Today, you’re in for a real treat because Dr. Orsini and Liz Poret-Christ are having a superstar loaded episode! This episode is  about kidney donation. Liz shares a personal story about her daughter’s unlikely friendship with Frank Mara, Vice President of Community Relations for the New York Giants, and how he’s in need of a kidney transplant, which he’ll talk about with us.  Also, on the list of superstars joining us is Matt Cavanaugh, an active duty US Army Strategist and President of the National Kidney Donation Organization.  In 2022, he became  the first living kidney donor to finish the full four deserts race in one year. Matt donated his left kidney in 2021 to a stranger and started a donation chain that facilitated eight transplants.  Our next superstar is Ned Brooks, who’s the Founder and CEO of the National Kidney Donation Organization. He is a non-directed kidney donor who kickstarted a chain of three transplants in 2015. The organization has facilitated numerous transplants and helped find living donors for patients in need of a kidney transplant.  We start with learning about the National Kidney Donation Organization. They discuss the barriers to kidney donation and how the organization supports potential donors throughout the process and dispel misconceptions about kidney donation and discuss the physical recovery time. They explain that being a donor can be like an insurance policy for oneself, as donors move to the top of the list should they ever need a kidney later in life. Ned touches on the process of what happens after you donate your kidney. Matt shares his experience of becoming a sponsored athlete after his kidney donation and emphasizes that kidney donation has been a second wind to him. Ned discusses the differences between directed and non-directed donors and explains that non-directed donors often feel a deep sense of gratitude. Matt shares his most difficult conversation when he faced discussing his decision to donate with his family, particularly his wife. Ned tells us the story of the young mother that received his kidney and what happened. We also have Frank Mara joining us. He shares his story of how he found out he needed a kidney transplant and meeting Ned, who’s been a godsend. Frank tells us his most difficult conversation, which was explaining to his kids what was going on.  He’s had so much support from family and friends and after sending out emails asking for a kidney donation, many people have registered to donate, but he’s waiting to see if there’s a match. We’re all hoping for great news soon, Frank!  Hosts:Dr. Anthony OrsiniLiz Poret-ChristGuests:Matt CavanaughNed BrooksFrank MaraFor More Information:Difficult Conversations PodcastThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-LinkedInIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources National Kidney Donation OrganizationNational Kidney RegistryMara FamilyMatt Cavanaugh Living Donor GamesNed Brooks LinkedIn

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini. On this episode,  Dr. Orsini is Co-hosting with Liz Poret-Christ. Today, they’re having a great conversation with Chuck Saia, who’s a Senior Partner at Deloitte and Member of the Quinnipiac University Board of Trustee’s, where he's the Chair of the Student and Academic Affairs Committee. In his thirty year career, Chuck has held various leadership positions at Deloitte, he’s a CPA, and holds an MBA from Quinnipiac University. He’s also the author of, YOU GOT THIS KID! Words of Advice for Young Leaders, YOU GOT THIS KID! Leadership Advice for Children, and is the Co-founder of YOU GOT THIS KID! Leadership Foundation, which focuses on teaching empathy and leadership to medical students. Chuck is a frequent keynote speaker at some of the largest companies and universities in the world.  Chuck’s unique approach to teaching others about leadership is just one of the many wonderful things that we’ll be talking about today.  Chuck tells us his journey to becoming a successful leader and the importance of putting in the effort, being authentic, and having difficult conversations. He emphasizes the need to start with self-exploration, understanding what makes you special and different, and having enough thick skin to lead with your authentic self. He also discusses the impact of empathetic leadership and putting others’ interests ahead of your own. We’ll find out how he came up with the idea for his books, why he donates all proceeds to Lupus Research and Environmental Sustainability Studies, and how hisYOU GOT THIS KID! Leadership Foundation  has had such a positive impact on his life. He also talks about the leadership training program he established for medical students at Quinnipiac University and how he thinks if we educate people more on the importance of team and mentorship to help people navigate through career and life, it might help in addressing burnout in the medical field. He shares his favorite part of the book  about an eagle mom, and another part of his book with a caterpillar character that has a purpose.    If you enjoyed this podcast, please hit the subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Hosts:Dr. Anthony OrsiniLiz Poret-ChristGuest:Chuck SaiaFor More Information:Difficult Conversations PodcastThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Chuck Saia LinkedInYOU GOT THIS KID! Leadership FoundationYOU GOT THIS, KID! Words of Advice for Young Leaders by Chuck SaiaYOU GOT THIS KID! Leadership Advice for Children by Chuck Saia

