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Designing Healthcare that Cares Podcast

Designing Healthcare that Cares Podcast

Written by: Doctor Podcast Network Dr. Laura Suttin
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Designing Healthcare that Cares is a podcast for leaders who believe healthcare can, and must, be built differently. Hosted by physician, executive coach, speaker, author, and consultant Dr. Laura Suttin, each episode explores how to transform burnout-driven systems into thriving cultures where both people and performance flourish.Through thoughtful conversations with healthcare executives, frontline leaders, and changemakers, along with solo episodes where Dr. Suttin shares practical tools, reflections, and evidence-based strategies, you’ll gain insights that tackle root causes instead of symptoms. You’ll hear stories and insights that show what’s possible when we reimagine healthcare with purpose, connection, empowerment, and joy.If you’re ready to create environments where clinicians feel safe and supported, patients receive better care, and organizations achieve sustainable success, you’re in the right place.Disclaimer -While I am a physician, the information presented in this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your own healthcare provider before making any significant changes to your lifestyle or routine. By listening to this podcast, you are not creating a physician/patient relationship.© 2025 Designing Healthcare that Cares Podcast Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Management Management & Leadership Physical Illness & Disease Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • The Power of Empathy in Healthcare with Chantal Lorio | Ep63

    The Power of Empathy in Healthcare with Chantal Lorio | Ep63
    Jun 1 2026
    How can healthcare professionals create stronger patient connections without adding more stress or time to their already demanding workdays? In this episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Laura sits down with Dr. Chantal Lorio to discuss the transformative role empathy plays in healthcare. Drawing from over 30 years of clinical and leadership experience, Dr. Chantal explains how small moments of intentional connection can dramatically improve trust, communication, patient safety, and clinician wellbeing. The conversation explores the distinction between empathy and compassion, why patient experience is far more than satisfaction scores, and how emotional connection directly impacts honesty, compliance, and outcomes. Dr. Chantal also shares stories from her work coaching physicians and healthcare teams, revealing how empathy creates safer healthcare environments by encouraging patients to speak openly about their concerns. Together, they discuss burnout, emotional exhaustion, communication training in medicine, and why human connection may become healthcare’s most valuable skill in the age of artificial intelligence. Centered around Dr. Chantal’s new book I Get You. I Got You., this episode offers practical and hopeful strategies for helping clinicians reconnect with purpose while delivering care that truly heals. Three Actionable Takeaways: Empathy and Compassion Are Not the Same Thing: Dr. Chantal explains that compassion focuses on fixing problems, while empathy focuses on helping patients feel understood. Clinicians often rush into solving medical issues without first acknowledging patients’ emotional experiences. Even a brief empathic connection can build trust and dramatically change the entire healthcare encounter.Trust Improves Safety, Honesty, and Outcomes: Patients are more likely to follow recommendations and share important information when they trust their healthcare providers. Through real-world stories from patient safety rounds, Dr. Chantal demonstrates how empathy encourages patients to speak openly about concerns they otherwise might withhold, directly improving healthcare quality and safety.Human Connection Will Always Matter in Healthcare: As AI and automation continue transforming healthcare, Dr. Chantal believes empathy and humanity will become even more important. Technology may enhance diagnosis and efficiency, but it cannot replace genuine human connection. Clinicians who strengthen communication and empathic skills will play a critical role in the future of patient care. About the Show: Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves. About the Guest: Dr. Chantal Lorio is a physician leader, executive coach, and patient experience expert with more than 30 years of healthcare experience. She has spent her career helping clinicians strengthen communication, build trust with patients, and improve healthcare outcomes through empathy-centered care. A professional certified coach with master’s degrees in leadership and healthcare management, Dr. Chantal previously served as Medical Director of Patient Experience and has coached physicians and healthcare teams across multiple organizations. She is the author of I Get You. I Got You.: The Secret to Creating an Empathic Connection with Every Patient Every Time. 🌐 Website: https://drchantallorio.com 🔗 LinkedIn: Chantal Lorio, DPM, MSHCM, MSLOD, FASCHE, PCC 📚 Book: I Get You. I Got You. About the Host: Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine. Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul. When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together. 🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ 📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD Register for the Clinician Leadership Compass course to combat overwhelm and burnout.: www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.
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    31 mins
  • Compassionate Conversations: Transforming Dementia Care with Amy Shaw | Ep62

