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

Episode YouTube Link: Watch on YouTubeApple Podcasts Link: Listen on Apple PodcastsZoom Recording Link: Watch on Zoom
Summary: In this insightful episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Deborah Gilboa (Dr. G), a renowned family physician and resilience expert. Dr. G shares her remarkable journey from theater arts to medicine and how this shaped her approach to building a more resilient society. She discusses the definition of success, resilience in the face of change, and how her experiences in both medicine and life have influenced her mission to help others.
The episode explores practical ways to cultivate resilience, especially for medical professionals, and how to navigate the discomfort of change. Dr. G provides tips on balancing career and personal goals while maintaining physical and mental well-being, offering a fresh perspective on adapting to challenges in life.
Key Takeaways:
Resilience is not just about bouncing back from adversity but navigating change toward a positive goal.
How Dr. G’s background in theater helped her communicate and connect more effectively with patients.
Practical strategies for fostering resilience in both personal and professional lives.
How medical professionals can manage burnout and regain a sense of control.
Dr. G's insights into financial planning and finding balance between career success and personal well-being.
Guest Bio:Dr. Deborah Gilboa is a family physician, resilience expert, and consultant who helps individuals and organizations build the skills to navigate change. She is passionate about creating a more resilient society and teaches others how to cultivate resilience in their everyday lives.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 of Stellar Success, host Dr. Tudor Francu interviews Dr. Brianna Rhue, an optometrist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Doctor Contact Lens. Dr. Rhue shares her journey from optometry school to building a successful tech company, all while balancing the challenges of private practice and family life.
Dr. Rhue opens up about her evolving definition of success, the importance of setting clear goals, and celebrating victories along the way. She reflects on the lessons she learned as a business owner, including how her upbringing in an entrepreneurial family shaped her perspective on risk and leadership.
Key topics include:
Dr. Rhue's transition from traditional practice to entrepreneurship
The importance of understanding the business side of medicine
How doctors can take control of their careers and prevent burnout
The role of reading, self-education, and mindset in achieving success
Tips for navigating the risks of starting a tech company in healthcare
The value of partnerships and teamwork in sustaining long-term success
Dr. Rhue also shares insights into her passion for integrating technology into patient care and business operations. Her message is clear: doctors don't need to settle for being cogs in the healthcare system—they have the power to innovate, grow, and lead.
Guest Bio: Dr. Brianna Rhue is an optometrist and co-founder of Doctor Contact Lens, a tech company revolutionizing how eye doctors manage patient prescriptions and contact lens sales. Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she is a passionate advocate for empowering doctors to take control of their careers and embrace the business side of medicine. Connect with her on LinkedIn to learn more about her journey.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jesse Dickens, a healthcare professional who has successfully ventured into the world of real estate investing. Jesse shares his unique journey from aspiring musician to medical professional and entrepreneur, providing insights into how he balances a full-time healthcare career with real estate investments. Jesse's story highlights the importance of defining your "why" and staying consistent with your goals, especially when facing challenges.
Tune in as Jesse discusses the pivotal moment that pushed him into real estate investing, the lessons he's learned from both success and failure, and how he continues to manage his time between his career, family, and entrepreneurial ventures. From time-blocking strategies to building passive income streams, this episode is packed with practical advice for healthcare professionals interested in financial independence and investing.
Key Topics Discussed:
Defining success and setting goals
The transition from healthcare to real estate investing
Overcoming self-limiting beliefs and barriers
Strategies for time management and balancing multiple roles
Learning from failure and pushing forward
Guest Information:Jesse Dickens is the founder of WealthCare Capital Partners, where he helps healthcare professionals invest in real estate. With years of experience in cardiac ultrasound and real estate, Jesse provides practical advice for balancing a healthcare career and real estate ventures.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Miguel Villagra, a medical professional turned entrepreneur, to discuss how to redefine success on your own terms. Dr. Villagra shares his personal journey from being a hospitalist to embracing entrepreneurship and coaching, emphasizing the importance of mental health, financial flexibility, and finding fulfillment beyond traditional medical roles.
