The Clinical Excellence Podcast

Épisodes

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  Humanities in Medicine with Dr. Nathaniel Glasser 06.10.2026 24min

  Dr. Nathaniel Glasser joins Dr. Adam Cifu to discuss how art, sociology, and medicine have come together throughout his career. They explore how appearance, identity, and social pressures can shape patients’ health behaviors, sometimes in ways that are easy to misunderstand. Dr. Glasser also reflects on what the humanities can teach physicians about relationships and patient care, while emphasizing the importance of testing those insights with rigorous research. The conversation closes with a look at the mentorship and interdisciplinary environment that helped him bring these interests together.
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  Humanities in Medicine with Dr. Doriane Miller 22.09.2026 21min

  How can writing and theater enrich the lives of doctors and the communities they serve? Dr. Adam Cifu welcomes Dr. Doriane Miller, a University of Chicago professor of medicine, playwright, and co-founder of the Wellness Resilience Arts Program (WRAP) for youth. Drawing on her work with patients and her experience writing plays, Dr. Miller explores the power of stories to make people feel heard and understood. Their conversation considers what feeds a physician’s soul, how patient relationships help doctors weather demanding work, and why seeing our lives reflected onstage can open a path toward healing.https://urbangateways.org/the-joy-in-resiliency-wrap/
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  Combining Patient Care and Innovation in a Medical Career 11.03.2026 20min

  Dr. Nundy reflects on building a career that spans patient care, health systems, and technology. He describes thinking of himself as an “accidental technologist” and explains how his interest in innovation grew from a practical question: can new ideas actually work for patients in the real world? The conversation also turns to meaning in medicine. Dr. Nundy talks about why he still finds deep fulfillment in clinic and how personal experiences have shaped his desire to focus on work that creates impact in the near term. Along the way, he shares a thoughtful perspective on how individual physicians fit into the larger healthcare system and where meaningful change can happen.
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  A Career Attending to, and Teaching About, the Patient-Doctor Relationship 24.02.2026 19min

  Dr. Michelle Kittleson and Dr. Adam Cifu get real about the patient-doctor relationship, especially when the stakes are high and the answers are not simple. She shares a small move that can ease a patient’s anxiety in seconds: showing you came prepared, with their story already in your hands. They talk through shared decision making, why patients should steer, and why clinicians still need to give a clear recommendation. They also spend time on the toughest pivot of all: when cure is off the table, what do you say next, and what can you still do to reduce suffering?
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  The Patient-Doctor Relationship in an Evolving Cardiology Practice 10.02.2026 13min

  Dr. Adam Cifu sits down with cardiologist Dr. Amber Johnson to peel back the curtain on what happens behind the clinic door. Dr. Johnson gets candid about her career evolution, from the reserved, impersonal style she once thought was required of a doctor to a physician who now shares personal experiences to build trust with patients. The two dive into the silent tug-of-war of shared decision making. They explore the challenge of patients who prefer not to choose their treatment path, a hurdle Dr. Johnson encountered firsthand with veterans who were more likely to ask her to simply tell them what to do. It is a raw look at the ego check required when a patient makes a choice the doctor disagrees with and why the most "difficult" cases often lead to the greatest professional joy.
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  How the Patient-Doctor Relationship Evolves in the Early Years of a Medical Career 29.01.2026 17min

  Dr. Adam Cifu talks with Dr. Tom Yates, a general internist and assistant professor at the University of Chicago, about how a physician’s approach to care evolves during the early years of practice and how that shapes patient relationships and clinical decision making. Dr. Yates talks about resisting the urge to rush into problem lists and instead listening for what patients care about most. They discuss why preventive care conversations can be hard when patients are asked to weigh risks and benefits, especially when trust or health literacy is limited, and how building relationships connects to professional fulfillment.
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  The Patient-Trauma Surgeon Relationship 13.01.2026 18min

  Trauma surgery doesn’t end when the operation is over. Dr. Tanya Zakrison joins Dr. Adam Cifu to reflect on the patient-trauma surgeon relationship, and the frustration of caring deeply for patients while knowing you cannot fix everything that led them there. She discusses how trauma care exposes challenges rooted in patients’ living conditions and circumstances, why surgeons cannot ignore what happens outside the hospital, and how to stay present with patients and families without absorbing all of that pain. The conversation centers on the emotional weight of trauma work and how trauma surgeons learn to carry it without becoming detached or burned out.
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  How Modern Genetic Medicine Interacts with the Patient-Doctor Relationship 30.12.2025 14min

