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  • Ep69 | Learn to Play your Cards Right in Conflict with Kimberly Best

    Ep69 | Learn to Play your Cards Right in Conflict with Kimberly Best
    2026/09/07
    We practice knot-tying, codes, and difficult deliveries until the skills become automatic. Why do we still fly blind when it comes to conflict? In this warm, practical conversation, Dr. Lee Sharma sits down with Kimberly Bes to examine exactly that question. Kim shares how decades in emergency and critical care nursing revealed the damage caused when fear, time pressure, and competing priorities collide without shared language or tools. She explains why she designed a 50-card deck (20 story cards and 30 skill-and-practice cards) that lets individuals and teams build conflict competence one manageable skill at a time. Listeners will hear how the cards function as both a reflective practice after a hard interaction and a proactive way to prepare teams for better conversations. Kim and Lee walk through high-impact skills such as “the story I’m telling myself,” separating the person from the problem, and the powerful reminder that disagreement does not equal opposition. They also explore why more than half of healthcare professionals identify as conflict-avoidant, how the system has normalized unhealthy patterns, and why learning to be both honest and kind is a professional and personal necessity. This episode offers an accessible, hopeful path for anyone who wants to stop carrying unresolved conflict home and start building the communication skills that make teams stronger and healers healthier. Three Actionable Takeaways: Treat conflict skills like clinical skills, practice them deliberately: One focused tool at a time (whether a single conversation card or a short reflective exercise) builds a sustainable toolbox far more effectively than absorbing an entire seminar and then forgetting it under pressure.Use “the story I’m telling myself” to lower the temperature and open curiosity: Naming your internal narrative invites clarification instead of defensiveness, reveals your own assumptions, and often transforms a stuck interaction into a collaborative one.Disagreement is not opposition, and conflict itself is not the enemy: Healthy systems need honest difference. Skills that help us stay connected while we disagree protect relationships, improve patient care, and reduce the isolation and burnout that flourish when we avoid hard conversations. About the Show: Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose. About the Guest: Kimberly Best is a nurse, mediator, conflict consultant, speaker, and trainer, and the founder of Best Conflict Solutions. After decades in emergency and critical care nursing, she earned a master’s degree in conflict management from Lipscomb University and pursued advanced training in mediation, negotiation, restorative practice, and conflict systems design. She is a court-listed mediator, FINRA arbitrator, adjunct professor at Lipscomb University’s Institute for Conflict Management, and past president of the Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators. She is also the creator of Best Conflict Conversation Cards, Workplace Edition, a practical 50-card deck designed to help individuals and teams build conflict competence one skill at a time. Website: https://www.bestconflictsolutions.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlybestmediator About the Host: Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools. Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma: 📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com 🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    39 分
  • Ep68 | Advocacy as a Bridge from Frustration to Hope with Dr. Damian McHugh

    Ep68 | Advocacy as a Bridge from Frustration to Hope with Dr. Damian McHugh
    2026/08/31

    What if the most powerful form of advocacy for physicians wasn’t on Capitol Hill, but in the doctor’s lounge, the county medical society, and a quiet self-referral to a Physician Health Program?

    In this deeply personal and practical conversation, Dr. Lee Sharma welcomes Dr. Damian McHugh to unpack what advocacy really means. Damian shares how a career spanning two countries and two specialties taught him that advocating for healthy doctors is inseparable from advocating for healthy patients. He reflects on mentors who lifted him up, the often-misunderstood role of state medical boards, the quiet sacrifices of physicians who serve on them, and the growing problem of boundary violations under extreme stress.

    Together they examine how relentless productivity pressure and the electronic medical record have siloed physicians, eroded face-to-face relationships, and drained the joy and teamwork that once defined excellent care. Damian offers a clear path forward: start local with county and state medical societies, intentionally rebuild collegial relationships, come to problems with solutions, and when burnout hits, have the courage to reach out to a Physician Health Program. He closes with a powerful reminder that these programs exist to restore careers, protect patients, and help physicians reclaim joy in medicine.

    This episode is both a call to action and a hand extended to every physician who has ever felt helpless in a system that seems to be crumbling around them.

    Three Actionable Takeaways:

    • Advocacy for physicians and patients is not either/or, it is the same work: Healthy doctors deliver better care. Supporting colleagues through organized medicine, medical boards, and peer networks ultimately protects patients and strengthens the entire system.
    • Relationships are the soil in which both good care and effective advocacy grow: The EMR and relentless busyness have siloed physicians. Intentionally rebuilding face-to-face connections, whether in the doctor’s lounge, at a county medical society, or through a simple phone call, restores teamwork, reduces isolation, and creates the unified voice needed for change.
    • When you feel burned out, reach out early and privately: Physician Health Programs in most states offer confidential, supportive pathways for physicians who are struggling. Self-referral can protect your career, your license, your relationships, and your patients, long before a crisis reaches the medical board.

