Épisodes

  • Rural Medicine in 2026: Dr. Lance Hansen’s Life as a Full-Spectrum Family Physician in Idaho | DMD # 79

    Rural Medicine in 2026: Dr. Lance Hansen’s Life as a Full-Spectrum Family Physician in Idaho | DMD # 79
    Apr 16 2026
    In this heartfelt episode of Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane welcomes Dr. Lance Hansen, a full-spectrum family physician practicing in rural Idaho. The two friends, who once shared an office and countless challenging cases for nearly a decade, discuss the unique rewards and realities of rural medicine. Dr. Hansen shares his journey from a Southeast Idaho potato farm to medical school at the University of Washington and a rural training track residency. The conversation covers why he chose broad-scope family medicine, the deep relationships formed in small communities, the challenges of being on call 24/7 for obstetrics, balancing inpatient, outpatient, ER, and procedural work, and the critical role full-spectrum physicians play in keeping rural hospitals and communities alive. They reflect on the importance of strong partnerships, the declining interest in rural practice among new graduates, the value of extra rural and OB training, and the financial realities of rural medicine. Dr. Crane also shares a personal update about his health and the difficult decision to stop accepting new OB patients. Episode Highlights: Dr. Lance Hansen’s background: Growing up on a potato farm in Southeast Idaho, University of Washington School of Medicine, rural training track residency, and nearly 11 years practicing alongside Dr. Crane in Bear LakeWhat “full-spectrum” rural family medicine really looks like in 2026: clinic, hospital rounding, ER call, obstetrics, nursing home care, colonoscopies, and 24/7 OB callThe power of deep community relationships. Seeing patients at church, basketball games, and the grocery storeChallenges of rural practice: long hours, disrupted sleep, being “on an island” without immediate specialists, and the need for strong partnersWhy fewer residents are choosing broad-spectrum rural medicine and the importance of rural exposure and extra trainingThe financial side of rural medicine: loan repayment programs, procedure income, and the stability of critical access hospitalsThe vital role full-spectrum family physicians play in preventing “OB deserts” and keeping services localDr. Crane’s personal health update and decision to stop taking new obstetrics patientsThe emotional highs and lows of truly knowing your patients and their families Top 3 Takeaways: Full-spectrum rural medicine is still alive and deeply rewarding. It allows physicians to use every skill they learned in training while building meaningful, lifelong relationships.Strong partnerships and backup are essential in rural settings; no one can do it alone.Rural communities desperately need more broad-scope family physicians, exposure during training and targeted recruitment of rural-background students are key to solving the growing shortage. About Dr. Lance Hansen Dr. Lance Hansen is a full-spectrum family physician practicing in Preston, Idaho. A native of Southeast Idaho, he completed medical school at the University of Washington and a rural training track residency. He has extensive experience in clinic, inpatient, OB (including C-sections), ER, endoscopy, and nursing home care. Passionate about medical education, Dr. Hansen has served on medical school admissions committees and enjoys mentoring students and residents in rural settings. LinkedIn: Lance Hansen, MD FAAFP About the Host: Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch. Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible. About the Show: Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine. In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole. Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com LMC Series Note: Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease—through candid physician–patient conversations. The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    37 min
  • Vaccine Conversations in 2026: Bridging the Gap Between Parents and Pediatricians | DMD # 78

