<![CDATA[Evolving in Healthcare]]>Most health professionals are good at their job. Fewer feel like their job is actually good for them.

Evolving in Healthcare is for the ones sitting with that gap. Each episode, Dr Ruth Vo talks with a health professional who has navigated a real career crossroads. The pivots, the slow burns, the moments something shifted, and what it actually took to move.

No shortcuts. No tidy success stories. Just honest accounts of how real people figured out what a career worth having actually looks like for them.

Hosted by Dr Ruth Vo, dietitian and professional identity coach with 20 years in healthcare.

]]>https://careercliniq.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Fri, 10 Apr 2026 03:07:25 GMTMon, 09 Mar 2026 01:56:12 GMT60Career Cliniq<p>Most health professionals are good at their job. Fewer feel like their job is actually good for them.</p><p></p><p>Evolving in Healthcare is for the ones sitting with that gap. Each episode, Dr Ruth Vo talks with a health professional who has navigated a real career crossroads. The pivots, the slow burns, the moments something shifted, and what it actually took to move.</p><p></p><p>No shortcuts. No tidy success stories. Just honest accounts of how real people figured out what a career worth having actually looks like for them.</p><p></p><p>Hosted by Dr Ruth Vo, dietitian and professional identity coach with 20 years in healthcare.</p>episodicCareer Cliniqsupport@careercliniq.comno<![CDATA[New Grad Exercise Practitioner to Scaling E-Commerce Entrepreneur with Melissa Gunstone]]>The boxes we're handed in healthcare are well-meaning. Your title, your scope, your place in the hierarchy - they exist for good reasons. But they can also become the edges of what you think is possible.

Melissa Gunstone is a Canadian Registered Kinesiologist who graduated, hit the wall most new grads hit, and built her way out of it - not by leaving healthcare, but by refusing to stay inside the box it handed her. What followed is a ground-level account of private practice niching, a team to lead, and a product invented because it didn't exist.

If you're a health professional navigating the gap between your training and what's actually possible - this conversation covers territory your degree never did.

We Explore

  • The gap between your credential and what the world does with it
  • Why your professional title can work against you
  • What more schooling won't give you
  • Operating on the periphery of the healthcare system
  • Finding your real market by listening, not assuming
  • The cost of building a team when you're the only one who cares as much as you do
  • Whether your business success can open doors for others in your profession
  • How entrepreneurship can arrive before you're ready for the word

About Melissa Gunstone

Melissa Gunstone is a registered kinesiologist based in Ontario, Canada. She is the founder of Home Stretch (in-home kinesiology for seniors) and creator of Sturdey Fall Prevention Tools. She also employs and mentors kinesiologists through her business - making career development as much a part of her mission as client care.

Connect with Melissa

Home Stretch - In-Home Kinesiology for Seniors: https://www.homestretch4seniors.ca

Sturdey Fall Prevention Tools: https://sturdey.com/collections/tools-to-stay-sturdy YouTube - The Fall Prevention Coach: https://youtube.com/@melissathefallpreventioncoach Melissa's marketing guy, Miles at Wondering Concierge: https://wonderingconcierge.com/

Career Cliniq Resources

Wondering which direction your healthcare career could take? The StreamAhead Assessment helps you identify which work streams align with your strengths right now.

šŸ‘‰ https://careercliniq.com/streamahead


]]>a73d319e-b7f5-4646-bb50-43db5db85f7cFri, 27 Mar 2026 00:45:17 GMT<p>The boxes we're handed in healthcare are well-meaning. Your title, your scope, your place in the hierarchy - they exist for good reasons. But they can also become the edges of what you think is possible.</p><p></p><p>Melissa Gunstone is a Canadian Registered Kinesiologist who graduated, hit the wall most new grads hit, and built her way out of it - not by leaving healthcare, but by refusing to stay inside the box it handed her. What followed is a ground-level account of private practice niching, a team to lead, and a product invented because it didn't exist.</p><p>If you're a health professional navigating the gap between your training and what's actually possible - this conversation covers territory your degree never did.</p><p></p><p><b>We Explore</b></p><ul><li>The gap between your credential and what the world does with it</li><li>Why your professional title can work against you</li><li>What more schooling won't give you</li><li>Operating on the periphery of the healthcare system</li><li>Finding your real market by listening, not assuming</li><li>The cost of building a team when you're the only one who cares as much as you do</li><li>Whether your business success can open doors for others in your profession</li><li>How entrepreneurship can arrive before you're ready for the word</li></ul><p></p><p><b>About Melissa Gunstone</b></p><p>Melissa Gunstone is a registered kinesiologist based in Ontario, Canada. She is the founder of Home Stretch (in-home kinesiology for seniors) and creator of Sturdey Fall Prevention Tools. She also employs and mentors kinesiologists through her business - making career development as much a part of her mission as client care.</p><p></p><p><b>Connect with Melissa</b></p><p>Home Stretch - In-Home Kinesiology for Seniors: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.homestretch4seniors.ca" target="_blank">https://www.homestretch4seniors.ca</a></p><p>Sturdey Fall Prevention Tools: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://sturdey.com/collections/tools-to-stay-sturdy" target="_blank">https://sturdey.com/collections/tools-to-stay-sturdy</a> YouTube - The Fall Prevention Coach: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtube.com/@melissathefallpreventioncoach" target="_blank">https://youtube.com/@melissathefallpreventioncoach</a> Melissa's marketing guy, Miles at Wondering Concierge: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://wonderingconcierge.com/" target="_blank">https://wonderingconcierge.com/</a></p><p></p><p><b>Career Cliniq Resources</b></p><p>Wondering which direction your healthcare career could take? The <b>StreamAhead Assessment</b> helps you identify which work streams align with your strengths right now.</p><p>šŸ‘‰ <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://careercliniq.com/streamahead" target="_blank">https://careercliniq.com/streamahead</a></p><p><br /></p>no01:02:37117New Grad Exercise Practitioner to Scaling E-Commerce Entrepreneur with Melissa Gunstonefull<![CDATA[ From Finance to Therapy Leadership with Olumide Ajulo]]>Episode Summary

