The Doctors Mentor® Show: Ideal Medical Practice | Business of Medicine | Entrepreneurship | Exit Strategies | Docgitimacy™

You're working harder than you were five years ago, and your take-home hasn't changed or it's gone down. You can feel the gap, but you can't pinpoint where it is. That's because the biggest revenue problems in independent practice aren't on the surface. They're structural — hiding inside pricing you haven't revisited, patients who drifted away and were never reactivated, and referral systems that were never built. In this episode, Dr. Lori Barr, aka The Doctors Mentor®, introduces the seven revenue levers in every independent practice and goes deep on the two most commonly neglected: Price Optimization and Reactivation Potential. Using anonymized stories from real physician conversations, she walks through the math of what these overlooked levers are actually costing you — and gives you a DIY audit you can start before the episode ends. In this episode, you'll learn: The seven revenue levers hiding inside every independent practice and why most owners are only managing two or three of them Why a five-year-old fee schedule could be silently costing you $40K–$64K per year The inactive patient math: how a simple quarterly reactivation campaign can generate $15K–$50K without a single dollar in ad spend Why smart, credentialed practice owners still miss these patterns (hint: it's not intelligence, it's proximity) How optimizing just three levers can compound into $86K+ in additional annual revenue without adding patients or staff A three-step revenue audit you can run this week with no outside help References: [1] Ekeh O, Simmons A, Farmer A, Hunter K, Zheng L. Current status of healthcare financial literacy among medical trainees and junior hospitalists: An observational survey study. Medicine. 2025;104(7):e41581. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000041581 [2] Igu JA, Zakaria S, Bar-Or YD. Systematic review of personal finance training for physicians and a proposed curriculum. BMJ Open. 2022;12(12):e064733. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064733. PMID: 36572491; PMCID: PMC9806052. [3] Berenson RA, Rich EC. US approaches to physician payment: the deconstruction of primary care. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(6):613-618. doi:10.1007/s11606-010-1295-z. PMID: 20467910; PMCID: PMC2869428. Resources mentioned: Practice Growth Launchpad (virtual 2-week sprint): thedoctorsmentor.com/practice-growth-launchpad Discovery Day (live 1-day implementation workshop): thedoctorsmentor.com/discoveryday Practice Growth Mastermind: thedoctorsmentor.com/mastermind 2026 Discovery Day Dates: June 8, 2026 Portland, ME | September 16, 2026 Kanab, UT | December 8, 2026 Pensacola, FL

Listen to the transformational journey of architectural photographer Greg van Riel, a solopreneur who struggled with the loneliness of unwitnessed achievement.  Maybe you struggle with this as a doctor, physical therapist, dentist, chiropractor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant while building your practice. Dr. Lori Barr goes deep on two proven methods to cure this malady and gives you three action steps to move from lonely and struggling to joyful and thriving as you advance on your professional career path. 00:00 Meet Greg van Riel, Architectural Photographer 03:58 The Paradox of Solo Excellence 06:00 Napoleon Hill's Master Mind 09:45 Communities of Practice: the Science Behind the Structure 14:33 Two Structures, Different Strengths 18:20 The Practical Difference - Greg van Riel's Story 22:09 Why This Matters to Professional Practice Owners Now 23:53 Your Next Steps: Two Paths Forward 30:41 Permission and Closing Thoughts Resources: Greg van Riel, Architectural Photographer: https://gvrpix.com Send your master mind or community of practice experiences to Dr. Lori Barr at [email protected] The Practice Growth Mastermind https://thedoctorsmentor.com/mastermind-2026/ Discovery Day https://thedoctorsmentor.com/discoveryday/ References: [1] Physician Coaching by Professionally Trained Peers for Burnout, Empowerment, and Professional Fulfillment. *JAMA Network Open*, 2024. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2817481 [2] Implementation and effectiveness of a physician-focused peer support initiative. *NIH PMC*, 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10619771/ [3] Jean Lave, Étienne Wenger and communities of practice. *Infed.org*, 2025. https://infed.org/dir/welcome/jean-lave-etienne-wenger-and-communities-of-practice/ [4] The aims and effectiveness of communities of practice in healthcare. *PLOS One*, 2023. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0292343 [5] Outcomes of co-designed communities of practice. *NIH PMC*, 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11237988/ [6] Peer Support Groups Have Positive Impact on Physician Stress and Burnout. *Medical Central*, 2023. https://www.medcentral.com/burnout/peer-support-groups-have-positive-impact-on-physician-stress-and-burnout  [7] Napoleon Hill's Master Mind Concept. *Think and Grow Rich*, 1937. [8] Introduction to communities of practice. *Wenger-Trayner*, 2021. https://www.wenger-trayner.com/introduction-to-communities-of-practice/  