    Vaccine Conversations in 2026: Bridging the Gap Between Parents and Pediatricians | DMD # 78
    Apr 9 2026
    In this timely episode of Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane interviews Dr. Joel Warsh, a board-certified pediatrician practicing integrative medicine in Los Angeles. Dr. Warsh shares his journey from conventional training to embracing lifestyle-focused care and his deep dive into vaccine science after years of fielding complex parental questions. The conversation addresses the rise in vaccine hesitancy since COVID, the erosion of public trust due to messaging around “safe and effective,” and the growing divide between what physicians see in hospitals versus what parents observe in daily life (chronic conditions, allergies, and developmental issues). Dr. Warsh emphasizes meeting families where they are, avoiding judgment, and prioritizing education over mandates. Key topics include the need for better long-term safety studies, vaccinated vs. unvaccinated research, risk-benefit discussions, and practical approaches to vaccine conversations in time-constrained practices. Both doctors call for humility in medicine, more independent research, and a return to collaborative decision-making focused on healthy children rather than rigid schedules. Episode Highlights Dr. Joel Warsh’s background: Conventional pediatric training, shift to integrative/functional medicine influenced by his wife, and focus on prevention through diet, exercise, and lifestyleWhy vaccine questions became central in his integrative practice and his decision to write the book Between a Shot and a Hard PlacePost-COVID erosion of trust: Frustration with censored discussions, overconfident public health messaging, and the “safe and effective” narrativeThe growing gap between physicians, who see severe infectious diseases and parents, who see rising chronic illness, allergies, ADHD, and autoimmune conditions.Most families are in the middle. They want healthy kids but have legitimate safety questions and want to be heardChallenges of modern practice: Short visit times make deep conversations difficult; many practices dismiss non-compliant familiesThe importance of empathy, listening without judgment, and treating vaccine decisions as shared risk-benefit discussionsCritique of current safety data: Limited long-term studies, lack of cumulative schedule research, and few true vaccinated vs. unvaccinated comparisonsSpecific concerns discussed: Hepatitis B at birth, aluminum, number of vaccines in the schedule, and potential for innovation Call for more rigorous, independent safety research and humility in medicinePractical advice: Set aside longer visits for vaccine discussions, create a safe space for questions, and focus on building trust over time Top 3 Takeaways Meet parents where they are: Empathetic, non-judgmental conversations rebuild trust far better than mandates or dismissal.Prioritize better science: We need more long-term, independent studies on vaccine safety, cumulative effects, and vaccinated vs. unvaccinated outcomes.Focus on healthy kids, not just vaccination rates: Physicians should advocate for safety, innovation, and individualized risk-benefit discussions rather than rigid schedules. About Dr. Joel Warsh Dr. Joel Warsh is a board-certified pediatrician in Los Angeles with training from Cedars-Sinai and Thomas Jefferson University. He practices integrative pediatrics, combining conventional medicine with lifestyle-focused prevention. After years of addressing parental vaccine concerns, he authored the book Between a Shot and a Hard Place to promote informed, balanced discussions on vaccine efficacy and safety. Instagram: @DrJoelGator Book: Between a Shot and a Hard Place (available on Amazon) Substack: Between a Shot and a Hard Place About the Host: Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch. Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible. About the Show: Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine. In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole. Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com LMC Series Note: Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease—through candid physician–patient conversations. The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, ...
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    45 min
  • Evidence-Based AI for Smarter Doctor Visits in Rare Cancer | LMC # 77

    Evidence-Based AI for Smarter Doctor Visits in Rare Cancer | LMC # 77
    Apr 2 2026
    Dr. Peter Crane, wearing both physician and metastatic cancer patient hats, hosts Steve McBee and Michael Weishuhn to discuss bridging the information gap in rare disease care. Steve shares two decades of experience with solitary fibrous tumor, highlighting the challenges of overwhelming question lists, time-constrained visits, and the value of focused, relevant preparation. Michael explains how Inciteful Med anchors large language models in peer-reviewed medical literature (primarily PubMed) to deliver cited, verifiable insights, reducing hallucinations common in general AI tools. The conversation covers the shift from adversarial or generic AI use to collaborative preparation: uploading medical records (in a secure, non-HIPAA-certified patient-focused system), generating prioritized questions, translating complex notes into patient-friendly language, and supporting personalized decision-making. Topics include limitations of population-level guidelines, the power of integrating personal records with research, and real-world examples like advocating for liquid biopsies. The episode emphasizes humility, agenda-setting, and using tools to make limited appointment time highly productive for both patients and clinicians. Episode Highlights: Introduction to the LMC Series and the need for credible, cited information resources for rare diseasesSteve McBee’s 20-year journey with metastatic solitary fibrous tumor and lessons from searching for knowledgeMichael Weishuhn’s background: founding a tutoring marketplace, then developing an academic literature search engine now used by ~40,000 academics monthly, evolving into Inciteful MedDr. Crane’s perspective as both physician and patient: welcoming well-prepared patients while cautioning against adversarial or hallucinated AI outputs (e.g., inappropriate ER visits driven by generic ChatGPT)Challenges of traditional visits: long question lists, 15-20 minute slots, competing demands on physicians, and biased patient researchHow Inciteful Med differs from general LLMs: anchors every factual statement to cited medical literature with paragraph-level references for verification; focuses on preparation rather than diagnosis or replacement of clinical judgmentPatient preparation strategies: using the tool to generate overviews, suggested questions, and prioritized lists tailored to personal circumstancesSteve’s “playbook” approach: one-page summary of expectations, communication style, quality-of-life goals, and reprioritized questionsNew features: secure upload of EHR exports (notes, labs, pathology interpretations) to contextualize answers and translate medical language into understandable termsReal-world impact: helping patients advocate for tests like liquid biopsies (ctDNA) by drafting informed letters to doctors and insurersLimitations acknowledged: not HIPAA-certified (patient-focused with strong security practices), systemic issues in medical literature (e.g., reproducibility crises), and the value of physician clinical experienceFuture vision: more personalized medicine, moving beyond population guidelines to individual-tailored plans using genetics, history, and evidence Top 3 Takeaways: Prepare collaboratively, not adversarially: Use cited, literature-anchored tools like Inciteful Med to bring focused, verifiable questions and context to visits, making the most of limited time.Anchor AI in truth: General large language models can hallucinate or reinforce biases; tools grounded in PubMed with direct citations allow patients and physicians to verify information together.Shift to personalized, informed conversations: Combine patient research, medical records, and clinical expertise to move beyond basic education into tailored decision-making that respects both evidence and individual circumstances. About Steve McBee and Michael Weishuhn Steve McBee is a 20-year survivor of metastatic solitary fibrous tumor (SFT). He has extensive experience navigating rare disease care, from initial diagnosis after a car accident to multiple surgeries, treatments, and ongoing management. Steve shares his institutional knowledge through a Substack newsletter focused on helping other SFT patients and emphasizes practical preparation for doctor visits. Michael Weishuhn has a background in technology and education. He previously founded and sold a tutoring marketplace (Wyant). He later developed an academic literature search engine used by approximately 40,000 academics monthly. This foundation led to Inciteful Med, which combines literature search with large language models to provide patients and physicians with cited, evidence-based medical insights. Website: https://incitefulmed.com SFT Patient Guide: https://incitefulmed.com/resources/sft-patient-guide About the Host: Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in...
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    41 min
  • Profit Over Patients: Why Healthcare Is Failing America | DMD #76

