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

In this compelling conversation, Dr. Naim El-Aswad, a practicing emergency and internal medicine physician and a certified coach, opens up about his path from experiencing burnout to becoming a guiding voice for other medical professionals. Dr. Naim doesn’t just treat patients—he teaches fellow physicians how to survive and thrive through deep mindset shifts and coaching.
Together with host Dr. Tudor Francu, they explore the real cost of emotional fatigue in medicine, the stigma around mental health for healthcare workers, and how a shift in focus from "doing" to "being" can transform lives and careers. This episode delivers insight, compassion, and practical tools like emotional intelligence strategies and the "Circle of Influence" exercise.
Dr. Naim also discusses his work through his organization, Vital Signs Vital Skills, and a recent book published with a team of world-class coaches on the power of coaching in healthcare.
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Rashmi Parmar is not your typical dentist. After years in general practice and a growing curiosity about the root causes of chronic oral health issues, Dr. Parmar found herself on an unexpected journey—into the world of sleep medicine.
Now the founder and owner of a successful sleep-focused practice in Maryland, Dr. Parmar joins Dr. Tudor Francu to explore why sleep apnea is so commonly undiagnosed, how she’s bridging the gap between dentistry and medicine, and what makes her patient-first approach so effective.
She opens up about the hurdles she faced during the transition, the powerful impact her work has had on patients' lives, and how educating other healthcare providers became a critical part of her model. From starting with “Why?” to creating collaborative care teams, Dr. Parmar is on a mission to help people reclaim their lives—one good night’s sleep at a time.
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 powerful and heartfelt conversation, Virginia Kruse discusses her evolution into a self-proclaimed “Solutionist” in the senior living and healthcare space. She walks us through her start in healthcare at 16, the unexpected path that led her away from law school and into nursing, and how early mentorship changed the course of her career.
Virginia opens up about the burnout that nearly ended her career, how she found purpose again through consulting work, and the personal habits that help her stay grounded—including yoga, breathwork, and boundary-setting.
Key topics include:
Navigating the emotional and ethical challenges in assisted living
Hiring with heart: finding team members who treat caregiving as a calling
Why individualized care plans rooted in empathy can change outcomes
Integrating AI and robotics into senior care without losing the human touch
Advice she’d give her younger self—and to others just entering healthcare
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 compelling episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Shellie Shouse to explore the behind-the-scenes brilliance of running a successful rural hospital. From her early love of accounting to becoming a healthcare leader, Shellie offers insight into how small hospitals can compete, innovate, and survive.
Shellie discusses the critical role of revenue cycles, creative solutions for shrinking reimbursements, and the power of strategic planning. She reveals how Ohio County Healthcare manages to offer robotic surgery, behavioral health, and even postpartum care in a rural setting—and why investing in people and culture is the key to long-term success.
This episode is essential for anyone interested in the intersection of healthcare, leadership, and finance—especially those in smaller communities navigating complex challenges with limited resources.
About the Guest
Shellie Shouse, CPA, is the CEO of Ohio County Healthcare in Kentucky. With a background in accounting and extensive healthcare leadership experience, Shellie brings a unique business-minded approach to rural healthcare. She’s passionate about innovation, sustainability, and community care.
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 powerful and thought-provoking episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Srini Pillay—a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, brain researcher, author, and entrepreneur—for an unforgettable journey through the intersections of psychology, leadership, and human potential.
From walking away from a traditional career path to pioneering a unique approach to neurocoaching, Dr. Pillay reveals how curiosity, emotional intuition, and science have shaped his path. He opens up about his upbringing in apartheid-era South Africa, his unorthodox journey to Harvard, and the bold mindset that helped him defy odds and build an extraordinary life of multidimensional success.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
How Dr. Pillay transitioned from Harvard psychiatry to brain-based business coaching
Why intuition and serendipity often lead to your greatest breakthroughs
The importance of flow states, mindset, and “possibility thinking” in leadership
How grief and creativity can intersect to fuel personal reinvention
What it really means to be coachable—and why love is at the heart of change
Why success isn’t defined by the world—but by personal congruence
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

