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

In a compelling conversation with host Dr. Tudor Francu, Dr. Lavine dives into his unconventional career shift—from practicing periodontics to launching a full-scale IT and cybersecurity firm for healthcare professionals. Drawing on his background in tech and dentistry, he created a niche business that's been thriving for over two decades.
You'll hear Dr. Lavine's thoughts on:
His early struggles and what pushed him out of clinical dentistry
The major risks dental and medical practices face with ransomware and HIPAA breaches
What every practice should do today to protect their patient data
The evolving role of AI in healthcare—for better or worse
Why cloud-based systems aren't a silver bullet (and what to do instead)
Dr. Lavine also shares some real horror stories from the field—including a devastating client loss due to improper backup systems—and what he learned from it.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Cheryl Bryant Bruce—also known as “The Celebrity Doc”—to explore what it truly means to walk in faith, find purpose, and live a life of balance without being in balance.
Dr. Cheryl shares her deeply personal journey of resilience and transformation, from raising a medically fragile child to pioneering integrative and concierge medicine. Through her “Windmill Healthy Lifestyle Platform,” she teaches that true wellness stems from nurturing not only the body, but also the mind and spirit.
Listeners will hear Dr. Cheryl’s unique perspective on the two great purposes in life—to learn and to teach—and how every fall can become a powerful lesson in personal and professional growth. She also discusses the critical importance of touch, intuition, and compassion in modern medicine, and the urgent need to reconnect with the human side of healing.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a story, insight, or strategy to share about career, personal, or financial success? We’d love to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #motivation #success #health #business #leadership #education #career #podcast #inspiration #wellness

Dr. Kelly Victory opens up about her journey from emergency medicine to public health and mass casualty management. She explains how resource allocation, teamwork, and hands-on training can make the difference between life and death in disaster situations. Dr. Victory walks listeners through active shooter preparedness, the importance of triage, and why real-world drills are essential. She also reflects on the lessons learned from tragedies like Columbine and Hurricane Katrina — and how hospitals and communities can better prepare for the next crisis.
The discussion turns personal as Dr. Victory shares how she manages the emotional weight of her work, the value of after-action reviews, and why she believes disaster training should start as early as grade school. Her message is clear: preparedness isn’t panic — it’s empowerment.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a story, insight, or strategy to share about career, personal, or financial success? We’d love to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #motivation #success #health #business #leadership #education #career #podcast #inspiration #wellness

In this episode, Dr. Marc Kowalski shares his journey from growing up in sunny Florida to becoming one of the leading orthopedic and sports medicine surgeons in Connecticut. As a former athlete himself, Dr. Kowalski gives us a behind-the-scenes look at caring for athletes—from treating ACL tears to supporting their mental health during recovery.
He and Dr. Francu explore what it means to balance medicine, family, and self-care in a demanding surgical career. Dr. Kowalski talks about the lessons he’s learned from failure, including how being cut from his college football team led to a lifelong passion for rugby and a fulfilling medical career caring for players across all levels—even Team USA.
Listeners will hear powerful insights on resilience, balance, and success, as well as practical advice for young people considering a career in medicine. Dr. Kowalski also discusses financial discipline, professional burnout, and the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in medicine.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a story, insight, or strategy to share about career, personal, or financial success? We’d love to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #motivation #success #health #business #leadership #education #career #podcast #inspiration #wellness

In this heartfelt and insightful conversation, Dr. Tudor Francu welcomes Dr. Ron Fong, family physician, educator, and founder of True North Shepherding, to discuss what it truly means to build a legacy through mentorship.
Dr. Fong shares how his journey from clinician to academic leader to entrepreneur was driven by a deep desire to guide others. He reflects on the transition from parent to grandparent, the lessons of mentoring young physicians, and the importance of designing — not just planning — one’s professional and personal life.
Through stories from medicine, business, and even marathon running, Dr. Fong illustrates the power of perseverance, reflection, and purpose. He reminds listeners that our legacy is built daily through our words, choices, and relationships — and that mentorship is one of the most lasting gifts we can offer.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a story, insight, or strategy to share about career, personal, or financial success? We’d love to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #motivation #success #health #business #leadership #education #career #podcast #inspiration #wellness

