Stimulus - Learn Tools to Crush It in Your Medical Career

As students navigate an increasingly complex, competitive, and costly path to medical school, parents often find themselves uncertain about how to help without hindering growth. Meanwhile, institutions maintain opaque admissions practices, amplifying anxiety for both students and families. In this episode, we explore what parents need to know to truly support, not sabotage, their aspiring doctors. Finally, we pull back the curtain on everything from shadowing to AI in essays, offering a brutally honest look at what really matters in the application process.Guest bio:  Dr. Ryan Gray, a former Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force, is the founder of Medical School Headquarters and Meded Media, where he has become a leading voice in guiding pre-med and medical students toward careers in medicine. He is the author of The Premed Playbook series, including Guide to the Medical School Application Process, Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement, Guide to the Medical School Interview, and Guide to the MCAT. Dr. Gray also hosts several popular podcasts, including The Premed Years, OldPreMeds Podcast, The MCAT Podcast, and Specialist Stories.We Discuss:Support vs. SabotageThe Myth of the Perfect ApplicantWhy Checklists Aren't Really ChecklistsWhat Shadowing Really Tells YouWhat's the Deal With Volunteering Hours?Service for the Right ReasonsWhy Pre-Med Doesn't Mean Pre-DoctorUsing AI When Writing Med School EssaysCompressing Preclinical EducationThe Price of Applying and the Sneaky SecondariesWhy Don't Schools Post MCAT Cutoffs?How to Write a Good Letter of Recommendation and When to Say NoThank You NotesLetters of IntentShould Premeds Attend Non-Interview Info Sessions?Why Clinical Hours Are Non-Negotiable

Dr. Andrea Austin, an emergency physician and Navy veteran, discusses the urgent need for change in healthcare. She emphasizes grassroots leadership and community involvement as keys to combating burnout and systemic inertia. Andrea advocates for establishing new residency programs to train changemakers for underserved areas. She also addresses personal well-being, the importance of mental health awareness, and how inner work can drive system-wide improvements. With insights from her own challenges, she inspires others to embrace active roles in reshaping medicine.

Rich Orman, a former deputy district attorney turned filmmaker, dives into the crucial distinctions between competence and medical decision-making capacity. He explains why someone can appear lucid yet still lack the capacity to make decisions about their care. Rich shares legal definitions, common courtroom pitfalls for physicians, and how to effectively testify, emphasizing the importance of clarity over jargon. Plus, enjoy a humorous tale involving an unexpected dog injury and the quirks of emergency care.

In this engaging discussion, Mohamed Hagahmed, Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, shares his journey from a Sudanese refugee to a vital medical professional. He dives into the importance of boundary rituals—deliberate actions to leave work stress behind. Listeners learn about the impact of emotional residue in medicine and practical strategies for self-compassion, including gratitude and reflection. Dr. Hagahmed emphasizes how these practices not only reduce burnout but also enrich personal relationships.

Explore how structured communication can transform high-stakes environments. Learn about three-way repeat-backs that foster trust and clarity. Discover phonetic clarifications to eliminate confusion and enhance teamwork. Uncover the power of using checklists for effective error prevention. Find out why whiteboards are a cheap yet invaluable tool for safety. Simple adjustments can drastically improve patient care and workplace culture!

Scott Weingart, an emergency department intensivist and physician coach, shares invaluable insights on managing stress in high-stakes medical environments. He introduces the 'Beat the Stress Fool' technique, emphasizing breath control and mental rehearsal as essential tools. Weingart highlights gratitude practices and loving-kindness meditation as antidotes to burnout. He also discusses the Stoic method of negative visualization to enhance emotional preparedness. These strategies offer a roadmap to resilience and emotional integrity under pressure, making them vital for healthcare professionals.

No one enters medicine expecting to land on a performance improvement plan, yet for many physicians, it becomes a disorienting reality. A PIP can feel like both a warning and a test, raising existential fears about career, reputation, and future. Behind the formal language is often a complex mix of organizational risk management and legitimate behavioral concerns. In this episode, we explore what it really means to be placed on a PIP, how to navigate the process effectively, and why resistance is rarely a successful strategy. Finally, we share a structured approach to coaching through a PIP that can turn even the most fraught situation into meaningful professional growth.💡 Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practice💡We Discuss:Understanding the Purpose and Structure of a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)Variability and Pitfalls in PIPsWhy Coaching Matters During a PIPCommon Reactions and Emotional TollStructural Flaws That Undermine PIPsNegotiating and Responding to a PIPThe Myth of Performance ImmunityA Coaching Framework for Navigating PIPsCollaborating With LeadershipSuccess and Long-Term ImpactMentioned in this episode:UnBurnable - Our Cohort-Based Burnout Prevention and Cure CourseAs physician coaches, my partner, Scott Weingart, and I have noticed a pattern: some doctors are thoroughly burned out, and some are on the path to burnout. Almost all were shortchanged in their medical training, having been molded into excellent clinicians but given virtually no tools for retaining joy and equanimity throughout their careers. This course will teach you the hidden anti-burnout curriculum.The UnBurnable Course5 Free Tools To Make Medical Practice EasierScripts for your least favorite conversations. The quick and dirty guide to calling consults. A 10-minute "Driveway Debrief" to switch off from work. My favorite documentation templates. Step-by-step guide for delivering the news of death. Free Resources Link

