…
Read MoreEpisode 12 – Physician Leader Development: What Works?
Amanda Goodall, PhD, joins me in Part Two of our conversation discussing the advanced degree program for physician leaders that she founded. She talks about barriers to physician leadership development including political correctness, assumptions that physicians aren’t interested, and the daunting “re-entry” into entrenched cultures. Dr. Goodall points to a central problem with business schools:…
Read MoreEpisode 11 – The Research | Physicians and the Theory of Expert Leadership
Amanda Goodall, PhD, a professor and leadership expert, joins Patty in an animated conversation about her theory of expert leadership. Dr. Goodall explains how her research revealed that top scholars, not general managers, make the best university CEOs and the most effective department leaders. This phenomenon doesn’t just apply to the academic world; the same…
Read MoreEpisode 10 – Autonomy | Bruce Katuna, MD
In this conversation about the neuroscience of autonomy, I roped neurologist and neurophysiologist Bruce Katuna into joining me. It wasn’t a tough sell since he’d already joined me in holy matrimony a few decades ago. My colleague, Lynn Elliott, agreed to facilitate the conversation and help us bring to life the importance and the nature…
Read MoreEpisode 9 – How a Values-Driven CEO Transformed Denver Health | Patty Gabow, MD
In this episode I spoke with Dr. Patty Gabow, a nephrologist and researcher who found the right match for her values at Denver Health, a city-center integrated health and hospital system. Dr. Gabow found her leadership chops early, and describes how her passion to care for the underserved fueled a twenty-year stint as CEO of…
Read MoreEpisode 8 – A Bias For Action | Scott Smith, MD
This is the first of many conversations with remarkable, consistent, and accomplished leaders in order to put a spotlight on the behaviors that contribute to their leadership effectiveness. In this episode, I talk with Scott Smith, MD, a healthcare leader, and physician. His journey wends its way from his role as chief of cardiopulmonary medicine…
Read MoreEpisode 7 – Why We’re Not Fixing Physician Burnout
In this episode I’m offering my take on why we haven’t budged the needle on physician burnout. We have clear evidence of the causes of burnout—but we don’t have effective action. Why are we so stuck? My observations fall into 4 areas: 1. Weak, bureaucratic language that fails to put a spotlight on the problem…
Read MoreEpisode 6 – Physician Burnout: The Impact
This episode moves beyond the definition and underlying causes of burnout to focus on the impact on physicians, medical students, patients, and healthcare systems. Patty Fahy interviews a neurologist who retired in his 40’s and then five years later dusted off his medical license and launched a national company. She also interviews a medical student…
Read MoreEpisode 5 – Physician Suicide & Do No Harm | Robyn Symon
Robyn Symon Interview: Physician Suicide & DO NO HARM Robyn Symon, a two-time Emmy award-winning filmmaker, joined me for the Licensed to Lead podcast on April 30, 2020. Robyn has written, directed, and produced films and television series—and she specializes in documentaries. We spoke about her acclaimed and riveting film that takes an unblinking look…
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