In this episode of The Stellar Success Podcast with Dr. Tudor Francu, we meet Dr. Kevin Chung, an ICU physician, military veteran, and Chief Medical Officer at SeaStar Medical. His journey from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan to the boardroom of a cutting-edge biotech company is nothing short of inspiring.
Dr. Chung shares how his time caring for critically injured soldiers fueled his passion for medical innovation and led to the development of a life-saving blood purification device. He opens up about the challenges of balancing medicine, leadership, and entrepreneurship—what it means to take professional risks, face setbacks, and stay resilient when the stakes are sky-high.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a story, insight, or strategy to share about career, personal, or financial success? We’d love to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #motivation #success #health #business #leadership #education #career #podcast #inspiration #wellness

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with emergency medicine physician and entrepreneur Dr. Nkem Ezeamama, founder of Phoenix Capital Investments. Dr. Ezeamama shares her journey from saving lives in the ER to helping healthcare professionals build wealth and financial freedom through real estate investing.
She opens up about the moment that sparked her shift from clinical work to entrepreneurship, the challenges of being a woman of color in both medicine and business, and how grit, consistency, and gratitude have shaped her path.
Listeners will learn what it means to be a “passive investor,” why education and community are key to financial growth, and how healthcare professionals can take control of their financial future—without giving up what they love most about medicine
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a story, insight, or strategy to share about career, personal, or financial success? We’d love to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #motivation #success #health #business #leadership #education #career #podcast #inspiration #wellness

Dr. Rotroff opens up about his early career plans to become a doctor, only to discover a passion for research during a last-minute internship that changed his life. From data entry at the EPA to leading precision medicine projects, he’s now helping doctors predict which patients will benefit most from certain treatments.
He and Dr. Francu explore what it means to be successful in medical research, how to learn from failure, and how innovation can transform healthcare. Daniel also discusses his role in two precision medicine startups and how AI is transforming the way clinicians make decisions.
Listeners will gain insights into perseverance, balance, and creativity in science—and why saying “no” is one of the most valuable lessons he’s learned along the way.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a story, insight, or strategy to share about career, personal, or financial success? We’d love to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #motivation #success #health #business #leadership #education #career #podcast #inspiration #wellness

Cristina brings a seasoned administrative lens to one of medicine’s toughest problems: supporting clinicians while running a sustainable organization. She and Dr. Tudor unpack post-pandemic burnout, the human cost of KPI-driven decisions, and what it really takes to care for rural communities where a basic specialist visit can mean hours of travel or months of waiting.They dig into practical ideas—from tele-triage with dermatology to mobile services—and why leadership in healthcare works best when clinicians and administrators share the table. Cristina also opens up about her own path (receptionist → quality & patient safety → COO), learning from difficult career moments, and why persistence, curiosity, and “stepping into discomfort” shaped her voice as a leader. She’s now pursuing a doctorate in leadership psychology and speaking/writing through Change Works Consulting to help teams process trauma, rebuild trust, and do work that lasts.
👉 Are you a medical professional with a story, insight, or strategy to share about career, personal, or financial success? We’d love to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #motivation #success #health #business #leadership #education #career #podcast #inspiration #wellness

In this deeply honest and insightful conversation, Allen recounts the pivotal moments that reshaped his life — from the emotional crash of a failed marriage to discovering his true strengths through therapy and reflection. He went on to earn advanced degrees in psychology and transformed his career from music educator to psychologist, and then again to investor-educator.
This episode explores:
How empathy and introversion became Allen’s greatest strengths
The transformation from pain to passion through internal healing
Why so many high-income professionals are financially trapped despite their success
How private placements and strategic investing can offer true financial freedom
Why the marriage of psychology and finance is essential in today's healthcare system
👉 Are you a medical professional with a story, insight, or strategy to share about career, personal, or financial success? We’d love to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #motivation #success #health #business #leadership #education #career #podcast #inspiration #wellness