Succeed in Medicine: Practical Knowledge for Busy Physicians cover art

Succeed in Medicine: Practical Knowledge for Busy Physicians

Succeed in Medicine: Practical Knowledge for Busy Physicians

By: Bradley B. Block MD Doctor Podcast Network
Listen for free

About this listen

 Was your medical education enough to handle everything physician life demands? From lawsuits to leadership, career decisions to challenging conversations, balancing the personal with the professional — not enough was addressed in medical school, residency or fellowship. This medical podcast fills those gaps so you can live up to the expectations that come with the white coat — not just in the exam room, but in all the places your MD follows you. This show is the physician mentor you didn’t realize you needed. Your host, Dr. Bradley Block, a private practice ENT, is right there with you — navigating the same challenges and bringing in world-class guests to teach, as he puts it, “everything we should have been learning while we were memorizing Kreb’s cycle.” With nearly 500 episodes and close to half a million downloads, Brad has built a trusted space where physicians come for brass-tacks, immediately-applicable advice. You don’t need another certification. You need a medical podcast that can be your physician mentor. It covers interpersonal skills, medical education, doctor personal finance, doctor charting, doctor careers, doctor mental health, physician soft skills, physician parenting, physician executive skills, medical decision making, medical professional development, physician side gigs, main gigs, reacting to bad reviews, misinformation, social media, negotiating and what to do when someone yells, “Is there a doctor on board?” Guests have included Lady Glaucomflecken Kristen Flanary, Matt Abrahams, PhD, Gita Pensa, MD, Nneka Unachukwu, MD, (Dr. Una) Amy Fogelman, MD, and Bapu Jena, MD, PhD. A proud founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network!Copyright 2018-2025, all rights reserved, Bradley B. Block, MD Career Success Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • Stop Saying Nazis Coined the Term Provider! with Volke Roelcke, PhD, and Mical Raz, MD, PhD | EP509

    Stop Saying Nazis Coined the Term Provider! with Volke Roelcke, PhD, and Mical Raz, MD, PhD | EP509
    Mar 17 2026
    What if the term “provider” has no Nazi roots whatsoever, and the claim that it does actually harms important conversations about healthcare? In this myth-busting episode, Dr. Bradley Block sits with Dr. Volke Roelcke and Dr. Mical Raz as they trace the real origins of “provider” to the rise of U.S. health insurance: early Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans in the 1930s, then Medicare and Medicaid in 1965, when neutral language was needed to describe anyone delivering a paid clinical service; hospitals, physicians, nurses, physical therapists, everyone. The myth began with a single unfortunate mistranslation of the Nazi-era German term “Krankenbehandler” (a stigmatizing label restricting Jewish physicians to treating only Jewish patients) and exploded after a 2019 blog post. They show how repeating this falsehood trivializes the actual persecution of Jewish doctors under the Nazis, turns physicians (one of the most privileged and highly paid professions in the world) into a faux “marginalized group,” dilutes the power of calling out real harm to truly vulnerable populations, and distracts from genuine issues like scope creep and regulation. The conversation also highlights the importance of respecting expertise: physicians in medicine, historians in history, and why peer-reviewed journals should not let sweeping historical claims pass without proper review. Three Actionable Takeaways When you hear the “provider = Nazi” claim, correct it in one sentence: “The term has zero Nazi origins, it comes from U.S. health-insurance history. Here’s the open-access JGIM article.”Respect expertise the same way we demand it in medicine: don’t make or publish big historical claims if you don’t speak the language or read the sources, doctors aren’t historians any more than historians are surgeons.Focus energy on real solutions for professionalism and autonomy; lobbying, education, trust-building, clear regulation, instead of weaponizing the Holocaust for terminology battles. About the Show: Succeed In Medicine covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school! About the Guests: Dr. Volke Roelcke is a German historian of medicine and the biomedical sciences whose work focuses on 20th-century medicine, especially under the Nazi regime and the ethical history of human-subject research. He trained in medicine, completed specialist training in psychiatry, and served for over 20 years as Professor of the History of Medicine and Director of the Institute for the History, Theory and Ethics of Medicine at Justus Liebig University Giessen before retiring. He was a member and briefly co-chair of the Lancet Commission on Medicine, Nazism, and the Holocaust. Dr. Mical Raz is the Charles E. and Dale L. Phelps Professor in Public Policy and Health at the University of Rochester, where she also practices internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital. Her grandfather left Berlin for Israel in 1933; most of his family perished in the Holocaust. She teaches undergraduates about insurance systems and has published extensively on child welfare, poverty, and coercive interventions. Her books include The Lobotomy Letters, What’s Wrong with the Poor?, Abusive Policies, and Making Families. Article:  Physicians or Providers: Inventing Nazi Origins, undermines Debates on Medical Professionalism. About the Host: Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts Succeed In Medicine podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physicians Want to be a guest? Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more! Socials: @physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook @physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube @physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter This medical podcast is your physician mentor to fill the gaps in your medical education. We cover physician soft skills, charting, interpersonal skills, doctor finance, doctor mental health, medical decisions, physician parenting, physician executive skills, navigating your doctor career, and medical professional development. This is critical CME for physicians, but without the credits (yet). A proud founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network!Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let’s grow! Disclaimer:This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of ...
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • Communication skills to save your physician marriage with Michael F. Myers, MD, Part 2 | EP508

