Academic Medicine Strategy Podcast

Academic medicine is designed to reward output, not clarity. The result is physicians who feel overwhelmed and overextended.The Academic Medicine Strategy Podcast breaks down the systems, structures, and expectations that create that experience and how to navigate them strategically.Hosted by Dr. Stacey Ishman, a national leader in academic medicine with over 230 peer-reviewed publications, this podcast is grounded in her experience working with faculty, departments, and institutions to build clearer, more sustainable academic careers.This podcast is for:• Academic physicians across all specialties and career stages• Faculty leaders and program directors responsible for developing others• Departments and institutions focused on retention, promotion, and leadership pipelinesEpisodes explore the intersection of individual career strategy and institutional design, including:• Promotion pathways and why they often feel unclear• Time, effort, and why productivity is not just pe

Academic Medicine Strategy Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Dr. Stacey Ishman, with 65 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Dr. Stacey Ishman hosts Academic Medicine Strategy Podcast, a business show with 65 episodes published.

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  Academic Medicine Strategy Podcast

  What Thriving Faculty Know: Identity Formation with Dr. McMains

  Aug 12, 202625 min

  What does it take to build a professional identity that supports both career growth and a meaningful academic career? In this episode, Dr. Chris McMains discusses professional identity formation, belonging, career transitions, and why early-career physicians need more than a list of accomplishments to thrive. If you’re interested in working with Academic Medicine Strategy Group, visit www.amedsg.com to learn more about our programs designed to help you build a clear, strategic path to promotion, research, and career advancement. Key Points 1. Identity Tension Is Normal in Early Career — 02:00 New faculty members face a flood of roles and expectations while trying to figure out where they fit, where they are going, and whether they belong. 2. Belonging Should Not Be Contingent on Productivity — 03:30 An intrinsic sense of belonging—knowing you are valued regardless of what you produce—can influence creativity, wellbeing, and the ability to thrive. 3. Your Professional Identity Is Not Just One Identity — 06:00 Physicians hold multiple identities: clinician, educator, researcher, leader, mentor, and more. Integrating these professional and personal identities can create greater energy and meaning. 4. Leaders Can Create—or Reduce—Identity Threats — 09:30 Leaders play an important role in creating environments where faculty feel valued and supported. Belonging requires deliberate cultural signals, not just individual effort. 5. Career Transitions Require Deliberate Identity Work — 11:00 As physicians move through their careers, some roles and identities need to be released while others are preserved or reshaped. Dr. McMains uses the metaphor of a “controlled burn” to describe this process. 6. Change Begins With Loss — 14:00 Even positive career changes can involve loss and a period of uncertainty. Recognizing this “liminal space” can help physicians move through transitions rather than rushing past the discomfort. 7. Stop Saying Yes to Everything — 18:00 Early-career physicians are often told to say yes to every opportunity. Instead, faculty and leaders should identify work that aligns with an individual's interests, strengths, and sense of purpose. Learn More About Dr. Chris McMains Dr. McMains’ work focuses on professional identity formation and helping physicians and leaders better understand the identity transitions that happen throughout an academic career. To learn more about his work and resources, visit attendingtoself.com . Summary Professional identity formation is not a one-time event—it is an ongoing process that changes as academic physicians take on new roles, release old ones, and navigate career transitions. For early-career physicians, the goal is not simply to accumulate accomplishments, but to deliberately build a career in which your work, values, identities, and sense of belonging reinforce one another. Please RATE, REVIEW, and FOLLOW the Academic Medicine Strategy Group Podcast on your favorite platform. If you are interested in getting in touch with us or providing topic suggestions, please: DM me on Instagram: @sishmancoach Email:   stacey@amedsg.com Website:   www.amedsg.com

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  Academic Medicine Strategy Podcast

