White Coats of the Round Table: Recent Episodes
Mike Asbach, John McDonald
A podcast for healthcare professionals by healthcare professionals. Our mission through this project is to create a community for clinicians to learn and discuss all aspects of their career in healthcare. We welcome all clinicians and medical professionals to use our content to build professional knowledge, and support and grow their careers.
Would you take your dream job if it meant making half of your current salary? While money may not buy happiness, a lack of money can cause great stress and inconvenience. Mike and John talk about how they navigate compensation and its relationship to contentment.
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If you could change one thing about the healthcare system in the United States, what would that be? Mike and John disagree about what parts off the healthcare system are broken and debate their perspective from different fields of practice.
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Jamie tells us about her journey of leaving retail pharmacy and searching for something she likes doing instead of just what's available. Through trial and error, she found fulfilment in pharmacogenomics and medical writing. Be scrappy and be brave!
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Mike and John discuss if it is worthwhile to go back to school. Terminal degrees often gain respect and an presumption of expertise and therefore may not see monetary benefits by pursuing further education such as an MBA, but someone with a masters may see a return on their investment in further education.
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"If I were to die tomorrow, would I have regrets in terms of the amount of time I've spent on my career? Would I have wished that I had done things differently? Would I have wished that I maybe had been more impactful?"
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Mike and John are joined by professor Karl Williams to discuss the value of advocating for your profession. Improvements in protocols and access to care can require governmental changes to take place, often at the intervention of practitioners and professional organizations.
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Take a peek behind the scenes as Mike walks through a day in his life. Hear how he schedules his day, organizes his tasks, and meets his deadlines while still prioritizing being home for dinner. Between consulting, seeing patients, hosting a podcast, and industry speaking, it is vital to work with intentionality to avoid burnout.
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Mike and Harrison Reed discuss ways to build your CV and your network through submitting abstracts to conferences. This can be a great way to ease into medical writing and establish yourself as a key opinion leader. For a small upfront investment, being selected to speak at a conference can have large career payoffs.
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On this unedited episode from the vault, Mike and John discuss how they build out their CV to transition to non-clinical roles and how to get nominated for a speaking event.
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Mike and John continue their conversation about interview questions and preparation, touching on topics such as salary and benefits as well as conveying enthusiasm without appearing obnoxious.
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John and Mike go over their interview stories and experiences, both good and bad. From what questions to ask to how you should dress, they offer advice from their experiences as both interviewer and interviewee.
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From researching the company to practicing our elevator pitch for a dreaded question, Mike and John go over their personal experience preparing for an interview, as well as the perspective as interviewer. John gives his opinion on tattoos while Mike tries to answer questions on the fly using the STAR method.
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Mike and John discuss if you should be seeking and applying to jobs while happily employed. Is it worthwhile to keep a pulse on the job market? In most careers there is financial benefit to job transitions every few years, but does that apply to healthcare?
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Mike and John are joined by Veronica Hill, the Vice President of Clinical Operations at ThriveAP, a resource for developing transition to practice programs focusing on skill application. Veronica has been practicing medicine for over 15 years and now speaks on internal medicine topics in addition to heading the programs and operations at ThriveAP.
Mike and John go over examples of good vs great cover letters and discuss the differences between the two. John also talks about the different styles of cover letter and the appropriate positions to utilize less common styles, such as a more creative or story telling letter for a writing focused job.
We're all taught how to write a resume in college, but maybe not how to incorporate key words for an online submission. Mike and John tell when to include your contact information in the header, how to organize your work experience in the body of a CV, and the importance of a summery. Fresh out of college or ready for a change, this episode gives a detailed walk-through of keeping and creating an impressive resume.
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John and Mike discuss the pros and cons of choosing a stable job in healthcare with limited upside (usually a clinical role) or a job that is less stable but has much higher upside or upward mobility (usually a non-clinical role). They cover topics such as: the importance of job security, the potential for financial rewards, the level of satisfaction with your work, and the impact on your personal life.
