Tune in to a powerful, solutions-driven conversation about youth mental health, education, and the growing physician shortage. Join host Meredith Hirsh for an in-studio Working Healthcare interview with Ali Kaufman—founder of Space of Mind and the Community Classroom Project—as they explore how America’s mental health crisis is impacting kids where it hurts most: inside the classroom. With fewer than one child psychiatrist for every 10,000 children in the U.S., teachers are being thrust into the role of mental health first responders—often without training or resources. Ali shares how she’s transforming schools into healing-centered environments that meet students emotionally, academically, and creatively. Together, they connect the dots between moral injury, systemic healthcare failures, and what’s being asked of our education system today. This episode dives deep into the intersection of healthcare and education—and why solving the youth mental health crisis starts far beyond the exam room. Listen now to learn how you can be part of the change.

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Join host Meredith Hirsh, co-host Mike Chavez and psychiatrist Dr. Wendy Dean for a powerful episode of Working Healthcare that exposes the deeper crisis behind physician burnout: moral injury. Dr. Dean—author, podcaster and co-founder of the nonprofit Moral Injury of Healthcare—explains why so many clinicians are not just exhausted but ethically broken. Moral injury happens when healthcare professionals know the right course of action for their patients but are blocked by profit-driven systems, limited resources and institutional constraints.Together, they unpack how today’s healthcare system prioritizes billing, productivity and bottom lines over patient care and physician well-being—leading to betrayal, disillusionment and a loss of purpose across the profession. Dr. Dean reframes burnout as only part of the story and positions moral injury as a widespread ethical crisis impacting providers at every level. Listeners will learn how moral injury contributes to the physician shortage, drives providers away from clinical practice and compromises patient outcomes. This episode is essential for clinicians, health system leaders and policymakers ready to confront the ethical cost of modern medicine. Tune in now to help reclaim the heart and soul of healthcare. 

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Private equity in healthcare is booming—and few people understand its impact like Dr. Robert Colton. In this remote episode of Working Healthcare, host Meredith Hirsh and co-host Mike Chavez connect with Colton—physician, entrepreneur and founder of MDVIP—from his base between Boca Raton and the mountains of North Carolina to unpack how private capital is transforming the way care is delivered. With experience scaling dermatology groups, digital health startups and deals worth hundreds of millions, Colton brings a bold and unfiltered perspective on physician autonomy, practice consolidation and the future of medicine. The conversation covers the promises and pitfalls of private equity in healthcare, from new revenue models to ethical concerns about patient care. Fair warning: Rob has a lot to say—so we close the episode with a lightning round, where he answers big questions in five words or less. Tune in to hear how investment is reshaping the medical landscape and what it means for providers navigating today’s evolving system.

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Join Meredith Hirsh and co-host Mike Chavez for an inspiring conversation with Christa Eitel, Executive Director of Finance and Operations at The Hirsh Center, as she opens up about navigating bold career shifts and finding courage in the chaos of working motherhood. In this episode of Working Healthcare, Christa shares how she transitioned from a career in higher education to the fast-paced world of private medical practice—learning to lead, adapt and grow in an unfamiliar industry. The discussion dives into overcoming imposter syndrome, saying yes to new challenges and balancing ambition with the demands of family life. Whether you're contemplating a career move, stepping into a new role or simply trying to juggle it all, Christa's story offers practical wisdom and inspiration. Tune in for a real-world conversation about career reinvention, personal growth and showing up with purpose—even when the path forward isn’t perfectly clear.

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Before Jeff Scott escapes the Florida Capitol’s legislative madness for some well-earned peace and quiet on a boat, he sits down with Meredith Hirsh and Mike Chavez to make sense of the chaos. In this episode of Working Healthcare, we dive into what the 2025 Florida legislative session means for everyone in the healthcare space—what passed, what didn’t, and why it matters far beyond state lines. From supermajorities to Medicaid battles, we’re pulling back the curtain on how state policy really gets made (and sometimes derailed). Jeff brings decades of experience—and just enough political scars—to explain how these decisions impact your work, your livelihood, and the care your organization can deliver. Meredith brings the policy passion; Mike keeps her from quoting too many obscure statutes. Whether you're in Florida, Texas, or just trying to survive budget season, this episode is your roadmap to understanding the state-level forces shaping medicine. Grab your stethoscope—or your sunscreen—and tune in.