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini. Today, I have two amazing women joining me that are doing extraordinary work. My guests are Noa Ries and Kim Havens. They are Founders of Kahilla, which is an innovative digital platform to scale access to personal and professional development for underrepresented minorities in the corporate world.  They had a vision in 2018, to transform the culture of the corporate world and see more equity in positions of senior leadership. Through their curated content and ongoing engagement, Kahilla helps members become more confident, informed, and emboldens them to make their own choices, whatever they may be.  The spirit of empowerment, inclusivity, and accountability forms their core values, and every aspect of Kahilla, including their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy, and charitable commitments. Noa and Kim are going to share with us everything you need to know about Kahilla, a company built by these amazing women.  Noa shares her story of starting her career in advertising and being an entrepreneur. Kim shares her story  commercial real estate development.  They tell us how they met through their children and decided after a meeting over guacamole and chips to form Kahilla.  They have some incredible clients they work with in Fortune 500,  as well as smaller organizations in commercial real estate, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. We also  hear about their memberships, as well as the new men’s program they are launching in April. Kim and Noa explain three ways they coach a woman who needs to have a difficult conversation: one-to-many, peer-to-peer, and crowdsourcing. They tell us   what their biggest barriers were when they started the company just 4 years ago. They share their reason  behind their recent decision to expand to minority men.  Kahilla has a program for people called the Step Up Reach Down Gifting Program, and Kim gives us the details. There’s some great advice on what you can do to create a more inclusive environment in the workplace, as well as some advice for the facilitator of a meeting to make sure everyone’s included. Kahilla has individual memberships now available that are very affordable, and you get all the benefits of executive coaching, curated content, and community.   We end with Noa and Kim sharing the most difficult type of conversations they’ve had and advice on how to navigate through those conversations. If you enjoyed this podcast, please hit the subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.  Host:Dr. Anthony OrsiniGuests:Noa RiesKim HavensFor More Information:Difficult Conversations PodcastThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-Twitterdrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony Orsini Resources KahillaNoa Ries TwitterNoa Ries LinkedInKim Havens TwitterKim Havens LinkedIn

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini.   Today our guest is Mr. Ryan Estis, who is a globally recognized sales and leadership expert, speaker and author. Ryan has been advising clients on navigating change, improving performance, influencing culture, and accelerating growth. He’s a Founding Partner of ImpactEleven, where he’s helping define and shape a community that’s influencing culture and shaping the future of both personal and professional growth. In this episode, we talk about Ryan’s story and how he went from a rockstar rising sales professional to becoming one of the top keynote speakers in the industry. As a speaker, Ryan is known for his innovative ideas on leading change, improving sales effectiveness, and preparing for the future of work. He’s been recognized as one of “the best keynote speakers ever heard” by Meetings & Conventions magazine. His works and writings have been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur Magazines,. His book Prepare for Impact, coming later this year, offers a playbook for individuals to capture opportunity, accelerate growth, and leading into the future. As always, the promise on this show will be to inspire you and teach you how important communication is in medicine, business, and in everyday life. Ryan shares his story about hearing a speaker that changed the perspective of his career and inspired him to follow his passion to teach and coach.  We hear the path Ryan took to master the craft of  speaking.  Preparing for a keynote takes a lot of work, and we’ll find out about the hundreds of hours of preparation, perfecting the delivery, and bringing the energy into a conference.  We hear how Dr. Orsini met Ryan and how he helped him bring his speaking skills to another level.  Ryan tells us about how the word “community” kept coming up in his  life, and this is what led to the creation of ImpactEleven, a place where people can be inspired to share, teach, and spread their message to the world.  Dr. Orsini explains how attending the ImpactEleven Bootcamp had such an influence on him.  We’ll find out about how bootcamp started and the meaning behind Ryan’s mantra, We’re better together! Liz shares the experience she had learning about ImpactEleven’s operating principle called, “Give generously, don’t keep score.”  Ryan tells us about the importance of storytelling?  He shares with us how a story about  a cup of coffee changed his life. Hosts:Anthony OrsiniLiz Poret-ChristGuest:Ryan EstisFor More Information:Difficult Conversations PodcastThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedIndrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Ryan Estis WebsiteRyan Estis TwitterRyan Estis & Associates YouTubeImpactElevenA Cup of Coffee Changed My Life-Ryan Estis-Goalcast (YouTube)

Welcome to Difficult Conversations.  Today, we have Liz Poret-Christ hosting along with Dr. Orsini.  A few weeks ago, when Liz was scrolling through Facebook, she came across the PELOTON Cancer Warriors page and saw a post by Gina Jacobson. Her thoughts about battling cancer, mixed with a bit of dark humor, and a lot of honesty made Liz realize that she would be a great guest on this podcast. So, joining us today is Gina Jacobson. For the past twenty-seven years, Gina has worked in a broad range of roles with the Publicis Group, including overseeing media at Starcom and creative development at Leo Burnett. Her official title at Starcom is Chief Growth Officer, but she thinks of herself as a “Chief Potential Officer.” She’s known for her critical strategic thinking, digging into her client’s businesses, and has a passion for building and nurturing teams who deliver engaging, strategic work.   Gina was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in 2018, and has outlived her prognosis by several years, and intends to keep living a joyful and purposeful life, helping others realize their full potential.  Get ready to hear Gina’s story and be inspired! Gina shares her background story and how she got to where she is today with her career. We learn how her leadership style and philosophy of “recognizing fear” started, and she goes in depth how her philosophy deepened after her cancer diagnosis.  Gina tells us about the breakdown she had at a conference in front of her whole leadership team and reveals how having cancer changed her philosophy of leadership, how she views the world, her job, and how being more vulnerable helped her and her co-workers. We hear the story about the four oncologists Gina interviewed and how their communication affected her ability to envision a successful path forward. She explains how each of the conversations went, and how she ultimately chose the one that communicated with her in a way that she felt this physician was her advocate and one that she could trust. With the great connection she had with this physician, she makes a point that the positive attitude certainly made for an easier journey and a more tolerable journey.  Gina describes her cancer journey as a “masterclass in fear” and shares her message to everyone.  We hear about her blog and a post she wrote about telling the kids, and specifically one with her son, and his response that felt like a knife in the gut for a mother to hear. We end with Gina telling us the type of conversation she finds most challenging and the strategies she’s developed to get better at having those difficult conversations. If you enjoyed this podcast, please hit the subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Hosts:Liz Poret-ChristDr. Anthony Orsini Guest:Gina Jacobson For More Information:Difficult Conversations PodcastThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-TwitterLiz@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Gina Jacobson Blog-SubstackWe Are All Made of Stars-Gina’s Blog