In this solo episode, John talks about how he got started in his meditation practices. Walking us through different guides, breathing techniques, and circumstances, he illustrates the role meditation has taken in his work life.
John talks with Nook Chen about his journey starting the company nooksle. Through his experience in Pharmacy, Nook was driven to find opportunities for innovation. While still in school, he was able to leverage available business programs and networking with peers to drive word of mouth marketing.
Mike talks with Hassan Thwaini about how his transition from clinical pharmacy to medical writing and where that journey has lead him. Hassan is the co-founder of Write Clinic, an education platform for healthcare professionals looked to turn to medical writing as an alternative career.
Growing and developing your career doesn't have to mean leaving the clinical behind. Mike talks about ways to develop and grow your career as a clinician by seeking leadership opportunities through networking or local organizations: teaching, precepting, participating in a professional organization.
Megan Freeland joins Mike and John to discuss her career in medical writing. Having gone to school for pharmacy with an interest in public health, Megan was able to pivot into a career as a medical writer and now works to provide resources for those interested in a similar path. They discuss the roll of AI in writing, where to find foundational writing resources, and how to maximize your current writing opportunities through networking.
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On Writing Well by William Zinsser
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John and Mike discuss whether career coaching is a worthwhile investment for healthcare professionals.
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Peer-to-peer networking is an essential part of career advancement and support in the healthcare industry. It provides a valuable opportunity for healthcare professionals to connect with others, share knowledge, and gain new perspectives. We encourage healthcare professionals to take advantage of networking opportunities and share their experiences with others.
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What could you change in your career TODAY that would positively change your situation? Mike and John talk go through some opportunities for change they see in their own work situations, such as being more intentional to not over extend or focusing and developing the areas of their career that bring more joy and growth.
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Hiking, kayaking, pickle ball, climbing, geocaching. Mike and John discuss their favorite outdoor activities and the ways they plug into community to take a break from the grind. They discuss the effects of goal-oriented recreation and how it differs from relaxation in its efficacy to combat burnout.
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In this Off-Script, Mike and John sit down to have an unedited, informal talk about their early healthcare experiences. They discuss how they began looking into healthcare as a field of study, narrowing down their area of focus, and what their careers look like now in comparison to their school-age expectations.
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Tom Caravela is an MSL recruiter and the founder of The Carolan Group, a Medical Affairs Executive Search and Recruitment firm. He is also the host of the podcast MSL Talk which features topics for both existing MSL as well as those seeking to break into the industry. Today he discusses with Mike and John how he became an MSL recruiter, including his non-clinical background, and the mental strength involved in a high-output lifestyle.
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Books Mentioned
-75 Hard: A Tactical Guide to Winning the War with Yourself by Andy Frisella
-The Power of One More: The Ultimate Guide to Happiness and Success by Ed Mylett
-Uncommon Leadership by Ben Newman
Whether by choice or by circumstance, sometimes the answer to burnout is cutting back your hours. Not only does this reduce the stressor, but it also opens up more time to put towards positive outlets. Maybe that means taking a trip, maybe its signing up for a course to take your career in a new direction. If changing jobs isn't appropriate for you, consider taking a look at schedule adjustments.
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Lauren Curtis talks about her shift from retail pharmacy to working in the startup PillPack. She also discusses perceived barriers to entry such as coding, taking a pay cut, or possibly being overqualified to make the transition.Find Lauren:LinkedInOur WebsitePatreon
Mike and John talk about how to identify trauma and the negative impact it has in your life. While some coping mechanisms are unhealthy, there are some positive outlets to deal with your experience as well. Being aware of how you navigate the trauma in your life makes it possible to maintain a healthy balance in a trauma heavy environment.
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While Mike and John spend the holidays with their families, here is an episode previously exclusive to Patreon members. Filled with funny stories, Mike and John recall their experience as students as well as some highlights of precepting in their career.
