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Designing Healthcare that Cares Podcast

Designing Healthcare that Cares Podcast

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
  • Finding Happiness in Chemo: Dr. Cindy Howard's Inspiring Twist on Beating Cancer with Positivity | Ep54

    Finding Happiness in Chemo: Dr. Cindy Howard's Inspiring Twist on Beating Cancer with Positivity | Ep54
    Jan 26 2026
    Imagine turning a life-altering cancer diagnosis into a journey of empowerment, fun, and profound personal growth, without denying the hardship?In this inspiring episode, Dr. Laura Suttin interviews Dr. Cindy Howard, as she shares her unique path from an allopathic family background to chiropractic medicine, her battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma 11 years ago, and how it reshaped her approach to wellness, patient care, and leadership.They explore:Shifting from a victim mentality to one of gratitude and empowermentThe power of self-talk, emotional freedom techniques (EFT), and choosing emotions to navigate challengesLetting go of people, beliefs, and situations that no longer serve youEmbracing failures as learning opportunities and redefining "problems" as "challenges" for better energy and outcomesStrategies for overcoming "can't" mindsets in healthcare, like addressing burnout through small, purposeful actionsDrawing from her experiences in private practice, speaking, and founding the Positively Altered Project, Dr. Cindy offers practical insights for healthcare leaders and clinicians to build resilience, enhance patient connections, and create joy amid adversity.If you're a healthcare professional seeking tools to redefine challenges, boost personal wellbeing, and inspire teams, this episode provides empowering strategies to choose your path with intention and positivity.Three Actionable Takeaways:Practice self-talk to shift energy: When facing negativity or anger, assign it a number. For example, on a scale of 1-10, and ask, "Why am I feeling this, and how can I redirect it productively?" Use techniques like EFT to release unhelpful emotions, fostering resilience without extra time or resources.Reframe "problems" as "challenges": Replace heavy words like "problem" with "challenge" in daily language to lift your energy and mindset. For example, "The challenge is" instead of "The problem is" making obstacles feel approachable and actionable in high-stress healthcare environments.Embrace failures as growth: View setbacks not as endpoints but as forward steps; reflect on what they teach about your resilience, then take one small action toward change, like exploring new opportunities if your current role contributes to burnout. About the ShowDesigning 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. Cindy Howard is a board-certified chiropractic internist, nutritionist, and award-winning author of “Positively Altered: Finding Happiness at the Bottom of a Chemo Bag.” As owner of Innovative Health and Wellness Center and founder of the Positively Altered Project, she unites professionals to reimagine wellness. With leadership roles on boards like in Guardia Health and Fullscript, plus nearly 20 years as an ACA Illinois delegate, Dr. Cindy inspires through her podcast, speaking, and science-backed strategies for integrating mental, physical, and emotional health.Website: https://www.drcindyspeaks.comAbout 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 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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    26 mins
  • Creating Cultures of Connection: a Conversation with Rachel DeAlto | Ep53

    Creating Cultures of Connection: a Conversation with Rachel DeAlto | Ep53
    Jan 12 2026

    Imagine ditching the hustle of endless hours for small, intentional acts that build unbreakable teams and combat healthcare burnout without costing a dime?

    In this engaging episode, Dr. Laura Suttin interviews Rachel DeAlto, CSP, as she shares her unconventional journey from practicing law and launching a startup to becoming a media personality on shows like Married at First Sight, and now empowering leaders through her books “Relatable“ and “The Relatable Leader“.

    They explore:

    • Relatability as a teachable skill
    • The role of empathy in patient care
    • Managing distractions in a hyperconnected world
    • Strategies for building trust through respect, consistency, and clear communication.

    Drawing from psychology and real-world examples, Rachel offers practical advice for healthcare professionals to enhance connections, reduce anxiety from social media, and foster human-centered cultures amid burnout challenges.

    If you're a healthcare leader or clinician seeking to improve team dynamics, patient outcomes, and personal resilience, this episode delivers relatable tools to lead with intention and authenticity.

    Three Actionable Takeaways:

    • Prioritize small moments of respect: In daily interactions, take 30 seconds to recognize great work. It builds trust and engagement more effectively than financial incentives, saving time on turnover and training.
    • Sit down for better connections: Whether with patients or team members, sitting conveys presence and care, making brief encounters feel more meaningful and compassionate without adding extra time.
    • Seek honest feedback and act: Use anonymous surveys to assess trust, respect, and communication; commit to implementing changes to avoid eroding morale. Focus on controllable processes like offloading notes immediately to stay present.

    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:

    Rachel DeAlto, CSP, is a keynote speaker specializing in communication, leadership, and human connection. With a law degree, Master's in Psychology, and experience as a media expert on shows like Married at First Sight, she empowers audiences through her TEDx Talk and books “Relatable“ and “The Relatable Leader“ to build trust and high-performing cultures.

    Website: https://www.racheldealto.com

    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

    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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    27 mins
  • 2025 Reflections on Alignment, Gratitude, and Letting Go | Ep52

    2025 Reflections on Alignment, Gratitude, and Letting Go | Ep52
    Dec 29 2025

    As the year winds down, reflection becomes unavoidable — especially after a season filled with change, growth, and transition.

    In this solo episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin looks back on 2025 through the lens of alignment — learning to move toward what feels true and away from what no longer fits. Rather than forcing a polished “word of the year,” Laura names the complexity of the past twelve months, holding gratitude and grief at the same time.

    She shares openly about the personal and professional moments that shaped her year: her daughter leaving for college, shifts within the scientific community, navigating injury and identity loss, and stepping more fully into CEO-level leadership in her business. Along the way, Laura reflects on people-pleasing, letting go of over-explaining, and the importance of surrounding yourself with values-aligned community.

    Looking ahead to 2026, Laura shares what’s coming next — including the launch of her first leadership course — and invites listeners to reflect on where their time and energy truly belong.

    This episode isn’t about resolutions or productivity. It’s about clarity, alignment, and choosing what matters.

    What This Episode Covers
    • Why “alignment” became the defining theme of 2025
    • Holding gratitude and grief at the same time
    • Identity shifts when children leave home
    • Disillusionment — and hope — within the scientific community
    • Losing a grounding practice and learning to listen to the body
    • Letting go of people-pleasing and over-explaining
    • Thinking like a CEO instead of an operator
    • Finding values-aligned community
    • What’s ahead in 2026
    • A reflection framework for the year ahead
    What’s Ahead in 2026
    • Launch of The Clinician Leadership Compass
    • Continued growth of the podcast
    • Building a leadership community rooted in alignment
    • Expanded speaking and impact
    • Healing, recovery, and redefining movement
    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 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/drlaurasuttin

    📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlaurasuttin/

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
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