    Profit Over Patients: Why Healthcare Is Failing America | DMD #76
    Mar 26 2026
    Dr. Joseph Jarvis, a semi-retired public health physician and consultant from Salt Lake City, joins Dr. Peter Crane on Doctors Making a Difference. With decades of experience spanning primary care, occupational and environmental medicine, state health leadership in Nevada and Colorado, and now health system reform advocacy, Dr. Jarvis offers a unique, authoritative perspective on what’s gone wrong in American healthcare, and how we can fix it. The conversation explores his calling to medicine, the stark differences he observed between nonprofit and for-profit hospital systems, the failures of applying free-market principles to healthcare, and the alarming economic consequences of unchecked healthcare spending. Dr. Jarvis also discusses how the corporatization of medicine has fueled rural healthcare collapse and broader societal division. He presents a hopeful, practical solution through his proposed “Utah Cares” model and urges physicians to become active advocates for systemic change. Episode Highlights: Dr. Jarvis’s diverse career: from community health center family physician and home-visit doctor to state health officer, occupational lung disease specialist, consultant, author, and film producerThe deep personal calling that has kept him engaged in medicine for decades, including delivering babies, caring for the elderly, and investigating occupational outbreaksThe pivotal moment in Nevada that revealed the dangers of for-profit hospital systems: higher costs, worse outcomes, and refusal to accept trauma patients who couldn’t payWhy traditional market principles (buyer knowledge, seller motives, elasticity of demand) simply do not apply to healthcareThe explosion of administrative costs and “dumbing down” of hospital staffing driven by profit pressuresHow healthcare’s growing share of GDP (approaching 20% and heading toward 25%) threatens America’s economic future, drawing parallels to the Soviet Union’s collapseThe link between rural hospital closures, economic decline, and rising political polarization in AmericaDr. Jarvis’s proposed solution: “Utah Cares”, a publicly-oriented, nonprofit health financing system that pays hospitals global budgets, eliminates patient bills, raises provider pay, and uses monopsony power for better drug pricesCall to action: unelect incumbents beholden to the medical industrial complex and support ballot initiatives for real reformHis documentary film “Healing Us” and upcoming advocacy across the Intermountain West Top 3 Takeaways: Markets do not work in healthcare, patients are not informed buyers, demand is driven by illness (not price), and profit motives conflict with the Hippocratic Oath.America’s healthcare spending is unsustainable and is actively harming our economy and social fabric; without reform, we risk a major economic decline.Physicians have both the moral authority and responsibility to speak up and advocate for systemic change that puts patients and healers first. About Dr. Joseph Jarvis: Dr. Joseph Jarvis is a semi-retired physician practicing public health and environmental/occupational medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah. A graduate of the University of Utah School of Medicine, he has served as a community health center physician, state health officer in Nevada and Colorado, faculty member at National Jewish Health, and national consultant on cancer clusters, indoor air quality, and workers’ compensation. He is the author of multiple books on health system reform and producer of the documentary film Healing Us. Dr. Jarvis currently devotes much of his time to unpaid advocacy for fundamental healthcare financing reform. Website: https://utahcareshealth.com Film: Healing Us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oovXwK0vaGM About the Host: Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch. Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible. About the Show: Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine. In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole. Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com LMC Series Note: Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease—through candid physician–patient conversations. The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast ...
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    44 min
  • What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Menopause & Bioidentical Hormones | Dr. Prudence Hall | DMD # 75

