The Doctor's Art
The practice of medicine–filled with moments of joy, suffering, grace, sorrow, and hope–offers a window into the human condition. Though serving as guides and companions to patients’ illness experiences is profoundly meaningful work, the busy nature of modern medicine can blind its own practitioners to the reasons they entered it in the first place. Join resident physician Henry Bair and oncologist Tyler Johnson as they meet with doctors, patients, leaders, educators, and others in healthcare, to explore stories on finding and nourishing meaning in medicine. This podcast is for anyone striving for a deeper connection with their medical journey. Visit TheDoctorsArt.com for more information.
The Doctor's Art
A Collective Voice for All Physicians | Bruce Scott, MD
The relationship between physicians and the larger healthcare system is incredibly complex, raising difficult questions about patient care, advocacy, and the role of doctors in shaping public policy. In this episode, we explore these critical issues and the realities faced by healthcare providers today.
Our guest is Bruce Scott, MD, an otolaryngologist and 2024 – 2025 President of the American Medical Association (AMA). Motivated by a serious childhood injury and the life changing care he received, Dr. Scott subsequently pursued a career dedicated to surgery and health care advocacy. In this conversation, he shares his experiences as a surgeon, dealing with intricate procedures and urgent decisions, and discusses the importance of physician involvement in healthcare policy amid today's deeply polarized environment.
Dr. Scott reflects on his own path to leadership within the AMA and underscores the impact that organized medicine can have on public health, health care access, and physician well-being. He provides insights into how the AMA navigates complex political challenges, addresses physician burnout, and promotes practical solutions to administrative burdens. We also discuss emerging issues such as the responsible integration of artificial intelligence in clinical settings, rebuilding patient trust in medical expertise, and the broader implications of physician burnout and mental health.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
2:48 - The life-changing injury that led Dr. Scott to a career as an a surgeon
14:34 - How Dr. Scott became involved with advocacy at the American Medical Association
21:27 - How the AMA’s work has been altered by the high levels of politicization around medicine
28:27 - The challenges that physicians struggle with today
32:47 - How the AMA works to maintain the public’s trust in doctors and the medical establishment
37:33 - The AMA’s plan for navigating AI integration in a way that benefits doctors, not healthcare and insurance companies
42:33 - How the AMA approaches the epidemic of physician burnout
49:14 - Dr. Scott‘s recommendations for how to get involved in policy and advocacy.
Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.
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