In this episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Michelle Pearlman, a board-certified gastroenterologist and certified menopause provider, to discuss the why and how behind her bold transition from academic medicine to launching a concierge practice with her twin sister. Dr. Pearlman opens up about the hard truths of GLP-1s, the failures of our current healthcare system, and how she’s helping patients transform their lives through deep education, individualized care, and technology innovation. Dr. Pearlman shares the inspiration behind her Miami-based concierge weight management practice, her growing frustration with “quick fixes” like GLP-1s without education, and how she and her sister are reshaping men’s and women’s health from the inside out.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this compelling episode of The Stellar Success Podcast, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Carl Knopke, a family medicine physician who now leads a successful practice in obesity medicine. With candor and insight, Dr. Knopke shares how he navigated early academic struggles, rejection from medical school, and a roundabout journey through IT before becoming a leader in his field. You’ll hear how his athletic background, personal discipline, and unconventional path shaped his philosophy as a doctor and his passion for empowering patients through evidence-based, psychologically-informed weight management. This episode also explores obesity as a form of addiction, the limitations of GLP-1 treatments like Ozempic, and the urgent need for grassroots change in how we approach food and public health. Whether you're a medical professional, a student, or someone interested in the psychology behind behavior change, this is a powerful listen.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this episode, Dr. Tudor Francu welcomes anesthesiologist, entrepreneur, and leader Dr. Brian Schmutzler to share his dynamic path from private practice to running a successful multi-contract anesthesia business. With over a decade of experience and a passion for clinical innovation, Dr. Schmutzler discusses the highs, the pitfalls, and the real-life business lessons of medical entrepreneurship. Listeners will learn: How Brian transitioned from academic medicine to launching his own company Why understanding the business side of anesthesia is key for long-term career growth Common mistakes medical entrepreneurs make (and how to avoid them) Strategies for financial freedom, including investment tips and long-term wealth planning The importance of early morning routines, family, and faith in sustaining a high-performance lifestyle Why relationships, reputation, and personal growth matter more than ever in modern medicine 👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

What do you get when you mix dentistry, motherhood, and a sharp eye for prevention? You get Dr. Ashley Lerman. In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Tudor Francu talks with Dr. Ashley Lerman, a board-certified pediatric dentist turned tech entrepreneur. After completing residency during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and seeing firsthand the gaps in pediatric oral health, Ashley launched FirstGrin, a preventive oral health tech company focused on new and expecting families. Ashley shares her journey from the dental chair to the startup world, her vision to prevent cavities before they even start, and how she bootstrapped a now-profitable company—all while raising two young kids. You’ll hear her take on integrating dental and medical care, working with insurance companies, and staying grounded in her mission despite early missteps. If you’re a medical or dental professional thinking about making a leap into entrepreneurship—or you're just curious how tech is changing oral health—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

From the academic grind to a life by the Caribbean Sea, Dr. Kristine Goins' journey is anything but traditional. In this episode, she opens up about how she left a high-stress medical job, embraced location independence, and built a career centered around telemedicine and joy. Dr. Goins candidly shares how severe burnout led her to reconsider everything—from her mental health to her professional choices. She walks us through her journey to Colombia, how she structured her finances for freedom, and how she now helps other doctors break out of traditional molds to live their dream lives. We discuss the power of telemedicine, the future of psychiatry, the courage it takes to walk away from the expected, and the importance of designing a life with intention. If you're a physician—or any professional—craving change, Dr. Goins offers a blueprint to make it happen.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this compelling episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Greg Gasbarro to unpack the personal and professional journey that led him to become a leading shoulder specialist in the Baltimore area. From his roots in Cleveland and collegiate soccer days to his pivot from biomedical engineering to medicine, Dr. Gasbarro shares how mentorship and perseverance shaped every step of his career. He opens up about the grind of residency, the importance of financial literacy for new doctors, and his approach to building a focused orthopedic practice despite being told it “wasn’t possible.” We also dive into his passion for education—both for patients and peers—through platforms like his YouTube channel and website, and how he’s using digital tools to grow a modern, patient-centered practice. If you’re a medical professional navigating your own path, this is an episode full of valuable insight, inspiration, and actionable takeaways.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this compelling episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Muhamad Aly Rifai, a board-certified psychiatrist, internist, and trailblazer in telehealth medicine, to unpack his gripping journey from national acclaim to a criminal trial — and ultimately, full exoneration. Dr. Rifai shares how he went from building a thriving multi-location psychiatry practice to facing four federal charges for healthcare fraud, simply for doing innovative telepsychiatry before it was mainstream. With heartfelt honesty and resilience, he talks about immigrating from Syria, founding his clinic, launching one of the country’s first emergency telehealth programs, and fighting to prove his integrity in court — and winning. Listeners will hear how faith, preparation, and persistence shaped his survival and comeback, and how he’s now helping others through his book Doctor Not Guilty and legal support platform, SHIELD.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this deeply human episode of The Stellar Success Podcast with Dr. Tudor Francu, we sit down with Dr. Maggie Kang to hear her powerful story of motherhood, loss of control, emotional resilience, and growth. Dr. Kang walks us through her journey from practicing radiology to becoming a full-time caregiver and rare disease advocate after her daughter was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Through her TEDx talk and advocacy work, she now empowers others to respond—rather than react—to life’s most difficult events. She introduces her simple but powerful mindset tool: PZQ – Pause, Zoom, Question, helping others build resilience through awareness and perspective. Dr. Kang also shares how coaching helped her emerge from depression and guilt, and how she supports others facing medical crises, from navigating insurance denials to regaining emotional stability. Whether you're a medical professional, a parent, or someone in the middle of a difficult life transition—this episode is for you.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Tudor Francu speaks with public health leader and advocate Paulina Sosa about the real-world public health challenges facing Latino communities—especially those in South Texas. From navigating federal changes to filling critical service gaps, Paulina brings honest, urgent, and inspiring insights to the mic. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why health equity is more than a buzzword in Latino communities How social and cultural context deeply impacts public health outcomes What Paulina discovered during a 26-city national Latino health equity tour The importance of culturally relevant communication and trusted messengers Why equitable funding is essential—and often missing How Latinx Voces is building bridges between public health data and community impact Paulina’s inspiring journey from law student to global health leader 👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