Today, we're going to talk about something that might be the most important skill you'll need in 2026—and it has nothing to do with learning the latest AI tool or mastering a new clinical technique. And fair warning: I'm going to make some changes to how I practice in 2026 and what I spend my time on. Because sometimes the best way to teach something is to actually *live* it. We're talking about strategic disengagement. First, a definition.  For this podcast, disengagement means permanently withdrawing from something or someone.  Ending something. Episode Timestamps [00:00] Open: The Scrap Book on the Shelf [02:13] Segment 1: The Performance Trap [12:07] Segment 2: The Identity Crisis That Isn't [20:12] Segment 3: Protecting Spaciousness [28:58] Segment 4: The AI-Forward Pivot [33:24] Segment 5: Your Action Step: The Mastermind Invitation [36:16] Closing: What's Complete? [38:10] Disclaimer 39:44 Total Run Time Episode Notes & Resources: **Mentioned in this Episode:** - Jenna Kutcher's Goal Digger Podcast (Episode 968) https://jennakutcherblog.com/a-new-chapter-for-goal-digger/ - Mayer, Z., & Freund, A. M. (in press). Better off without? Benefits and costs of resolving goal conflict through goal shelving and goal disengagement. Motivation and Emotion. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-022-09966-x - Oettingen, G., Marquardt, M. K., & Gollwitzer, P. M. (2012). Mental contrasting turns positive feedback on creative potential into successful performance. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48(5), 990–996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2012.03.008 - Schwörer, B., Krott, N. R., & Oettingen, G. (2020). Saying goodbye and saying it well: Consequences of a (not) well-rounded ending. Motivation Science, 6(1), 21–33. https://doi.org/10.1037/mot0000126 - The Practice Scaling Mastermind: https://TheDoctorsMentor.com/mastermind-2026 **Action Steps from This Episode:** 1. Complete the Spaciousness Audit 2. Identify one thing you're good at that might be trapping you 3. Practice mental contrasting on a desired outcome where you are not seeing much movement 4. Join the 2026 Practice Scaling Mastermind

Ever wonder where those five-digit codes on your medical bills come from and who decides what they're worth? In this episode, Dr. Lori Barr breaks down the two systems that form the backbone of physician reimbursement in the United States: Relative Value Units (RVUs) and CPT codes. In This Episode, You'll Learn: What medicine looked like before RVUs and why the old "fee for service" model was like getting a haircut in different cities How Harvard economist Dr. William Hsiao developed the RVU system in the 1980s to bring transparency and fairness to physician payments The three components of every RVU: physician work, practice expense, and malpractice How the 1989 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act and 1992 Medicare adoption of the RBRVS transformed how healthcare services are valued The role of CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) as the final authority on the physician fee schedule What CPT codes are and how the AMA develops and maintains them The powerful RUC (Relative Value Scale Update Committee) and the fact that CMS follows its recommendations 75-90% of the time Which medical specialties currently have seats on the CPT Editorial Panel and the RUC Committee (as of May 2025) Three actionable ways to get your voice heard: join your specialty societies, volunteer for committees, and write to committee members with a warm introduction