He highlights the concept of "positive intelligence" and how embracing failure and uncertainty helped him pivot in his career. Dr. Villagra talks about overcoming burnout, the power of habits, and how even small steps can lead to big changes over time. For those interested in real estate investing, coaching, or digital health innovation, Dr. Villagra provides valuable insights into building passive income and reclaiming control over your professional life.
Listeners will gain actionable advice on how to develop a personalized definition of success, improve work-life balance, and take the first steps towards entrepreneurial freedom.
Guest Bio: Dr. Miguel Villagra is a board-certified internal medicine specialist, entrepreneur, and life coach. He is passionate about helping medical professionals achieve personal and financial freedom through coaching and real estate investing.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, we dive into the extraordinary work of Dr. John DeGarmo, an international foster care expert, author, and advocate for children in crisis. Dr. DeGarmo shares his journey of becoming a foster parent to over 60 children, the heartbreaking loss that led him to this path, and the challenges and rewards of fostering children.
Throughout the conversation, Dr. DeGarmo discusses the mental health crisis among children, the misconceptions surrounding foster care, and his mission to reform the foster care system. He also provides practical advice for those considering fostering, explaining the emotional roller coaster involved and the importance of providing unconditional love and stability to children in need.
Listeners will learn about:
The emotional and logistical challenges of fostering children
The impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on at-risk children
The foster care system's current shortcomings and efforts to reform it
How individuals and families can help, even if they aren’t ready to become foster parents
Tune in for an inspiring discussion on how one man is changing the lives of children and advocating for reform within the foster care system.
Guest Bio: Dr. John DeGarmo is the founder of The Foster Care Institute and an internationally recognized foster care expert. He is the author of numerous books on the subject, including his latest collaboration with actress Jen Lilley. Dr. DeGarmo is also a consultant, keynote speaker, and advocate for children worldwide.
For more information, visit The Foster Care Institute.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Dike Drummond, a physician burnout coach, author, and founder of The Happy MD. Dr. Drummond shares his personal story of burnout, recovery, and how he transformed his own experience into a mission to help other doctors prevent and recover from burnout. He reflects on his journey from a full-service family doctor to an entrepreneur dedicated to supporting the well-being of healthcare professionals.
Dr. Drummond provides practical strategies for physicians dealing with burnout, emphasizing the importance of creating an ideal job description and the value of small, meaningful changes that can restore passion and energy in their careers. He also discusses how coaching plays a vital role in both burnout recovery and personal development. Throughout the episode, Dr. Drummond offers insights into the unique challenges physicians face and how they can regain balance and fulfillment in their professional lives.
Guest Bio:Dr. Dike Drummond, founder of The Happy MD, is a coach dedicated to helping doctors prevent and recover from burnout. With over a decade of experience, he has helped thousands of physicians worldwide. He is also the host of the Stop Physician Burnout Podcast and offers confidential coaching through his website.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 insightful episode of the Stellar Success Podcast, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Tammy Allen, a family medicine physician and founder of "Travel Meds to Go," a telemedicine startup. Dr. Allen shares her unique journey, having practiced hospital medicine for 17 years and traveled to over 50 countries. She candidly discusses her decision to reduce burnout by shifting towards entrepreneurship and creating a telemedicine platform that provides pre-travel prescription services for travelers worldwide.
They dive into the challenges Dr. Allen faced in transitioning from clinical practice to running a startup during the COVID-19 pandemic and how she navigated learning the business side of medicine. The conversation also explores the potential impact of AI in medicine, with Dr. Allen embracing AI as a complementary tool rather than competition for physicians.
Listeners will gain insights into Dr. Allen's mindset, her approach to managing risks, and the importance of surrounding oneself with mentors and coaches. Her experience sheds light on the importance of balancing personal wellness with professional ambitions and offers practical advice for medical professionals looking to transition into new fields or businesses.
