The Anesthesiologist: Cindy Van Praag, MD
Rx for Success Podcast
What happens when a physician realizes she's running all her burners at 110% and something has to change? In this inspiring episode of Rx for Success, host Dr. Randy Cook sits down with Dr. Cindy Van Praag—a board-certified anesthesiologist, integrative medicine physician, health coach, and podcast host of Inspired Mom MDs. Cindy shares her remarkable journey from a childhood fascination with a book called Diseases to a successful career in anesthesia, through periods of burnout, and ultimately to a place of healing and intentional living. She opens up about her transformative experience in...
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Beyond Burnout: Reclaiming Meaning, Agency & Yourself in Medicine
Rx for Success Podcast
If you're a physician and you've ever found yourself wondering, "Is it just me, or is something off?"—this conversation is for you. In this deeply reflective episode of Life Changing Moments, host Dr. Dael Waxman is joined by his colleague at MD Coaches, Dr. Carla Rotering—a pulmonologist, intensivist, former medical staff president, writer, poet, and musician with over 20 years of coaching experience. Together, they explore what lies beneath the familiar but often inadequate word "burnout." Carla shares her own powerful journey through depletion—including the moment...
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216. The Founders: Shayan Mashatian & Dr. Desmond Bell
Rx for Success Podcast
Welcome to the very first video episode of Rx for Success! After nine years as an audio-only podcast, host Dr. Randy Cook is thrilled to launch the videocast format with two extraordinary guests: Shayan Mashatian, a serial entrepreneur and technologist, and Dr. Desmond Bell, a podiatrist, limb preservation advocate, and president of WoundScribe AI. Together, they share the fascinating origin story of WoundScribe AI and its patient-facing companion app, Pingoo. Shayan takes us on his remarkable journey from Iran—where he helped establish the first internet node in the country—to Canada, the...
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Life Changing Moments – Why Physicians Seek Coaching (And Why They Don't)
Rx for Success Podcast
Welcome to the evolution of Life Changing Moments! In this debut videocast episode, host Dr. Dael Waxman is joined by his colleague and fellow physician coach at MD Coaches, Dr. Murnal Shah, for a foundational conversation about physician coaching. Together, they explore the nuanced landscape of coaching in medicine—why physicians seek it, what holds them back, and how coaching differs from counseling, advising, or simply "getting help." Drawing on decades of combined experience working with physicians at all career stages, Dale and Murnal unpack the myths,...
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Life Changing Moments 68 - Coaching and Mentoring, with Charles Lowry
Rx for Success Podcast
Residency is one of the most profound life-changing seasons in a physician's journey—a time of rapid growth, deep uncertainty, and one of the biggest decisions of all: what comes next. In this unique collaborative episode, host Dr. Dael Waxman is joined by Charles Lowry, Director of Graduate Medical Education Relations at PracticeLink and host of the Surviving and Thriving in Residency podcast. Rather than a traditional interview, Dr. Waxman and Charlie engage in a shared conversation about the critical inflection points they've witnessed in medical...
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215. The Guide: Charles Lowry
Rx for Success Podcast
What if the key to physician career satisfaction and retention lies not in more training, but in better matching? In this insightful episode, Dr. Randy Cook welcomes Mr. Charles Lowry, Director of Provider Engagement for PracticeLink. Coming from a unique background in rural farming and international student services, Charles now dedicates his work to helping medical students, residents, and fellows navigate one of the most critical transitions of their careers: finding the right first job. We explore his journey from a small West Virginia farm to becoming a trusted advisor in the...
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214. The Pilot: Ronen Elefant, MD, MBA, MSEng
Rx for Success Podcast
What does it take to build a revolutionary business in surgery while living a life of high-altitude adventure? In this electrifying episode, Dr. Randy Cook sits down with Dr. Ronen Elefant, a trauma & acute care surgeon, jet pilot, and innovative entrepreneur. Dr. Elefant shares his remarkable journey from immigrating to the U.S. without speaking English to training at the famed Shock Trauma Center, all while pursuing his passion for aviation. We explore his unique engineering mindset applied to surgery, the genesis of his direct-surgical-care company ACES National Surgical Team, and his...
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213. The Faculty: Rick Kellerman, MD
Rx for Success Podcast
What does it mean to live a life in medicine aligned with your deepest calling? In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Randy Cook sits down with Dr. Rick Kellerman, a pillar of family medicine and Professor Emeritus from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita. Dr. Kellerman shares the inspiring story of his lifelong commitment to rural family medicine, tracing his path from being inspired by a small-town doctor as a child to leading one of the nation’s top departments for training rural physicians. We explore the pivotal moments that defined his career, including a...
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Life Changing Moments: Healing Healthcare, with Dr. Jonathan Ripp
Rx for Success Podcast
How do we build a healthcare system where physicians and healthcare professionals can not only survive but truly thrive? In this illuminating episode of Life Changing Moments, host Dr. Dael Waxman sits down with a pioneer in the field, Dr. Jonathan Ripp, Chief Wellness Officer at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and co-founder of CHARM (the Collaborative for Healing and Renewal in Medicine). Dr. Ripp traces his 25-year journey from studying physician identity formation in residency to leading a national movement focused on structural well-being. He provides a masterclass on the...
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Life Changing Moments: Listening to the voice inside, Dr. Rebecca Evangelista
Rx for Success Podcast
What does a general surgeon know about navigating a career that feels misaligned? Everything. In this profound episode of Life Changing Moments, host Dr. Dael Waxman sits down with Dr. Rebecca Evangelista, a surgeon and academic leader who has masterfully shaped her career through a series of thoughtful and courageous pivots. Dr. Evangelista shares her incredible journey from a gap year working for a surgeon she didn't want to emulate, to a medical student drawn to primary care, and finally to embracing the thriving feeling she found in the operating room. Her story is a...
info_outlineDuring a recent conversation, Dr. Bela Mehta, Chair of the Division of Pharmacy Practice and Science at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, shared her insights on the vital role of community pharmacists. The discussion highlighted the challenges faced during the COVID pandemic, including increased patient care demands and immunization efforts, which contributed to rising levels of burnout among pharmacy practitioners.
Dr. Mehta reflected on her personal journey, beginning with her father’s immigration from India to the U.S. in the 1960s, her childhood in India, and her eventual return to the U.S. Her early experiences working in a community pharmacy sparked a passion for the profession, reinforcing her commitment to patient care. Her academic path, including earning a PharmD and completing a residency, led her to academia, where she now focuses on training future pharmacists and advancing equitable healthcare access.
The conversation explored the evolving landscape of pharmacy education and the need for innovative approaches to prepare students for modern challenges. Dr. Mehta emphasized the systemic issues affecting the profession post-pandemic, including workforce shortages and mental health strains on pharmacists. She discussed ongoing efforts to address burnout, improve working conditions, and foster collaboration among healthcare teams to enhance both provider well-being and patient outcomes.
Dr. Mehta also shared her interest in complementary and alternative medicine, challenging conventional perspectives within the field. Her approach underscores the importance of evidence-based, patient-centered care that respects diverse needs and preferences.
To conclude, Dr. Mehta offered valuable advice on mentorship, leadership, and finding purpose in one’s career. She stressed the importance of recognizing achievements and maintaining a balance between personal and professional growth.
The discussion reinforced the essential role pharmacists play in healthcare and the ongoing need to support their contributions to community health.
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Music by Ryan Jones.
Find Ryan on Instagram at _ryjones_, Contact Ryan at ryjonesofficial@gmail.com
Production assistance by Clawson Solutions Group, find them on the web at csolgroup.com