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Rx for Success Podcast

Rx for Success Podcast

By: Dr. Randy Cook
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 The Rx for Success podcast spotlights physician leaders reflecting on the elements that made them successful. The podcast is hosted by Dr. Randy Cook, a well-regarded general and vascular surgeon, and former radio personality. Life-Changing Moments hosted by Dr. Dael Waxman is the Rx for Success companion podcast and focuses on the turning points in lives and careers that drive success© 2019-2025 MD Coaches, LLC. All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Life Changing Moments: Listening to the voice inside, Dr. Rebecca Evangelista

    Life Changing Moments: Listening to the voice inside, Dr. Rebecca Evangelista
    Nov 10 2025
    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 powerful lesson in listening to your inner voice and challenging the "shoulds" that can dictate our paths. Discover how to recognize when your work drifts from your core purpose and find the courage to make a change. In this episode, you'll learn: How to identify the signs of misalignment in your career and the courage required to stay true to yourself, even when it means letting go of established roles. Why Dr. Evangelista left private practice for academic medicine, prioritizing her passion for medical education and a practice model that fit her values. The strategic process behind her recent "conscious uncoupling" from a 20-year clinical position when her trajectory and the organization's direction diverged. Practical advice on processing the emotions of major career decisions and the importance of trusted confidants or a physician coach to help you see clearly. How embracing non-clinical leadership roles, like her work as an Associate Dean, can open new doors for meaning, impact, and professional growth. If you are a physician, surgeon, or medical professional feeling "stuck," experiencing burnout, or sensing a disconnect between your work and your purpose, this conversation is an essential guide to writing your own success story and living and leading in a way that feels true. Keywords: physician career transition, surgeon pivot, academic medicine, medical education, finding purpose in medicine, physician burnout, aligning career with values, Life Changing Moments, Dr. Dael Waxman, MD Coaches, physician coaching, leaving clinical practice, authentic leadership, career fulfillment, inner voice, conscious uncoupling. -+=-+=-+=-+= Join the Conversation! We want to hear from you! Do you have additional thoughts about today's topic? Do you have your own Prescription for Success? Record a message on Speakpipe Unlock Bonus content and get the shows early on our Patreon Follow us or Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Amazon | Spotify --- There's more at https://mymdcoaches.com/podcast 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
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    38 mins
  • 212. The Listener: Nadine Semer, MD, MPH

    212. The Listener: Nadine Semer, MD, MPH
    Oct 27 2025
    What 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: Why Dr. Semer believes the rise of palliative care reflects a broken healthcare system and what every clinician can do to fix it. How to become a "medical interpreter"—translating complex diagnoses into clear, compassionate English for your patients. The critical importance of understanding a patient's quality of life goals before recommending invasive procedures like AICDs. Practical lessons from her book that can transform patient interactions, improve adherence, and prevent physician burnout. 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. -+=-+=-+=-+= Join the Conversation! We want to hear from you! Do you have additional thoughts about today's topic? Do you have your own Prescription for Success? Record a message on Speakpipe Unlock Bonus content and get the shows early on our Patreon Follow us or Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Amazon | Spotify --- There's more at https://mymdcoaches.com/podcast 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
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    47 mins
  • Life Changing Moments: Honoring Yourself, with Dr. Amna Shabbir

    Life Changing Moments: Honoring Yourself, with Dr. Amna Shabbir
    Oct 13 2025
    Feeling exhausted, heartbroken, and questioning your future in medicine? You are not alone. In this powerful episode of Life-Changing Moments, host Dr. Dael Waxman sits down with Dr. Amna Shabbir, a primary care internist, geriatrician, and master certified physician coach, for a raw and honest conversation about physician burnout, moral injury, and finding a path forward. Dr. Shabbir bravely shares her own story of reaching a breaking point in traditional primary care, describing it not just as burnout, but as a profound "heartbreak." She opens up about the crushing weight of systemic issues, perfectionism in medicine, and the feeling that her suffering was unwitnessed. This is a must-listen for any healthcare professional feeling stuck, depleted, or considering a career pivot. Discover: The critical difference between physician burnout and heartbreak. Why asking for help as a doctor is an act of courage and how to overcome the stigma. A realistic roadmap for navigating a career transition in medicine, including her shift into geriatrics. The powerful role that physician coaching, counseling, and mental health for doctors played in her healing. How to combat perfectionism and reclaim your agency and self-advocacy. Practical steps for making a change, including the importance of rest and "white space" before making major decisions. If you are struggling with clinical exhaustion, feeling trapped by the sunk cost fallacy, or seeking to reclaim your joy in medicine, this episode offers validation, hope, and a clear message: your well-being matters. Keywords: physician burnout, doctor mental health, career change for doctors, life coaching for physicians, medical career advice, geriatrics, primary care physician, moral injury, perfectionism, physician coach, MD Coaches, Dr. Amna Shabbir, Dr. Dael Waxman, how to leave clinical medicine, physician well-being, doctor burnout, physician depression, finding joy in medicine, medical career pivot, physician resilience, healthcare professional wellness. -+=-+=-+=-+= Join the Conversation! We want to hear from you! Do you have additional thoughts about today's topic? Do you have your own Prescription for Success? Record a message on Speakpipe Unlock Bonus content and get the shows early on our Patreon Follow us or Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Amazon | Spotify --- There's more at https://mymdcoaches.com/podcast 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
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    42 mins
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