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini.   My guest today, is Mindy Spigel.  Mindy  has dedicated her career to improving healthcare and helping patients get over their fears of the  system. She has a master’s degree in nursing, has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings, and has taught in both academic and clinical fields. Her passion is helping people create meaningful connections as a leader and team member while providing the best care.  She enjoys helping leaders build strong teams in exceptional work environments. It’s her desire to alleviate fears, build trust, and create an exceptional experience for all.  Mindy has been honored to have presented at numerous national, state, and local conferences, she recently published a research study on the “Fears of Parents When Their Child is a Patient, and she just released her first book, There’s a Snake on My Head! Strategies for Alleviating Fear and Anxiety in Healthcare, which we are going to be talking about today. Mindy tells us about her journey and what gave her a passion for patient experience. She expresses why she’s been a very big advocate for shared decision making and asking the team  how can we make this work? We hear about the inspiration behind the title of her book, There’s a Snake on My Head! Strategies For Alleviating Fear and Anxiety in Healthcare. Dr. .  Mindy and Dr Orsini discuss why it is such a big mistake when hospitals try to t way to improve patient experience is treating hospitals like hotels. She tells us about  things she learned in her research about what people are afraid of. In her book, Mindy talks about Five Relieving Strategies, and the first one is build a relationship. It’s about finding commonality, and Dr. Orsini talks about how we could find commonality in just about everyone.  Mindy explains her second strategy which is, choose your words carefully.  She shares an aha moment story.  In part two of her book, Mindy talks about how healthcare team members are people too and she explains more about this. Also, we find out what prompted Mindy to write her book, what she hopes will understand after reading the book. Mindy talks about what she is currently doing and her hopes for the coming months in her career. We end with Mindy telling us the most difficult type of conversation she’s had, and advice on how she navigated through it. Host:Dr. Anthony OrsiniGuest:Mindy Spigel For More Information:Difficult Conversations PodcastThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-Twitterdrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Mentioned:Mindy Spigel Websitemgspigel@gmail.comThere’s a Snake on My Head! Strategies for Alleviating Fear and Anxiety in Healthcare for Patients, Families, AND Healthcare Teams by Mindy G. Spigel

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini. Today, I have a wonderful guest who’s been doing great things in the healthcare field and has some wonderful stories to share.  My guest today is Jeff Atwood.  Jeff is a healthcare leader, author, and speaker who has more than twenty-five years of healthcare leadership, marketing, and storytelling experience. He consults with healthcare and community groups nationally, sharing insights and encouragement found at the crossroads during his two decades serving healthcare organizations, while raising a daughter with significant and developmental challenges. Jeff’s books have been published by Simon & Schuster, Random House, and Harvest House, and today we’ll be talking about his latest book, Need to Know for Graduates: Little Things That Make a Big Difference, which was released earlier this year. Jeff shares his journey and how he entered a career in healthcare by accident.  He tells us about his daughter who has had a seizure disorder her entire life, and how he and his wife had the opportunity to touch almost every part of the healthcare system as parents. We hear about the Gratitude Symposium and Jeff shares a sweet story, as well as his thoughts about how the healthcare community is wired with gratitude. Dr. Orsini shares his insights on the importance of teamwork when it comes to providing care to human beings, and we hear some great stories of the true kindness of people in healthcare  We hear some great advice about how we can bring even more beauty and humanity out in medicine, and why acknowledging  people when they do good things is so important.  Dr. Orsini tells us his “sticker story” and why such a simple thing seems to bring so much excitement to people. He tells a tender story about a housekeeper in the Neonatal ICU. Jeff’s discusses his most recent book, Need to Know for Graduates: Little Things That Make a Big Difference, and his idea behind the book that shares advice and things he thinks are important for parents to tell their kids. He explains how as a parent you really need to be intentional with what’s important and how you say it. Host:Dr. Anthony OrsiniGuest:Jeff AtwoodFor More Information:Difficult Conversations PodcastThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-Twitterdrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Jeff Atwood (Email)Need to Know for Graduates: Little Things That Make a Big Difference by Jeff AtwoodNeed to Know for New Parents: Little Things That Make a Big Difference by Jeff Atwood

