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Becoming a Reluctant Changemaker in Medicine with Dr. Brad Block

Becoming a Reluctant Changemaker in Medicine with Dr. Brad Block

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 Not every changemaker has a mission statement. Some just have questions.In this episode, Dr. Andrea Austin sits down with Dr. Bradley Block, ENT physician and longtime host of Physician’s Guide to Doctoring, to explore what happens when a physician dares to improve—not just the system, but themselves.Brad candidly shares his “unremarkable” path into medicine, his discovery of just how hard communication really is in clinical care, and the surprising evolution of his podcast into a community and resource for doctors craving more connection, less burnout, and better conversations.Together, Andrea and Brad address:Why being a better communicator isn’t a soft skill—it’s a survival skillHow to navigate Dr. Google, ChatGPT, and those “circular” patient conversationsThe art of saying “no” without conflict (or guilt)How to recover after a tough clinical encounter—and why a hot cup of tea might be your best toolArticles and Studies MentionedPatient Trust in the Age of Misinformation (JAMA, 2022)Susannah Fox’s Rebel Health — insights into patient-led education and online advocacy About the GuestDr. Bradley Block is a board-certified ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) surgeon, storyteller, and the voice behind the long-running podcast Physician’s Guide to Doctoring. With over a decade of clinical experience and a passion for humanizing healthcare, Dr. Block has built a platform that gives physicians the tools to communicate better—with their patients, their peers, and themselves.His journey into medicine wasn’t scripted, and neither was his evolution as a changemaker. What began as a personal quest to improve his own communication skills transformed into a community-driven resource covering everything we should have learned in med school—from patient experience and health policy to burnout and boundaries.Dr. Block is also a founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network, where he helps amplify physician voices and build community through storytelling. When he’s not in the clinic or behind the mic, he’s probably sipping hot black tea (with a splash of whole milk) between patient encounters—and thinking about what it really means to be heard.Physician’s Guide to Doctoring PodcastDoctor Podcast NetworkBradley Block, MD on LinkedInTop 3 Key Takeaways Say the thing – Patients often leave unsatisfied not because you missed a diagnosis, but because you didn’t name their fear. Address it.Boundaries protect everyone – Saying no is hard. But it’s part of keeping the profession—and yourself—intact.Invite collaboration – Patients turning to Google or ChatGPT aren’t the enemy. They’re looking for agency. Invite them into the conversation.About the HostDr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.Let’s Connect:Follow the journey of changemakers in medicine and join a community reimagining what’s possible in healthcare.🌐 Website: andreaaustinmd.com🎧 Listen + Subscribe:• Apple Podcasts• Spotify• iHeartRadio• Pandora📸 Instagram: @andreaaustinmd💬 LinkedIn: Andrea Austin, MDAbout the ShowHeartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.

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