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Mike and John go through the best known applications of AI in healthcare and where they see the field going: taking over clerical work for clinicians, pre-screening patients to maximize the efficiency of a visit, and even creating new medications. Will clinicians be replaced?
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Joined by the TikTok star Dr. Betsy Grunch (@ladyspinedoc), Mike and John discuss the role of social media in healthcare. As a tool for networking, education, and even monetization, social media is here to stay. Dr. Grunch talks about how and why she found her way into content creation while balancing a personal life and flourishing practice.
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Mike and John go through some of the best alternative careers for clinicians looking for a change. They discuss becoming an MSL, gigging as a medical writer, and even government positions in the medical field.
John and Mike speak with lawyer Nick Masino about the importance of understanding healthcare contracts. They discuss common pitfalls like noncompete clauses, total compensation, and benefits.
show notes available to all on Patreon or our Website
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Jennifer Harrington talks about the ways diet can impact your career. It can be tempting to grab comfort foods after a long or frustrating workday, but burnout isn't only a mental battle, its physical too. Set yourself up for success by being intentional with your diet and practice what you preach.
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John and Mike dive deeper into burnout as they talk through the different signifiers and symptoms and how to differentiate acute stress from chronic burnout.
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John dives deep into the conversation on burnout in the healthcare field. When did it become a mainstream topic? Is this a recent struggle or just recently acknowledged?
Jeremy Schreiber tells his journey towards becoming a better public speaker. Starting in sales and academia, Jeremy transitioned into an industry speaker through hard work and dedication: eliminating verbal crutches, honing body language, and mastering the material.
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Find Jeremy
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John talks with Dan about how he got, or created, his ideal internships. Dan outlines the times where he didn't wait to be offered an opportunity, but instead created his own.
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Find Dan:
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John talks with TJ, a recent graduate, about his experience changing majors in college and interning in healthcare. What ultimately lead to his choice to no longer pursue clinical healthcare but work in administration instead?
Mike talks with Rick Yarosh, co-founder of HeathGigJobs, about his journey starting a gig platform for healthcare professionals. The gigs range from telemedicine and post-op appointments to triaging phone calls for doctors.
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Mike goes over his experience as a pharma speaker: how he got his first booking, how he got a second, and how to avoid conflicts of interest with his day job. Industry consulting is a great way to build relationships and your CV, all the while being a lucrative side hustle.
After a decade working in a hospital for the majority of his career, Matt made the switch into healthcare tech. He talks about his transition and how he got the opportunity to work in his current position.
Mike and John hear from Alex Barker of The Happy PharmD about causes of burnout and how to spot the warning signs. They discuss whether burnout is the fault of a company or the individual employee, as well as if some positions in healthcare are doomed to be toxic. When you're at the point of hating your career, what then?
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An interview with Frank Randall, financial advisor specializing in Advance Practice Providers, highlights some common pitfalls among healthcare professionals and their financial choices. How fast should you pay off school debt? How much should you be saving?
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Independent contractors have greater flexibility and autonomy, but may also lose out on valuable employee protections and benefits. Listen to John and Mike discuss the risks and rewards of independent contracting in healthcare, as well as when to hire a lawyer to straighten things out.
Sparked by the RaDonda Vaught verdict, Mike and John discuss how the precedent of criminal prosecution for medical malpractice will affect the field of healthcare. Mistakes often involve multiple system failures. Will the risk of criminal charges discourage the reporting of these small scale errors?
Mike and John discuss the benefits of precepting. Is it altruistic, a duty to the medical community? Or are there personal benefits to taking on students as well. Hear about some of their own experiences as students, what they stive for as a good teacher now, and the time John made a student cry.
Mike and John go over common problems with CME, online resources, and share some conference experience. What is the average CME reimbursement? Is it better to do on-demand or live content?
Mike and John talk about how and why to network both personally and professionally, which social media they've found to hold value, and the benefits of belonging to professional associations.
Healthcare professionals Mike and John introduce themselves and discuss the beginnings of their new career as podcasters.
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