Health care leaders share insight, strategies, and tips to help prevent physician burnout, optimize workflows, improve well-being, and enhance patient care.
Navigating Litigation Stress: What Every Physician Needs to Know
Explore this related episode: You Are Not Alone: How Health Systems Can Support Physicians Through Litigation: https://bit.ly/3SoaZaY
Explore the Peer Support Programs for Physicians Toolkit: https://bit.ly/3SRYlk8
Explore AMA Judicial Advocacy Resources: https://bit.ly/4hdQCHb
Follow STEPS Forward on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/steps-forward-linkedin
Most physicians get no training in what to do if they're named in a malpractice suit, yet the stress it causes is linked to burnout, depression, and even suicide. Host Kevin Hopkins, MD talks with Gita Pensa, MD, an emergency physician and litigation well-being coach about surviving her own 12-year lawsuit and what she now teaches other physicians: why the legal system isn't built to judge the quality of care, practical do’s and don'ts after being named in a suit, and how to stop a lawsuit from defining your identity as a doctor. She also shares insights from her work as a medical advisor on HBO Max’s The Pitt.
7 Oct 2026
From Burnout to Belonging: The Making of a Well-Being Program
Explore the Wellness Centered Leadership Playbook: https://bit.ly/3P6Xlab
Follow STEPS Forward on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/steps-forward-linkedin
Colin West MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic's Medical Director of Employee Well-Being joins host Kevin Hopkins MD to trace the origins of Mayo's wellbeing work from a chance conversation during his residency to a program that now spans the entire care team. They discuss why well-being can't be tackled in silos, to how to turn a nebulous concept into measurable action, and practical steps any organization can take to get started, regardless of size or resources.
30 Sept 2026
REPLAY; A Blueprint for Health Care Leaders to Support Staff After Physician Suicide
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. Call or text 988 or text TALK to 741741.
Claim CME and access the transcript for this episode: https://bit.ly/43JSDDn
Explore the Preventing Physician Suicide toolkit: https://bit.ly/4bYQpBP
Explore the After a Physician Suicide toolkit: https://bit.ly/3yEstFz
Explore the Collective Trauma toolkit: https://bit.ly/4c3e9Ff
Follow STEPS Forward on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/steps-forward-linkedin
When three colleagues died by suicide within a year, Geisinger didn't just grieve, they built a system. In this AMA STEPS Forward Podcast®, host Kevin Hopkins, MD speaks with Halle Ellison MD, MAS PSHQ, FACS, Director of Physician and APP Well-being, and Stephanie Andreacci, LCSW, Peer Support Program Manager, about the creation and evolution of Geisinger's Personnel Crisis Response Team (PCRT).
What started as an effort to coordinate a fragmented, siloed response has grown into a comprehensive, proactive framework with 160 activations in just three years. Dr. Ellison and Stephanie share how they tackled stigma, changed language around suicide, built cross-departmental collaboration, and created a culture where asking for help is not just accepted, but expected.
Who has been a guest on AMA STEPS Forward® podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Rob Saper
Amanda Deutsch
Kristin Jacob
Ami Shah
Eve Poczatek
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
12,976,585
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.6 / 5
20 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 82 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
92
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
85
Contact AMA STEPS Forward® podcast
Guest appearances
Books guests
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