How we communicate within and without influences our ability and our patients' ability to feel better. Are you open to hearing a patient's perspective on communication with doctors and ways to encourage your patients to become more confident communicators? Mr. David Vogt's story is insightful. This is only a part of our interview. More patient-focused portions can be heard on the podcast "Think & Grow Well" Series 2 Episode 1.  My book, Think & Grow Well, helps individuals strengthen their minds, bodies, spirits, and awareness before a health challenge strikes. Ready to explore opportunities to integrate a Think & Grow Well Implementation Program into your practice, email me at [email protected]. ©️The Doctors Mentor® LLC 2016-2024

"The heart, mediastinum, pulmonary vascularity, pleural spaces, and bones appear normal." [phone rings] "New paragraph." [phone rings] [Telephone receiver is picked up.] "Hello?" "Is this Dr. Lori Barr?" "Yes." "This is the nurse practitioner in the Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital Emergency Room. Your parents have been in a motor vehicle accident. I have your mother here and she is experiencing amnesia but she knew enough to tell me to call you and had your phone number in her purse.  I don't know about your father's condition.  He was life-flighted to Huntsville from the accident scene." [introduction] "There is only one other time in my life that I felt like I dropped into a Twilight Zone episode. That was the time I woke up alone in the dark in the middle of the night in a big house to something calling my name from the foot of my bed. That's a story for another episode, or perhaps another podcast. It is good to be back, offering you as my protege tips to maximize your practice satisfaction and your opportunity for a rich full life with those you love.  This episode is designed to leave you with five vital steps to help you prepare for the unthinkable. Preparation allows you to gain the most from this kind of growth opportunity rather than just by being devastated by overwelm. You see the morning I received that call it was New Year's Eve and I was sitting at Dell Childrens Medical Center in Austin, Texas, in my office reading X-rays because I was on call. And that call wasn't the first on-call call I was expecting that morning.  Usually, it would be one of our assistants letting me know that there was a stat read on a neonatal study from a hospital other than the one I was sitting at or perhaps one of the pediatric hospitalists or ER docs needing an emergency upper GI to evaluate a patient for malrotation and midgut volvulus.  That call from the Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital nurse practitioner changed our lives forever. Thank goodness I'd had a number of mentors over the years who assisted me in being prepared for my family's moment of crisis. Here is what I learned from them: 5 VITAL steps for being prepared for the unthinkable. The "V" in vital is for Verify: Verify that your family members are totally prepared for a brush with or actual death. This means actually investing in a meeting with an estate planner and making sure that you have a will at a minimum and a full-blown estate plan if you or your family's holdings are sufficient to justify the cost. This also means thinking about what you want to happen if you or a loved one is at a crossroads where there is a question about continuing life support or not.  It is one thing to start thinking about this and another thing to put it in writing. Follow through so your family doesn't feel like you left them with no guidance.  Cremation or burial. Viewing or not. Is there a burial or cremation policy? Has a resting place been purchased? How do you access these things? In my case, I am an only child raised by a United States Coast Guard Officer, Sonny Barr, and his wife, Lee Barr, a world-renowned speech pathologist and audiologist.  My father had planned for disaster since he first enlisted in the Coast Guard. My mother learned the drill as soon as they wed. Both were happy as independent successful humans who enjoyed times they shared and times of solitude. They thought of almost everything when it came to a brush with death, except a scenario that compromised them both at the exact same time. They were great mentors to me in this and so many other aspects of my life. The "I" in Vital is for Identify. Identify any weaknesses in your emergency scaffolding. By this I mean take a look at the people around you, your workplace environment, and your pooled resources. Are you on sure footing in your practice or workplace where you know for certain you could provide a  family member with the same level of love and support you give to your patients if an emergency calls you away on short notice? Do you have at least one practice partner who absolutely has your back no matter what and you have theirs in return? Do you understand who to contact if you need to leave your responsibilities unannounced in the hands of another provider? Is your practice or employer equipped with a mechanism that allows you to use family leave if necessary? You need to understand how family leave actually works in your setting.  In some cases you may be considered "essential personnel" and thus your employer may not have to consider you for family leave. Your training may cause your injured or sick family member's doctor to make medical decisions based on your availability and if you are then not available, that can lead to problems.  For example, a loved one suffers a head injury and is deemed to have a concussion.  Under average circumstances, they might be observed for 24 hours in a hospital or acute care environment to ensure no deterioration of neurological status occurs yet since you are a doctor, their provider decides it will be even better for the patient to go home with you where they can get more rest and you can still do the neurology checks in a kinder, gentler and less expensive way. That's all great until you have to go to work during that same 24-hour period. In my case, as soon as I got off the phone with the nurse practitioner from the ER, I called my practice partner who I knew would know exactly what to do in this scenario.  I told her what I knew and I said, "What do I do now?"  