Your clinic can’t scale if it’s still running on people instead of systems.

In this episode, Sachin sits down with Jess Rankin, Business Manager at Walker Street Doctors, for a masterclass on what it really takes to transform a clinic from “held together by heroic individuals” into a calm, scalable, system-driven practice.

Jess shares her unexpected transition into practice management, the baptism-by-fire early days, and the pivotal mindset shifts that allowed her and owner Nerida to work as a true leadership team instead of two exhausted people putting out fires.

From rebuilding trust after a tough internal transition, to implementing a service fee increase without losing a single doctor, to moving an entire practice in just eight weeks, to building an intranet that finally ended the “Where is that document?” chaos, Jess lifts the curtain on how real clinics grow - not through hacks or heroics, but through curiosity, communication, and the courage to challenge the old way of doing things.

If you’re a Clinic Owner or Practice Manager who’s ambitious but overwhelmed, struggling with key-person dependency, or craving a smoother, saner way to scale, this conversation will feel like oxygen.

In this episode of the Scale My Clinic Podcast, you’ll learn:

• 05:11 - Why challenging the “we’ve always done it this way” mindset is crucial for breaking growth plateaus and reducing key-person dependency.
• 12:20 - Building the dream practice with your doctors, not for them
• 17:12 - Raising service fees the right way without losing a single GP
• 19:55 - Why centralising processes, policies, and “the way we do things here” is one of the highest-leverage moves
• 29:58 - The power of a true PM – Owner leadership rhythm

ABOUT JESSICA RANKIN

Jess Rankin is the Business Manager at Walker Street Doctors in North Sydney, where she blends strategic thinking with genuine care for people. With a background in HR and health administration, including experience with the AMA NSW, Jess is passionate about creating an efficient, joyful, and values-driven workplace that allow doctors and staff to deliver exceptional care. She’s also the Chairperson of the Unsworth Foundation, leading her family’s philanthropic work to support community and health initiatives across Australia. Known for her energy, organisation, and her favourite question “Why?” Jess believes that strong systems create the space for connection and better care. Away from work, she’s grounded by her husband, two adult children, her parents who live a bit too nearby, and two much-loved cats, Loki and George.

• Website: https://www.walkerstreetdoctors.com.au/

Missed the previous Episode?

Listen to Episode 81 here: The Pressure Index of Ownership: Lessons from AFL, Medicine, and Building a Future-Ready Clinic

🎯 Book your free Practice Growth Call here: https://smc.expert/Personalised-Practice-Audit-PC

If you want a clinic that runs smoother, grows faster, and feels easier to lead, the real breakthroughs aren’t in medicine. They’re in the metrics, mindsets, and leadership moves you make outside the consult room.

In this episode, GP and Practice Owner Dr Andrew Palfreman joins Todd to unpack the unexpected overlap between coaching under-14 AFL kids and running a high-functioning General Practice - and why the “fierce cauldron of self-development” is the best preparation you never knew you needed.

Andrew shares the story behind the now-legendary RPI and why simple, behaviour-driven metrics outperform complex dashboards. He opens up about taking over a long-standing practice earlier than expected, stabilising a team after turbulent ownership changes, and how he rebuilt trust, culture, and momentum from the inside out.

You’ll also hear how Andrew navigated ownership as a new fellow, led calmly through the uncertainty of COVID, built a proactive model of care, and now prepares his clinic for its next major growth phase, both operationally and structurally.

If you’re a GP or Practice Owner looking for grounded, real-world lessons from someone who’s lived every part of the journey - clinical, managerial, cultural, financial - this conversation is a goldmine.

You’ll walk away with insights you can apply immediately, whether you’re stabilising, growing, or scaling your clinic for the future.