What happens when a lifelong dream of becoming a doctor leads to burnout—and then reinvention? In this inspiring episode, Dr. Lindiwe Greenwood shares her powerful story of transformation, resilience, and purpose beyond the exam room. From dreaming of becoming a physician at just 8 years old to running her own successful family medicine practice, Dr. Greenwood's path has been anything but typical. She opens up about her journey through traditional medicine, her experience with burnout, and how that led her to launch Total Renaissance Wellness—a consulting firm that offers mind-body medicine, trauma-informed self-care, medical advocacy, allergy awareness, and inspirational speaking. You’ll also hear her thoughts on the dangers of replacing human connection with AI in medicine, and how the future of family medicine may lie in more personal, connected care models.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this compelling episode, Dr. Tudor Francu welcomes the dynamic Dr. Emily Letran—a dentist, coach, author, and former refugee—who shares her extraordinary journey from escaping Vietnam as a teenager to building a successful career and empowering others in the medical and business world. Dr. Letran opens up about the power of courage, the importance of personal growth, and why coaching should be a necessity, not a luxury, for healthcare professionals. From overcoming burnout to managing businesses, raising a family, and inspiring transformation, Dr. Letran offers deep wisdom on living a fulfilled, purpose-driven life. She also shares insights from working alongside legends like Sharon Lechter and Dan Kennedy, and challenges listeners to reflect on their own lives: Are you operating at your highest potential—or just staying comfortable?   👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

What happens when someone you love needs support beyond daily caregiving? This week on The Stellar Success Podcast with Dr. Tudor Francu, we dive into the world of life care management with Rebecca Brunner, a former ER nurse turned business owner and care manager at Complete Care Strategies. Rebecca shares how her journey from emergency medicine to care management was inspired by witnessing vulnerable patients lacking advocacy and support. She now leads a team providing deeply personalized, concierge-style support to aging adults and individuals with special needs—ensuring they’re cared for holistically, not just medically. In this insightful conversation, Rebecca breaks down what aging life care is, how her team advocates for clients, and why it’s about much more than just health—it’s about living with dignity, joy, and quality of life.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

From his roots in New York to his leadership role at Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Dr. Neal Lonky has worn many hats—physician, educator, entrepreneur, and inventor. In this conversation, he shares his remarkable journey through medicine, including his pivot from frontline care to medical device innovation, public health policy, and wound care diagnostics. Listeners will discover how his values—persistent patience, transparency, and value-based care—have fueled a mission-driven career that goes far beyond profit. Dr. Lonky dives deep into what it takes to bring a medical product to market, how he navigated failures, and why compassion must be at the center of innovation.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