    What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Menopause & Bioidentical Hormones | Dr. Prudence Hall | DMD # 75
    Mar 19 2026
    In this powerful episode of Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane sits down with Dr. Prudence Hall, a trailblazing gynecologist and founder of The Hall Center. Dr. Hall recounts her unexpected calling to medicine, the discovery that conventional menopause care was failing women, and how she built a revolutionary integrative practice using bioidentical hormones, international approaches from France and Germany, functional medicine principles from Dr. Jeffrey Bland, and a true team-based model. Listeners hear candid stories of regulatory pushback, the power of presence and love in healing, and practical guidance for physicians who want to offer more than “one-size-fits-all” hormone therapy. This conversation is a masterclass in scaling impact while staying deeply connected to patients. Episode Highlights Dr. Hall’s dramatic calling to become a gynecologist while dancing on tables in France at age 18From philosophy & world religions to delivering babies and training as a surgeonThe “aha” moment: realizing Premarin/Provera wasn’t enough for her menopausal patientsBringing bioidentical hormones, thyroid optimization, testosterone, DHEA, and adrenal support from EuropeDiscovering functional medicine with Dr. Jeffrey Bland and building a multi-disciplinary teamThe spiritual dimension of healing: presence, love, and seeing patients as whole beingsFacing the California Medical Board, probation, and going “underground” during the controversyWriting Radiant Again & Forever (with foreword by Suzanne Somers) and giving it away freeHow the removal of the HRT black-box warning validated decades of her workPractical advice for physicians: youthful hormone reference ranges, multi-hormone evaluation, and when to bring in specialists Top 3 Takeaways Menopause is not just estrogen and progesterone. Check thyroid, testosterone, DHEA, adrenals, and lifestyle; match to youthful reference ranges, not lab “normal” ranges skewed to sick or elderly patients.Build a team of nutritionists, functional NP, or stress counselors, so you can deliver truly personalized care even in today’s time-constrained system.Presence and love are powerful medicine, showing up fully for patients heals both them and you. About Dr. Prudence Hall Dr. Prudence Hall is a board-certified gynecologist and obstetrician who graduated from USC Keck School of Medicine in 1982. After practicing in a traditional high-volume group, she founded The Hall Center in Santa Monica, California, one of the earliest integrative restorative medicine practices focused on bioidentical hormone optimization, functional medicine, and whole-person healing. A pioneer in the field, she has trained with leaders in Europe and the U.S., appeared on Oprah, Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, and collaborated with Suzanne Somers. She is the author of Radiant Again & Forever and continues to teach physicians and patients worldwide about vitality at every stage of a woman’s life. Website : https://www.thehallcenter.com , https://www.drprudencehall.com About the Host: Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch. Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible. About the Show: Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine. In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole. Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com LMC Series Note: Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease—through candid physician–patient conversations. The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    43 min
  • Resilience and Human Connection: Tools for Physicians to Show Up Whole with Dr. John Winkler | DMD # 74

    Resilience and Human Connection: Tools for Physicians to Show Up Whole with Dr. John Winkler | DMD # 74
    Mar 12 2026

    In this heartfelt episode of Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane welcomes back Dr. John Winkler, emergency physician and peer-support advocate. After briefly recapping the personal tragedy and growth shared in the June 4, 2025 episode, Dr. Winkler dives into the practical tools that have sustained him: the Gottman Method’s Four Horsemen and their antidotes, mindfulness that leans into pain instead of avoiding it, crucial conversations, rewriting negative storylines, and simple shift-prep rituals that keep him present and compassionate even on the busiest nights. Listeners walk away with actionable strategies to integrate personal healing with professional purpose, turn conflict into connection, and rediscover why they fell in love with medicine in the first place.