  Genetic information can raise the stakes of a clinical conversation in ways that go far beyond test results. Dr. Adam Cifu and Dr. Sonia Kupfer reflect on how uncertainty, evolving evidence, and family implications shape the way physicians counsel patients. Kupfer draws from her experience in clinic to illustrate how recommendations may shift over time, while emphasizing the responsibility of helping patients feel supported, informed, and firmly in control of decisions that can affect far more than just one person.
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  A Conversation with the Winner of the 2025 Bucksbaum-Siegler Institute Clinical Excellence Award 17.12.2025 26min

  Winner of the 2025 Bucksbaum-Siegler Institute Clinical Excellence Award, Dr. Kertesz reflects on the work of building a relationship before clinical decisions take shape, particularly with patients who arrive wary after difficult experiences with healthcare. He describes how poorly chosen language can instantly make a patient feel judged, forcing him to slow down and work his way back into the interaction. The discussion also underscores why understanding what a patient wants from an encounter is essential to how care is explained and delivered.
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  The Patient-Doctor Relationship in Hepatology 02.12.2025 15min

  Dr. Mary Rinella, a transplant hepatologist, talks with Dr. Adam Cifu about the human side of caring for patients with complex liver disease. She describes how she approaches patients who arrive guarded or resistant and how digging into the fear that drives their behavior helps her build trust with them. The conversation touches on the time she invests in nurturing those relationships and how that closeness often includes patients’ families, especially when she is helping them through difficult moments. Later in the discussion she reflects on the loss of a patient and the emotional weight of that experience, especially given the bonds she forms with both patients and their families.
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  The Patient–Doctor Relationship When It Also Involves Parents, Teens, and Preteens 18.11.2025 18min

  Dr. Adam Cifu talks with pediatric dermatologist Dr. Sarah Stein about the tricky triangle between doctor, teen, and parent. She reflects on finding the right balance between a young patient’s growing independence and a parent’s need to stay involved, and how empathy, trust, and experience shape those interactions. Together they explore what genuine communication looks like when everyone in the room has a different perspective.
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  Integrating the Patient’s Social and Medical Histories 04.11.2025 17min

  Dr. Julie Oyler talks about the art of balancing social and medical care for older patients. She reflects on how her approach has evolved, from the early days of handwritten notes to today’s tech-assisted visits, and how she’s learned to keep the focus on the person behind the chart. She shares the tug-of-war between efficiency and empathy, the challenge of managing family dynamics in the exam room, and the rewards of long-term relationships that span decades of care. Thoughtful, humble, and a little funny, this one feels close to home for every clinician.
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  The Doctor–Patient Relationship in Mid-Career Primary Care 21.10.2025 19min

  Dr. Jason Alexander joins Dr. Adam Cifu to discuss how the doctor–patient relationship evolves once you’re no longer a new physician. He reflects on the confidence that comes with experience, knowing when to listen and when to step in, and how caring for colleagues and families adds both complexity and meaning. He also shares how embracing uncertainty and being genuine help build trust.
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  Exploring the Doctor–Patient Relationship in Hematology and Oncology 07.10.2025 27min

  Join us for a conversation with hematologist–oncologist and geneticist Dr. Michael Drazer for a wide-ranging discussion on caring for people with hereditary blood and cancer syndromes, including patients with leukemia. He talks about how watching mentors with very different bedside styles influenced how his approach to the doctor–patient relationship has evolved throughout his career. We also discuss how Dr. Drazer’s clinical work guides his team’s research, shifting the focus from ‘blue sky’ science to studies grounded in his patients’ real-world challenges.
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  The Doctor–Patient Relationship as Seen by a Senior Physician 23.09.2025 19min

  This episode dives into the real-life evolution of the doctor–patient relationship through the eyes of a senior physician. Dr. Alex Lickerman shares how decades in medicine have shaped his approach to balancing authority and empathy while moving toward more relaxed, genuine conversations. He also explains why building trust with patients matters more now than ever, especially in the face of widespread patient misinformation. He reflects on moments where taking the lead, sometimes what might feel paternalistic, can help families make difficult, life-and-death decisions with clarity and compassion. The talk touches on the unique skills needed to care for patients at the end of life. Along the way, you will hear honest takes on the quirks and frustrations that come with the job.
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  The Third Phase of an Academic Medicine Career 24.03.2025 24min