    About the Show:

    Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

    About the Guest:

    Dr. Damian McHugh is a retired emergency physician based in Raleigh, North Carolina. He completed his medical education at the University of Manchester in the UK and built a clinical and administrative career in the United States. A former member of the North Carolina Medical Board, he is an active advocate through the Clinician Burnout Foundation and a strong voice for organized medicine, peer support, and Physician Health Programs.

    Connect with Dr. Damian:

    Visit the Clinician Burnout Foundation website and use the contact form:

    https://clinicianburnoutfoundation.org

    About the Host:

    Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.

    • Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
      📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com
      🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma

    The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    47 分
  • Ep67 | When "The Customer Is Always Right" Meets Medicine: Patient Entitlement, Conflict, and Compassion

    Ep67 | When "The Customer Is Always Right" Meets Medicine: Patient Entitlement, Conflict, and Compassion
    2026/08/24

    What happens when a patient’s request collides with medical reality?

    In this thoughtful solo episode, Dr. Lee Sharma opens with a recent Instagram post from a primary care physician that struck a nerve across healthcare. The scenario, a patient who declined a physical, refused an appointment, then demanded same-day FMLA paperwork, sparked dozens of comments from clinicians saying, “Do you work in my office?” The episode uses that moment as a launch point to examine a topic many experience but few discuss openly: patient entitlement.

    Dr. Sharma draws a careful distinction. Patients deserve dignity, respect, excellent communication, informed consent, and shared decision-making, those are rights. Entitlement, by contrast, appears when expectations become disconnected from medical reality and every request is expected to be fulfilled simply because it was made.

    Using the SPARK framework and concrete phrasing examples, she shows how clinicians can set realistic expectations early, validate emotion without agreeing to every request, and maintain professional judgment without becoming cynical. She emphasizes that compassion is not the same as compliance, that boundaries function as guardrails rather than barriers, and that service is not servitude. The healthiest physician-patient relationships, she concludes, require both kindness and clear limits because together they build the trust that remains medicine’s most powerful tool.

    Three Actionable Takeaways:

    • Distinguish rights from entitlement: Patients are entitled to dignity, respect, and compassionate care. They are not entitled to every requested test, medication, or timeline. Naming this difference protects both clinical judgment and compassion.
    • Set expectations early and explicitly: A few clear sentences at the start of a visit, before surgery, or around communication policies prevent many conflicts before they begin. Ambiguity fuels resentment; clarity builds trust.
    • Validate the emotion, then address the request: Naming the underlying feeling (“I understand why you’re asking for this…”) lowers intensity and opens space for evidence-based reasoning. Compassion means helping people feel heard, not automatically saying yes.

    About the Show:

    Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

    About the Host:

    Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.

    • Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
      📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com
      🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma

    The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    21 分
  • Ep66 | Holding the Calm with Hesha Abrams

    Ep66 | Holding the Calm with Hesha Abrams
    2026/08/17

    What if the key to resolving conflict wasn’t winning, but learning how to hold the calm?

    In this engaging conversation, Dr. Lee Sharma welcomes Hesha Abrams, a master mediator who has resolved thousands of high-stakes disputes, from corporate battles involving Google, Amazon, and Apple to the secret recipe for Pepsi. Drawing on decades of experience and her book Holding the Calm, Hesha shares why most of us in healthcare tend to avoid or accommodate conflict, how the amygdala hijacks even the smartest professionals, and why so many conflicts boil down to a simple dynamic: people trying not to lose rather than trying to win.

    Together they unpack practical, immediately usable tools: the power of asking questions instead of making statements, the four-step VUCS method (Validate, Understand, Clarify, Summarize), the surprisingly effective technique of simply naming an emotion, and the disarming sentence stems that can shift even the most difficult people. Hesha also explores how holding the calm is contagious, why a few seconds of genuine curiosity can prevent years of fallout, and how laughter, awe, and a little “bacitracin on the railroad tracks of life” make the whole process sustainable.

    This episode offers clinicians concrete skills they can use on their next shift, whether with a frustrated patient, a stressed colleague, or a high-ego administrator, and a powerful reminder that becoming better at conflict is one of the most practical acts of self-preservation and leadership available.