She said, "You book a plane ticket to leave as soon as possible and I take a shower and come to the hospital."  Honestly, until you've experienced something like this, you really don't know how much it means to know someone has your back.  I am forever grateful to all of my practice partners at Austin Radiological Association who assisted me by taking my call, selling me their vacation, switching shifts, and bending over backward to make sure I could take care of my folks. In my case, I had both an extremely favorable practice setting and people who had my back. Now let's talk about resources. Do you and your family have enough insurance coverage and emergency funds set aside to deal with disability or death? How accessible is it and what is the process? You will need cash and you might need credit. You may need legal assistance. I was glad I had listened to my mentor, Mike Koenigs, who years ago suggested that I determine my Fiscally Unfettered number, or as he said, F. U. number.  The amount of money you need to accumulate to have the freedom to leave any work or practice situation that is no longer serving you. Depending upon the emergency, you might actually have to give notice to your current practice or employer.  Are you fiscally ready for that? Are you emotionally ready for that? We who practice the arts as physicians, nurses, chiropractors, lawyers and other credentialed professionals tend to overly identify with our titles and roles.  That can lead to unnecessary stress if a job change is required to maximize your support as your family faces a crisis. The FU number may change during different points in your career so be prepared to revisit this as time passes. The "T" in Vital is for Talk. Talk before an emergency like this happens so the action plan is easier to implement. Talk even more after something like this happens. Effective closed-loop communication is essential in preparation for an untimely emergency and assures your loved one gets the care they need. It is worth your time to talk to your family about what you would do if there is a local disaster or if someone is seriously injured. Have a written action plan with the five W's: Who, What, Where, When, and Why. Make sure the plan and important information like medication lists and insurance cards are readily available.  My favorite tool for this is Evernote. It is readily available on all mobile devices and on laptop computers and desktops. It is easy to create and upload notes, take notes, and to share notes. We have a family Library that we share. The OCR reader is excellent so that even if your notes are handwritten or there is a word or number embedded in a picture, the search tool will find that note. It is pretty amazing. In our case, the paramedics on the scene did an incredible job keeping each of my parents' possessions with them so they had what they needed when they needed it in each of the two hospitals they were in roughly seventy miles apart.  I was able to notify my aunt and cousin who assisted my mother in one town and another cousin who assisted my father until I could arrive about seven hours later. The "A" in Vital is for Allow. Allow your training as a health care provider to assist you as you order your immediate action steps. You've been trained to take your own pulse first when there is a healthcare emergency, and the same serves you in this instance. The hospital is like Disneyland.  You wouldn't dream of letting a small child go to Disneyland by themselves. Consider the same with a hospital or convalescent care facility. Both are busy places and while the care teams want the best for their patients, there is a difference between what the customer experiences and what the employees live day after day to make the magic happen.  As a health professional, you most likely understand this more than your siblings who have other professions. A simple tip like, " Wear warm clothes and bring an extra blanket, hospitals are usually cold," can make a difference. Your insider knowledge can be instrumental in improving the outcome for your loved one. For example, you may understand how different care teams make rounds and at what time.  You can prepare a list of questions or have whoever is at the bedside call you when the care team arrives for rounds.  This is how errors are prevented and tests get done without falling through the cracks.  The "L" in Vital is for love. Love those who are ailing and yourself with every fiber and vibration that is your being. Any unexpected challenge like this is an opportunity to reflect on the question, "For what have I exchanged my short life?"  You may find yourself too devoted to your profession or inwardly focused on a challenge in your own life.  Nothing like a family emergency to shift your focus outward on the needs of those who mean the most to you in this world. This is an opportunity to realign yourself with the real reason you are here on Earth right now.  Remember, in a situation like this, everyone is ailing, and everyone is doing the best they can to cope using the coping mechanisms they currently have so everyone needs to be cut some slack. That includes you.  Cut yourself some slack if you feel guilty about how you left a relationship that is now forever changed. You may feel sad for your loss and scared or confused by the unknown.  Usually, you feel all of these emotions and more.  This is where loving habits you've created prior to the emergency can really comfort you. In my case, our habit of reading the Bible together every night as a family continued throughout my parents' convalescence. We used an iPad so that we could all be together for this and for prayer even though my parents remained 70 miles apart for several weeks. VITAL, Verify, Identify, Talk, Allow and Love. Five simple preparation steps that I, as your mentor, suggest you take before an emergency so that you and your family grow closer through the experience with less distress. Let's continue our journey together toward a different type of professional life. One that gives you maximum satisfaction as you care for your patients and clients and maximum opportunity for a rich full life with those you love. I am Dr. Lori Barr, the Doctors Mentor.  One idea is all it takes to change your world. There is more to explore at the doctors mentor dot com.