  In this season finale episode, Dr. Adam Cifu sits down with transplant nephrologist Dr. Michelle Josephson to explore the unique challenges and opportunities that arise in the later stages of an academic medical career. Dr. Josephson openly discusses the struggle to maintain a sense of relevance, the need to redefine one's priorities and goals, and the bittersweet experience of losing colleagues to retirement and passing. However, she also highlights the freedom and excitement that can come with this transitional phase, allowing her to pursue new global initiatives in areas like green nephrology. This provides an insightful look at navigating the "third phase" of a distinguished career.
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  From ER to Advanced Illness Management - A Physician's Varied Career Journey 11.03.2025 22min

  In this episode, we speak with Dr. Jennifer Brokaw about her varied and impressive career in medicine. Dr. Brokaw shares how she transitioned from emergency medicine into founding a private practice focused on advanced illness management and end-of-life care, driven by a desire to tackle complex societal challenges she witnessed in the ER. She discusses the unique value she was able to provide as an independent advocate for patients and families, as well as the challenges of building a sustainable business model around these services. Dr. Brokaw's insights offer a fascinating look at alternative paths for doctors beyond traditional clinical roles. This conversation provides an engaging glimpse into one physician's remarkable career journey.
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  Clinical Training So Far - Surgical Resident 25.02.2025 27min

  In this installment of our series talking with medical trainees, we're joined by Dr. Ava Ferguson Bryan, a general surgery resident at the University of Chicago. Dr. Ferguson Bryan shares her winding path to medicine, from initially pursuing English and art history, to discovering a passion for surgery during her clinical rotations.She provides an honest look at the challenges and sacrifices of surgical training, including the lengthy 7-8 year commitment and the impact on work-life balance, especially as a woman having children during residency. Dr. Ferguson Bryan also discusses the evolving landscape of surgical education, including competency-based assessments that may allow for more flexibility in training duration.This episode offers valuable insights for aspiring physicians navigating the realities of surgical specialties and the broader effort to diversify the field. Dr. Ferguson Bryan's personal experience provides a nuanced perspective on the progress made, as well as the work still needed to support the next generation of surgeon-trainees.
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  Clinical Training So Far - Chief Medical Resident 11.02.2025 24min

  Gaining an inside look at the realities of medical training, this episode features a conversation with Layne Keating, a chief medical resident at the University of Chicago. Layne shares her experiences navigating the transition from medical school at the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University to residency, highlighting the importance of being given autonomy and the ability to make real clinical decisions.She explains how this hands-on responsibility, even with the support of her team, has been critical for developing the confidence and problem-solving skills needed to be an effective physician. Layne contrasts this with concerns that overprotecting trainees from having to make tough choices during their education can make the leap to independent practice much more difficult.The conversation also touches on the use of letters of recommendation in the residency application process. Layne and Dr. Adam Cifu discuss how more holistic, thoughtful approaches may be needed to evaluate the suitability of medical trainees.This transparent discussion provides a unique perspective on the highs and lows of the clinical training journey, as well as insights into improving medical education to better prepare the next generation of physicians.To read more:https://medicine.qu.edu/https://www.sensible-med.com/p/letters-of-recommendation-should-fb0
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  Clinical Training So Far - Medical Resident 28.01.2025 19min

  In this episode, we continue our series exploring the experiences of medical trainees. Dr. Adam Cifu is joined by Arman Shahriar, MD, a third-year internal medicine resident at the University of Chicago. Arman shares his nontraditional path to medicine, including teaching in Ecuador and working in the medical device industry. He provides a candid look at residency life, from the grueling schedules to the unexpected challenges and the camaraderie forged during training.Arman is also the author of two compelling articles: On One-Liners and Doing No Harm, which explores the power of language in patient care, and The Wrong Fight—Prior Authorization, a personal account of navigating systemic barriers.To read Dr. Shahriar's above-mentioned articles, check them out here:• On One-Liners and Doing No Harm: https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/fulltext/2023/10000/on_one_liners_and_doing_no_harm.24.aspx• The Wrong Fight—Prior Authorization: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2813580