In this episode of Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane sits down with Dr. Derek Southwick, a third-year family medicine resident at IU Health Ball Memorial in Muncie, Indiana, and the current resident director on the AAFP Board of Directors.

Southwick traces his path from Idaho Falls to the University of Washington (Idaho WWAMI), early involvement sparked by his father’s leadership and a simple question to a dean, and the deliberate choices that allowed him to serve at the national level while still in residency. They explore time management and support systems, a concrete policy win on multilingual prescription labels, what leadership actually looks like, and why the voices of students and residents carry unique weight with both physician colleagues and legislators. Southwick closes with clear, encouraging guidance for anyone, at any career stage, who wants to get involved.

Top 3 Takeaways

• You do not need decades of experience to contribute meaningfully. The current, lived perspective of students and residents is highly valued by both physician organizations and legislators.
• Sustainable involvement requires intentional support systems and timing. Talk with your program, partners, and family early so opportunities fit rather than crush you.
• Leadership is service. The most effective leaders focus on helping others, teaching what they learn, and creating space for the next generation rather than collecting titles.

About Dr. Derek Southwick

Dr. Derek Southwick is a third-year family medicine resident at the IU Health Ball Memorial Residency Program in Muncie, Indiana. Originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho, he completed undergraduate studies at BYU-Idaho and earned his medical degree through the University of Washington School of Medicine’s Idaho WWAMI program in 2024. He has served in progressive leadership roles within the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians, culminating in a one-year term as the resident director on the AAFP Board of Directors. He is fluent in Spanish after serving an LDS mission in the Dominican Republic and plans to return to practice in Idaho Falls after residency.

Connect with Dr. Derek Southwick
LinkedIn: Dr. Derek Southwick

About the Host

Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch.

Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what’s possible.

About the Show
Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine.
In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole.

Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com

LMC Series Note:

Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease, through candid physician–patient conversations.

The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances.

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