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

In this episode of The Stellar Success Podcast with Dr. Tudor Francu, we meet Dr. Kevin Chung, an ICU physician, military veteran, and Chief Medical Officer at SeaStar Medical. His journey from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan to the boardroom of a cutting-edge biotech company is nothing short of inspiring.

Dr. Chung shares how his time caring for critically injured soldiers fueled his passion for medical innovation and led...

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with emergency medicine physician and entrepreneur Dr. Nkem Ezeamama, founder of Phoenix Capital Investments. Dr. Ezeamama shares her journey from saving lives in the ER to helping healthcare professionals build wealth and financial freedom through real estate investing.

She opens up about the moment that sparked her shift from clinical work to entrepreneurship, the challenges o...

Dr. Rotroff opens up about his early career plans to become a doctor, only to discover a passion for research during a last-minute internship that changed his life. From data entry at the EPA to leading precision medicine projects, he’s now helping doctors predict which patients will benefit most from certain treatments.

He and Dr. Francu explore what it means to be successful in medical research, how to learn from failure, and how...

Cristina brings a seasoned administrative lens to one of medicine’s toughest problems: supporting clinicians while running a sustainable organization. She and Dr. Tudor unpack post-pandemic burnout, the human cost of KPI-driven decisions, and what it really takes to care for rural communities where a basic specialist visit can mean hours of travel or months of waiting. They dig into practical ideas—from tele-triage with dermatology...

In this deeply honest and insightful conversation, Allen recounts the pivotal moments that reshaped his life — from the emotional crash of a failed marriage to discovering his true strengths through therapy and reflection. He went on to earn advanced degrees in psychology and transformed his career from music educator to psychologist, and then again to investor-educator.

This episode explores:

• How empathy and introversion bec...

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Tudor Francu is joined by Anthony Dispenziere, a seasoned radiology practice manager, to explore the business engine behind a high-functioning medical group. With a background in accounting and a passion for purpose-driven work, Anthony shares how he transitioned into healthcare management and found his calling in helping physicians thrive—without burning out.

Together, they dive into key topic...

Dr. Kapur traces her path from early work in nursing homes to becoming a physician triple-boarded in internal medicine, geriatrics, and hospice & palliative care—and why she later added an MBA to connect “business and clinical.” She unpacks lessons from serving as medical director and CMO in hospice, her current role as Chief Development Officer at Chestnut Health, and how she builds rehab and symptom-management programs while ...

In this powerful episode of Stellar Success, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Jacky Fils, a physician and real estate investor who has made it his mission to educate fellow medical professionals on building wealth beyond the hospital walls. From his humble beginnings in Haiti to his journey through medicine in the U.S., Dr. Fils shares how he discovered real estate as a path to financial freedom—and how the IRS tax code can actu...

In this conversation, Ryan Thorne shares the surprising world of private EMS—how non-emergency transport keeps the wheels turning, why payer mix matters, and what it actually takes to open your doors. He walks us through licensing, finding a medical director, third-party billing, staffing the first unit (while answering dispatch calls himself), and adding vehicles as demand grew. We also dig into billing realities (insurance vs. se...

Stephanie traces her path from front desk to C-suite, explaining why she chose dentistry after a career in sleep medicine and how she learned to advocate for clinicians by understanding the work at ground level. She unpacks her “leading with love” philosophy—retaining people by knowing what matters to them, building trust with doctors, and inspiring movement without dangling dollars. We dig into mentorship, imposter syndrome, faith...

What happens when a world-renowned urologic oncologist, innovator, and medical educator steps into the podcast studio? You get a deep dive into how technology is transforming prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment.

In this episode, Dr. Tudor Francu speaks with Dr. Nelson Stone, a pioneer in prostate cancer care, about everything from PSA screening challenges to cutting-edge biopsy tools, minimally invasive procedures, and wearable...

Dr. Annie Lent opens up about her winding path into medicine, training at National Jewish, and 15+ years in private practice. She recounts six intense weeks that pushed her to act: workplace misfires using legacy epinephrine pens, a mother’s near miss during a peanut reaction, and a fatal bee-sting allergy the patient couldn’t afford to treat. Annie explains why current auto-injectors are clunky, costly, and not kid-friendly, and w...

What’s it like being the doctor for the President of the United States? In this episode, Dr. Tudor Francu welcomes Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman—a former White House physician who served five Presidents and spent 30 years in the U.S. Navy. From Air Force One emergencies to protocols for cardiac arrest and presidential assassination attempts, Dr. Kuhlman gives an insider view into high-stakes medicine at the highest level.

Dr. Bo shares his journey from cardiothoracic surgery and emergency medicine to building Youlify during the pandemic. He breaks down why billing is so hard (legacy rules, denials, misaligned incentives), and how his team pairs AI with human experts to optimize coding, manage denials, and surface clear data for renegotiating payer contracts. We also talk about independence for small practices, using data to drive leverage, and the m...

In this episode of Stellar Success: Leveling Up for Medical Pros, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Bill Vuillemot — dentist, inventor, and the creator of SmileBond, a revolutionary new approach in cosmetic dentistry known as dental injection bonding.

Dr. Vuillemot shares the evolution of SmileBond, how it compares to traditional cosmetic procedures and Invisalign, and how it’s providing patients with fast, affordable, and life-c...

Michelle Synakowski brings decades of frontline nursing, executive leadership, and coaching experience to this vibrant discussion. From her beginnings at a Catholic nursing school to shaping medical director guidelines in New York State, Michelle shares the highs and hurdles of working in healthcare as a non-physician with physicians—and what it really takes to lead effectively in long-term care settings.

She opens up about her bol...

Dr. Edwards shares how her competitive spirit and Type A personality shaped her journey from student-athlete to ER medical director. She reflects on pivotal career moments, including a life-altering patient case and the leadership lessons learned from years of ER practice. Her insights into teamwork with nurses, coping with trauma, and preparing for ER residency are invaluable for current and future medical professionals.

We also d...

In this episode of The Stellar Success Podcast, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Paulina Riedler, RN, an inspiring nurse entrepreneur who turned a simple observation into a fast-growing healthcare innovation. Paulina shares how a story in a local newspaper about a nurse administering Botox illegally sparked the idea for a nationwide telehealth network—one that now serves medical spas in over 30 states.

From her early days juggling i...

What does it take to bring compassionate dental care to the most vulnerable—right in their homes? In this powerful episode, Dr. Joy Poskozim joins Dr. Tudor Francu to share how she turned a personal family moment into a thriving mission to serve the elderly with dignity and expertise.

Dr. Joy opens up about how one house call for her grandmother blossomed into a career of in-home dental care for seniors in memory care and assisted ...