STELLAR SUCCESS: Leveling Up For Medical Pros with Dr. Tudor Francu

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Alaina Rajagopal to discuss her fascinating journey from NASA intern to emergency medicine doctor and founder of Esperto Medical. She opens up about her academic beginnings in biology and space research, how a desire to better understand the human body led her from a PhD to an MD, and why global health and diagnostics became a personal mission.
They dive into the revolutionary technology she and her team developed—resonance sonomonometry—a non-invasive, continuous blood pressure monitoring method that offers real-time data without calibration. Dr. Rajagopal explains how her entrepreneurial path began almost accidentally through clinical need, and how grit, curiosity, and a refusal to settle for “good enough” turned failures into innovation.
If you've ever wondered how medical professionals can use science, tech, and resilience to bring real-world change, this episode is for you.
 
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you a medical professional looking to share your story, insights, and strategies for achieving career, personal, and financial success? We want to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast and join the conversation with other leaders and innovators in the healthcare field https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest.

In this episode, Dr. Tudor Francu welcomes Gabriel Griess—a former Air Force pilot turned medical staffing entrepreneur—for an honest and enlightening discussion about building a purpose-driven business in healthcare.
Gabriel shares his journey from leading missions in the military to tackling one of the biggest problems in healthcare today: medical staffing shortages. You'll hear how his faith, leadership philosophy, and commitment to team-building have helped his company triple in size, even after surviving COVID-19's impact on healthcare.
Key topics in this episode:
What “success” really means at different stages of life
The leadership lesson Gabriel learned trying to launch a $400M water pipeline
Why serving your employees first leads to business growth
The root cause of healthcare staffing shortages
Financial wisdom for entrepreneurs in medicine
Daily habits that fuel performance and purpose
How Gabriel plans to double his company again this year
A preview of his upcoming book The Results Tree
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you a medical professional looking to share your story, insights, and strategies for achieving career, personal, and financial success? We want to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast and join the conversation with other leaders and innovators in the healthcare field https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest.

What happens when a physician with a background in angel investing redefines primary care from the ground up? In this episode, Dr. Joshua Engle shares how he’s bridging operations, mental health, and metabolic wellness in his cutting-edge practice, With You MD.
Summary:Dr. Joshua Engle’s path to launching a digital-first primary care practice is anything but typical—and that’s exactly what makes it powerful. In this candid and thoughtful conversation with Dr. Tudor Francu, he reveals the challenges and wins of transitioning from traditional medicine to building a new kind of healthcare business.
Dr. Engle shares how his entrepreneurial spirit, shaped by early experience in the angel investment world, eventually led him to create With You MD—a practice that prioritizes metabolic and mental health as foundational pillars of long-term patient care. He opens up about administrative setbacks, how he measures success beyond profit, and why staying focused and patient-centered is key to making real impact.
You’ll learn:
Why he believes mental and metabolic health are critical in modern primary care
What it’s like building a practice from scratch, from credentialing delays to staffing
The financial and emotional lessons he’s learned on his entrepreneurial path
Investment strategies for physicians looking to diversify beyond clinical practice
How mentorship and transparency are helping shape a new wave of physician leaders
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you a medical professional looking to share your story, insights, and strategies for achieving career, personal, and financial success? We want to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast and join the conversation with other leaders and innovators in the healthcare field https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest.

What if the key to healing chronic illness isn’t just in medicine, but in food, lifestyle, and human connection? Dr. Matthew Lederman believes it is—and he's proving it.
Expanded Description:In this transformative episode, Dr. Matthew Lederman, renowned physician and co-creator of Wellness to Wonderful, joins Dr. Tudor Francu to explore how “connection medicine” is redefining what it means to treat chronic disease. From his early days as a traditional MD to his pivotal role in Forks Over Knives and Whole Foods Market’s health clinics, Dr. Lederman shares a deeply personal and professional evolution.
Discover how nonviolent communication, whole-food plant-based nutrition, and authentic human relationships are combining to offer patients a new path to well-being—one rooted in evidence-based compassion. He opens up about the hard lessons learned, the bumps in the road, and the habits that keep him grounded and thriving today.
We also dive into his current work at Connection Docs, where he's leveraging mindfulness tools like the Webe device and even an AI-based communication coach to improve emotional and physical health.
Takeaways from this episode:
The hidden healing power of social connection
Why modern medicine must include nutrition and lifestyle
How nonviolent communication changes patient outcomes
What Forks Over Knives got right—and what’s next
Daily habits that make the biggest difference in long-term health
 
#investing #finance #motivation #success #podcast #medicalprofessionals #education ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you a medical professional looking to share your story, insights, and strategies for achieving career, personal, and financial success? We want to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast and join the conversation with other leaders and innovators in the healthcare field https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest.

Dr. Jenna Carl shares her unconventional journey from government consulting to becoming a licensed clinical psychologist and health tech executive. She discusses the emotional intensity of one-on-one therapy, the growing issue of burnout among healthcare workers, and the lack of awareness around evidence-based treatment for clinical mental health conditions. Dr. Carl emphasizes the importance of finding the right kind of therapy for the right issue—and how healthcare providers can and should prioritize their own mental health.
From building her own private practice to thriving in a leadership role in a health tech startup, Jenna talks candidly about career pivots, burnout, entrepreneurship, and what success really means in the world of healthcare. She also offers guidance for clinicians who want to diversify their practice and discusses how growth mindset and risk tolerance are key to thriving in both therapy and business.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you a medical professional looking to share your story, insights, and strategies for achieving career, personal, and financial success? We want to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast and join the conversation with other leaders and innovators in the healthcare field https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest.