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Meredith Hirsh kicks off a new chapter of Working Healthcare with occasional co-host (and self-proclaimed sidekick) Mike Chavez. In this stand-alone episode, they take on everything from burnout and broken business models to why healthcare leadership sometimes feels like herding cats with a stethoscope. Mike’s testing the waters as co-host material—think of it as an on-air audition with fewer jazz hands and more talk about the business side of healthcare. Together, they unpack the big issues with sharp insight, a few laughs, and zero tolerance for buzzword bingo. Will Mike make the cut? Will Meredith regret this immediately? Tune in to find out—and maybe even learn something useful along the way. Get your popcorn ready!

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Join Meredith Hirsh in a special one-year anniversary episode of Working Healthcare! Today, we celebrate 52 episodes of exploring the American healthcare system and dive deep into the future of healthcare with a powerful, insightful discussion featuring the voices of Gen Z. From aspiring healthcare professionals to future leaders, these students share their unique perspectives on what healthcare means to them, how it needs to evolve, and the changes they want to see in the system. With insights from Jake Stevens (Vanderbilt), Carly Blum (University of Florida), Matthew McGarry (Florida State), Julia Fuller (Emory University), Chloe Blackington (UNC Chapel Hill), and Meredith's own son, Benjamin Hirsh (Duke), Meredith gets a peek into how this new generation is tackling the challenges of our healthcare system—and they’re not afraid to ask tough questions. As Gen Z shows us, they’re ready to fix what’s broken and lead the charge forward. Get ready for a hopeful, thought-provoking conversation that proves the future of healthcare is in good hands. As our GenZ friends say, "Tap in!"

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Listen in as Dr. Damian Caraballo—an emergency physician, health policy leader, and tireless advocate for healthcare reform—sits down with Meredith Hirsh after returning from a lobbying trip to Washington, DC. Damian breaks down how decades of policy shifts have tilted power toward insurance companies, sidelined physicians, and left patients buried under rising costs and limited access. He walks through pivotal moments in healthcare history and explains how we ended up with a system that often feels more corporate than compassionate. And here’s a tip: if the government gives a new rule an acronym, doctors know it’s probably not good news—just more red tape. Damian shares what it’s really like to speak with lawmakers like Senator Rick Scott, makes a compelling case for why physicians must reclaim their influence in shaping healthcare policy and provides tips on how physicians can get involved. This passionate episode reflects years of on-the-ground advocacy and a deep commitment to building a better system. Speak up, get involved, and help create change—listen now.

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Dig into the shifting landscape of healthcare leadership as Meredith Hirsh challenges executive coach and podcast host Karl Pister to unpack the evolving—and increasingly controversial—definition of professionalism in medicine. With more than 30 years of hands-on business experience and a background in clinical social work, Karl brings a rare blend of empathy, real-world insight, and executive wisdom. He’s worked with everyone from high-performing physicians with low EQ to emerging leaders navigating generational divides, and he’s seen how HR policies, anonymous complaints, and tone policing are reshaping what leadership looks like inside hospitals and across our healthcare system. Together, Karl and Meredith dive into whether today’s healthcare culture has overcorrected in the name of psychological safety—and what’s being lost along the way. Are we protecting employees or avoiding hard conversations? Are we cultivating excellence—or just mass-producing average? This episode will challenge your assumptions, spark conversation, and explore what it really means to lead with both strength and empathy in a system under pressure.

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Explore the hidden world of rare diseases in this in-studio interview with biotech veteran Peter Carbone. With passion and clarity, Peter explains how rare conditions—often affecting fewer than 200,000 people each—shine a spotlight on the cracks in our healthcare system. He unpacks why patients face years of misdiagnosis, endless referrals, and costly treatments, and how the system continues to leave 1 in 10 Americans behind. Meredith and Peter examine the skyrocketing costs of orphan drugs, the impact of dwindling NIH funding, and the often-overlooked power of the patient voice in the diagnostic journey. Peter also introduces his RISE Leadership and Selling Frameworks—bold, strategic guides designed to help healthcare professionals become true advocates for rare disease patients. One emotional highlight: a family's heartbreaking loss that ultimately led to life-saving action for their daughter—proof that awareness can change everything. This episode is both an eye-opener and a call to action for anyone who cares about making healthcare more just, more human, and more effective.

