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SoundPractice

SoundPractice

By: American Association for Physician Leadership®
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 SoundPractice, hosted by the American Association for Physician Leadership®, delivers practical information and fresh perspectives for physician leaders and those running healthcare systems. Physician advocate Michael Sacopulos, JD (healthcare attorney, author, speaker) brings you the best thought leaders, crisp humor, and pithy tips to help your healthcare organization thrive.Copyright ©2022 American Association for Physician Leadership Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Management Management & Leadership Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • Strategic Thinking for Physician Leaders with Dr. Michael Gardner

    Strategic Thinking for Physician Leaders with Dr. Michael Gardner
    Dec 10 2025
    In this episode of SoundPractice, host Mike Sacopulos explores the critical skill of strategic thinking with Michael Gardner, MD, vice president and administrator of Women's and Children's Hospital at University Health in San Antonio, Texas. Gardner shares his extensive journey through physician leadership and breaks down why strategic thinking is essential for physicians who want to shape the future of healthcare. Michael Gardner is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as maternal fetal medicine. He is a certified physician executive (CPE) and in 2025 became a fellow of the American Association for Physician Leadership. Why strategic thinking matters for physicians: Physicians bring a unique perspective that is essential for improving American healthcare. With healthcare consuming roughly 20% of GDP and outcomes that lag behind other developed nations, physician leaders must actively participate in strategic decision-making rather than exclude themselves from these conversations. Strategic vs. clinical thinking: While clinical thinking focuses on immediate patient care with narrow attention to detail, strategic thinking requires a broader view of internal and external environments, long-term organizational goals, and the ability to embrace foresight and ambiguity. The key difference lies in scope and timeline — strategic thinking means planning months and years ahead. Strategic thinking can be learned: Though some physicians may naturally gravitate toward systems-level thinking, strategic thinking is a skill that can be developed through mentorship, education, practice, and progressive leadership experiences. Starting with smaller leadership roles and building confidence prepares physicians for larger strategic challenges. Physician leaders as translators: Successful physician leaders must learn to speak both clinical and business languages. While they don't need to match their CFO's financial expertise or their COO's operational knowledge, they must understand enough to communicate effectively with administrative colleagues and translate strategic concepts back to medical staff. Gardner and his colleague Mark Guadagnoli, PhD, are developing a strategic thinking and planning course series for AAPL, including: - An online strategic thinking course - "The Who, What, Where, and When of Strategic Planning" course - A hybrid strategic planning workshop in 2026 where participants will create actual strategic plans with ongoing guidance and feedback. Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership at www.physicianleaders.org
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    35 mins
  • Communications at a City Hospital with Media Relations Director Dan Collins

    Communications at a City Hospital with Media Relations Director Dan Collins
    Nov 26 2025
    Media relations is more than press releases — it's a strategic tool for driving hospital goals like patient acquisition, physician recruitment, and employee retention. Key Insights - Media vs. PR: Public relations is the tree; media relations is its largest branch. Both must align with organizational priorities, not executive egos. - Platform Strategy: Tailor content for each platform. Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok. Know your audience and demographic. - Crisis Management: Handle negative social media comments strategically —hide misinformation, engage critics through patient advocates, and turn them into ambassadors. - Staffing Impact: Media relations enhance recruitment by showcasing employee recognition stories, cultivating a positive workplace narrative that attracts top talent. Episode Overview In this episode of SoundPractice, Mike Sacopulos interviews Dan Collins, senior director of media relations at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. With nearly three decades of experience at Mercy and a journalism background with the Washington Times and Baltimore Examiner, Collins offers expert insights into how strategic media relations can transform healthcare organizations. Mercy Medical Center's success story is remarkable: the urban community hospital grew from seventh to first in Baltimore's women's health market share, thanks to their "magnet doc" philosophy — recruiting top-tier physicians whose reputations attract patients and peers. Collins explains the hospital’s innovative partnership with NBC affiliate WBAL for "The Woman's Doctor," a weekly TV segment running for over 30 years (likely the longest-running hospital media campaign in the U.S.). The conversation explores tailoring content for different platforms, avoiding TikTok because of demographic mismatches, and managing social media crises by addressing misinformation while engaging critics directly. Collins emphasizes the importance of collaborating with hospital executives, ensuring media relations teams are part of strategic planning. The episode concludes with how media relations support staffing challenges by creating recognition stories for nurses and other healthcare workers, demonstrating organizational values that aid in recruitment and retention. Why It Matters Patients choose doctors, not hospitals. Strategic media relations ensure the right physicians reach the right audiences at the right time. Contact Dan Collins at dcollins@mdmercy.com Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership at www.physicianleaders.org.
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    30 mins
  • Burned-Out Doctors: A Neuropsychologist's Guide to Physician Well-Being with Dr. John Sawyer

    Burned-Out Doctors: A Neuropsychologist's Guide to Physician Well-Being with Dr. John Sawyer
    Nov 12 2025
    In this episode of SoundPractice, host Mike Sacopulos sits down with John Sawyer, PhD, ABPP-CN, a neuropsychologist and medical director of professional staff experience at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, who leads initiatives to address physician burnout and improve well-being across Ochsner's 40,000 employees. With healthcare facing a workforce crisis — an aging population requiring more care, fewer physicians entering the field, and reduced discretionary time among practitioners — Sawyer shares Ochsner’s innovative approach to tackling burnout. Since 2017, Ochsner has focused on three pillars: building individual resilience, improving ease of practice by reducing administrative burdens, and fostering team and culture development. Sawyer also introduces his framework of four archetypes of burned-out physicians: - Over-Engaged: Taking on too much, with unclear priorities. - People-Pleaser: Struggling with boundaries and delegation. - Perfectionist: Over-documenting and micromanaging. - Cynic: Problem-focused and rejecting solutions. He emphasizes the importance of creating psychological safety, where physicians can openly discuss challenges without fear of career repercussions. Effective well-being programs should address the entire healthcare team, as physicians rely on engaged support staff to function effectively. Also, Sawyer encourages organizations to start well-being initiatives now, view them as investments in retention and recruitment, and commit financial resources to wellness efforts — even those not tied directly to RVU generation. Whether you are a healthcare leader or practitioner, this episode provides actionable insights into combating burnout and making your organization "irresistible." Connect with Dr. John Sawyer on LinkedIn. http://linkedin.com/in/john-sawyer-phd-abpp-cn-a1b842156 Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership at www.physicianleaders.org
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    35 mins
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