    Episode Highlights

    • Welcome back and quick recap of Dr. Winkler’s inspiring personal journey (June 4, 2025 episode : A Physician’s Grief, Grace & Grit: Finding Purpose After Personal Tragedy)
    • How loss, peer support, and family rebuilt his “why” in medicine
    • The healing power of genuine human connection with patients and colleagues
    • The 2 a.m. ER story the night before his wife’s funeral that still shapes his practice
    • Introduction to John & Julie Gottman’s work and the Four Horsemen of relationships
    • Practical antidotes: gentle startup, culture of appreciation, and repair
    • Real-life examples de-escalating angry patients and supporting teams during crisis
    • Mindfulness, crucial conversations, and rewriting negative storylines
    • Mental and physical prep for unpredictable ER shifts: deep breathing, exercise, presence
    • Resources that helped him turn stress into meaning and growth

    Top 3 Takeaways

    • Master the antidotes to the Four Horsemen (gentle startup, appreciation and repair) to turn conflict into deeper connection at work and at home.
    • Lean into the hard, sacred moments with patients and colleagues; the compassion you give comes back and heals you too.
    • Prepare for every shift with deep breathing, physical reset, and intentional presence, then allow full recovery afterward, so you can show up as your whole, authentic self.

    About Dr. John Winkler

    Dr. John Winkler is a board-certified emergency physician with more than 15 years at a Level I trauma center. After losing his first wife to a sudden illness during internship and raising three young children while finishing residency, he rebuilt his life and found deep purpose through peer support, relationship counseling, and teaching resilience. Married to Rachel, he and his wife now raise a blended family of six children. Dr. Winkler is passionate about helping physicians integrate their whole selves into both patient care and personal life so they can show up healed and present wherever they are needed.

    About the Host:

    Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch.

    Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible.

    About the Show:

    Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine.

    In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole.

    Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com

    LMC Series Note:

    Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease—through candid physician–patient conversations.

    The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    42 min
  • Preventive Cardiology, Direct Care Models & Physician Wellness | DMD # 73

    Preventive Cardiology, Direct Care Models & Physician Wellness | DMD # 73
    Mar 5 2026
    Dr. Troy Badger, an interventional cardiologist with over a decade of experience, joins host Dr. Peter Crane to discuss his evolution from high-acuity procedural work to preventive and performance medicine. Drawing from his own atrial fibrillation episode triggered by stress and metabolic issues, Dr. Badger shares how he founded Cardio Strong MD, a concierge-style practice focused on lifestyle interventions, risk factor management, and athlete-specific cardiac evaluations. The conversation covers the realities of building a cash-based model, the importance of physician presence on social media to combat misinformation, the rise of direct primary and specialty care, and insights for mid-career physicians seeking balance amid burnout. They emphasize adapting traditional roles, collaborating with innovative health models, and prioritizing personal health to sustain a meaningful career in medicine. Episode Highlights Dr. Badger's backstory: Training at University of Utah, practicing in Idaho, and developing an interest in preventive health after a personal AFib episodePersonal health journey: Recognizing metabolic risks, sleep deprivation, and the need for lifestyle changes as a busy interventionalistFounding Cardio Strong MD: A concierge preventive cardiology practice blending longevity medicine, nutrition, exercise physiology, and wearable monitoringBalancing dual roles: Maintaining an employed hospital-based job with travel accommodations while pursuing a passion projectSocial media's impact: Combating misinformation, building a physician voice, and reaching patients influenced by algorithmsDirect care challenges: Marketing, patient recruitment, non-competes, EMR selection, and financial sustainability in cash-based modelsPreventive cardiology's growth: Integrating cardiorenal perspectives, lipid management, and early interventions in primary care referralsPatient education and access: Addressing vaccine hesitancy, telemedicine trends, and the need for personalized, evidence-based careAdvice for physicians: Finding the right employer fit, blending traditional and innovative models, and pursuing passion projects for fulfillmentFuture of healthcare: Role of venture capital in longevity medicine, importance of physician involvement in tech-driven innovations Top 3 Takeaways Prioritize your own health: Early stress, sleep, and metabolic factors can lead to personal crises; use them as catalysts for preventive focus and practice innovation.Build a sustainable career: Blending employed stability with passion projects like direct care models, while navigating challenges like marketing and non-competes through community learning.Engage on social media authentically to counter misinformation and scale impact. Patients value physician expertise for evidence-based guidance in a algorithm-driven world. About Dr. Troy Badger Dr. Troy Badger is an interventional cardiologist practicing in Idaho, with a passion for preventive health and performance medicine. Trained at the University of Utah, he has over 10 years of experience in high-acuity cardiology. After a personal health scare with atrial fibrillation, he founded Cardio Strong MD, a concierge practice offering personalized preventive cardiology, lifestyle coaching, and athlete evaluations. Dr. Badger balances his hospital-based role with this niche work, advocating for evidence-based care amid social media influences. He shares insights on Instagram and his website to educate patients and peers. Instagram: @cardiostrong_md Website: www.cardiostrongmd.com About the Host: Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch. Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible. About the Show: Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine. In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole. Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com LMC Series Note: Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease—through candid physician–patient conversations. The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz ...
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    39 min
  • Continuing Education, Burnout Prevention, and Creative Pursuits in Medicine | DMD # 72