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Tune in for a powerful conversation as Meredith Hirsh sits down with Mark Craig, Chief Executive of Write-Off Warrior and longtime revenue cycle expert turned national advocate. What began as a consulting career took a sharp turn when Mark watched his rural hospital clients shut their doors—not because of poor performance, but due to crippling underpayments and predatory insurance practices. Together, Meredith and Mark expose the hidden forces gutting rural healthcare, from exploitative Medicare Advantage plans to delayed reimbursements and contract games that stack the odds against community hospitals. Mark also shares insights from his collaboration with Senator Chuck Grassley and his groundbreaking report, Preyed On, which reveals how insurers are bleeding resources from the American heartland. With nearly 100 million Americans burdened by medical debt, this episode isn’t just a healthcare conversation—it’s a wake-up call.

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Step into the studio with Meredith Hirsh for a candid, high-energy conversation with dynamic healthcare leader and master connector, Mike Chavez. to unpack what it really takes to lead—and thrive—in today’s complex medical landscape. At just 14, Mike learned the art of sales, and since then, he’s built national healthcare networks, launched game-changing ventures, and mastered the power of authentic connection. They dive into how his people skills became his “secret sauce,” the influence of Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, and whether success is more about instinct, experience—or both. They also challenge the conventional career path: Is a college degree truly necessary for success, or is it more about hustle, heart, and who you know? The conversation explores physician burnout, the rise of MSOs and GPOs, and why these models might just be the lifeline practices need. Mike also shares how his latest innovation, RheumLogic AiT, is using AI to cut through administrative chaos and bring joy back to practicing medicine. Packed with insight, grit, and real talk, this episode is a must-listen for anyone trying to navigate—or reinvent—the future of healthcare.

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It’s been a few months since Meredith Hirsh sat down with Justin Hand, Founder and Managing Director of Westcove Partners, and after some thoughtful reflection and feedback from you all, we are finally ready to drop this interview—just in time for April 15th, Tax Day. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this one! We’re diving deep into how healthcare transactions have evolved from the 1990s to today, and Justin offers a fresh perspective on why physicians are increasingly choosing to partner with private equity. He also shares his predictions on how private equity could reshape the future of the American healthcare system. The big question is: Can private equity truly benefit physicians, patients, and our $4.8 trillion industry, or is it a risky move? Don’t judge too soon—stick with us to the end and hear Justin’s compelling insights. Tune in for a fascinating conversation that will change the way you think about healthcare and its future!

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Join Meredith Hirsh as she sits down with NIH-trained Scientist-Entrepreneur Amrie Grammer to explore the alarming cuts to NIH funding and their profound implications for medical research and public health. With a staggering decline in grants impacting groundbreaking studies, Amrie sheds light on how these budget reductions threaten advancements in treatments and disease prevention. As the co-founder of AMPEL BioSolutions, Amrie merges her extensive expertise in immunology and genomics to revolutionize patient care, especially for autoimmune diseases. This conversation delves into the intersection of scientific discovery and practical healthcare solutions, emphasizing the urgent need for sustained funding in the face of political challenges. Tune in to understand how these funding cuts could reshape the future of healthcare in America, hear Amrie’s insights on innovative approaches to precision medicine and discover how “Make America Healthy Again” is a bipartisan issue. Our decisions today impacts healthcare for the next generation!

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Join Meredith Hirsh in a sit-down interview with Dr. Karleen Su, a passionate rheumatologist and advocate for private practice physicians. Karleen shares her transformative journey from struggling with burnout in the early years of her practice to becoming a powerful voice in the medical community. She opens up about the challenges of managing finances, staff, and patient care while navigating the harsh realities of private practice ownership. Karleen’s initiative, the Rheumatology Private Practice Alliance (RPPA), began as a small Facebook group in 2018 and has since blossomed into a thriving community of over 1,200 doctors. As she reflects on her own obstacles, including high turnover and financial stress, she offers invaluable insights for others looking to stay in private practice. Tune in to hear how Karleen is empowering physicians, tackling burnout, and fostering a supportive network for the future of private practice.

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