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_outlineWhat does a plastic and reconstructive surgeon know about end-of-life care? Everything. In this profound episode of Rx for Success, host Dr. Randy Cook sits down with Dr. Nadine Semer, who made the remarkable transition from a successful career in plastic surgery to becoming a palliative medicine physician.
Dr. Semer shares her incredible journey and the wisdom that led her to write the essential book, "15 Lessons: Connecting with Patients for More Authentic and Empowering Conversations." This isn't just a book about death and dying; it's a masterclass in the art of communication for every healthcare professional. Discover how to reclaim the human connection at the heart of medicine and why these skills are critical for every clinician, from physical therapists to surgeons.
In this episode, you'll learn:
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Why Dr. Semer believes the rise of palliative care reflects a broken healthcare system and what every clinician can do to fix it.
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How to become a "medical interpreter"—translating complex diagnoses into clear, compassionate English for your patients.
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The critical importance of understanding a patient's quality of life goals before recommending invasive procedures like AICDs.
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Practical lessons from her book that can transform patient interactions, improve adherence, and prevent physician burnout.
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Why she feels healthier and less burdened as a palliative physician than she did as a surgeon.
If you are a physician, nurse, medical student, or any healthcare provider feeling disconnected by EHRs and administrative tasks, this conversation is a powerful reminder of why you entered medicine and how to find deeper fulfillment in your work.
Keywords: palliative medicine, end of life care, physician communication, doctor patient relationship, medical career change, plastic surgery, Dr. Nadine Semer, Rx for Success, Dr. Randy Cook, MD Coaches, healthcare burnout, patient communication skills, medical interpreter, advance care planning, goals of care, hospice, empathetic medicine, medical education, clinical empathy.
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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