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini.  Our guest today is my friend, Ellen Reilly, who is an industry leader focused on the intersection of healthcare, technology, and data. She’s the Global Head of Healthcare and Life Sciences at WHOOP, a company that debuted in 2015,. Ellen has led large organizations in driving change to transform and simplify business processes while delivering bottom line measurable benefits. This is another part of a long series about physician wellness, and we’re going to build upon  a previous episode with guest, Brian Ferguson. Brian is doing real important work with  WHOOP.  As always, Dr. Orsini keeps his promise about two things, that you will feel inspired, and you will have learned valuable lessons to be a better and more compassionate communicator.Ellen tells us her background and how she ended up at WHOOP. We find out what WHOOP does and why it is unique in the industry.  Dr. Orsini tells us that agreed to be on the Healthcare Advisory Board for WHOOP because he was so impressed with what it does, and he shares what he loves about it. There are a lot of hospitals that are doing some studies right now with WHOOP and Ellen shares some of those studies with us.  We also hear about the type  of data  consumers and healthcare workers use to understand the impact of such factors as alcohol, smoking, and  caffeine, and how it changes their behaviors and recovery.  Ellen tells us how people are using WHOOP to measure things such as the strain of stress.  Ms Reilly explains how WHOOP helped her improve her life in a positive way by using it every day. Also, we learn how WHOOP could be used for real time data to make people aware of how outside factors effect their own wellness.  Dr. Orsini and Ellen discuss the major impact Whoop can have on physician wellness, professional burnout and  ultimately patient safety. Ellen tells us the most difficult conversation she’s had in her life and shares advice how she navigated through it.  We end with learning where Ellen sees WHOOP going in the future. If you enjoyed this podcast, please hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Go ahead and download this episode now! Host:Dr. Anthony OrsiniGuest:Ellen ReillyFor More Information:Difficult Conversations PodcastThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-Twitterdrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Mentioned:ellen.reilly@whoop.comWHOOP UniteDifficult Conversations Podcast-Episode 164: Reaching Peak Performance in Medicine with Brian FergusonDifficult Conversations Podcast-Episode 110: Avoiding Burnout with Dr. Dike Drummond

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini.  This interview was recorded over a year ago and for reasons best not discussed were not been able to make it live. Well the big day is finally here. Today, you are in for a real treat because my special guest is a true legend and a local hero in the field of Neonatology here in Central Florida and in the country.  He is a hero not only because of his accomplishments, but because of the positive impact that he has left on so many lives and families. My guest today is Dr. Gregor Alexander, who is a friend, a former partner, and someone whom I’ve learned a great deal from.  He has treated more than 45,000 critically ill newborns and has touched the lives of countless other families and children through his work with Orlando Health and the Arnold Palmer Foundation.  He has been locally and nationally recognized by organizations such as March of Dimes, Children’s Miracle Network, and the American Institute for Public Service, to name a few. His relationship with Arnold Palmer and the work they’ve done together is a story he will share today.  His story is so inspirational and interesting that Gregor is currently working on a book about his life as a Baby Doctor and what it means to truly live a  purposeful life. Gregor shares with us an incredible story about his family, living in Columbia, becoming a doctor, and how he ended up in the United States.  He tells us about coming to Central Florida, working in a tiny NICU, and becoming the director. He talks about the miracle that came to him in 1981, which was Arnold Palmer, who helped with making a dream come true in 1989 to open the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.  We also learn about the dream and planning of building the Winnie Palmer Hospital.  Gregor goes into detail about the relationship he formed with Arnold Palmer over the years and why he called him the “King of Hearts.” Dr. Orsini talks about meeting Arnold Palmer, how he changed the game of golf, and how humble he was. Gregor tells us about the survival rates of babies back in 1975 and how scary it was. We hear Gregor’s philosophy on having that human connection with the families of premature babies, how he takes great pleasure and honor taking care of babies, and how he uses humor to start his relationships with the families.  Also, find out why he says we are becoming “emotional billionaires.” Dr. Orsini brings up the importance of finding commonality. Gregor shares with us what he’s currently doing in his life, which includes mission trips, caring for babies, and writing a book about his life that he hopes will be an inspiration to people not only in the medical field, but for people that come to this country and have a dream and want to succeed like he did.  Check out Dr. Alexander's upcoming book "The Baby Doctor" Host: Dr. Anthony OrsiniGuest:Dr. Gregor AlexanderSponsor:The Finley ProjectFor More Information:The Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedinThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-TwitterIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Mentioned:gag.alexander@outlook.com

Hello and welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini.  Today, we are excited and honored to have as our guest, Julie McFadden, otherwise known as “Hospice nurse Julie,” on social media, where she has almost a million viewers between TikTok and Instagram. Her warm and insightful ability to normalize and explain the death and dying process has made her a cultural icon. Julie has been a nurse for fifteen years, ten in the ICU, and five taking care of hospice patients. Her gift to the world has been sharing her experiences and discussing topics like death to help others understand the process and alleviate any anxieties they may have about it.  She’s a funny, honest, and natural storyteller and her amazing following has helped expand the conversations about death and dying and change the way people view hospice care. Julie tells us more about herself, her journey to becoming an ICU nurse, and what led to her decision to transition into doing hospice. She worked in ICU for ten years and she talks about coming to the realization that there was a missing link to talking about big life goals with what’s going to happen with certain patients. When Julie started speaking up, she realized her voice mattered and it started making an impact with more conversations happening with family members. Julie tells us about two patients she took care of in the ICU who impacted her and made her realize she really wanted to do hospice care. She details the difference between palliative care and hospice, she explains the biggest thing she learned, and why she became so passionate about working in hospice. We learn how “Hospice nurse Julie” started, how topics such as, “The Rally,” “Death with dignity,” and “Myths about morphine,” all came to her, and why she picked TikTok as her platform. Julie explains the process she goes through with families, the conversations she has, and how she navigates through them. Liz and Dr. Orsini talk about the guilt family members feel and the phrase they teach, “Sometimes the more loving thing to do is to not do anything.”  We hear the one question that Julie gets asked the most from people and we learn the most fulfilling thing about her job. If someone is newly diagnosed, scared, and referred to hospice, Julie shares the first conversation she has with this person, and Dr. Orsini shares a sweet story behind his father-in-law last words, “I won!” We end with Julie telling us the most difficult type of conversations she has and how she navigates through them. . If you enjoyed this podcast, please hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Hosts:Liz Poret-ChristAnthony Orsini Guest:Julie McFaddenFor More Information:Difficult Conversations PodcastThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-TwitterIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Hospice nurse Julie TikTok Hospice nurse Julie InstagramHospice nurse Julie YouTubeHospice nurse Julie-End Well (YouTube)