What happens when chiropractic care meets the root-cause focus of functional medicine? In this episode, Dr. Tudor sits down with Dr. Tim Harrigan, the founder of Synergy Wellness, to explore how combining structural neurology and natural healing is helping patients avoid unnecessary medications, surgeries, and side effects. Dr. Tim shares his personal journey from pre-med and optometry to chiropractic and functional medicine. He opens up about the pivotal moment that changed his career path and the philosophy behind his successful practice. With over 10,000 patients helped, he brings a wealth of knowledge on preventative care, movement, and nutrition. Listeners will walk away with a better understanding of: Why movement is critical for brain health How functional medicine looks beyond symptoms to find true healing The three things Dr. Tim measures in every patient: deficiencies, toxicities, and imbalances Why conventional medicine may be missing the mark on chronic care How to build habits that support healthspan, not just lifespan This episode is packed with practical insights, inspiring stories, and simple habits that can change your life—and your patients'—starting today.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this powerful episode, Dr. Letizia Alto joins Dr. Tudor Francu to share how she stepped off the treadmill of trading time for money and embraced a life of financial freedom, impact, and fulfillment. From hospitalist to real estate entrepreneur and mentor, Dr. Alto opens up about her personal journey—including the pivotal moment that changed everything. 🧠 What You’ll Learn: The conversation with her husband that shifted her mindset forever Why real estate—not stocks—was the path to freedom How she built a portfolio that replaced her clinical income What Semi-Retired MD is and why it’s transforming physician lives The role of mindset, failure, and learning in achieving fulfillment Actionable advice for physicians ready to take control of their time     👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

Angela Tomei Robinson joins Dr. Tudor Francu for an eye-opening conversation about the vital but often overlooked role of medical laboratory professionals in healthcare. From her early aspirations in pathology to her rise as an associate administrator overseeing clinical and anatomic labs, Angela shares her inspiring journey of leadership, advocacy, and mentorship. She candidly discusses the challenges in the field—from workforce shortages and lack of visibility to licensure inconsistencies across states—and how she's helping reshape the future through education, professional societies, and policy work. Angela also shares practical leadership insights, her thoughts on AI in lab sciences, and powerful lessons learned from her career.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In a compelling conversation with host Dr. Tudor Francu, Dr. Lavine dives into his unconventional career shift—from practicing periodontics to launching a full-scale IT and cybersecurity firm for healthcare professionals. Drawing on his background in tech and dentistry, he created a niche business that's been thriving for over two decades. You'll hear Dr. Lavine's thoughts on: His early struggles and what pushed him out of clinical dentistry The major risks dental and medical practices face with ransomware and HIPAA breaches What every practice should do today to protect their patient data The evolving role of AI in healthcare—for better or worse Why cloud-based systems aren't a silver bullet (and what to do instead) Dr. Lavine also shares some real horror stories from the field—including a devastating client loss due to improper backup systems—and what he learned from it.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Cheryl Bryant Bruce—also known as “The Celebrity Doc”—to explore what it truly means to walk in faith, find purpose, and live a life of balance without being in balance. Dr. Cheryl shares her deeply personal journey of resilience and transformation, from raising a medically fragile child to pioneering integrative and concierge medicine. Through her “Windmill Healthy Lifestyle Platform,” she teaches that true wellness stems from nurturing not only the body, but also the mind and spirit. Listeners will hear Dr. Cheryl’s unique perspective on the two great purposes in life—to learn and to teach—and how every fall can become a powerful lesson in personal and professional growth. She also discusses the critical importance of touch, intuition, and compassion in modern medicine, and the urgent need to reconnect with the human side of healing.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a story, insight, or strategy to share about career, personal, or financial success? We’d love to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #motivation #success #health #business #leadership #education #career #podcast #inspiration #wellness

Dr. Kelly Victory opens up about her journey from emergency medicine to public health and mass casualty management. She explains how resource allocation, teamwork, and hands-on training can make the difference between life and death in disaster situations. Dr. Victory walks listeners through active shooter preparedness, the importance of triage, and why real-world drills are essential. She also reflects on the lessons learned from tragedies like Columbine and Hurricane Katrina — and how hospitals and communities can better prepare for the next crisis. The discussion turns personal as Dr. Victory shares how she manages the emotional weight of her work, the value of after-action reviews, and why she believes disaster training should start as early as grade school. Her message is clear: preparedness isn’t panic — it’s empowerment.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a story, insight, or strategy to share about career, personal, or financial success? We’d love to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #motivation #success #health #business #leadership #education #career #podcast #inspiration #wellness

In this episode, Dr. Marc Kowalski shares his journey from growing up in sunny Florida to becoming one of the leading orthopedic and sports medicine surgeons in Connecticut. As a former athlete himself, Dr. Kowalski gives us a behind-the-scenes look at caring for athletes—from treating ACL tears to supporting their mental health during recovery. He and Dr. Francu explore what it means to balance medicine, family, and self-care in a demanding surgical career. Dr. Kowalski talks about the lessons he’s learned from failure, including how being cut from his college football team led to a lifelong passion for rugby and a fulfilling medical career caring for players across all levels—even Team USA. Listeners will hear powerful insights on resilience, balance, and success, as well as practical advice for young people considering a career in medicine. Dr. Kowalski also discusses financial discipline, professional burnout, and the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in medicine.   👉 Are you a medical professional with a story, insight, or strategy to share about career, personal, or financial success? We’d love to hear from you! Apply to be a guest on our podcast here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #motivation #success #health #business #leadership #education #career #podcast #inspiration #wellness