Healthcare costs keep climbing, quality needs improvement, and physicians are burning out. These are a few of the reasons Ash Gokli, MD, Chief Medical Officer for the Sutter Health Valley Area believes physicians must step into leadership roles and create the future of healthcare. 
An American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) board member and self-described student of leadership, Dr. Gokli describes his path to leadership and his strategies for leading effectively despite a constant onslaught of meetings and time-consuming commitments. In our focused conversation, Dr. Gokli discusses how physicians can create their own path to the C-suite by garnering non-clinical knowledge, volunteering for new projects, and leveraging their passion for patient care. 
https://www.physicianleaders.org/about/board/ash-gokli
 

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Make Magic Happen:  CMO Ash Gokli Shares His  Thoughts About the Physician Leader‘s Role 

Ash Gokli, MD, MMM, CPE, FAAPL, FACEP

Self-Management

Self-Awareness

Professional Capabilities

Influence

Motivations and Thinking Style

Motivate Others

In this compelling episode, we sit down with Mohamad Saad, MD, MBA, CPE, an internal medicine physician, healthcare leader, and certified coach, to explore solutions for two of healthcare's most pressing challenges: workforce disengagement and physician burnout. With 70% of employees disengaged and burnout at crisis levels, Saad presents a data-driven approach to organizational alignment and coaching that can revolutionize healthcare leadership.

Why it matters: Burnout and disengagement don’t just affect morale — they impact outcomes. Engaged employees are 1.5x more productive, and inspired employees are 2.25x more productive. Saad’s alignment framework connects organizational vision and goals to frontline work, creating purpose-driven teams that thrive.

Key Insights:

- The alignment triangle: How cascading vision → mission → goals → SMART objectives → projects, drives measurable improvements.

- Three types of alignment: Vertical (vision to frontline), horizontal (cross-departmental), and diagonal (interdisciplinary connections).

- Coaching vs. directing: Why empathetic listening and powerful questions unlock potential better than traditional leadership.

- AI’s role in healthcare: How artificial intelligence will amplify emotionally intelligent physicians while challenging those still developing intrinsic skills.

Real-world results: As a residency program director, Saad aligned resident quality improvement projects with hospital operational goals, significantly reducing length-of-stay for heart failure, pneumonia, and COPD patients.

Bottom line: Healthcare leaders need tools like organizational alignment and coaching to combat burnout, inspire teams, and prepare for the future. Saad’s insights offer actionable strategies for creating engaged, purpose-driven organizations.

Connect with Mohamad Saad, MD, MBA, CPE, http://linkedin.com/in/mohamad-s-saad-md-mba-cpe-dipablm-icf-coach-b80533371

Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership.


From Burnout to Breakthrough: Dr. Mohamad Saad on Organizational Alignment and Physician Coaching

Mohamad Saad, MD, MBA, CPE

Strategy and Innovation

Differentiation

Healthcare is changing faster than ever, but it is not just about new technology. It is about patients becoming active, equal partners in their own care. In this episode, Mike Sacopulos sits down with Bertalan Mesko, PhD, director of The Medical Futurist Institute and author of The Guide to the Future of Medicine, Technology, and the Human Touch, to explore how patient empowerment is reshaping the future of medicine.

Mesko explains why the biggest shift in modern healthcare is not AI or digital tools — it is the idea of patients becoming “members of their own medical team” and working side-by-side with their doctors. He shares practical advice for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and patients on how to navigate this new era, from mastering AI tools to building stronger doctor-patient relationships.

Key topics include:

- Why patients are the most underutilized resource in healthcare

- The importance of starting with partnerships, not technology

- Predictions for remote care and the challenges ahead

- Surprising insights into skills doctors will need in the future (hint: it involves AI prompts!)

This episode is packed with thought-provoking ideas about the evolving doctor-patient relationship and what it means for the future of primary care. Tune in to hear Mesko’s vision for a healthcare system that puts patients at the center, and why he believes medical future studies should become a scientific discipline.

Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership at www.physicianleaders.org.


The Future of Medicine with Dr. Bertalan Mesko

Bertalan Mesko, PhD

Operations and Policy

Technology Integration

Problem Solving

Strategic Perspective

Communication Strategies

In this episode of SoundPractice, host Mike Sacopulos sits down with Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, professor of pediatrics and molecular virology, Baylor College of Medicine and the co-author of the new book (with Michael Mann) Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World.

Hotez pulls back the curtain on the alarming rise of anti-science movements that are costing lives and threatening public health. From vaccine misinformation that led to 200,000 preventable COVID deaths in America to a tragic measles outbreak fueled by unvaccinated populations, he reveals the five powerful forces driving the war on science:

- Plutocrats: Wealthy donors funding anti-science think tanks.

- Petro-states: Governments opposing climate and health science for profit.

- Pros: Credentialed experts pushing contrarian agendas.

- Propagandists: Media amplifying misinformation.

- Press: Outlets promoting false "both sides" narratives.

Hotez also traces the evolution of the anti-vaccine movement, from debunked autism claims to today’s wellness influencers profiting off pseudoscience. He challenges medical professionals to embrace the "art" of medicine and step up as defenders of scientific truth. His call to action is clear: silence and invisibility allow bad actors to win. Physicians remain heroes on the frontlines, but they must help turn the tide against misinformation.

This must-listen episode is for anyone passionate about science, medicine, and the fight for public health. Tune in to learn how we can push back against disinformation and secure a healthier future for all.

Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership at www.physicianleaders.org.


The Physician’s Voice: Combating Misinformation with Dr. Peter Hotez

Peter Hotez, MD, PhD

Integrity

Environmental Influences

Quality and Risk

Quality Improvement

Physician leadership is evolving from informal, "oldest doctor gets the job" to rigorous, accredited training programs that could reshape healthcare administration.

Mike Sacopulos interviews Daniel A. Handel, MD, MBA, MPH, CPE, chief medical officer at Atrium Health, to discuss the basics of the new Healthcare Administration, Leadership, and Management (HALM) fellowship. The exam, first held in November 2024, will now be offered annually because of increased physician demand; it was previously biennial.

Handel is the editor of the new textbook, Healthcare Administration, Leadership and Management: The Essentials, First Edition, with 44 expert contributors covering finance, compliance, HR, among other executive topics. He is also a contributor to a board review course that AAPL is developing for HALM.

Handel’s overarching advice for physician leaders: “Stay focused on your why — the purpose that drove you to leadership in the first place.”

Resources:

- Healthcare Administration, Leadership and Management: The Essentials, First Edition

- Connect with Dan Handel, MD

Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership at www.physicianleaders.org.


The HALM (Healthcare Administration, Leadership, and Management) Credential and New Textbook with Dr. Daniel Handel

Daniel A. Handel, MD, MBA, MPH

Action Orientation

Finance

Economics

In this expanded episode of SoundPractice, host Mike Sacopulos sits down with Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, the 20th Surgeon General of the United States, to discuss his remarkable journey from a rural community in Maryland to becoming the nation's top doctor. Adams shares personal anecdotes, professional insights, and the challenges he faced while serving as Surgeon General. This episode covers the nuances of the role of the Surgeon General and is a must-listen for anyone interested in public health, physician leadership, and the evolving role of physicians in society. Tune in to this insightful conversation that sheds light on the critical issues facing our healthcare system today.

Episode Highlights

- Path to Leadership: Explore Adams’ unexpected journey into medicine, including parental influence, personal health challenges, role models, and the impact of professional organizations.

- Role and Responsibilities of the Surgeon General: Understand the historical and modern roles of the Surgeon General and key initiatives during Adams’ tenure, such as promoting Naloxone to combat the opioid crisis.

- Trust in Physicians and Institutions: Learn strategies to rebuild trust in healthcare through personalized care and patient concern.

- Balancing Individual Freedom and Public Health: Examine the balance between individual freedom and public health, emphasizing empathy and communication in addressing issues like vaccine hesitancy and chronic diseases.

- The Importance of Public Service: Recognize the value of public service in enhancing the skills and character of physicians.

Resource:
Book by Jerome Adams, MD, MPH: Crisis and Chaos

Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership at www.physicianleaders.org


From Small Town to Surgeon General: Dr. Jerome Adams on Leadership, Public Health, and Trust

Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, FASA

Trust and Respect

Comfort with Visibility

Host Mike Sacopulos interviews Jennifer O’Brien, a healthcare expert and author, to discuss her book, Care Boss: Leadership Strategies and Resources for Family Caregivers. They delve into the growing demographic of family caregivers, address the challenges they face, and the perspective of caregiving as a leadership role. Don’t miss this insightful discussion where Jennifer shares actionable advice, strategies, and resources to help caregivers manage their responsibilities effectively.

Episode Highlights

- Growing Demographics: Discover the rise in family caregivers in the United States, with 53 million Americans currently serving in this role and the expectation of continued growth because of an aging population.

- Caregiving as Leadership: Recognize caregiving as a leadership role that can provide clarity and direction in managing care responsibilities and apply leadership strategies to effectively handle the emotional and logistical challenges associated with caregiving.

- Early Preparation: Learn the importance of planning and preparing for caregiving duties before illness strikes, and explore the benefits of early considerations, such as home modifications and end-of-life conversations.

- Support Systems: Identify and use available support systems, including professional caregivers, to enhance caregiving effectiveness, engage family and friends in specific caregiving tasks to distribute responsibilities and lighten the caregiver's load, and understand the role of healthcare professionals in involving and supporting family caregivers as vital members of the care team.

- Emotional Resilience: Acknowledge the isolation and emotional strain that caregivers often experience and use leadership tools to manage stress and maintain perspective.

Resource

- Book by Jennifer O’Brien: Care Boss: Leadership Strategies & Resources for Family Caregivers  offers practical tools, from creating a go-bag to comprehensive medical records and is an essential resource for caregivers, providing both strategic guidance and heartfelt support.

Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership at www.physicianleaders.org


Care Boss: Leadership Strategies and Resources for Family Caregivers with Jennifer O’Brien

Jennifer A. O’Brien, MSOD

Resilience

Make Magic Happen: CMO Ash Gokli Shares His Thoughts About the Physician Leader‘s Role

RECENT EPISODES

From Burnout to Breakthrough: Dr. Mohamad Saad on Organizational Alignment and Physician Coaching

The Future of Medicine with Dr. Bertalan Mesko

The Physician’s Voice: Combating Misinformation with Dr. Peter Hotez

The HALM (Healthcare Administration, Leadership, and Management) Credential and New Textbook with Dr. Daniel Handel

From Small Town to Surgeon General: Dr. Jerome Adams on Leadership, Public Health, and Trust

Care Boss: Leadership Strategies and Resources for Family Caregivers with Jennifer O’Brien

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