Why Behavior Change Starts With Emotion, Not Information with Dr. Mary O'Connor
Release Date: 01/28/2026
Why Behavior Change Starts With Emotion, Not Information with Dr. Mary O'Connor
The Exam Room
In Part Two of this ongoing series, The Exam Room continues its conversation with Dr. Mary O’Connor, orthopedic surgeon and national leader in prevention-focused, value-based musculoskeletal care. This episode explores why patients are often more influenced by the experiences of other patients than by clinical advice alone — and why emotional readiness, trust, and peer support play a critical role in lasting behavior change. Dr. O’Connor explains how health coaches, community-based programs, and mentorship models help patients overcome barriers that knowledge alone cannot. We also...
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The Missing Piece in Health Care: Behavior, Community, and Prevention
The Exam Room
In today’s health care system, medical care often begins after people are already in pain — but research shows that medical treatment accounts for only a small fraction of what actually determines health. In Part One of this multi-part conversation, The Exam Room welcomes Dr. Mary O’Connor, orthopedic surgeon, former Mayo Clinic and Yale faculty member, and co-founder of innovative health organizations focused on movement, prevention, and equity. Dr. O’Connor explains why she believes we don’t have a “health care system,” but rather a sick care system, and why wellness and...
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Patient Agency, Access, and the Future of Care with Dr. Ami Bhatt
The Exam Room
How do health systems move from adopting digital tools to building strategies that truly last? In the final episode of this three-part Exam Room Podcast series, Dr. Rhiannon Winsor concludes her conversation with Dr. Ami Bhatt, cardiologist and Chief Innovation Officer at the American College of Cardiology, by focusing on sustainability, access, and the future of patient-centered care. Dr. Bhatt explains why successful digital health adoption depends on infrastructure, communication, and shared understanding — not just technology. From front-desk staff to clinicians and patients, everyone...
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Can Technology Help Health Care Feel Human Again? with Dr. Ami Bhatt
The Exam Room
Is technology pulling health care away from human connection — or helping us get back to it? In Part Two of this three-part series on The Exam Room Podcast, Dr. Rhiannon Winsor continues her conversation with Dr. Ami Bhatt, cardiologist and Chief Innovation Officer at the American College of Cardiology, to explore how digital tools and AI can support truly human-centered care. Dr. Bhatt reflects on how modern health care has shifted from deeply personal relationships to time-limited, data-heavy encounters — and why neither patients nor clinicians are satisfied with that reality. She...
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Prescribing Time: Rethinking Health, Prevention, and Digital Care
The Exam Room
What happens when digital innovation meets human-centered care? In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Dr. Rhiannon Winsor sits down with Dr. Ami Bhatt — cardiologist and Chief Innovation Officer at the American College of Cardiology — to explore the evolving role of digital health and what it means for patients and providers alike. Dr. Bhatt shares her journey from caring for adults with congenital heart disease to becoming an early adopter of telemedicine long before the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated virtual care. Together, they discuss how technology can bring complex care into the...
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From Pandemic Fix to Permanent Care: How to Do Telehealth Right
The Exam Room
Telehealth is no longer just a temporary solution—it’s a permanent part of modern healthcare. In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Dr. Rhiannon Winsor sits down with telehealth and workflow expert Christian Milaster to explore how health centers can move beyond “bolted-on” virtual visits and build fully integrated, high-quality telehealth programs. This wide-ranging conversation breaks down the seven core telehealth workflows—scheduling, onboarding, virtual rooming, the visit itself, follow-up, post-visit communication, and reimbursement—and explains why redesigning each one...
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From Shame to Support: A Better Approach to Patient Behavior Change
The Exam Room
In Episode 3 of our health literacy series, Dr. Rhiannon Winsor and Dr. Catina O’Leary explore what it really takes for healthcare leadership to support clear communication and meaningful behavior change. Dr. O’Leary shares why health systems often struggle to prioritize health literacy, how external experts can help overcome internal barriers, and why written materials—not just verbal explanations—are critical for safety and understanding. They discuss the realities of behavior change, the importance of starting with what patients want to do, and the need for small, achievable action...
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Beyond Reading Levels: Redefining Health Literacy for Connection and Trust
The Exam Room
Health literacy is not about reading level, it’s about relationships, understanding, and trust. In this powerful episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Dr. Rhiannon Winsor and Dr. Catina O’Leary, President and CEO of Health Literacy Media, discuss how true health literacy starts with empathy and communication, not handouts or digital platforms. Dr. O’Leary explains why health literacy is “a state, not a trait,” and how every member of a healthcare team, from front desk staff to physicians, plays a role in building connection and understanding. The episode explores tools like teach-back,...
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Health Literacy Starts at the Front Door: Dr. Catina O’Leary on Clear Communication
The Exam Room
In this first episode of our new series on health literacy, Dr. Rhiannon Winsor speaks with Dr. Catina O’Leary, President and CEO of Health Literacy Media. Dr. O’Leary shares her inspiring journey from social work and behavioral research to leading a global nonprofit dedicated to making healthcare communication clear and actionable. They discuss how communication drives behavior change, what it means to build a health literate organization, and how small shifts in language can have a big impact on cost, quality, and patient trust. From personal stories to practical takeaways, this episode...
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Dinner and a Show: Building Genuine Rapport with Patients
The Exam Room
In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Dr. Andy Mayberry joins Dr. Rhiannon Winsor to discuss what it really takes to build rapport with patients. Using his signature “dinner and a show” philosophy, Dr. Mayberry explains why medicine isn’t just about getting the diagnosis right — it’s also about connection, empathy, and being real. He shares stories from his 25 years in medicine, showing how humor, small talk, and remembering the little details can make all the difference in patient trust and outcomes. If you’re a provider looking to improve patient relationships, or simply...
info_outlineIn Part Two of this ongoing series, The Exam Room continues its conversation with Dr. Mary O’Connor, orthopedic surgeon and national leader in prevention-focused, value-based musculoskeletal care.
This episode explores why patients are often more influenced by the experiences of other patients than by clinical advice alone — and why emotional readiness, trust, and peer support play a critical role in lasting behavior change. Dr. O’Connor explains how health coaches, community-based programs, and mentorship models help patients overcome barriers that knowledge alone cannot.
We also examine the shortcomings of traditional fee-for-service care, including overutilization of imaging and surgery, and the absence of effective non-surgical, whole-person care. Dr. O’Connor makes the case for an intermediary, non-surgical approach that prioritizes what truly matters to patients — whether that’s returning to activity, spending time with family, or simply living without pain.
This episode highlights why engaging patients at an emotional level isn’t a “nice to have,” but a necessity for better outcomes, lower costs, and a more sustainable health care system.