Welcome  to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini. Today, joining me as my guest is somebody who embodies everything that I think should be right in healthcare. With over forty years of healthcare leadership experience, Thomas Dahlborg is a voice for relationship centered and compassionate care and servant leadership. He’s the President and CEO of Dahlborg HealthCARING Leadership Group, a leader, advisor, internationally recognized speaker, and an amazing writer of two multiple award-winning books, From Heart to Head & Back Again:  a Journey Through the Healthcare System,  and The Big Kid and Basketball…and the lessons he taught his Father and Coach. Tom is a father, husband, and coach, and he also coaches healthcare leaders and a coach of young men. He believes at the end of the day, it’s all about love and impact.  Tom shares his journey into healthcare,  starting out in a small community hospital. In his book, From Heart to Head & Back Again:  a Journey Through the Healthcare System, Tom tells us about going door to door trying to get people’s opinions on the healthcare system, and he shares the story about one person he met who was the wife of a soldier, and the points she made to him that were so important.  We hear about Tom’s journey, and the one doctor that treated him a whole person that helped him heal. Find out why he states in his book that we are hurting our doctors, our nurses, our families, our patients, our communities, and ourselves. We learn some key pieces Tom learned working in quality improvement, and he explains why the real solution is integrity, love, losing ego and focusing on what the real problem is. Another story we hear is about a doctor that Tom was connected to when he was sick, the incredible conversations he had, and the relationship that developed all leading to the right path for him.  We talk more about Tom’s organization, Dahlborg HealthCARING Leadership Group, and what they do. We end with finding out Tom’s diagnosis of healthcare, the most difficult conversation he’s had, and how he navigated through it. Host:Dr. Anthony OrsiniGuest:Thomas Dahlborg For More Information:Difficult Conversations PodcastThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-Twitterdrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Mentioned:Dahlborg HealthCARING Leadership GroupTom@DahlborgHLG.com (email)Thomas Dahlborg LinkedInDahlborg HealthCARING Leadership Group YouTubeFrom Heart to Head & Back Again: a Journey Through the Healthcare System by Thomas Dahlborg Sr.

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini.   In previous episodes, we’ve had some guests that talked about the problem of substance abuse among physicians. We heard about an incredible film documentary on physician suicide and we heard from  physicians about their journey with burnout,  This is an important topic because it doesn’t just impact doctors and their families, it also affects patients. According to one statistic, physician suicide affects 900,000 patients per year in the United States, and a physician dies by suicide in the U.S. on an average of one per day,  That speaks to a very larger problem in healthcare.  Recently, I read the book, Why Physicians Die by Suicide:  and I knew I had to have the author on since he has a unique insight into this problem. Today, my guest is Dr. Michael Myers, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at SUNY-Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn.  He’s a specialist in physician health , a researcher, teacher, and consultant, as well as an author of nine books. He’s a highly regarded speaker and lecturer on all aspects of physician well-being. Michael shares the story about his medical school roommate who committed suicide.  We find out how Dr. Myers started out in Internal Medicine and the game changing decision that made him take the leap into Psychiatry. Dr. Orsini and Dr. Meyers share their concerns on the “elephant in the room” problem, how we got into this crisis, . Many physicians are asking for help, but as Dr. Meyers explains there is work being done to make it easier and more permissible to ask for help. We dive into Dr. Meyers book, and he shares stories about the hundreds of families he interviewed, and how this changed his life,  To the family and friends of physicians out there, Dr. Meyers goes in depth on how they can identify the red flags  To the physicians  who are feeling depressed or having suicidal thoughts, he sheds some light on what the rules and laws are that protect them, and the best way to find the psychiatrist that is right for them.    If you enjoyed this podcast, please hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Go ahead and download this episode now! Host:Dr. Anthony OrsiniGuest:Dr. Michael MyersFor More Information:Difficult Conversations PodcastThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-Twitterdrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Mentioned:Michael F. Myers, MD WebsiteDr. Michael Myers LinkedInDr. Michael Myers TwitterWhy Physicians Die by Suicide: Lessons Learned from Their Families and Others Who Cared by Michael F. Myers, MD

