In this episode, Dr. Tom Staiger, who served as Medical Director of UW Medical Center for nearly 14 years, talks candidly about succession planning and what it really means to lead with the future in mind. Dr. Staiger shares how he approached team-building, why he made a point of never becoming indispensable, and how he navigated the personal side of stepping away - including the loss and the surprising ways the role stayed with him. He also offers practical advice for faculty at any career stage on how to start preparing for leadership, and for current leaders on how to set their teams up for a smooth transition down the line.

Read the episode transcript here.

Music by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/)

Dr. Justin Bullock (Assistant Professor, Nephrology and Associate Director for Educational Scholarship, CLIME) explores what separates good teaching from true educational scholarship. Dr. Bullock shares how he moved from simply enjoying teaching to studying how people learn, introduces the "problem, gap, hook" framework for framing research questions, and describes the "pre-brief" - a simple, two-minute conversation that can help learners feel safer and more supported in clinical settings. He also covers practical advice for faculty just starting out in education research, including how to identify a "small win" project and build a portfolio over time. The episode wraps with a rapid-fire round of "accept, revise, or reject" on common assumptions in medical education.

Learn more about CLIME here.

Read the episode transcript here.

Music by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/)

In this milestone 72nd episode of Thrivecast, Dr. Trish Kritek (Executive Vice Dean for Medical Education and Faculty Affairs; Professor, Medicine) hosts her final episode as she prepares to enter a new chapter in her career. Joined by incoming Interim Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs Dr. Giana Davidson, Trish steps into the guest seat to reflect on her journey creating the Office of Faculty Affairs and establishing lasting initiatives for faculty development. Together, they dive into what it truly takes to transform a vision into a sustainable program, touching on adaptive leadership, listening as a strategic starting point, navigating project roadblocks, and knowing when it's time to pass the baton. Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with practical advice on career transitions, building effective teams, and cultivating long-term impact.

Read the episode transcript here.

Music by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/)

Dr. Tim Dellit (Dean, UW School of Medicine; CEO, UW Medicine) provides his advice on effective leadership during periods of uncertainty. Drawing on experiences from navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and changing federal policies, Dr. Dellit emphasizes the importance of anchoring decisions in organizational values, leveraging crises to break down silos, and maintaining transparent, system-wide communication. He highlights listening over talking, protecting your team, and finding opportunities for accelerated growth amidst disruptions. Finally, Dr. Dellit shares insights on personal resilience, reminding leaders to stay grounded by focusing on the mission and the community at hand rather than individual ambitions.

You may read the episode transcript here.

Music by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/)

Dr. Somnath Mookherjee (Director, CLIME; Medicine) walks through the 2025 UW School of Medicine Teaching Portfolio Guidelines for faculty. Designed to showcase educational accomplishments in a scholarly, impactful way, these guidelines replace the former Executive Summary of Teaching. By condensing the format into a maximum of six pages (a title page and up to five 1-page Focused Contribution Summaries), the new guidelines simplify the process for both faculty and review committees. Dr. Mookherjee outlines the six distinct areas of contribution and explains how to use structured Focused Contribution Summaries to tell your unique story as an educator. No matter your specialty, these updated guidelines will help you effectively highlight your teaching accomplishments for your next promotion.

Learn more about the guidelines here.

You may view the episode transcript here.

Music by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/)

Dr. Janna Friedly (Chair, Rehabilitation Medicine) discusses her experience navigating leadership roles as an introvert. She shares research highlighting the unique strengths of introverted leaders, particularly when managing extroverted team members. Dr. Friedly encourages listeners to pursue leadership roles that align with their interests, even before they feel "ready," and emphasizes the importance of scheduled recharging after demanding interactions. Finally, she explains how building a foundation of trust through one-on-one interactions can significantly strengthen an introvert’s leadership presence.

You may read the full transcript here.

Music by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/)

Dr. Jake Doll (Medicine, Cardiology; UW Medicine Medical Director of Learning) discusses the role of AI in clinical work. In addition to note writing, AI can also be used to synthesize large amounts of clinical data. Dr. Doll emphasizes the importance of using secure AI tools, and describes how to trust but verify the results provided by the tool. He walks through both the benefits and concerns of AI's role as a trusted colleague in diagnostic strategy, and explains how to identify and mitigate AI hallucinations. Whether your use for AI includes knowledge synthesis or differential diagnosis, this episode will equip you with appropriate understanding of the various uses and risks of these tools to improve your clinical work experience.

You can read the full transcript here.

Music by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/)

Diana Chiang Cooke (Associate University Ombud, UW School of Medicine) introduces herself and provides an overview of what the Office of the Ombud offers to faculty, staff, trainees, and students. They are thought-partners for anyone who feels unsure of next steps related to conflict with a colleague, work performance, team dynamics, and more. The Office of the Ombud helps with brainstorming ideas, setting goals, providing feedback, and planning action items. They also provide resources, trainings, and mediated conversations for both individuals and groups, and Diana walks through what those processes entail. For folks seeking a confidential, supportive space for any challenge or resilience skill-building at UW, consider setting up a consultation with the Office of the Ombud.

Schedule an appointment with the Office of the Ombud here.

Read the episode transcript here.

Music by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/)