    Continuing Education, Burnout Prevention, and Creative Pursuits in Medicine | DMD # 72
    Feb 26 2026
    Dr. Dave Davis, the most cited primary care physician in Canada, joins Dr. Peter Crane to share his career journey from clinical practice to revolutionizing CME. With decades in family medicine, academia at McMaster and the University of Toronto, and innovative research, Dave discusses the inefficacy of traditional lectures, effective learning strategies like problem-based learning and point-of-care tools, and the importance of relationships in medicine. The conversation delves into avoiding burnout by listening to one's "gut," pivoting to meaningful roles like underserved community care during the AIDS epidemic, and exploring creativity through science fiction novels and historical fiction. Dave also highlights volunteer work in retirement as a source of fulfillment. This episode offers physicians insights on staying engaged, balancing professional demands, and embracing holistic personal growth for long-term career satisfaction. Episode Highlights Dave's early career spark in CME after attending ineffective lectures, leading to research and roles at McMaster and University of TorontoPublishing a provocative JAMA paper showing traditional CME lectures fail to change behavior, based on randomized trials and reviewsEffective CME alternatives: Daily journal reading, colleague discussions, small-group sharing, point-of-care lookups, and quality improvement with feedbackShift from pharmaceutical-sponsored CME to unbiased, embedded learning in practice, like electronic consultations and specialist inputPersonal strategies for staying current: Treating medicine as a "school without walls," using computers for quick answers, and daily patient-driven research Burnout onset after 10-12 years in routine practice; rediscovering joy through teaching doctor-patient relationships and pivoting during 1987 Ontario physician strikeTransformative move to urban community health center: Handling AIDS cases, collaborating with multidisciplinary team, and feeling "alive" in meaningful careBalancing academia: 60% clinical practice with 40% research at University of Toronto, allowing time for reflection and sharing experiencesWriting origins in high school science fiction ideas; completing novels like "Potter's Tale" (inspired by Da Vinci Code structure) and "The Last Immortal" on eternal lifeCurrent project: Historical fiction novel "Clandestine" based on secret Warsaw Ghetto medical school during WWII, involving research trips and interviews Writing process tips: Join critique groups for humility, take online courses (e.g., Dan Brown's MasterClass), start small with memoirs or local pieces, and allocate dedicated timeVolunteerism in retirement: Running church-based drop-in center for homeless and seniors, focusing on listening to personal stories for healing and connectionCore advice: Prioritize relationships with patients, family, and colleagues; listen to what energizes you to avoid becoming an "empty shell" post-career Top 3 Takeaways Rethink CME: Move beyond lectures to interactive, patient-centered strategies like point-of-care research and small-group discussions for better retention and application.Combat burnout: Listen to your "gut" by identifying what energizes you, whether teaching, community service, or creative hobbies and make time for it amid professional demands. Embrace wholeness: Cultivate relationships, volunteerism, and personal passions like writing to become a fuller person, ensuring long-term fulfillment in and beyond medicine. About Dr. Dave Davis Dr. Dave Davis is a retired family physician, educator, and author, renowned as Canada's most cited primary care physician for his influential research on continuing medical education (CME). With a career spanning clinical practice, academia at McMaster University and the University of Toronto, and roles in quality improvement, he pioneered evidence-based approaches to physician learning. Dave's work includes randomized trials challenging traditional CME methods and promoting embedded, systems-based strategies. In retirement, he authors science fiction and historical fiction novels, volunteers at a community drop-in center, and shares insights via TikTok and his website. His experiences—from underserved AIDS care to creative writing, emphasize holistic physician wellness. Website; https://drdavedavis.com LinkedIn: Dave Davis TikTok: Dave Davis About the Host: Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch. Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible. About the Show: Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to ...
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    36 min