English Black shares her inspiring journey from emergency medicine and dermatology to launching her own successful aesthetic clinic in Greensboro, NC. With more than two decades in the medical field, English dives into the ethics of aesthetic treatments, the psychology of her patients, and how PAs can uniquely thrive in this niche. She and Dr. Francu discuss:
Why she left traditional dermatology to open her own medspa
The art and science of injectables and how trust builds patient loyalty
Her philosophy on pricing, quality, and personalized care
How she scaled her business to seven figures in one year
Learning the business side of medicine and investing in growth
Advice for other medical professionals looking to enter the aesthetic world
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Frank Lisenbee, a seasoned healthcare leader and founder of Gravity Leadership and Management. With a background in the U.S. Air Force Medical Service and over a decade of experience helping small healthcare practices stay competitive, Frank shares powerful insights on healthcare compliance, HR strategies, and leadership training for medical professionals.
Listeners will discover why small practices struggle to keep pace with large healthcare organizations, and how Frank's work provides them with the tools, training, and executive coaching they need to thrive. From real-world leadership advice to practical tips for conflict resolution and employee management, this conversation is packed with value for healthcare professionals seeking to take ownership of their business success.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
Why many small healthcare practices struggle with HR and compliance
The top mistakes doctors make when running their own practices
How leadership and assertiveness training can transform a medical business
The importance of scenario-based learning in real-time practice management
Frank’s personal journey from military leadership to healthcare entrepreneurship
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 powerful episode of The Stellar Success Podcast with Dr. Tudor Francu, Dr. Kyle Stanley opens up about the role of artificial intelligence in modern dentistry and shares his deeply personal journey from burnout to balance. Once consumed by clinical perfectionism and professional stress, Dr. Stanley reveals how a turning point in his life led him to focus on mental health, soft skills, and the power of AI to eliminate mundane tasks and reshape dental practices.
You'll learn how AI is revolutionizing everything from diagnostics to insurance workflows, and how Dr. Stanley's company, Pearl, is leading that charge. But this conversation goes far beyond technology—it’s also about how doctors can redefine success, invest smarter, and show up as their best selves both professionally and personally.
Whether you're a healthcare provider feeling overwhelmed or a tech-curious practitioner, this episode will shift your perspective on what’s possible.
 
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 moving and educational conversation, Dr. Tudor Francu talks with Dr. Nasha Winters about her personal story of surviving end-stage ovarian cancer through a combination of curiosity, unconventional approaches, and a mindset shift that transformed her life. From fasting and the metabolic terrain approach, to building a global network of integrative oncology practitioners, Dr. Winters offers insight, science, and inspiration for both patients and medical professionals alike.
Listeners will learn:
How fasting unintentionally became a turning point in her healing
The role of trauma, mindset, and resilience in long-term recovery
Her approach to personalized, integrative cancer care
Strategies she teaches other practitioners worldwide
Daily habits and self-care routines that keep her centered
How clinicians can build sustainable, purpose-driven careers outside the traditional medical model
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 inspiring episode, Dr. Purva Merchant shares her dynamic path from growing up in India to building two thriving pediatric dentistry practices in Washington. She opens up about choosing her specialty, overcoming the challenges of running a business without formal training, and the critical balance between personal well-being and professional success.
You’ll hear how she transformed dental visits into fun experiences for children and how she approaches behavioral challenges, business setbacks, and financial planning with insight and intentionality. Her unique perspective—grounded in trust, adaptability, and passion—offers valuable lessons for anyone in the medical or dental fields.
Key Takeaways:
Why pediatric dentistry felt like the perfect "specialty within a specialty"
The importance of managing not just children—but their parents too
How to build a practice from scratch (starting with a sandwich board!)
Balancing business growth with personal well-being
How to make dentistry feel like a “Spa Day” for kids
Strategies for financial freedom and retirement planning in healthcare
The power of self-trust, positive mindset, and surrounding yourself with the right people
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.