    Compassionate Conversations: Transforming Dementia Care with Amy Shaw | Ep62
    May 18 2026
    What if the dementia journey didn’t have to be defined by fear, confusion, and guilt, but by clarity, compassion, and better days at home? In this heartfelt and practical episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin welcomes Amy Shaw, drawing from her unique path; from primate cognition research and wedding photography to palliative care and dementia support, Amy shares why our current medical model often fails families navigating dementia and how thoughtful, well-timed conversations can change everything. They discuss: The critical importance of goals-of-care conversationsThe “Arc of Conversation” framework from Amy’s medical textbookWhy dementia is frequently missed in clinic visits How caregivers can become “cognitive detectives” using practical, brain-based strategies Amy also introduces her upcoming book for family caregivers and her new self-paced education course designed to give families a clear roadmap through every stage of the journey. This episode is essential listening for clinicians, caregivers, and anyone who wants to design healthcare that truly cares for both patients and the families who love them. Three Actionable Takeaways: Start Goals-of-Care Conversations Early and Often: Normalize end-of-life and goals-of-care discussions during routine visits rather than waiting for a crisis. Use a structured approach like the Arc of Conversation to explore what the patient and family understand, fill in educational gaps, investigate their values and wishes, and then align care with what matters most to them.Separate Family Conversations from Patient Visits When Needed: Dementia by definition affects a person’s ability to serve as a reliable historian. Meet with family members separately to have frank, detailed conversations about what’s really happening at home. This preserves the patient’s dignity while giving caregivers the practical tools and understanding they need.Give Caregivers a Clear Roadmap and Practical Strategies: Equip families with education about the dementia journey from the very beginning. Teach them stage-specific communication and support strategies that align with what is actually breaking in the brain. When caregivers understand the “what, when, and why” of dementia, stress decreases, guilt lightens, and they can respond with compassion instead of confusion or conflict. About the Show: Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves. About the Guest: Amy Shaw, P.A, is a dementia clinician, educator, and founder of Better Dementia, a national platform dedicated to helping families care for loved ones with clarity, confidence, and compassion. She is the author of The Arc of Conversation: A How-to Guide for Goals of Care Conversations, a medical textbook used by clinicians and educators. Amy offer private one-on-one family guidance sessions online, which is especially helpful when families are spread out geographically. She also recently launched a self-paced digital course that teaches caregivers everything they need to understand the dementia journey, including the stages, how to recognize where a loved one is, how to align communication and support strategies in ways that preserve dignity and reduce conflict, and what to expect medically as the disease progresses. The course also addresses when hospice care can begin and what hospice care can provide. It is a comprehensive framework designed to help families navigate this journey with clarity and avoid unnecessary crisis along the way. Connect with Amy Shaw: Website: betterdementia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterdementia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterdementia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterdementia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@betterdementia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyshawpa About the Host: Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine. Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul. When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together. 🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ 📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD Register for the Clinician Leadership Compass course to ...
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    35 mins
  • Sustainable Leadership Beyond the White Coat with Dr. Tracy Asamoah | Ep61

    Sustainable Leadership Beyond the White Coat with Dr. Tracy Asamoah | Ep61
    May 4 2026
    What if the same drive and self-sacrifice that made you an excellent clinician is now quietly undermining your effectiveness as a leader, and your own well-being? In this heartfelt conversation on Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin sits down with Dr. Tracy Asamoah, as she shares her personal journey: an early multiple sclerosis diagnosis that prompted her to rethink her identity as a physician and proactively build a more sustainable career through coaching. Together they unpack why so many high-achieving physicians struggle when stepping into leadership roles. They discuss how medical training chips away at boundaries, the painful shift from “being the excellent clinician” to “developing others,” the isolation of leadership, and the tension between administrative and clinical demands. Drawing from real coaching experiences, they highlight the importance of self-reflection, embracing uncertainty, comfortable pivots, and giving yourself permission to ask for what you need. This episode is a must-listen for physician leaders, aspiring leaders, and anyone in healthcare feeling the weight of “never enough” while trying to lead with humanity. Three Actionable Takeaways: Reevaluate Your Boundaries and Capacity Regularly: Medical training often conditions us to erode our own boundaries. As a leader, pause to ask: What is sustainable for me right now? Where do I need to say “no”? Recognizing your limits and protecting your energy is not weakness, it’s essential for long-term leadership effectiveness and modeling healthy behavior for your team.Shift from Self-Focused Excellence to Developing Others: Leadership requires moving the spotlight from “How do I look excellent?” to “How do I help my team members grow and shine?” Practice delegation, share recognition generously, and intentionally create opportunities for junior faculty and staff. This mindset shift is one of the hardest, but most rewarding transitions for clinicians entering leadership.Build a New Support Network and Embrace Uncertainty: Leadership can feel lonely when former peers become team members and open conversations change. Actively seek connections with other leaders (inside or outside your organization) who understand your challenges. At the same time, give yourself permission to sit in uncertainty, reflect on your values and purpose, and trust that “everything is figureoutable.” Sometimes the most powerful step is simply being still and listening for what needs to emerge next. About the Show: Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves. About the Guest: Dr. Tracy Asamoah, MD, PCC is a board-certified psychiatrist, professional certified coach (ICF), and consultant with more than 20 years of experience. She helps physician and healthcare leaders develop sustainable, human-centered leadership styles as they navigate transitions, organizational complexity, and change. A certified narrative coach, she brings a neuroscience-informed, whole-person approach to her work with deans, department chairs, medical directors, and physicians across academic medicine and healthcare organizations nationwide. She earned her medical degree at UCSF and completed her psychiatry residency and child & adolescent psychiatry fellowship at UCLA. Dr. Asamoah is also a writer and coach trainer. 🌐 Website: sageelementscoaching.com 🔗 LinkedIn: Tracy Asamoah, MD, PCC About the Host: Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine. Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul. When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together. 🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/ 📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD Register for the Clinician Leadership Compass course to combat overwhelm and burnout.: www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.
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    33 mins
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