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini. On this episode, the conversation we’ll be having not only affects physicians but quite possibly affects everyone who is listening.  We’ll be talking about the complex world of medical malpractice liability coverage. It affects the cost of care, it affects physicians, patients, and hospitals, often even dictating care by a doctor.  My special guest today is Jennifer Wiggins, who’s the CEO and Founder of Aegis Malpractice Solutions in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which is a niche insurance agency focused exclusively on medical malpractice insurance solutions for independent healthcare providers and medical groups. Jen brings a depth of knowledge  with nearly twenty years of experience in the malpractice industry. Jennifer tells us about two big gaps in the marketplace she observed while working at MedPro, and why she decided to start her own business.  We hear some great recommendations from Jennifer explaining what doctors should be asking at the time of their initial contract negotiations about having malpractice insurance,  She touches on Good Samaritan laws and how they differ based on where you practice. Dr. Orsini and Jennifer chat about having outside malpractice insurance and how it’s important to be your own advocate when it comes to getting an attorney if you need it. We learn the importance of communication in malpractice lawsuits. Jennifer explains the two biggest control levers that you can pull to make yourself safer as a practitioner that has to do with communication and documentation. Dr. Orsini tells us about the workshops they do at The Orsini Way for physicians to help them avoid malpractice lawsuit. Apology Laws are different in every state and Jennifer touches on taking advantage of any risk management courses you can take to make yourself aware of other tools and resources out there.  We hear about a podcast Jennifer does, Malpractice Insights, and we find out how she helps someone who needs malpractice insurance, but she can’t find a carrier for them.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please go ahead and hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Go ahead and download this episode now! Host:Dr. Anthony OrsiniGuest:Jennifer WigginsFor More Information:Difficult Conversations PodcastThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-Twitterdrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony Orsini Resources Mentioned:Jennifer Wiggins LinkedInAegis Malpractice SolutionsMalpractice Insights Podcast (Apple Podcasts)The Role of Apology Laws in Medical Malpractice (The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law)

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini. Today, we have another incredible guest joining us that I know you’re going to love. Jennifer George is an award-winning author, speaker, podcast host, and compassion-focused physiotherapist, with a lot of experience in the private and public sectors of care.  She became a caregiver to her chronically ill father and it was with this personal experience of witnessing his journey through the healthcare system that shaped her professional practice.  She has spent the last 14 years learning and reflecting on the importance of communication in our health and educational systems.  Jennifer is the host of Healthcare Provider Happy Hour Podcast and the author of Communication is Care: 9 Empowering Strategies to Guide Patient Healing. Jennifer is also a mentor to future and current health providers on discovering their purpose, achieving fulfillment, and creating empowering patient experience. As always we start off with Jennifer sharing her remarkable story about taking care of her ill father. We hear her journey of how she became a patient advocate, and how it blossomed into to writing her  book. Dr. Orsini talks more about how in healthcare, we tend to confuse the term communication with the term information. We discuss Jennifer's book  in depth  and   her philosophy which sets the tone; - “In a lot of ways, my patients have lost their sense of identity.  They have gone from living life on their terms to living life within the framework of the health care system.” Jennifer discusses in depth each of the 9 Empowering Strategies to Guide Patient Healing.  Dr. Orsini shares a funny story about his cousin who had to be savvy at a doctor’s office, and tells us that Jennifer’s book reminds us that as a provider, you can make a difference and choose not to let any system or any pressure from the outside stop those special moments that you have with your patient.  We end with Jennifer sharing the most difficult conversation she had in her life and advice on how she navigated through it. Host:Dr. Anthony OrsiniGuest:Jennifer GeorgeFor More Information:Difficult Conversations Lessons I Learned as an ICU Physician Podcast EpisodesThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-Twitterdrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Jennifer George WebsiteJennifer George TwitterJennifer George LinkedInHealthcare Provider Happy Hour Podcast with Jennifer GeorgeCommunication is Care: 9 Empowering Strategies to Guide Patient Healing by Jennifer George

Welcome  to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini.  Today, we have another incredible guest, Joshua Washington, who is the President of Lee Malveaux People, Strategy & Solutions.  As an organizational psychologist, Joshua has helped over 200 medical facilities with people, strategy, and performance.  He’s also trained over a thousand executive leaders and developed a one-to-one physician coaching program helping doctors reach the top percentile nationally in patient experience.  His passion for people development shines through his work and serves as the foundation of his success. He has a new book out called, The Mentality of Success, which he’ll tell us more about,  As always, Dr. Orsini keeps his promise about two things, that you will feel inspired, and you will have learned valuable lessons to be a better and more compassionate communicator. Joshua shares his background and journey, which is centered around communication and impacting the value of people. We learn how Joshua got started  coaching doctors. Dr. Orsini and Joshua chat about the lack of money spent on teaching communication to doctors. Joshua makes a point about physicians being one of the main professions that are constantly learning and constantly growing, which is why administrators should invest more into training.  We find out Joshua’s approach to communicating with physicians  as well as why the communication skill set should be a culture within your physician group. Joshua details his four-step process. He explains why data is critical, getting to know each doctor on a personal level, and how long the coaching/physician relationship typically lasts.  Dr. Orsini talks about the training he does, which like Joshua’s approach, has a beginning, middle, and an end. We hear about the greatest aha moments that Joshua  sees  in  physicians’ eyes when they talk about the personal versus the practical. Dr. Orsini shares with us how many physicians he thinks are fighting to hold on to their love for medicine , and why it’s okay to ask for coaching.  We hear more about Joshua’s new book, The Mentality of Success, how it’s more of a personal development book.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please go ahead and hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Go ahead and download this episode now! Host:Dr. Anthony OrsiniGuest:Joshua WashingtonFor More Information:Difficult Conversations I Learned as an ICU Physician Podcast EpisodesThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-Twitterdrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Mentioned:Joshua Washington LinkedInLee Malveaux-People, Strategy & Solutionsjoshua@leemalveaux.comThe Joshua MentalityThe Orsini Way-Podcast-Episode 114: The Patient Experience-Discovering the Best in Others with Diane Rogers