  Why Time Management Is Important

  Aug 5, 202616 min

  Time management is one of the most common challenges physicians face, especially when balancing clinical responsibilities with research, education, leadership, promotion, and life outside of work. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman explains why effective time management is not about doing more—it is about creating systems, finding the right method, and intentionally protecting what matters most. No need to take notes—visit the blog for a full summary of key insights. If you’re interested in working with Academic Medicine Strategy Group, visit www.amedsg.com to learn more about our programs designed to help you build a clear, strategic path to promotion, research, and career advancement. Key Points: 00:00 — Why Time Management Is a Career Challenge Time management consistently comes up in coaching and faculty development because physicians are trying to balance competing professional priorities without sacrificing the things that matter outside of work. 02:00 — You Make Time—You Don’t Find It Many priorities are shaped by other people’s agendas, including emails, EMR messages, and unexpected requests. Creating progress requires intentionally deciding what deserves space on your calendar. 03:00 — Time Management Changes at Every Career Stage The strategies that work during fellowship or early faculty years may not work later. As responsibilities evolve, physicians need to reassess and redesign their systems. 04:00 — Protect Time for the Career You Want Clinical work will grow, but research, education, administration, and other meaningful areas may require deliberate protection. Early-career physicians should make room for the work they want to build—not only the work that arrives first. 06:00 — Find a Method That Matches How You Work A stalled manuscript, grant, promotion packet, or project may not be a time problem. It may be a method problem. Finding an approach that fits how you think and work can make progress feel more achievable. 08:00 — Use Small, Unclaimed Blocks of Time Dr. Ishman shares how she used commuting time and short periods between commitments to speak the first draft of her book. Small, intentional blocks can create meaningful momentum without taking time away from work or family. 12:00 — Systems Beat Willpower Scheduling a specific task during a specific window reduces the need to rely on motivation. A clear system can help physicians make progress while remaining present for family and other priorities. 13:00 — Choose One Priority and Start Overwhelm often happens when every task feels equally important. Identify one high-priority item, focus on the next step, and build momentum from there. Summary: Time management is not a one-time productivity solution. It is an ongoing career skill that must be reassessed as responsibilities change. For early-career physicians, the goal is not to fit more into every day—it is to create systems that protect meaningful work, support long-term career goals, and help prevent the demands of academic medicine from taking over every available hour.   Please RATE, REVIEW, and FOLLOW the Academic Medicine Strategy Group Podcast on your favorite platform. If you are interested in getting in touch with us or providing topic suggestions, please: ● DM me on Instagram at @sishmancoach ● Email me at stacey@amedsg.com ● Contact me at the website at www.amedsg.com

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  Academic Medicine Strategy Podcast

  What Great Deans Know: How Medical School Curriculum Actually Gets Designed with Dr. David L. Battinelli

  Jul 29, 202634 min

  What makes a great medical school isn't just an innovative curriculum—it's faculty who know how to help learners grow. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman sits down with Dr. David Battinelli, Executive Vice President, Physician-in-Chief of Northwell Health, and Dean of the Zucker School of Medicine, to discuss why faculty development is the foundation of educational excellence and how academic leaders can build systems that prepare physicians for decades of practice, not just graduation. Dr. Battinelli is a founding member of the Zucker School of Medicine and previously served as vice dean, dean for medical education, and chair of the committee responsible for developing the medical school's curriculum. He is also the co-author of Revolutionizing Medical Education: Proven Blueprint to Transform Curricula and Prepare Future-Ready Physicians , a book that explores how medical schools can reimagine curricula and physician training to better prepare physicians for the future of medicine. No need to take notes—visit the blog for a full summary of key insights. If you're interested in working with Academic Medicine Strategy Group, visit www.amedsg.com to learn more about our programs designed to help you build a clear, strategic path to promotion, research, and career advancement. Key Points 00:01 | Building a Medical School from the Ground Up Dr. Battinelli shares why creating a brand-new medical school gave his team the opportunity to rethink traditional medical education and implement changes that many established institutions struggled to adopt. 03:00 | Faculty Development Drives Educational Innovation Curriculum alone doesn't transform learners. Faculty must be equipped with modern teaching, coaching, and facilitation skills that match how today's physicians actually learn. 08:20 | Continuity Creates Better Teachers—and Better Physicians Rather than rotating through countless supervisors, students benefit from long-term relationships with faculty who can mentor, coach, and gradually increase responsibility over time. 11:30 | Preparing Faculty for 30-Year Careers Medical knowledge evolves continuously. Great institutions don't just onboard faculty—they build systems that help physicians adapt, grow, and continue learning throughout their careers. 14:00 | Keep Faculty Connected to Teaching One of the best ways to develop physicians is to keep them engaged in education. Teaching reinforces clinical excellence, strengthens professional purpose, and helps faculty continue growing alongside learners. 17:45 | The Future of Academic Medicine Dr. Battinelli discusses how AI, connected care, and new models of patient engagement will reshape medicine—and why institutions must prepare both faculty and trainees for a very different future than the one they inherited. Summary Academic medicine changes when faculty change. While curriculum reform often receives the attention, this conversation highlights that sustained excellence comes from developing educators, building meaningful mentoring relationships, and creating systems that help physicians continue growing throughout their careers. For early-career academic physicians, investing in your development as both a clinician and an educator will shape your long-term impact far more than any single promotion or title. Please RATE, REVIEW, and FOLLOW the Academic Medicine Strategy Group Podcast on your favorite platform. If you're interested in getting in touch with us or providing topic suggestions, please: DM me on Instagram at @sishmancoach Email me at stacey@amedsg.com Contact me through the website at www.amedsg.com

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  Academic Medicine Strategy Podcast