    Communication skills to save your physician marriage with Michael F. Myers, MD, Part 2 | EP508
    Mar 10 2026
    What if mastering communication in your marriage as a physician could be as transformative as learning a life-saving procedure in residency? In this second part of a two-part conversation, Dr. Michael Myers shares insights from his extensive experience treating physician couples, emphasizing the value of professional help in facilitating communication during protected times like retreats or dates. He illustrates how a third party can help rephrase defensive or hierarchical language, common in medicine's decisive environment, into softer, more effective expressions, such as turning "you're stubborn" into "I feel you're digging in your heels," to foster understanding without offense. Dr. Myers discusses dynamics when the physician is female, noting women's multifaceted identities beyond medicine and potential role reversals where husbands manage home life, but warns of conflicts arising from feelings of being taken for granted or loneliness. He highlights red flags like unexplained drinking or affairs, urging early articulation of issues to prevent escalation, and notes that most couples recover from affairs by entering a "new normal" with professional guidance. For same-sex couples, he addresses communication stereotypes: avoidance in male pairs or overthinking in female ones, while stressing commonalities in all relationships. In dual-physician marriages, intellectualization may dominate, but reviewing arrangements like part-time work during child-rearing years and supporting paternity leave promotes respect and balance. Parting tips include finding uninterrupted time, transitioning from work mode, taking risks by being vulnerable about insecurities, and converting individual therapy into couples work to avoid exclusion. Three Actionable Takeaways: Seek professional facilitation for tough conversations: Use a therapist to rephrase defensive language and ensure both partners feel heard, preventing escalation into arguments or name-calling.Regularly review relationship dynamics: Check in on sacrifices like relocations or part-time work, honoring promises and expressing appreciation to avoid resentment or feelings of being sidelined.Take communication risks during protected time: Be vulnerable about insecurities or feelings, such as loneliness, to deepen connection, and avoid defaulting to safe topics, use this safe space to address meaningful issues. About the Show: Succeed In Medicine covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school! About the Guest: Dr. Michael F. Myers is a professor of clinical psychiatry and recent past vice president of education and director of training in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn. He's a specialist in physician health and the author of many books, including "Physicians with Lived Experience: How Their Stories Offer Clinical Guidance" and "Doctors' Marriages: A Look at the Problems and Their Solutions." He lectures widely on stresses in medical training, burnout, moral injury, depression, substance use, PTSD, marital discord, and reducing stigma in medicine. Connect with Dr. Michael Myers: Website: https://www.michaelfmyers.com About the Host: Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts Succeed In Medicine podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physicians Want to be a guest? Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more! Socials: @physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook @physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube @physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter This medical podcast is your physician mentor to fill the gaps in your medical education. We cover physician soft skills, charting, interpersonal skills, doctor finance, doctor mental health, medical decisions, physician parenting, physician executive skills, navigating your doctor career, and medical professional development. This is critical CME for physicians, but without the credits (yet). A proud founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network!Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let’s grow! Disclaimer:This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • Communication skills to save your physician marriage with Michael F. Myers, MD, Part 1 | Ep507

    Communication skills to save your physician marriage with Michael F. Myers, MD, Part 1 | Ep507
    Mar 3 2026
    Struggling to balance a demanding medical career with a healthy marriage? It might be more common than you think. In this part one of two eye-opening episode of Succeed In Medicine podcast host Dr. Bradley Block interviews Dr. Michael F. Myers, as they delve into frequent issues in physician marriages, including communication gaps, workaholism, and using work as an escape from home tensions. Dr. Myers shares insights on recognizing when overwork crosses into avoidance, the impact of poor role models from past generations, and practical ways to transition from work mode to family presence. Key discussions include protecting couple time amid busy schedules, handling defensiveness in conversations, and fostering intentional dates or "grown-up time" away from kids. They also touch on generational shifts in medicine, where younger physicians prioritize life balance over endless dedication, and the importance of transparency about personal costs of overwork. Dr. Myers emphasizes treating marital communication as a skill to master, like medical training, and highlights resources like retreats for enrichment. Whether you're a physician navigating marital discord or supporting a partner in medicine, this episode offers compassionate guidance to prevent burnout at home, strengthen relationships, and model healthy dynamics for kids, setting the stage for part two next week. Three Actionable Takeaways: Protect Couple Time Intentionally: Schedule uninterrupted "grown-up time" daily e.g., 30 minutes post-work with no distractions like TV or phones, or bi-weekly dates even low-cost walks; train kids to respect boundaries to rebuild connection beyond co-parenting, reducing feelings of drifting apart.Create a Work-to-Home Transition Ritual: Build in buffer time after shifts, whether a commute unwind, quick run, or quiet moment to shift from decisiveness at work to presence at home; recognize when exhaustion is temporary and communicate needs to avoid guilt or resentment.Listen Without Defensiveness: When a spouse flags overwork or avoidance, pause and reflect instead of rationalizing; treat communication as a learnable skill like medicine, seeking resources like marital retreats or therapy to address root issues before they escalate to fights or disconnection. About the Show: Succeed In Medicine covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school! About the Guest: Dr. Michael F. Myers is a professor of clinical psychiatry and recent past vice president of education and director of training in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn. He's a specialist in physician health and the author of many books, including "Physicians with Lived Experience: How Their Stories Offer Clinical Guidance" and "Doctors' Marriages: A Look at the Problems and Their Solutions." He lectures widely on stresses in medical training, burnout, moral injury, depression, substance use, PTSD, marital discord, and reducing stigma in medicine. Connect with Dr. Michael Myers: Website: https://www.michaelfmyers.com About the Host: Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts Succeed In Medicine podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physicians Want to be a guest? Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more! Socials: @physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook @physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube @physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter This medical podcast is your physician mentor to fill the gaps in your medical education. We cover physician soft skills, charting, interpersonal skills, doctor finance, doctor mental health, medical decisions, physician parenting, physician executive skills, navigating your doctor career, and medical professional development. This is critical CME for physicians, but without the credits (yet). A proud founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network!Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let’s grow! Disclaimer:This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.