Practice is the act of repeating an action until it becomes natural. Rehearsal is stepping through the motions before an actual event. Both are valuable in the context of conversation with a patient.

Dr. Lori Barr gives examples of the four questions you can ask as a leader, mentor doctor or podcast host that will turn your colleague, protege, patient or show guest into an instant superhero.

Doctors ask me, "Dr. Lori, how do you decide who to have as a guest on your show?" There are four lens you can assess potential guest through that allows you to be strategic about who you interview. Listen to start using these lens.

Use this strategy that launched the career of Timothy Ferriss to add value to your proteges you mentor.

Dr. Barr shares three tips for getting the most out of a medical meeting even if you cannot attend in person.

Doctors look sheepishly at me sometimes and ask, "Who would listen to my show?" There is a better question for them to ask regarding their ideal listener. Listen and find out.

Dr. Lori Barr answers the questions doctors are asking her about podcasts. Todays question: What is the one key ingredient to a profitable podcast that beginner podcasters sometimes overlook? Find out now.

Ask these three questions to discover your return on investment (ROI) on your podcast (and on any other marketing or outreach, promotion or publicity you try). One question will even predict whether or not you are likely to be in practice next year!

This is the second part of the interview with Dr. Nii-Daako Darko. In this conversation, learn how delightful it feels to know how far your message carries when you make an effort to blog, podcast, or put up a video. Hear about how legacy-building can extend far beyond your box and the border.

Trauma surgeon and host of "Docs Outside the Box, Dr. Nii Darko explains how he shifted from success in traditional medicine to a more fulfilling professional lifestyle on his own terms.

Dr. Cyntrell Crawford shares her expertise on how habits form and strategies to break them from her book, The Urge Fix Recovery Guide.

Dr. Barr shares one idea for infusing small quantities of thanksgiving into the repetitive tasks you perform day in and day out. She mentions Amy Morin's 7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude from Psychology Today.

You might be surprised that the volume of sitting a radiologist does these days is an occupational health hazard. Here are five steps to consider to mitigate that risk.

When a physician schedules a strategy session with Dr. Lori Barr, increasing profitability is discussed. Docgitimacy™, a measure of a doctor's influence, credibility and trustworthiness, is a factor in profitability and additional revenue streams. How does a podcast increase Docgitimacy™? There are four ways discussed on this episode. Let's discuss what works for you!

When Dr. Lori Barr mentors physicians and other credentialed professionals this is one question that comes up again and again when new media and podcast production are considered. What is a lossy audio file?

When Dr. Lori Barr mentors doctors and other credentialed professionals with regard to new media and podcasting, one question comes up again and again. What is a lossless audio file? Here is a simple answer.

There are four choices when you are ready to take your lossless .aiff or .wav digital audio file, combine it with your bumpers and produce your podcast or other new media episode. Learn the basics of these choices.

Doctors ask, "How do I record podcast episodes?" Dr. Lori Barr outlines four simple steps for recording a podcast episode. With a closet full of clothes, an iRig Lav Mic by IK Multimedia and a smart phone, you can create a recording that is pleasing to the listening ear.

Dr. Lori Barr answers another question doctor ask about new media and podcasts: what are the parts of an episode. Like fishing, a good episode needs a hook.

Do you know what a podcast trailer is and what elements an effective trailer contains? Since other doctors have asked her, Dr. Lori Barr answers the question.

Dr. Lori Barr answers the question that doctors ask about traditional media and new media appearances. What is a sound bite?

Dr. Lori Barr answers the question that doctors are asking about audio and video new media. In a podcast, what is a segment?

Dr. Lori Barr explains the traditional and slang meanings of the word bit in the context of lossless digital audio files and beyond. If bit depth has been over your head, get a straight answer here.

For the National Podcasting Post Month Challenge, Dr. Barr answers another group of questions about podcast production? There are audio bits called bumpers. What is a bumper? What are some examples?

Dr. Lori Barr answers a question doctors ask her about podcast production and digital audio files: what are ID3 tags?

Dr. Lori Barr answers three questions doctors ask about podcasting. What is a podcast season? What is a podcast series? What is a podcast episode? Find out here.

Dr. Lori Barr answers a question doctors ask her about podcast production. What is a podcast hosting platform? Learn what makes it special compared to a website hosting platform.

In this episode of The Doctor's Mentor Show, Dr. Lori Barr answers another question doctor ask, "What is a podcast host?" There are two answers and both of them "speak volumes". 

In this episode of The Doctor's Mentor Show, Dr Lori answers the question doctors ask about podcasting: What are the rules of podcasting and where do I find them? Great terrifying news awaits when you hear these rules! Bottom line? You rule.

In this episode of The Doctor's Mentor Show, host Dr. Lori Barr answers the question: what is a podcast? How is a podcast different from social media? How is a podcast different from a radio show?

Doctor, have you ever had a moment where you questioned your decision to practice a healing art? If you have ever said, "hmmm" by the number of high school drop outs who are bringing in more money in one month than you do in 5 years, if you have ever dropped your jaw when a patient tells you she is dropping you as her doc because she cannot afford your fees and yet you know she is perfectly content paying hundreds of dollars on hail and nails every week, if you have ever felt jealous of that soccer mom who has plenty of time to ferry her children back and forth to practice and tournaments and to prepare delicious gourmet meals for her family and still looks buff and satisfied when she is with her husband while you continue to miss important celebrations's of your family's success, I know your pain and so do most other doctors, nurses and health professionals out there. It doesn't have to be that way! If you are ready for a change, this week I will reveal a dynamic community of docs who are truly redefining their lives and the conference that gets them started each year.

Stop scampering down rabbit holes every time you visit the App Store with Dr. Barr's three easy steps any doctor or health professional can take to find the medical apps to improve your practice and the health apps to assist your patients in maximum vitality. Links to the articles referenced can be found at this post at The Doctor's Mentor dot com. Use the tab on the right on the site to leave me a voicemail about your favorite medical or health app.

Belinda Rosenblum from Own Your Money helps doctors and other professionals change their habits of letting money slip through their fingers. Release your debt so you have more cash on hand to enjoy. Take the quiz to find out more about opportunities to establish improving money habits.

Don't you think your largest personal expense deserves a little bit of attention? You will after this interview with Jake Randall, CEO, TaxBot. Learn 4 steps to take to keep more of what you earn with simple documentation and automation, and a special offer.

