Not every doctor dreams of climbing the traditional ladder. Some dream of building their own.
Doctors Making a Difference, hosted by Dr. Peter Crane, tells the stories we rarely hear, of physicians who dared to ask, “Is this all there is?” and then changed their lives to answer it.
These are the moments after burnout, after bureaucracy, after sacrifice. When purpose called louder than protocol.
Each week, listeners meet doctors who stepped off the expected path—into roles as entrepreneurs, advocates, creatives, and leaders redefining what it means to heal.
They didn’t just survive medicine. They made it theirs.
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Not every doctor dreams of climbing the traditional ladder. Some dream of building their own.
Doctors Making a Difference, hosted by Dr. Peter Crane, tells the stories we rarely hear, of physicians who dared to ask, “Is this all there is?” and then changed their lives to answer it.
These are the moments after burnout, after bureaucracy, after sacrifice. When purpose called louder than protocol.
Each week, listeners meet doctors who stepped off the expected path—into roles as entrepreneurs, advocates, creatives, and leaders redefining what it means to heal.
They didn’t just survive medicine. They made it theirs.
After decades in pediatrics, Dr. Nanette Nuessle traded burnout for balance—and found her calling in trauma and communication coaching. In this heartfelt conversation with Dr. Peter Crane, she shares her journey from overworked pediatrician to empowered hospitalist, revealing how self-awareness and healing can restore joy in medicine.
After being told he had six months to live, 21-year-old pianist Matthew Zachary defied the odds—and turned his battle with brain cancer into a lifelong mission to transform patient advocacy. In this powerful conversation with Dr. Peter Crane, Matthew shares how his experience reshaped cancer care for young adults, the birth of Stupid Cancer, and his latest work building America’s first cancer patient rights movement.
After nearly two decades practicing internal medicine in the U.S., Dr. Rob Beck hit a breaking point during COVID. What began as burnout and disillusionment turned into a bold leap of faith—moving his entire family to Canada for a fresh start. In this candid conversation with Dr. Peter Crane, Rob opens up about rediscovering joy in medicine, rebuilding life balance, and finding new meaning on Vancouver Island.
High school teacher and coach Gwen Orilio joins Dr. Peter Crane for an emotional and inspiring conversation about living more than a decade with metastatic lung cancer. From early diagnosis and clinical trials in Boston to motherhood, teaching, and advocacy, Gwen’s story is a testament to the power of science, hope, and living each day with purpose.
Family physician and AAFP Board Member Dr. Shannon Dowler joins Dr. Peter Crane for a heartfelt conversation about choosing family medicine, surviving floods and burnout, finding balance on a North Carolina farm, and fighting for underserved care across America. From goat yoga to state Medicaid reform, Dr. Dowler proves that leadership can be equal parts grit, humor, and humanity.
Dr. J. Louis Hinshaw (Professor of Radiology & Urology, University of Wisconsin) joins the Living with Metastatic Cancer series to unpack how minimally invasive tumor ablation—and the emerging noninvasive technique histotripsy—are changing options, outcomes, and recovery for cancer patients.
Orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Chris Hills (Jackson, Wyoming) joins Dr. Peter Crane to share his journey through military medicine, balancing a career in orthopedics with life in the Tetons, and how a personal tragedy led to the creation of the Brody Hills Foundation—using dirt bikes and mentorship to build resilience in youth.
Sarcoma medical oncologist Gina D’Amato, MD (Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami) joins Dr. Peter Crane to unpack solitary fibrous tumor (SFT): why it’s rare, what’s changing in treatment, and how a brand-new SFT patient registry can accelerate answers.
From teenage dream to global impact: Belgian OB-GYN Dr. Marleen Temmerman shares how she built a career spanning frontline maternity care in Nairobi, HIV research, national politics, the WHO, and—today—system-level change across Kenya’s coast.
What if reinvention isn’t a detour but a sign of aliveness?
Med-Peds physician and integrative care specialist Dr. Chrissie Ott shares how meditation-fueled awareness, courageous career pivots, and physician coaching helped her rediscover meaning in medicine—without walking away from it.
What happens when a researcher becomes the patient? Dr. Peter Crane sits down with Dr. Heather Hayenga—associate professor of bioengineering at the University of Texas at Dallas—to explore her journey from pioneering cardiovascular research to personally battling an ultra-rare cancer. Heather shares how loss, resilience, and her dual roles as mom, patient, and scientist have shaped her mission to push the boundaries of cancer treatment.
What does it mean to practice medicine with both science and soul? In this powerful episode, Dr. Christy Gomez—a GI oncologist and author—shares her journey from first-generation Cuban American roots to becoming a physician who captures the sacred words of her patients. Her book Stopped in My Tracks highlights the humanity of oncology, reminding us that medicine is more than treatment—it’s storytelling, connection, and healing.
When your life’s race takes an unexpected turn, how do you keep moving forward? In this deeply personal episode, Steve McBee shares his 19-year journey with Solitary Fibrous Tumor—from his first brain surgery to living with metastatic disease—and why he’s determined to turn his fight into fuel for a global patient movement.
For years, Dr. Jordan Grumet believed becoming a doctor would heal an old wound. But when burnout came knocking, he discovered something deeper—a life built on purpose, not just profession.
Most of us wait for “someday” to make a difference. Dr. TJ Trad didn’t. From growing up in war-torn Lebanon to building clinics around the globe, this invasive cardiologist isn’t just saving hearts—he’s changing lives.
Dr. Peter Crane sits down with retired neurologist Dr. Scott Abramson—a physician who practiced for over 40 years and found his deepest purpose not in procedures, but in human connection. From neurology to narrative medicine, from burnout to bedside notebooks, this conversation is a masterclass in rediscovering meaning in medicine.
Dr. Peter Crane shares stories from his service trip with Child2Youth Foundation, featuring on-site conversations with local leaders and fellow physicians committed to long-term, life-changing care.
What happens when a physician—just hitting her stride—has a life-altering stroke? In this powerful and deeply human episode, Dr. Shaiba Ansari-Ali shares her journey from bedside to patient bed and back again, redefining what it means to practice medicine along the way.
Dr. Bart Rademaker, a plastic surgeon and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, shares how many physicians struggle financially despite their vital work—often not achieving financial independence until age 55. He discusses the $5 billion in unpaid medical services due to out-of-network issues and emphasizes the importance of understanding the business side of medicine. Dr. Rademaker advocates for partnering with recovery firms like Callagy Recovery to navigate the No Surprises Act and ensure doctors are fairly compensated, allowing them to sustain their practice and continue making a meaningful impact.
In this episode, Dr. Mary Doherty, an Irish anesthesiologist diagnosed with autism and ADHD, shares her journey and advocacy for a neurodiversity-affirming approach in healthcare. She discusses the importance of recognizing and supporting autistic professionals and creating environments where autistic children can grow up confidently and without shame.
Not every doctor dreams of climbing the traditional ladder. Some dream of building their own.
Doctors Making a Difference, hosted by Dr. Peter Crane, tells the stories we rarely hear, of physicians who dared to ask, “Is this all there is?” and then changed their lives to answer it.
These are the moments after burnout, after bureaucracy, after sacrifice. When purpose called louder than protocol.
Each week, listeners meet doctors who stepped off the expected path—into roles as entrepreneurs, advocates, creatives, and leaders redefining what it means to heal.
They didn’t just survive medicine. They made it theirs.
