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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast orthopaedic surgeon and educator, Alan Reznik, MD.

It’s a simple fact in the medical industry that everything works better when goals are aligned. Aligning your goals with the goals of your team members is a great way to better optimize your practice. Goals can vary widely between different employees - from improving patient outcomes, to simply going home at a certain time of day.

When goals are at odds with each other, things can get out of balance pretty quickly and lead to poor outcomes for both patients and medical staff.

What steps does Alan suggest we do to align our goals?

• Step 1 - Think about what makes you happy and why you’re doing the things you’re doing during your daily work routine.
• Step 2 - Check to see if those around you are thinking and acting the same way you are, making sure goals are aligned.
• Step 3 - If they’re not, try to realign things (financially, emotionally, mentally, etc.) so that everyone is on the same page and working toward the same ultimate goals.

Most importantly, PRACTICE goal alignment to experience professional wellness!

BIO - Alan Reznik, MD, MBA

Dr. Reznik is a practicing orthopaedic surgeon and involved in medical teaching for over 30 years. He is recognized as one of “America’s Top Physicians” by Consumers Research Council of America and named “Top Doc” in Connecticut over 20 times by his orthopaedic surgeon peers, physicians, nurses and patients. He has served on many committees for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons including editorial board of AAOS Now. He has written "The Knee and Shoulder Handbook, the keys to a pain-free and active life" and "I have fallen and I can get up" on fall risks and prevention. An inventor, he holds 8 patents. He has lectured on patient safety, surgical risk reduction and AI development, liability and ethical use.

"It is with the understanding of differing perspectives, combining disciplines, constant collaboration, and an open mind that one achieves the best path forward." Dr. Alan Reznik

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast Chief Medical Officer of the Lorna Breen Foundation, Emergency Medicine Physician, and physician coach, Stefanie Simmons.

On this episode, Jeff and Stefanie discuss the need for better support for physician mental health in the healthcare system. In training, residents and fellows are often in vulnerable situations, as they do everything they can to succeed while dealing with stress and other factors like medical school debt. Faced with these challenges and more, many residents simply put their heads down and grind it out, rather than getting the help they need to succeed.

Then in practice, many physicians are hesitant to seek mental health services for themselves because they’re afraid it may impact their ability to get licensed, credentialed, or employed. Almost everywhere, simply having therapy is not going to require disclosure if there isn’t an impairing diagnosis. We need to make it easier and less taboo for physicians in all stages of their careers to seek mental health when necessary.

What steps does Stefanie suggest we take to address mental health concerns?

• Step 1 - Seek Counseling when you need it. Don’t assume that it’s not safe to receive mental healthcare if you need it. Check with your specific hospital or system to see what their practices are and don’t sacrifice your mental health.
• Step 2 - Consider Coaching. Speaking with a like-minded colleague in a coaching capacity is another excellent option for dealing with stressors.

Most importantly, PRACTICE seeking mental health resources to experience well-being!


Guest Bio: Stefanie Simmons, MD, FACEP

Stefanie is the Chief Medical Officer at the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation and a board-certified emergency medicine physician. She was the primary advisor to NIOSH for the Impact WellbeingTM guide for healthcare leaders, leads multi-state programs to improve the operational environment of care and remove barriers to mental health care, and serves as a national thought leader in healthcare worker well-being. Stefanie served as the Vice President of Patient and Clinician Experience for Envision over 7 years, serving 26,000 physicians and advanced practice providers with a focus on professional well-being, including translational research and programs designed to bring well-being best practices to clinical environments. She served as lead clinical faculty for the Clinician Experience Project Wellbeing program.

Stefanie earned her Bachelor of Science and Medical Doctor degrees from University of Michigan and completed residency training at the University of Michigan/St. Joseph Mercy emergency medicine residency. She has completed additional training in medical education, research methods, coaching, and positive organizational psychology.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast CEO of Vital WorkLife, Mitch Best.

Burnout in the healthcare industry is prevalent among physicians and healthcare executives, driven by an inefficient system where critical decisions are made daily. These decisions often carry an immense emotional toll, including grief.

For the system to function at its best, everyone involved must experience wellness. Achieving this requires two key steps: 1) changing the system, and 2) cultivating healthy wellness habits. Reaching this goal will take a collective effort. It’s essential to continue identifying meaningful support resources to help physicians and healthcare executives mitigate burnout and stress.

What steps does Mitch suggest we take to mitigate burnout and stress among healthcare leaders?

• Step 1 - Talk About It. Speaking with a peer about the things that are causing burnout and stress can go a long way towards mitigation.
• Step 2 - Create a Culture of Optimism. This is one of the key components of combating burnout among leaders and their medical staff.
• Step 3 - Seek Help When Needed. Holding a healthcare leadership role can be quite isolating. Building relationships (whether formal or informal) with like-minded professionals can go a long way in alleviating burnout.

Most importantly, practice techniques to mitigate burnout!

About Mitch Best

As the CEO of VITAL WorkLife for over a decade, Mitch guides the company's vision, directs the senior leadership team, and works towards achieving organizational objectives. His focus extends to empowering hundreds of thousands of physicians and APPs, enabling them to reach their full potential, all while fostering a vibrant and celebrated company culture.

He began with the company in 2001 as Director of Business Development, moved up to Vice President in 2004, became COO in 2008, and eventually acquired the company in 2013.

With a background in behavioral health consulting and diverse industry expertise, Mitch infuses his work with passion and enthusiasm, offering a quick start nature, servant leadership and diligent oversight. He has also been actively engaged in executive and mental health & well-being industry groups for more than 15 years.

Mitch, a Minnesota native, resides in the Twin Cities with his wife and four children, emphasizing work-life balance through family time and an active lifestyle. He holds a BA in psychology from the University of Minnesota.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!