    Three Actionable Takeaways:

    • Shift from “winning” to “not losing”: Most conflict is driven by fear of looking bad, making a mistake, or being forced into something. Recognizing that the other person is primarily trying not to lose lowers the temperature and opens new options for resolution.
    • Ask questions and name the emotion: When the amygdala is triggered, statements escalate; questions and simple emotion-naming (“You seem really frustrated”) calm it. These two moves take seconds and often change the entire dynamic.
    • Practice holding the calm as a skill, not a personality trait: Like flossing or putting bacitracin on a wound, small consistent practices like curiosity, validation, looking for the miraculous, compound. The result is fewer conflicts, stronger relationships, and less emotional residue at the end of the day.

    About the Show:

    Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

    About the Guest:

    Hesha Abrams is a master mediator renowned for turning high-conflict situations into amicable resolutions. She has mediated thousands of complex matters for major corporations and high-stakes parties, including the dispute over the secret recipe for Pepsi. She is the principal of Hesha Abrams Mediation and the author of Holding the Calm.

    Learn more at holdingthecalm.com and heshaabramsmediation.com.

    About the Host:

    Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.

    • Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
      📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com
      🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma

    The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    49 分
  • Ep65 | The "Invisible Hand" Series - The Effect of Medical Malpractice on Health Care with Dr. Stephen Cohen | Part 2

    Ep65 | The "Invisible Hand" Series - The Effect of Medical Malpractice on Health Care with Dr. Stephen Cohen | Part 2
    2026/08/10
    💰 This episode is sponsored by Gelt: The tech enabled tax firm for independent physicians. Independent physicians face unique tax challenges that employed doctors don't. Multiple income streams, practice ownership, contract work, traditional CPAs aren't built for this complexity. Gelt is. Year-round strategy, optimization and compliance for physicians who chose independence over institution. Let Gelt handle your tax strategy, so you can focus more on your practice. Take control of your tax strategy: www.joingelt.com/collaboration/scalpel-and-sword -------------------------------- Medical malpractice doesn't simply influence what happens after a lawsuit. It quietly shapes countless clinical decisions long before patients ever enter a courtroom. In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Dr. Lee Sharma welcomes back Dr. Stephen Cohen to examine how physicians can practice confidently while navigating an increasingly complex legal environment. Building on Part 1, Dr. Cohen explains why accountability ultimately rests with the treating physician, even when clinical decisions rely on imaging, consultations, or specialist recommendations. He emphasizes the importance of verifying information, integrating clinical judgment with diagnostic findings, and teaching future physicians to think critically rather than relying solely on reports. The discussion expands into the changing landscape of medical education, including resident work-hour restrictions, reduced clinical exposure, and the growing importance of mentorship. Dr. Cohen shares why preparing safe, independent physicians requires more than technical excellence; it demands strong communication, careful documentation, thoughtful clinical reasoning, and the willingness to ask for help when needed. The conversation also explores one of medicine's greatest challenges: preserving trust between physicians and patients. Dr. Cohen explains why poor communication, not poor medicine, is often what drives litigation, and how empathy, transparency, and family engagement can dramatically strengthen the physician-patient relationship even when outcomes are unfavorable. This concluding episode offers an optimistic vision for the future—one where education, communication, accountability, and compassion become the strongest tools physicians possess. Episode Mentioned: Episode 51 - The Invisible Hands on the Scalpel Episode 64 - The "Invisible Hand" Series - The Effect of Medical Malpractice on Health Care with Dr. Stephen Cohen | Part 1 Three Actionable Takeaways Trust your team, but always verify critical information: Radiology reports, consultant recommendations, and diagnostic tests are valuable tools, but physicians remain responsible for the final clinical decision. Combining objective data with clinical judgment leads to safer patient care.Communication is one of medicine's strongest forms of risk prevention: Keeping patients and families informed, documenting clinical reasoning, and maintaining open dialogue during difficult situations builds trust that often outlasts unexpected outcomes.Great physicians never stop teaching, or learning: Mentorship, thoughtful education, and continuous reflection help create safer clinicians while strengthening the future of healthcare. Every interaction with students, residents, and colleagues is an opportunity to improve medicine. About the Show: Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose. About the Guest: Dr. Steven M. Cohen, MD, MBA, is Chief of General Surgery at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, and serves on the faculty of Virginia Commonwealth University. A nationally recognized colorectal surgeon, educator, and expert witness, Dr. Cohen has spent more than 30 years practicing surgery while also consulting on both plaintiff and defense medical malpractice cases. Through his educational work and public speaking, he advocates for better physician education, improved documentation, patient safety, and open conversations about the realities of medical litigation. LinkedIn: Dr. Steven M. Cohen, MD, MBA About the Host: Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools. Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma: 📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com 🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does ...
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    32 分
  • Ep64 | The "Invisible Hand" Series - The Effect of Medical Malpractice on Health Care with Dr. Stephen Cohen | Part 1

