EP458 - Changemaking in Healthcare Through the Eyes of Dr Andrea Austin in Iraq

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When physicians feel overwhelmed by a broken healthcare system, becoming a changemaker can be the key to rediscovering purpose and combating burnout. In this episode, Dr. Bradley Block sits down with Dr. Andrea Austin, an emergency medicine physician, director of healthcare modeling and simulation certification at the Naval Postgraduate School, and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare. 

Drawing from her book, Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline, Dr. Austin shares her journey from burnout to impactful change, including her experience using simulation training in a warzone trauma bay in Iraq. The conversation dives into what it means to be a changemaker—someone who drives change with society’s good in mind—and how physicians can start small to make a big impact. From addressing patient safety issues to building coalitions, this episode offers practical strategies for physicians to reclaim agency and thrive.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

1. Start Small with Purpose – Identify one issue that frustrates you, like missing supplies in the ER, and take a small step to address it, such as raising it at a staff meeting or collaborating with a nurse to improve processes.
2. Build Relationships for Change – Invest in relationships with colleagues and administrators through casual conversations to foster trust and create stronger coalitions for lasting change.
3. Prioritize Personal Transformation – Dedicate 10-20% of your time to meaningful work that energizes you, like a patient safety project, to reduce burnout and fuel your changemaking efforts.

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

About the Guest:
Dr. Andrea Austin is an emergency medicine physician, director of healthcare modeling and simulation certification at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and works with Southwest Healthcare. She hosts the podcast Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare and authored Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline, which offers insights on overcoming burnout and thriving in healthcare. Her work focuses on empowering physicians to drive meaningful change through personal transformation and collective action.
Website: www.andreaaustinmd.com

 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/andreaaustinmd

 

About the Host

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

Want to be a guest?

Email Brad at [e-mail] or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more!

Socials:

@physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook

@physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube

@physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter

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