In this episode of the Scale My Clinic Podcast, you’ll learn:

• Why coaching-style thinking makes you a stronger Practice Owner (00:22)
• How to create lead/lag indicators that drive real behaviour change, keep your team aligned, and remove ambiguity without overwhelming people with dashboards (01:26)
• The first high-impact decisions new owners must make to stabilise the team, protect the business, and set the clinic up for long-term growth (10:21)
• What strong crisis leadership really requires and how to guide your team with confidence in uncertain moments (23:04)
• How planned care, health assessments, and rebooking systems create sustainable scale (28:49)
• How strategic room planning, telehealth flow, and property decisions that enable growth (36:02)

ABOUT DR ANDREW PALFREMAN

Dr Palfreman graduated from the ANU Medical School in 2009 and completed GP specialty training to become a Fellow of the RACGP in 2014. He worked previously as a Registrar at Winnungah Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service and Interchange General Practice. While Clinical Director at IGP, he was fortunate to help at Watson in 2015 prior to the passing of Dr Phillip Toua (well known to longstanding Watson and Giralang patients). In 2017, Dr Palfreman returned permanently as Clinical Director and bought the practice in November 2018. In 2021, he also began work at a GP outreach clinic with Directions Health Service.

Originally from Melbourne, he is an alumnus of the University of Melbourne and RMIT and worked in 1997 at Monash University. He moved to Canberra in 2001 and spent two years in Solomon Islands prior to studying medicine. In October 2018 he returned briefly to the Pacific as a locum doctor in Port Vila, Vanuatu. He has three children, a Staffy called Steve, and lives locally.

While interested in general medicine, he has specific interests in chronic disease and pain management, men’s health and Indigenous health. In November 2024, he received a Medicare Champion award from the Australian Government:

Announcing Australia's Medicare champions | Health Portfolio Ministers | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

• Website:

Thinking about buying or starting a practice? Here’s what it really takes to step into ownership, lead with confidence, and scale without burning out.

In this episode, Todd Cameron sits down with Dr Brodie Carlon, a newly minted GP who took the bold leap into Practice Ownership just 18 months after fellowship. From inheriting a decades-old family practice in Tasmania to leading it through modernisation and recruitment challenges, Brodie’s story is one of courage, clarity, and community.

You’ll hear how he navigated a generational handover with his father-in-law, what he learned about managing time and finances as a first-time owner, and how he’s creating a thriving workplace that balances patient care, team culture, and sustainability.

This conversation is a must-listen for any Clinic Owner who’s ever wondered, “Am I really ready for ownership?” or felt the weight of juggling multiple hats — doctor, leader, mentor, and parent. Brodie’s reflections are refreshingly real, reminding us that leadership in healthcare isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about learning, evolving, and staying true to your values while building a clinic that lasts.

Every great clinic starts with intention. With the right structure and support, you can build a business that thrives without burning you out.

In this episode of the Scale My Clinic Podcast, you’ll learn:

• Recognising when you’re ready to go from GP to business leader (00:53)
• How to transition a clinic without losing momentum (03:55)
• Mastering time, focus & delegation as a Clinic Owner (11:20)
• Balancing multiple hats without burning out (19:45)
• How to attract great doctors, modernise your practice, and protect the independence and community feel that make small clinics thrive (27:20)

Dr Brodie Carlon MBBS, FRACGP, is a Specialist General Practitioner and the owner of Bellerive Doctors in Tasmania, a locally owned clinic known for its high-quality, community-focused care.

Brodie is passionate about building a supportive environment where GPs and healthcare professionals can thrive, grow their careers, and deliver outstanding patient care. His approach combines strong clinical leadership with a deep commitment to serving the local community.

You can learn more or book an appointment at Bellerive Doctors.

• Website: https://brodiecarlon.com.au/
• Website: https://www.bellerivedoctors.com.au/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579230205728

🎯 Book your free Practice Growth Call here: https://smc.expert/Personalised-Practice-Audit-PC

Missed the previous Episode?

Listen to Episode 79 here: Amidst All the Chaos, Here’s What GP Owners Can Still Rely On