    Ep64 | The "Invisible Hand" Series - The Effect of Medical Malpractice on Health Care with Dr. Stephen Cohen | Part 1
    2026/08/03
    💰 This episode is sponsored by Gelt: The tech enabled tax firm for independent physicians. Independent physicians face unique tax challenges that employed doctors don't. Multiple income streams, practice ownership, contract work, traditional CPAs aren't built for this complexity. Gelt is. Year-round strategy, optimization and compliance for physicians who chose independence over institution. Let Gelt handle your tax strategy, so you can focus more on your practice. Take control of your tax strategy: www.joingelt.com/collaboration/scalpel-and-sword ------------------------------------------------------------------- Medical malpractice is often viewed as something that happens only inside a courtroom. But for physicians, its influence begins long before a lawsuit is ever filed. In Part 1 of this conversation, Dr. Lee Sharma welcomes back Dr. Stephen Cohen to explore how the fear and reality of litigation quietly shape the practice of medicine. Drawing from more than three decades of surgical experience, including serving as both plaintiff and defense expert witness and personally navigating multiple malpractice lawsuits. Dr. Cohen offers an honest look at the emotional, professional, and systemic consequences physicians rarely discuss. Together, they unpack how malpractice changes clinical decision-making, encourages defensive medicine, influences documentation, and affects physician confidence. Dr. Cohen explains why bad outcomes do not necessarily mean negligence, why hindsight bias distorts malpractice cases, and how litigation often leaves physicians carrying unnecessary shame despite practicing within the standard of care. The conversation also explores how the legal environment has improved certain aspects of healthcare. From stronger documentation practices and shared decision-making to informed consent and surgical safety checklists, Dr. Cohen explains how many of today's patient safety standards were accelerated by lessons learned through litigation. This episode is an insightful examination of one of medicine's most influential, but least understood, forces, offering practical wisdom for physicians at every stage of their careers. Episode Mentioned: Episode 51 - The Invisible Hands on the Scalpel Three Actionable Takeaways: Bad outcomes are not the same as malpractice: Complications and unexpected outcomes occur even when physicians meet the highest standard of care. Understanding this distinction helps reduce unnecessary shame while promoting objective clinical reflection and continuous improvement.Excellent documentation is one of a physician's greatest protections: Thoughtful documentation demonstrates clinical reasoning, informed consent, differential diagnosis, and shared decision-making. Good records protect both patients and physicians while improving continuity of care.Education creates safer physicians:Teaching residents and medical students how to think critically, communicate clearly, document thoroughly, and embrace surgical safety practices prepares them to become confident, independent clinicians capable of delivering better patient care. About the Show: Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose. About the Guest: Dr. Stephen M. Cohen, MD, MBA, is Chief of General Surgery at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, and serves on the faculty of Virginia Commonwealth University. A nationally recognized colorectal surgeon, educator, and expert witness, Dr. Cohen has spent more than 30 years practicing surgery while also consulting on both plaintiff and defense medical malpractice cases. Through his educational work and public speaking, he advocates for better physician education, improved documentation, patient safety, and open conversations about the realities of medical litigation. LinkedIn: Dr. Stephen M. Cohen, MD, MBA About the Host: Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools. Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma: 📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com 🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal ...
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    35 分
  • Ep63 | Beyond 'Suck It Up, Buttercup': Reclaiming the Soul of Medicine with Dr. Todd Otten

