STELLAR SUCCESS: Leveling Up For Medical Pros with Dr. Tudor Francu

In this episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Michelle Pearlman, a board-certified gastroenterologist and certified menopause provider, to discuss the why and how behind her bold transition from academic medicine to launching a concierge practice with her twin sister. Dr. Pearlman opens up about the hard truths of GLP-1s, the failures of our current healthcare system, and how she’s helping patients transform their lives thro...

In this compelling episode of The Stellar Success Podcast, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Carl Knopke, a family medicine physician who now leads a successful practice in obesity medicine. With candor and insight, Dr. Knopke shares how he navigated early academic struggles, rejection from medical school, and a roundabout journey through IT before becoming a leader in his field.

You’ll hear how his athletic background, personal ...

In this episode, Dr. Tudor Francu welcomes anesthesiologist, entrepreneur, and leader Dr. Brian Schmutzler to share his dynamic path from private practice to running a successful multi-contract anesthesia business. With over a decade of experience and a passion for clinical innovation, Dr. Schmutzler discusses the highs, the pitfalls, and the real-life business lessons of medical entrepreneurship.

Listeners will learn:

• How Br...

What do you get when you mix dentistry, motherhood, and a sharp eye for prevention? You get Dr. Ashley Lerman.

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Tudor Francu talks with Dr. Ashley Lerman, a board-certified pediatric dentist turned tech entrepreneur. After completing residency during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and seeing firsthand the gaps in pediatric oral health, Ashley launched FirstGrin, a preventive oral health tech co...

From the academic grind to a life by the Caribbean Sea, Dr. Kristine Goins' journey is anything but traditional. In this episode, she opens up about how she left a high-stress medical job, embraced location independence, and built a career centered around telemedicine and joy.

Dr. Goins candidly shares how severe burnout led her to reconsider everything—from her mental health to her professional choices. She walks us through her jo...

In this compelling episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Muhamad Aly Rifai, a board-certified psychiatrist, internist, and trailblazer in telehealth medicine, to unpack his gripping journey from national acclaim to a criminal trial — and ultimately, full exoneration.

Dr. Rifai shares how he went from building a thriving multi-location psychiatry practice to facing four federal charges for healthcare fraud, simply for doing i...

In this compelling episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Greg Gasbarro to unpack the personal and professional journey that led him to become a leading shoulder specialist in the Baltimore area.

From his roots in Cleveland and collegiate soccer days to his pivot from biomedical engineering to medicine, Dr. Gasbarro shares how mentorship and perseverance shaped every step of his career. He opens up about th...

In this deeply human episode of The Stellar Success Podcast with Dr. Tudor Francu, we sit down with Dr. Maggie Kang to hear her powerful story of motherhood, loss of control, emotional resilience, and growth.

Dr. Kang walks us through her journey from practicing radiology to becoming a full-time caregiver and rare disease advocate after her daughter was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Through her TEDx talk an...

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Tudor Francu speaks with public health leader and advocate Paulina Sosa about the real-world public health challenges facing Latino communities—especially those in South Texas. From navigating federal changes to filling critical service gaps, Paulina brings honest, urgent, and inspiring insights to the mic.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why health equity is more than a buzzword in ...

What happens when a lifelong dream of becoming a doctor leads to burnout—and then reinvention? In this inspiring episode, Dr. Lindiwe Greenwood shares her powerful story of transformation, resilience, and purpose beyond the exam room.

From dreaming of becoming a physician at just 8 years old to running her own successful family medicine practice, Dr. Greenwood's path has been anything but typical. She opens up about her journey thr...

In this compelling episode, Dr. Tudor Francu welcomes the dynamic Dr. Emily Letran—a dentist, coach, author, and former refugee—who shares her extraordinary journey from escaping Vietnam as a teenager to building a successful career and empowering others in the medical and business world. Dr. Letran opens up about the power of courage, the importance of personal growth, and why coaching should be a necessity, not a luxury, for heal...

What happens when someone you love needs support beyond daily caregiving? This week on The Stellar Success Podcast with Dr. Tudor Francu, we dive into the world of life care management with Rebecca Brunner, a former ER nurse turned business owner and care manager at Complete Care Strategies.

Rebecca shares how her journey from emergency medicine to care management was inspired by witnessing vulnerable patients lacking advocacy and ...

From his roots in New York to his leadership role at Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Dr. Neal Lonky has worn many hats—physician, educator, entrepreneur, and inventor. In this conversation, he shares his remarkable journey through medicine, including his pivot from frontline care to medical device innovation, public health policy, and wound care diagnostics.

Listeners will discover how his values—persistent patience, ...

What happens when chiropractic care meets the root-cause focus of functional medicine? In this episode, Dr. Tudor sits down with Dr. Tim Harrigan, the founder of Synergy Wellness, to explore how combining structural neurology and natural healing is helping patients avoid unnecessary medications, surgeries, and side effects.

Dr. Tim shares his personal journey from pre-med and optometry to chiropractic and functional medicine. He op...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Letizia Alto joins Dr. Tudor Francu to share how she stepped off the treadmill of trading time for money and embraced a life of financial freedom, impact, and fulfillment. From hospitalist to real estate entrepreneur and mentor, Dr. Alto opens up about her personal journey—including the pivotal moment that changed everything.

• The conversation with her husband that shifted he...

Angela Tomei Robinson joins Dr. Tudor Francu for an eye-opening conversation about the vital but often overlooked role of medical laboratory professionals in healthcare. From her early aspirations in pathology to her rise as an associate administrator overseeing clinical and anatomic labs, Angela shares her inspiring journey of leadership, advocacy, and mentorship.

She candidly discusses the challenges in the field—from workforce s...

In a compelling conversation with host Dr. Tudor Francu, Dr. Lavine dives into his unconventional career shift—from practicing periodontics to launching a full-scale IT and cybersecurity firm for healthcare professionals. Drawing on his background in tech and dentistry, he created a niche business that's been thriving for over two decades.

You'll hear Dr. Lavine's thoughts on:

• His early struggles and what pushed him out of cl...

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Cheryl Bryant Bruce—also known as “The Celebrity Doc”—to explore what it truly means to walk in faith, find purpose, and live a life of balance without being in balance.

Dr. Cheryl shares her deeply personal journey of resilience and transformation, from raising a medically fragile child to pioneering integrative and concierge medicine. Through her “Windmill Healthy Lif...

Dr. Kelly Victory opens up about her journey from emergency medicine to public health and mass casualty management. She explains how resource allocation, teamwork, and hands-on training can make the difference between life and death in disaster situations. Dr. Victory walks listeners through active shooter preparedness, the importance of triage, and why real-world drills are essential. She also reflects on the lessons learned from ...