Guest Information:Dr. Tammy Allen, founder of Travel Meds to Go, a telemedicine service for travelers needing prescription medication.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 speaks with Dr. Michael Miller, a seasoned medical professional from Indianapolis who has built a unique and multifaceted practice. Dr. Miller shares the journey of his career, transitioning from general surgery into areas like wound care, palliative care, pain management, and substance abuse treatment. He explains his motto, "We heal what others treat," and emphasizes the importance of getting to the root of the patient’s issues instead of relying on surface-level treatments.
Dr. Miller’s practice stands out for its holistic approach, offering in-home care for patients, which includes psychiatry, mental and behavioral health services, and primary care. He also reflects on the entrepreneurial challenges and risks involved in running a private medical enterprise. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Miller highlights the importance of evolving medical care, his passion for substance abuse treatment, and his desire to help other professionals succeed by thinking outside the box.
Listeners will be inspired by Dr. Miller’s innovative approach to healthcare, the lessons he learned from both success and failure, and his willingness to share his knowledge and experiences with others. Tune in to hear more about his thoughts on the future of healthcare and the importance of patient-centered care.
Key Takeaways:
Dr. Miller’s holistic approach to medicine focuses on healing rather than simply treating symptoms.
The challenges and rewards of running a non-hospital-affiliated medical practice.
How Dr. Miller’s entrepreneurial mindset led him to expand his practice into various specialties.
The importance of mentorship and learning from others’ successes and failures in the medical field.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Stellar Success: Leveling Up for Medical Pros with Dr. Tudor Francu, we sit down with Dr. Aimee Duffy, a physician with a passion for integrative medicine and coaching. Dr. Duffy shares her journey from her early love of babies to delivering babies as a family physician and eventually transitioning to integrative medicine. She dives into the challenges she faced, including the hurdles of balancing traditional medical practice with her evolving approach to holistic health.
We explore how Dr. Duffy navigated opening her own practice, bankruptcy, and finding her true calling in helping women through natural hormone balancing and whole-body health. She also shares her passion for training other practitioners to embrace a more holistic approach.
Tune in to hear Dr. Duffy’s remarkable turnaround story—from bankruptcy in 2020 to a thriving business today—and her insights on overcoming fear, embracing coaching, and maintaining balance for long-term success.
Key Takeaways:
Dr. Duffy’s early inspiration and path to medicine.
The transition from family medicine to integrative, functional medicine.
How bioidentical hormone balancing can transform lives.
The importance of mindset, mentors, and coaching in achieving professional and personal success.
Lessons from overcoming bankruptcy and rebuilding her practice.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 engaging episode of The Stellar Success Podcast, host Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Todd Otten, a family physician and healthcare innovator, to discuss how he is changing the healthcare landscape from within. Dr. Otten shares his personal journey through burnout, his transition to leadership roles, and the pivotal moments that led him to resign from his traditional practice and embrace a more holistic approach to healthcare delivery.
Listeners will learn about the Quadruple Aim in healthcare—improving patient experience, delivering quality care, lowering costs, and promoting clinician well-being—and how Dr. Otten applies these principles in his current roles. Dr. Otten also highlights his passion for advocacy work with Medicine Forward and his innovative work with the Right Care Clinic in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a new model that bridges the gap between urgent care and emergency services.
From his personal experiences with real estate and cryptocurrency to his thoughts on the critical role of coaching and mentorship, this episode is packed with insights that medical professionals won’t want to miss. Dr. Otten’s candid reflections on risk, leadership, and the need for systemic change will inspire anyone in the healthcare field.
Key Takeaways:
Dr. Otten’s journey from burnout to advocacy
The importance of physician-led healthcare initiatives
How innovative care models like the Right Care Clinic are reshaping healthcare delivery
Why coaching and mentorship are essential for personal and professional growth
Practical advice on balancing work, family, and well-being in the medical field
Guest Info: Dr. Todd Otten is a family physician currently working with the Emergency Care Specialist group in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is passionate about healthcare reform, physician advocacy, and innovative care models. He co-authored the book Ripple of Change with his patient, Joshua Judy.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.