Leadership in Practice – Dr. Jeff Gaines’ Path to Culture Change | Ep49

Burnout is often discussed like a clinical condition — something to solve, measure, or “fix.”But what if burnout is actually a signal? A message inviting us to pause, reset, and redesign the way we lead and care?In this deeply honest episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin and Dr. Jeff Gaines explore what it really takes to build a healthcare culture where clinicians feel valued, grounded, and supported — not just productive.Drawing from 20+ years in Emergency Medicine and years serving as Chief Medical Officer and VP of Medical Affairs, Dr. Gaines shares the lessons he learned the hard way:Why clinicians feel guilty for needing rest (and how to let that go)How micro-rituals — like a purposeful handwashing reset — can pull your nervous system out of overdriveWhy managing energy is more important than managing timeHow leaders unintentionally set harmful expectations (“If I email at midnight, my team thinks they should, too”)Why “stay interviews” prevent the million-dollar cost of losing a physicianAnd why culture shifts don’t require huge budgets — just honesty, intention, and humanityThis episode blends neuroscience, leadership wisdom, humor, and the real emotional truth of being a clinician. It’s not about grinding harder. It’s about reclaiming the parts of healthcare — and ourselves — that we’ve quietly lost along the way.Top 3 TakeawaysMicro-moments matter.Reset rituals help clinicians arrive fully present, improve efficiency, and protect wellbeing.Culture is shaped by what leaders model.Emailing at midnight? Skipping meals? Your team reads it as the standard.Retention is leadership work.Stay interviews, recognition, and investment in autonomy and growth dramatically reduce turnover and strengthen engagement.About the GuestDr. Jeff Gaines is a Board-Certified Emergency Physician, physician executive, educator, and former Chief Medical Officer & VP of Medical Affairs at Newport Hospital. With 20+ years of clinical practice and a Master of Health Care Management from Harvard, Dr. Gaines is passionate about workforce wellbeing, organizational culture, and redefining leadership in medicine. He serves as faculty at Brown University and advises healthcare leaders on strategy, culture, and clinician engagement.🔗 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-t-gainesAbout the ShowDesigning Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.About the HostDr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ 📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.