    Ep63 | Beyond 'Suck It Up, Buttercup': Reclaiming the Soul of Medicine with Dr. Todd Otten
    2026/07/27
    💰 This episode is sponsored by Gelt: The tech enabled tax firm for independent physicians. Independent physicians face unique tax challenges that employed doctors don't. Multiple income streams, practice ownership, contract work, traditional CPAs aren't built for this complexity. Gelt is. Year-round strategy, optimization and compliance for physicians who chose independence over institution. Let Gelt handle your tax strategy, so you can focus more on your practice. Take control of your tax strategy: www.joingelt.com/collaboration/scalpel-and-sword Physicians are burning out. Patients are frustrated. The system feels broken. But what if storytelling could bridge the divide? In this heartfelt episode of the Scalpel and Sword Podcast, Dr. Lee Sharma speaks with Dr. Todd Otten. Todd shares how personal experiences with burnout, colleague suicides, and daily frustrations in fee-for-service medicine led him to create a film that humanizes physicians while shining a light on systemic failures. They explore the importance of patient-physician connection, the courage required to be vulnerable, the ripple effect of small actions, and how creativity and advocacy can drive meaningful healthcare change. They talked about a teenage boy who spearheaded an effort to honor USS Indianapolis survivors. Hunter Scott, a 6th-grader, led a project to exonerate Captain Charles McVay III, who was court-martialed after the ship's tragic sinking in 1945. His efforts led to a Congressional resolution clearing McVay's name. Full details in the link below: https://www.google.com/search?q=teenage+boy+who+spearheaded+effort+to+Honor+uss+Indianapolis+survivors&oq=teenage+boy+who+spearheaded+effort+to+Honor+uss+Indianapolis+survivors+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCTMzNzkyajBqOagCDrACAfEFtnOMY8RxS0E&client=ms-android-verizon-us-rvc3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#lfId=ChxjMe Three Actionable Takeaways: Humanize the Experience: Share your real struggles as a clinician; not to complain, but to build connection. Patients want to see physicians as humans, not superheroes. That vulnerability strengthens relationships and encourages patients to become allies in reform.Use Creativity as a Tool for Change: Whether through film, writing, art, or other outlets, expressing your experiences creatively can process trauma, inspire others, and open doors for advocacy. Todd turned pain into a documentary that is already moving people to action.Focus on Time, Talent, and Treasure: Everyone can contribute to healthcare improvement. Donate time (volunteer), talent (create or advocate), or treasure (support organizations). Small, consistent actions from millions of people create a tsunami of change. About the Show: Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose. About the Guest: Dr. Todd Otten is a family physician who trained at Wayne State University and completed residency in St. John. A Navy veteran, he serves as the lead catalyst and chair of Medicine Forward. He is the executive producer of the documentary Suck It Up Buttercup: Trust and Betrayal, Healthcare in America, using film to humanize physicians and advocate for systemic change. He is also the author of Ripple of Change. 🌐 Learn more and watch the film: suckitupbuttercupfilm.com 🔗 Connect via LinkedIn: Dr. Todd R. Otten About the Host: Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools. Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma: 📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com 🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    43 分
  • Ep62 | True Crime Crossover: Rachel Nickell and Anchoring Bias with Heather Packer

    Ep62 | True Crime Crossover: Rachel Nickell and Anchoring Bias with Heather Packer
    2026/07/20

    💰 This episode is sponsored by Gelt: The tech enabled tax firm for independent physicians.

    Independent physicians face unique tax challenges that employed doctors don't. Multiple income streams, practice ownership, contract work, traditional CPAs aren't built for this complexity. Gelt is. Year-round strategy, optimization and compliance for physicians who chose independence over institution. Let Gelt handle your tax strategy, so you can focus more on your practice.

    Take control of your tax strategy: www.joingelt.com/collaboration/scalpel-and-sword

    Anchoring bias, latching onto the first story and ignoring everything that doesn’t fit, doesn’t just cause diagnostic errors. It can destroy lives.

    In this gripping bonus/true crime crossover episode of the Scalpel and Sword Podcast, Dr. Lee Sharma and Heather Packer revisit the tragic 1992 murder of Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common. What began as a high-pressure investigation quickly became a textbook case of anchoring: police fixated on Colin Stagg, used questionable tactics to “prove” his guilt, and ignored clear evidence pointing to the real killer, Robert Napper.

    They explore how the same cognitive trap operates in clinical reasoning, workplace conflict, and everyday assumptions — and how curiosity, humility, and the SPARK framework can help us break free.

    Three Actionable Takeaways:

    • Recognize When You’re Anchoring: The moment you think “This is obviously the diagnosis / this person is the problem,” pause. Ask: “What evidence supports this? What contradicts it? What else could explain this?”
    • Actively Seek Disconfirming Evidence: Force yourself (or your team) to look for information that challenges your initial theory. In medicine, always consider the “can’t-miss” diagnosis. In conflict or investigations, ask “What if we’re wrong?”
    • Cultivate Curiosity and Humility: Stay open to being surprised. The best diagnosticians, investigators, and conflict navigators hold their first story lightly and remain willing to revise it when new evidence emerges.

    About the Show:

    Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

    About the Guest:

    Heather Packer is a longtime nurse, graduate of Auburn University with a degree in criminal justice, and beloved team member at Gynecology and Wellness. She is Dr. Sharma’s favorite true crime discussion partner and brings both clinical insight and a passion for justice to these conversations.

    About the Host:

    Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.

    • Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
      📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com
      🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma

    The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    40 分