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini.  Today, I am lucky to have  as mu Co-host, Elizabeth Poret-Christ, who is the Managing  Director of The Orsini Way. Our two guests today are, Dr. Sandra Cammarata and Dr. Giovanni Campanile, who  wrote the  book, The Sicilian Secret Diet Plan, which introduces the pleasure and wonderful health benefits of the Sicilian version of the Mediterranean Diet. Dr. Campanile is a Clinical and Functional Cardiologist and Founding Director of the Chambers Center for Well-Being in Morristown, NJ.  He’s board-certified in five different specialties and subspecialties including Cardiology, Internal Medicine, Interventional Cardiology, Integrative Medicine, Anti-Aging Regenerative Medicine,  Dr. Sandra Cammarata practices Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Tufts University.  She was raised in Catania, Sicily, graduated from Catania Medical School, and moved to the U.S. with her husband Giovanni. Giovanni and Sandra share their backgrounds with us,   We find out what makes the Sicilian Diet unique.  We discuss their book, The Sicilian Secret Diet Plan.  Sandra points out five things that help us live long: healthy diets, healthy sleep, exercise, connecting with others, and the ability to stay in the present.  Giovanni explains it’s not just diet, but how we live our lives that is so important . We learn what prompted them to write their book. Liz shares her concern on so much misinformation about how to eat healthy and if you’re one of those people that is trying to focus more on your health we find out where you can begin. We hear some history, facts, and information about the Sicilian Diet and their book,  Sandra shares a story of growing up in Sicily, how no one ate anything from a box, and some really great information on pasta.   Find out how you can use the Sicilian way of eating to lose weight, what you should be looking for when purchasing meat, chicken, and fish, and why Giovanni tells his patients that a half a pound a week is twenty-five pounds at the end of the year.Host:Dr. Anthony OrsiniCo-Host:Elizabeth Poret-ChristGuests:Dr. Sandra CammarataDr. Giovanni CampanileFor More Information:Difficult Conversations Lessons I Learned as an ICU Physician Podcast EpisodesThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-Twitterdrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources:The Sicilian Secret Diet The Sicilian Secret Diet PodcastThe Sicilian Secret Diet InstagramThe Sicilian Secret Diet Plan YouTubeThe Sicilian Secret Diet Plan by Giovanni Campanile, MD and Sandra Cammarata, MD

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini.   Today, I am honored to have as my guest, Paul Falcone, who is widely considered and  expert on communication and human resources.  Paul is currently the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Motion Picture and Television Fund and former Head of HR for Nickelodeon. He is a best-selling author of a number of books, including one  we’ll be speaking  about today called, 101 Tough Conversations to Have With Employees:  A Manager’s Guide To Addressing Performance, Conduct, And Discipline Challenges. He’s also the creator of The Paul Falcone Workplace Leadership Series, which includes his latest book that was just released called, Workplace Ethics: Mastering Ethical Leadership and Sustaining a Moral Workplace. Paul’s a regular columnist at SHRM’s HR Magazine and a long-term instructor in UCLA’s Extension School of Business & Management.  We start with Paul sharing his story and we find out the importance of soft skills and building relationships. We learn things that have changed tremendously in medicine and business with having so many options these days, especially with the Gen Y and Gen Z’s.  Paul and Dr. Orsini talk about having the important trust factor. . Dr. Orsini  points out that medicine and business are so similar because we have to communicate.  Paul shares a great HR story and  advice to always go with your heart and when in doubt err on the side of compassion. We Discuss Paul's book, 101 Tough Conversations to Have With Employees. We find out the most difficult conversation Paul has with people being in HR..  You don’t want to miss Paul’s advice about the important conversation in HR and with people before a Christmas party.  Paul’s latest book, Workplace Ethics,, was just released and he tells us the theory behind the book, and gives examples of workplace ethics. He also shares advice on what to say to an employee who is being harassed but is afraid to say anything to HR because their boss is going to find out. We end with Paul explaining what COVID has done for HR.Host:Dr. Anthony OrsiniGuest:Paul FalconeFor More Information:Difficult Conversations Lessons I Learned as an ICU Physician Podcast EpisodesThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-Twitterdrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Paul Falcone WebsitePaul Falcone TwitterPaul Falcone LinkedInPaul Falcone-Books on AmazonThe Orsini Way-Podcast-Episode 105: Difficult Conversations and Workplace Violence with Larry Barton

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini.  Today, I am are honored to have another amazing guest.  Our guest today is Dorothy Roberts, who is the George A. Weiss University Professor of Law & Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania with joint appointments in the Departments of Africana Studies and Sociology and the Law School where she holds the inaugural Raymond Pace and Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander Professor of Civil Rights. She’s also the founding director of the Penn Program on Race, Science, & Society. Dorothy is the author of several award-winning books including, Killing the Black Body, Shattered Bonds, Fatal Invention, and Torn Apart, coming out soon. Recent recognitions of her work include 2019 Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees at Rutgers University, 2017 election to the National Academy of Medicine, 2016 Society of Family Planning Lifetime Achievement Award. Her TED talk on, “The problem with race-based medicine.” has had over 1 million views. Dr Roberts tells us about her background, growing up in Chicago and how she pursued her interest in social justice.  We learn what race-based medicine is and why it is such a big problem. Dorothy shares a story about a clinical trial she participated in and why it seemed so unscientific to use race as a variable. We find out who Dr. Samuel Cartwright was,  and why he is so important to understanding the role that racial medicine has played over time  in America.  Dorothy discusses the impact that diagnostic tools being used in medicine today that use  automatic race correction have  for black patients based on false assumptions.   We learn why it is so important when speaking to medical students and physicians to ask why they are using race when they should be looking at genetics.  We discuss her  book, Fatal Invention, that is used by incoming medical students across the country, as well as her new book coming out in April, Torn Apart, which is about racism in the child welfare system.  Host:Dr. Anthony OrsiniGuest:Dorothy RobertsFor More Information:The Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-Twitterdrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Dorothy Roberts Twitterdorothyroberts@law.upenn.eduTED Talk 2015- Dorothy Roberts: The problem with race-based medicineFatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-Create race in the Twenty-first Century by Dorothy RobertsTorn Apart:  How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families—and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World by Dorothy Roberts