What does it look like when a physician refuses to settle for the broken status quo—and builds something better?
In this inspiring episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Joe Pazona, a urologist-turned-entrepreneur who’s blazing a new trail in healthcare. From the moment he stepped into medicine, Dr. Pazona questioned not only his specialty—but the entire system surrounding it. What he discovered was a calling beyond the exam room.
Dr. Pazona shares how defining success beyond financial gain transformed his career and personal health. He dives into the real reasons our healthcare system keeps people sick, and how lifestyle-based solutions and physician-led innovation can rewrite that story.
Listeners will hear how Dr. Pazona left traditional practice, launched his own direct-pay urology clinic, and built a life around impact, autonomy, and healthspan. He doesn’t just talk the talk—his daily routines, priorities, and philosophy show how a mission-driven physician can lead change.
Key Takeaways:
Why success today requires a balance of health, relationships, and professional meaning
How physician entrepreneurs can disrupt a sick-care system
The power of knowing your data and avoiding financial blind spots
Dr. Pazona’s top “small habits” that have made the biggest difference
Why retirement doesn’t have to mean stopping—and why purpose is the real goal
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you a medical professional looking to share your story, insights, and strategies for achieving career, personal, and financial success? We want to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast and join the conversation with other leaders and innovators in the healthcare field https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest.
 

In this episode of The Stellar Success Podcast with Dr. Tudor Francu, we sit down with Dr. Steven Waldren, a leading expert in healthcare informatics and AI in medicine. From an unexpected journey into primary care to becoming a thought leader in medical technology, Dr. Waldren shares his experiences, challenges, and insights into the evolving world of digital healthcare.
We discuss:✅ How a chance encounter led him to medical informatics✅ The evolution of healthcare IT from the early 2000s to now✅ The role of AI in reducing physician burnout and administrative burden✅ The challenges and opportunities of AI in patient care✅ Practical advice for medical professionals looking to integrate informatics into their careers
Dr. Waldren also offers insights into balancing work, personal life, and financial stability as a physician. He shares his best strategies for maintaining success, both professionally and personally.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you a medical professional looking to share your story, insights, and strategies for achieving career, personal, and financial success? We want to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast and join the conversation with other leaders and innovators in the healthcare field https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest.

In this episode of The Stellar Success Podcast with Dr. Tudor Francu, we dive deep into the business side of medicine with expert consultant Jessica Jones. Jessica shares her journey from corporate marketing to helping medical professionals scale and manage their practices successfully.
We explore why many doctors struggle with accepting business advice, how to build strong partnerships, and why financial planning is crucial for long-term success. Jessica also reveals the common mistakes medical professionals make when transitioning to cash-based practices and how they can set themselves up for financial freedom.
Key Topics Discussed:
Why medical professionals struggle with business growth
The importance of strong partnerships in medical practices
Key financial strategies for early retirement and financial stability
Transitioning from insurance-based to cash-based medical practices
Mindset shifts for business success in medicine
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you a medical professional looking to share your story, insights, and strategies for achieving career, personal, and financial success? We want to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast and join the conversation with other leaders and innovators in the healthcare field https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest.

In this episode of The Stellar Success Podcast, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Franky Davis, an orthopedic surgeon and successful real estate investor based in Georgia. Franky opens up about his journey from medical school to rural practice—and how a desire for financial independence led him to build a thriving real estate portfolio.
Franky shares how he bought his first duplex as a resident and scaled up to owning self-storage units and multiple single-family homes—all while maintaining a busy orthopedic practice. Learn how he approached real estate investing with a strategic mindset, broke through the paralysis of analysis, and avoided burnout by building a life aligned with his values.
You’ll also hear Franky’s thoughts on:
How real estate helped him plan for financial freedom and reduce his tax burden legally
The balance between family, fitness, medicine, and real estate
Advice for medical professionals interested in investing
The power of mentorship and patient persistence
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you a medical professional looking to share your story, insights, and strategies for achieving career, personal, and financial success? We want to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast and join the conversation with other leaders and innovators in the healthcare field https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest.

Join Dr. Tudor Francu in a deeply reflective and insightful conversation with Dr. Art Lazarus, a physician, academic, pharma executive, and widely published writer. Dr. Lazarus opens up about his path in psychiatry, early career struggles, personal evolution, and how the “why” in medicine often comes down to relationships, love, work, and — not to be forgotten — play.
Dr. Lazarus shares candid moments about career “earthquakes,” like missing medical school acceptance on the first try and a haunting clinical experience that shifted his direction away from clinical psychiatry and toward population health. He discusses the value of narrative medicine, the emotional toll of medical practice, and why speaking out — especially for oneself — is a critical act of self-preservation.
Whether you're early in your medical career or reflecting on decades of service, this conversation will resonate on a human level. Dr. Lazarus also shares actionable wisdom for maintaining mental health and navigating career transitions with intention and compassion.
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are you a medical professional looking to share your story, insights, and strategies for achieving career, personal, and financial success? We want to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast and join the conversation with other leaders and innovators in the healthcare field https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest.