Sponsored by: Set for Life
Set For Life Insurance helps doctors safeguard their future with True Own Occupational Disability Insurance. A single injury or illness can change everything, but the best physicians plan ahead. Protect your income and secure your future before life makes the choice for you. Your career deserves protection—act now at https://www.doctorpodcastnetwork.co/setforlife

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In this episode, host Dr. Bradley Block welcomes Marisa Powell and Gabrielle Hanley, to demystify physician unions. They explain how unions empower employed physicians to improve working conditions, protect professional autonomy, and advocate for patient care. The discussion covers why physician unions were rare historically, who is eligible to unionize (non-managerial employees), and the legal nuances under the National Labor Relations Act.

Marisa and Gabrielle share real-world examples, including a Washington State urgent care strike over PPE access, and discuss strategies like collective bargaining for better contracts and public advocacy to influence hospital policies. A must-listen for physicians considering unionization in an increasingly corporatized healthcare system.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

1. Identify Common Issues Across Specialties – Start union conversations by finding shared concerns among colleagues in different specialties to build a unified front.
2. Leverage Collective Advocacy – Use coordinated efforts, like public campaigns or media outreach, to pressure employers on issues like patient safety or workplace policies, even before formal negotiations.
3. Research Union Options – Contact organizations like Doctors Council (doctorscouncil.org) to explore unionization, but ensure strong colleague support for sustained impact.

About the Show:
The Physician’s Guide to Doctoring covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school!

About the Guest:
Marisa Powell and Gabrielle Hanley are lead union organizers with Doctors Council, part of SEIU Local 10MD. They spearhead physician union campaigns and collective bargaining efforts nationwide, helping doctors advocate for better working conditions, patient care, and professional autonomy in both private and public healthcare settings.

Website: https://www.doctorscouncil.org
LinkedIn - Marisa Powell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-powell-b31110b4/

Gabrielle Hanley : https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-hanley-747013113/

About the host:

Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts The Physician’s Guide to Doctoring podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physicians

Want to be a guest? Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more!

Socials:

@physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook

@physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube

@physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter

Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let’s grow!

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.

Sponsored by: Set for Life

Set For Life Insurance helps doctors safeguard their future with True Own Occupational Disability Insurance. A single injury or illness can change everything, but the best physicians plan ahead. Protect your income and secure your future before life makes the choice for you. Your career deserves protection—act now at https://www.doctorpodcastnetwork.co/setforlife

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In this episode, host Dr. Bradley Block welcomes Susanna Ritchie, a registered dietician with a master’s degree in nutritional science from Georgia State University. Working in pediatric primary care and biochemical genetics at a children’s hospital, Susanna specializes in treating inborn errors of metabolism, such as PKU, and is passionate about combating nutritional misinformation. She shares a powerful story of how dietary interventions transformed the life of a family with a newborn diagnosed with PKU, enabling the child to lead a typical life.

The conversation dives into the basics of nutrition that physicians should know: prioritizing variety, moderation, and color in diets, minimizing added sugars and saturated fats, and emphasizing fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Susanna addresses common pitfalls, like extreme diets and supplement overuse, and offers practical advice for guiding patients in resource-limited settings, such as food deserts. She also highlights the importance of knowing when to refer patients to a dietician for nuanced care, particularly for conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or disordered eating. This episode equips physicians with actionable strategies to provide effective, empathetic nutritional counseling in limited time.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

• Focus on the Basics – Encourage patients to prioritize variety, moderation, and fiber-rich foods (fruits, vegetables, legumes) while minimizing added sugars and saturated fats to build a balanced diet.
• Know When to Refer – Recognize when a patient’s nutritional needs (e.g., diabetes, eating disorders, or weight management) require a registered dietician’s expertise to ensure comprehensive care.
• Use Motivational Interviewing – Ask open-ended questions like “What do you drink at home?” or “What are your favorite fruits and vegetables?” to guide patients toward sustainable, self-identified dietary changes.

About the Show:

PGD Physician’s Guide to Doctoring covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school!

About the Guest:

Susanna Ritchie is a registered dietician with a master’s degree in nutritional science from Georgia State University. She works at a children’s hospital in pediatric primary care and biochemical genetics, treating inborn errors of metabolism like PKU. Passionate about reproductive and pediatric nutrition, Susanna is a vocal advocate against nutritional misinformation and promotes evidence-based dietary practices.

About the Host:

Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts The Physician’s Guide to Doctoring podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physicians.

Want to be a guest? Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more!

Socials:

@physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook

@physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube

@physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter

Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let’s grow!

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.

Sponsored by: Set for Life

Set For Life Insurance helps doctors safeguard their future with True Own Occupational Disability Insurance. A single injury or illness can change everything, but the best physicians plan ahead. Protect your income and secure your future before life makes the choice for you. Your career deserves protection—act now at https://www.doctorpodcastnetwork.co/setforlife

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In this episode, host Dr. Bradley Block sits down with Dr. Peter Crane, a board-certified family physician from rural Idaho, who faced a life-altering diagnosis of a 28 cm retroperitoneal tumor at age 43. Dr. Crane shares his journey through radiation, surgery, and rehabilitation, revealing how the experience reshaped his perspective on patient care and life. From grappling with the shock of his diagnosis while working an ER shift to navigating the emotional and physical challenges of treatment, Dr. Crane’s story highlights the profound lessons learned from being on the other side of the gown. He discusses how this experience fueled his podcast, Doctors Making a Difference, aimed at helping physicians rediscover joy in their work. This episode offers actionable insights for doctors to cultivate empathy, maintain perspective, and find gratitude in their practice.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

• Embrace the Patient Perspective – Reflect on what it’s like to be a patient to foster greater empathy, especially during routine interactions, recognizing that each patient’s experience is unique.
• Find Moments of Impact – Seek out daily moments where your skills make a difference, no matter how small, to sustain motivation and combat burnout.
• Balance Self-Care and Duty – Prioritize personal health and set boundaries, understanding that your well-being enables you to serve your patients better.

About the Show:

PGD Physician’s Guide to Doctoring covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school!

About the Guest:

Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified family physician practicing in rural Idaho since 2011. Diagnosed with a rare solitary fibrous tumor in 2022, he underwent radiation, surgery, and rehabilitation, which transformed his approach to medicine and life. Dr. Crane hosts Doctors Making a Difference on the Doctor Podcast Network, where he inspires physicians to find joy and purpose in their work while providing tools for success. His journey as both doctor and patient fuels his mission to leave medicine better than he found it.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermcranemd/

Podcast: Doctors Making a Difference

About the Host:

Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts The Physician’s Guide to Doctoring podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physicians.

Want to be a guest? Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more!

Socials:

@physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook

@physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube

@physiciansguide

on Instagram and Twitter

Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let’s grow!

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.