  Building Great Careers: Designing the Career You Actually Want with Pamela Mudd

  Jul 22, 202637 min

  What does it take to build an academic career that is both successful and sustainable? In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman sits down with pediatric otolaryngologist Dr. Pamela Mudd to discuss how finding your niche, leading with intention, and learning to say no can transform your career trajectory. Their conversation offers practical lessons for early-career faculty who want to build careers they are proud of—not careers they simply inherit.   No need to take notes—visit the blog for a full summary of key insights.   If you're interested in working with Academic Medicine Strategy Group, visit www.amedsg.com to learn more about our programs designed to help you build a clear, strategic path to promotion, research, and career advancement. Key Points 00:01:00 | Finding Your Through Line Dr. Mudd shares how following her clinical interests evolved into a focused academic niche built around solving meaningful problems rather than simply pursuing opportunities. 00:04:00 | Why Your Niche Matters Early   Learn why developing expertise in a specific area helps establish your academic identity, creates opportunities for collaboration, and reduces burnout as your career grows. 00:08:00 | Stop Fixing People. Start Improving Systems.   Leadership begins with understanding the systems around you. Dr. Mudd explains how shifting from micromanaging people to improving processes changed both her leadership style and her team's effectiveness. 00:13:00 | The Power of Intentional Career Design   After a major life transition, Dr. Mudd realized she had inherited a career built from years of saying yes. Coaching helped her step back, redefine her priorities, and intentionally redesign her professional life. 00:19:00 | Letting Go Creates Space for Growth   Your calendar should evolve as your career evolves. Learn how eliminating responsibilities that no longer fit can create opportunities for greater impact, renewed energy, and leadership development for others. 00:22:00 | From Reactive Work to Strategic Work   Discover practical strategies for protecting time for deep work, making more intentional decisions, and using AI thoughtfully to reduce administrative burden and improve communication. 00:26:00 | Coaching, Mentorship, and Building a Career You Love   Drs. Mudd and Ishman discuss the unique role of coaching, how it differs from mentorship and therapy, and why having an objective partner outside your institution can accelerate career growth and promotion. Summary   Great academic careers rarely happen by accident. They are built through intentional decisions about where to invest your time, energy, and talents. Whether you're establishing your niche, preparing for promotion, or learning to lead, creating space to reflect and design your career will help you build a professional life that is both meaningful and sustainable.   Please RATE, REVIEW, and FOLLOW the Academic Medicine Strategy Group Podcast on your favorite platform.   If you are interested in getting in touch with us or providing topic suggestions, please: DM me on Instagram at @sishmancoach Email me at stacey@amedsg.com Contact me at www.amedsg.com

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  Academic Medicine Strategy Podcast

  What Great Deans Know: Why Faculty Stay and Succeed with Joe Kerschner

  Jul 15, 202634 min

  In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman sits down with physician-scientist, former dean, and national academic medicine leader Joe Kerschner to discuss mentorship, faculty development, retention, burnout, and the future of academic medicine. Their conversation offers practical insights for early-career physicians seeking to build meaningful careers while avoiding common pitfalls that derail promotion and professional fulfillment. No need to take notes—visit the blog for a full summary of key insights. If you’re interested in working with Academic Medicine Strategy Group, visit www.amedsg.com to learn more about our programs designed to help you build a clear, strategic path to promotion, research, and career advancement. Key Points: 1. Great Mentorship Requires More Than Availability (00:04:00) Effective mentors don't simply say yes to everyone. They protect their time, invest real thought into mentoring relationships, and create meaningful opportunities for mentees to grow. 2. Build Systems, Not Just Individual Mentors (00:06:00) Organizations improve retention when they invest in faculty development infrastructure, executive coaching, and training leaders to become skilled mentors themselves. 3. One-Size-Fits-All Faculty Development Doesn't Work (00:08:30) Faculty arrive with different backgrounds, goals, and challenges. Successful development programs recognize these differences and provide individualized support. 4. Faculty Development Is a Retention Strategy (00:12:00) Investing in faculty growth is not a luxury—it's a business imperative. Strong development programs improve retention, leadership readiness, and long-term institutional success. 5. Know Your Intrinsic Motivators (00:18:00) Academic medicine offers multiple pathways for fulfillment through patient care, teaching, research, and community engagement. Understanding what drives you is critical for career satisfaction. 6. Burnout Happens When "One More Thing" Never Ends (00:24:00) The culture of medicine often rewards taking on more responsibilities, but cumulative demands eventually lead to burnout. Leaders must recognize limits and reduce unnecessary burdens. 7. Focus Beats Box-Checking (00:32:00) Career advancement comes from prioritizing a small number of meaningful goals rather than trying to do everything. Excellence requires intentional focus and mentorship-guided direction. Summary: Academic medicine remains an extraordinary career path, but success requires more than hard work alone. Mentorship, strategic focus, individualized development, and alignment with your core motivations are what separate thriving faculty from those who become overwhelmed or leave academia altogether. Early-career physicians who invest in these foundations can build sustainable careers with greater impact and fulfillment.   Please RATE, REVIEW, and FOLLOW the Academic Medicine Strategy Group Podcast on your favorite platform. If you are interested in getting in touch with us or providing topic suggestions, please: ● DM me on Instagram at @sishmancoach ● Email me at stacey@amedsg.com ● Contact me at the website at www.amedsg.com

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