Ep 56. Building High Performing Healthcare Teams: Dr. Tina Gunaldo on Interprofessional Collaboration, Perfectionism and Patient Care

Healthcare is not perfect. And that is exactly why we need better teams.In this insightful conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir speaks with Dr. Tina Patel Gunaldo, DPT, PhD, MHS, architect of high performing interprofessional teams and nationally recognized leader in collaborative healthcare education and practice. Dr. Gunaldo shares how witnessing her best friend's husband navigate a complex medical journey opened her eyes to the reality that healthcare is messy, imperfect, and full of both errors and opportunities. That lived experience sparked her life's work of building systems where clinicians, educators, and communities truly work better together. She breaks down the critical difference between multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and interprofessional teams, explaining why patient centered care is inherent in interprofessional collaboration. Dr. Gunaldo explores how perfectionism shows up in healthcare teams, why it prevents collaboration, and how being immersed in a team where you actively listen and belong can relieve the pressure to be perfect. She redefines success as finding pleasure in pleasant surprises, giving yourself grace, and leading by sharing knowledge without imposing expectations on others. This conversation is a reminder that healthcare and leadership are journeys, not destinations.Episode Takeaways:The difference between multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and interprofessional teams and why patient centered care is inherent in interprofessional collaborationWhy communication is not a soft skill but one of the hardest skills to master in healthcare and teamworkHow perfectionism prevents collaboration and why immersing yourself in a team where you belong can relieve the pressure to be perfectWhy healthcare needs systems and structures that support teams instead of creating silos, band aids, and barriersHow to redefine success by giving yourself grace, finding pleasure in pleasant surprises, and sharing knowledge without imposing expectations on othersAbout Our Guest — Tina Patel GunaldoTina Patel Gunaldo, DPT, PhD, MHS, is a nationally recognized leader in interprofessional education and collaborative practice. With 30 years of experience across healthcare and academia, she advances health equity and teamwork within health systems. She serves as Co-President of the American Interprofessional Health Collaborative and is the founder of Collaborate for Health, an organization dedicated to integrating team science into education and practice.Connect with Tina Patel Gunaldo, DPT, PhD, MHSFollow her on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-patel-gunaldo-phd/About the HostDr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC is a Dual Board-Certified Physician and TEDx Speaker with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks, coaches, and consults on Perfectionism, Sustainable Success, and the well-being of High Achievers.Connect with Dr. Shabbir📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/📹 Watch Dr. Shabbir's TEDx TalkPerfectionism Has A Solution - It is Not What You Think: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNIzzM4Vg3s&t=3s  🌍 Want to Book Dr. Shabbir to Speak at your event or organization?Reach out at: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking ✅Want to work 1:1 With Dr. Shabbir?Schedule Your Complimentary Strategy Session: https://calendly.com/dramnashabbir/strategy  ❌ DisclaimerThis podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.❤️ Enjoyed This Episode?Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.Share it with a colleague, peer, or friend who needs this message.