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini.  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is something most people are familiar with but are uncomfortable talking about. As my guest today, I have one of the foremost experts on PTSD who will tell us  about the groundbreaking work she’s been doing here in Central Florida. Dr. Deborah Beidel is the Trustee Chair and Pegasus Professor of Psychology at University of Central Florida. She is also the Director of UCF RESTORES program, which is a clinical research center dedicated to changing the way post-traumatic stress disorder is understood, diagnosed, and treated. Her use of virtual reality to treat people suffering from PTSD has led to the development of treatments that are 2 -3X more effective than standard psychological treatments.  Dr. Beidel is the author of over 300 scientific publications on the treatment of anxiety disorders and PTSD.  Her most recent work involved leading a team of scientists and clinicians develop a new virtual reality system that allows clinicians to use virtual reality to treat veterans, active-duty personnel, first responders, and survivors of mass shootings with PTSD. Dr. Beidel takes us through her journey, which started in the 1990’s, with her and two colleagues searching for a better way to treat Vietnam Veterans with PTSD. We find out the various historical names for PTSD.  She discusses PTSD , the symptoms that develop, and why it’s a conversation people don’t want to have. We hear Dr. Beidel’s thoughts on why there needs to be a change at the administrative level, so  PTSD can be recognized earlier. She  discusses the need  for more therapists who are culturally competent. Dr. Orsini mentions some important points about getting the person to admit to themselves. that they have PTSD. He says "Its a difficult conversations they sometimes need to have with themselves."  Dr. Beidel details more about the RESTORES program, which utilizes exposure therapy, virtual reality, and  intensive outpatient treatment. We also learn how some of their programs are federally funded, and with the help of the state legislature in Florida, the treatment is provided at no cost to Florida residents who meet the criteria for PTSD. Dr. Beidel tells us where  treatments are available, and about a grant she received to do this treatment on 3 military bases around the country. We end with Dr. Beidel sharing with us the most difficult conversation she’s had and how she navigated though it. If you enjoyed this podcast, please go ahead and hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Host:Dr. Anthony OrsiniGuest:Dr. Deborah BeidelFor More Information:Difficult Conversations I Learned as an ICU Physician Podcast EpisodesThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-Twitterdrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Dr. Deborah Beidel LinkedinDr. Deborah Beidel-USF UCF RESTORESUCF RESTORES Twitter

Welcome to Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini. On this episode, we have another amazing guest!  Joining us today is Dr. Wendy Dean. Dr. Dean is a writer, speaker, podcast host, and the President and Co-Founder of Moral Injury of Healthcare, which is a nonprofit organization that provides training and consultation to organizations focusing on alleviating distress in their workforce. Dr. Dean has been a practicing clinician,  trained in psychiatry.  She also worked for the Department of Defense and was an executive for a large international non-profit, supporting military medical research.  As always, Dr. Orsini keeps his promise about two things, that you will feel inspired, and you will have learned valuable lessons to be a better and more compassionate communicator.  Dr. Dean shares her background with us and her journey to becoming a doctor. She tells us why she decided to leave surgery and go into psychiatry?  Find out why Moral Injury is a better term than burnout when describing what healthcare professionals are feeling right now.   She goes in depth about the state of psychiatry and mental health care being in a tough place right now. We hear the story of how Dr. Dean met Dr. Simon Talbot, and what prompted them to start Moral Injury of Healthcare.  Dr. Dean shares ways resiliency programs can help people, such as nurses, but they do not fix the problems that causes moral injury. Dr. Orsini and Dr. Dean share their thoughts on hospitals being run now by people who are not in the healthcare industry, and how there is a lack of quality communication. We hear some great advice from Dr. Dean about the future for Moral Injury of Healthcare and what she would like to see happen in facilitating the relationship between the patient and the clinician. After having this enlightening conversation today, Dr. Orsini concludes that physician burnout should be replaced with the term moral injury. If you enjoyed this podcast, please go ahead and hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Go ahead and download this episode now! Host:Dr. Anthony OrsiniGuest:Wendy Dean, MDFor More Information:Difficult Conversations I Learned as an ICU Physician Podcast EpisodesThe Orsini WayThe Orsini Way-FacebookThe Orsini Way-LinkedInThe Orsini Way-InstagramThe Orsini Way-Twitterdrorsini@theorsiniway.comIt’s All In The Delivery: Improving Healthcare Starting With A Single Conversation by Dr. Anthony OrsiniResources Mentioned:Moral Injury of HealthcareWendy Dean, MD WebsiteWendy Dean, MD LinkedInWDean@moralinjury.healthcareMoral Matters Podcast with Wendy Dean, MD & Simon G. Talbot, MDThe Orsini Way- Podcast- Episode 158: Do No Harm-Conversations About Physician Suicide with Robyn Symon