Is It Weak to Want More in Medicine?

The LOUNGE - A Newsletter for Savvy Physicians

We scour the net, selecting the most pertinent articles for the busy doc so you don’t have to! Here’s what kept our focus this week…

• Physicians are trained to ignore instincts and push through, which can later block clarity and fulfillment.

• Responsible innovation will shape the AI revolution—not just bold predictions.

• Founders scale faster when they stop trying to do it all and start guiding others to shine.

• Physician wellness gains traction when positioned as essential to retention and performance, not just ethics.

• If you still see sustainability as a “nice-to-have,” your business might already be falling behind.

• The real secret to AI success in medicine? Vetting, standards, and support—not just tech.

How to Use Your Medical Expertise: Be A Paid Speaker

Discover how doctors can become highly sought-after paid speakers, commanding impressive fees from $2,000 to $10,000 per presentation. This guide for physician speakers reveals actionable strategies to leverage your medical expertise and significantly boost your doctor income.

LOUNGE TALK

Physicians are often taught to suppress their inner voice, equating stability and service with success. But Dr. Maureen Gibbons argues that wanting more from your career isn’t a flaw—it’s a strength. Drawing from her own pivot from emergency medicine to entrepreneurial purpose, she emphasizes that change doesn’t require burnout as a prerequisite. Many physicians feel guilty for desiring a new path, often facing resistance from loved ones who confuse change with abandonment. Yet honoring your evolving aspirations can lead to deeper alignment, energy, and impact. Small shifts—like protecting your time or embracing passion projects—build momentum toward a more fulfilling life. The key is recognizing that your value doesn’t depend on sacrifice, but on how well you’re aligned with who you’re becoming.

Despite trillion-dollar predictions and breathless headlines, AI won’t revolutionize everything overnight. Paul Hlivko, a veteran CIO with nearly 30 years in tech, warns that we’ve seen this pattern before: excitement, overpromising, and a sobering reality check. While AI has vast potential, the current narrative often borders on magical thinking. What’s needed now isn’t more speculation—it’s pragmatic leadership, responsible integration, and thoughtful strategy. The real question isn’t about machine intelligence, but human readiness. Business leaders must shift focus from chasing trends to creating long-term, value-driven transformation. The hype cycle may be loud, but sustainable innovation will move at the pace of real-world change.

In this founder's guide to leadership, Rogers Healy argues that real growth comes not from volume or control, but from self-awareness, trust, and harmony. Early-stage entrepreneurs often play every role, but lasting success requires learning to conduct, not perform. Like a musical conductor, effective leaders don’t play every note—they study the score, guide the tempo, and bring out the best in others. This means hiring well, trusting deeply, and leading with clarity over chaos. Healy draws parallels between music and business, emphasizing the emotional resonance and storytelling that fuels true brand loyalty. The takeaway: people don’t remember perfection—they remember how you made them feel. Founders who build with authenticity and lead with quiet confidence create not just companies, but movements.

In a powerful podcast episode, Dr. Jessie Mahoney reframes physician wellness from an emotional plea to a strategic imperative. She explains that real change happens when doctors stop positioning themselves as victims and start speaking the language of leadership—focusing on retention, cost, quality care, and patient satisfaction. Healthcare institutions don’t ignore physician well-being out of malice, but because advocacy often fails to align with operational goals. The key is to communicate wellness as essential to business outcomes, not just a moral obligation. Mahoney urges physicians to acknowledge burnout and grief, then channel their insight into constructive leadership. Cynicism and scarcity mindsets, common in burnout, can block solutions. Instead, collaboration and strategic storytelling offer a path forward—one where wellness supports both the system and the people inside it.

Sustainability is no longer just about ethics—it’s a competitive edge. Andrew Salisbury, CEO of Purity Coffee, outlines five compelling reasons why integrating sustainability into your business model is a strategic imperative. From brand differentiation to supply chain resilience, sustainable practices don’t just build trust—they drive profitability. Consumers and employees increasingly demand purpose-driven companies, and those that lead with transparency win loyalty and talent. More importantly, sustainability reduces long-term costs, protects against regulatory risks, and positions businesses to thrive in a climate-conscious future. Rather than waiting for change, forward-thinking companies are choosing to shape it. The takeaway? Embedding sustainability into your core operations isn’t charity—it’s smart business.

As the use of AI scribes surges in healthcare, Ontario is taking a strategic approach to ensure safe, effective adoption. Through its new Vendor of Record (VOR) program, OntarioMD is vetting AI scribe vendors for security, accuracy, and regulatory compliance—addressing growing clinician concerns around legal risk and system integration. Developed with the Ministry of Health and Supply Ontario, this initiative sets a standardized framework for AI tools, enabling doctors to adopt proven, privacy-compliant solutions with confidence. But it’s not just about creating a list—OntarioMD acts as a broker, offering ongoing support, contract negotiation, and clinician training. The goal? Reduce risk, accelerate adoption, and avoid a two-tiered system of tech haves and have-nots. By focusing on vetting and education, Ontario is creating a scalable model for smarter, safer AI use in medicine.

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