What if addiction isn’t about drugs, but about pain? Beneath compulsive behaviors often lie histories of trauma, anxiety, and unmet emotional needs, hidden behind layers of stigma and misunderstanding. In medicine, addiction is still often mischaracterized as a moral failing rather than a treatable illness with deep psychological roots. In this episode, we explore the personal and professional evolution of Dr. Casey Grover, an addiction medicine physician who reframed both his own struggles and the way he cares for patients. Finally, we uncover how shifting mindset and language can transform both clinical outcomes and clinician well-being.💡 Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practice💡Guest bio:  Dr. Casey Grover is a board-certified physician in Addiction Medicine and Emergency Medicine at Montage Health, where he also serves as Chief of Staff. He is the Physician Champion for the Monterey County Prescribe Safe Initiative, a program focused on reducing opioid misuse through education, safe prescribing, and improved treatment access. In addition to his clinical and leadership roles, Dr. Grover hosts the podcast Addiction Medicine Made Easy, where he breaks down complex topics to make addiction care more approachable for both providers and the public.We Discuss:What is Addiction?When Food Becomes a Coping MechanismThe Stigma of AddictionThe Neurology of AddictionDivided Views on SobrietyWhy Some People Recover and Others RelapseThe Reason Some Brains Get HookedAddiction vs. Dependence — and Why Stigma Makes It WorseBuilding Trust with PatientsFrom Frustration to Compassion: Reframing Patient EncountersTrauma, PTSD, and Personal ReckoningThe Practice of Addiction MedicineMentioned in this episode:UnBurnable - Our Cohort-Based Burnout Prevention and Cure CourseAs physician coaches, my partner, Scott Weingart, and I have noticed a pattern: some doctors are thoroughly burned out, and some are on the path to burnout. Almost all were shortchanged in their medical training, having been molded into excellent clinicians but given virtually no tools for retaining joy and equanimity throughout their careers. This course will teach you the hidden anti-burnout curriculum.The UnBurnable CourseNever Lame. Never Spammy. Always Fresh.If you’d like a few minutes of career-elevating curated kickassery delivered to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter. Sign up for our Newsletter5 Free Tools To Make Medical Practice EasierScripts for your least favorite conversations. The quick and dirty guide to calling consults. A 10-minute "Driveway Debrief" to switch off from work. My favorite documentation templates. Step-by-step guide for delivering the news of death. Free Resources Link

What is it about your work that still lights you up inside? At the center of every profession is a core - the reason we chose it in the first place, the part that feels meaningful no matter the chaos around it. When we reconnect with that core, even amid challenge, fulfillment often follows. Sometimes, though, that spark fades. Sometimes the core of what we love evolves, shifts direction, or gets buried under layers of stress and routine. In this episode, we explore how to evaluate your relationship with the essence of your work and how small (or big) recalibrations can realign your day-to-day with what matters most. Finally, we share strategies to clear out the noise, fuel the flame, and shape a career that energizes rather than drains.🧭 UnBurnable | Our Cohort-Based Burnout Prevention and Cure CourseAs physician coaches, my partner, Scott Weingart, and I have noticed a clear pattern: some doctors are thoroughly burned out, and many others are on the path toward it. Almost all were shortchanged in their medical training, having been molded into excellent clinicians but given virtually no tools for retaining joy and equanimity throughout their careers.This course will teach you the hidden anti-burnout curriculum.Learn more at unburnablecourse.com 🚀We Discuss:Starting with the central question: How do you feel about the core of your work?Using the stories you tell about your job as diagnostic tools. What tone are you bringing to those tales?What is a micro recalibration, and how can it reshape your workday from within your current job?How do you recognize when overwhelm is a sign of a broken approach, not a broken you?Exploring macro recalibrations. What if you love the work, but the environment is eating you alive?Running the “look-around test” to evaluate other institutions.Identifying “gravity problems.” Which issues can't be solved within your current system?Considering a mega recalibration. What does it mean to step away from the work entirely?How identity and sunk costs keep us rooted in roles we may have outgrown.Visualizing the flame and smoke of your career. What’s burning bright, and what’s clouding the view?Defining what a fulfilling day looks like. Is that kind of day even possible where you are now?Use a five-year future vision to clarify whether your current job fits into your ideal life.Why walking away doesn’t have to mean burning it down. What might rediscovery look like instead?You don’t have to burn it all down to rediscover what lights you up.💡 Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practice💡

Jim Dahle, a practicing emergency physician and founder of The White Coat Investor, shares vital insights into financial planning for physicians. He discusses how burnout isn’t just emotional but financial, urging proactive money management to avert debt traps. The conversation includes navigating lifestyle inflation, understanding investment strategies like the waterfall method, and recognizing the right time to hire a financial advisor. Dahle emphasizes that every physician should prioritize their unique financial goals to cultivate a burnout-resistant career.