What specific questions do you have for the following upcoming guests I am interviewing later this week? Dr. Cyntrell Crawford, psychiatrist and addiction recovery expert, and author of The Urge Fix Recovery Guide. Mr. Jake Randall, CEO and Co-founder of Taxbot a tax expense and mileage automation and accounting software program and app.  

When a doctor is forced to hand over his white coat for an orange jumpsuit, his life is turned upside down. Learn how Dr. Jarret Patton survived and now thrives. Now he assists other professionals with his book, Licensed to Live and as a career coach. His journey and experience give him the credentials to answer one of life's critical riddles.  Links to more resources: Click here to learn more about Dr. Jarret. Click here for Licensed to Live by Dr. Jarret Patton. Click here to listen to another fascinating interview with Dr. Jarret. Click here for Psychocybernetics by Dr. Maxwell Maltz. Click here for Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. There's always more to explore at thedoctorsmentor.com!    

Dr. Toni A. Haley is a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician, wife and career coach who journeyed to and through perfectionism. Her book, Reprogram Your Mindset, can assist you in staying a high achiever while shedding perfectionistic tendencies.

Dr. Karen Gedney's book, 30 Years Behind Bars, was Karen's first creative work since her retirement from the Nevada State Prison System. She talks about repression, rules and how it felt to finally have the freedom to express herself without reservation. In the second part of her interview with Dr. Lori Barr, Dr. Gedney shares tips on achieving your own freedom inside and outside of prison.

What circumstances would send a doctor to prison and then cause her to extend her own sentence? Dr. Karen Gedney shares her story and her book, 30 Years Behind Bars. This is part 1 of our interview.

Have you ever hung up the phone after hearing startling news and said "Gee-Wiz"? Or perhaps you've had a sinking feeling after being served a subpoena. Imagine your feelings if you became a G-Wiz and had some G-force training from Tom Cruise and company in the movie, "Top Gun," to help you unleash your inner G-monster before you face a personal or professional challenge during your medical practice that leaves you feeling like you just pulled a 4-G negative loop or a 9-G positive ascent like a top gun fighter pilot.  Learn the maneuvers that real top gun pilots use to handle their stress and apply similar maneuvers to change your physiology when necessary.

Dr. Lori Barr shares four major takeaways from when the tables turned, and the doctor becomes the patient or accompanies a family member to the hospital. Be grateful for your growth opportunities.

Medical education is primarily a didactic experience with extensive correction of mistakes. Yet when you consider human performance metrics it is really important to remember that humans are mammals. The science of animal training has been perfected since B. F. Skinner first brought the ideas of respondent behavior and operant behavior together under one animal behavior umbrella. Which specialty is now training residents and medical students with chicken clicker training techniques? Orthopedic surgeons. Let's see how it works. References: Levy IM, Pryor KW, McKeon TR. Is Teaching Simple Surgical Skills Using an Operant Learning Program More Effective Than Teaching by Demonstration? Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2016;474(4):945-955. doi:10.1007/s11999-015-4555-8. N.B. Do you think the Levy et al publication was the inspiration for this creation by ZDoggMD? TAGteach Fundamentals and Best Practices Free Course  Sidhom, G., Why GANs Give Artificial Intelligence Wonderful and Scary Capabilities?, August 23, 2017, Orange Silicon Valley Blog.  

Dr. Lori Barr interviews best-selling author Jim Butz, founder of Resonnect, a growth acceleration company catering to entrepreneurs and forward-thinking corporations. He also is Managing Director of California Capital Partners and has analyzed over 2,500 startups. he knows what it takes to execute a growth strategy. In the interview, he sets the record straight about the most valuable asset a doctor or other health care professional possesses and can leverage for exponential practice or career growth. Read more in his book, Spin Your Content Into Gold.

Kevin Pho, the mastermind behind KevinMD gets frank about what it takes to be the leading voice in medicine: the impact on clinical care and the bigger impact on global health and vitality. His book, Establishing, Managing, and Protecting Your Online Reputation: A Social Media Guide for Physicians and Medical Practices, is a classic.