How do you know when it's time to make a career move in healthcare? Olumide Ajulo has navigated this question multiple times. A qualified psychotherapist and clinical psychology master's graduate, Olumide transitioned from finance management to become a team manager in university counselling services. His story demonstrates how to thoughtfully evaluate career decisions while building skills that create new opportunities.

In our conversation, Olumide shares his approach to career transitions, why he believes healthcare needs more self-aware professionals, and the therapeutic concept that's transformed how he approaches both client relationships and management decisions. Whether you're considering a move from clinical practice to management, exploring combined roles, or wondering how to leverage skills from other sectors, this episode offers practical insights from someone who's successfully navigated career evolution in healthcare.

Questions We Explore

  • How do you know when you're frustrated with your healthcare role versus ready to leave?
  • What am I running towards in my healthcare career, not just what am I running from?
  • Healthcare career decisions aren't just stay or go - what's the full spectrum?
  • What are non-negotiables and how do they reduce career decision fatigue?
  • When patients aren't responding to treatment, is it really their fault?
  • How do you manage healthcare teams when staff want to leave anyway?
  • How do you transfer skills between sectors like finance and healthcare?
  • When facing career rejection, where should healthcare professionals focus energy?

Chapters

04:04 The strategic transition from finance sector to therapeutic practice

06:31 Why working with acute mental health appeals despite the challenges

09:02 Relational therapy approaches that build meaningful therapeutic connections

11:31 Navigating career pathways in psychology, therapy, and specialisation decisions

13:58 Overcoming client disengagement with specific therapeutic strategies

16:20 Professional self-reflection as essential for healthcare career growth

18:48 Why emotional intelligence and self-awareness drive professional success

21:11 Reframing therapeutic responsibility and client engagement in treatment outcomes

23:40 Addressing therapeutic relationship breakdowns with practical tools

25:53 Olumide's transition from clinical practice to healthcare team leadership

27:39 Building effective multidisciplinary healthcare teams for better patient outcomes

29:58 Balancing clinical work with people management responsibilities

33:35 Identifying what energises you for sustainable healthcare career development

39:57 A practical framework for career decisions using non-negotiables and strategic planning

About Olumide Ajulo

Olumide Ajulo is a counselling psychologist and team manager at a UK university counselling service. After over a decade in finance management, he made the strategic transition to psychology, bringing valuable systems thinking and people management skills to therapeutic practice. He now combines direct client work with team leadership, supervision, and service development in a multidisciplinary mental health setting.

Resources mentioned:

    • Connect with Olumide Ajulo

    Career Cliniq Resources

    Feeling that pull to explore what else might be possible? The StreamAhead Assessment helps you discover which work streams align with your interests right now. Sometimes clarity starts with simply knowing what's out there.

    Join the Conversation

    Reflection: What recurring patterns in your current role might be pointing toward your next professional chapter?

    Connect: LinkedIn @Dr Ruth Vo, PhD | Instagram @drruthvo | careerecliniq.com


    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/From-Finance-to-Therapy-Leadership-with-Olumide-Ajulo-e3712qk52197fd5-ca2a-4569-94c3-b548df25bb9fTue, 19 Aug 2025 00:13:01 GMT<p><strong>Episode Summary</strong></p><p>How do you know when it's time to make a career move in healthcare? <strong>Olumide Ajulo</strong> has navigated this question multiple times. A qualified psychotherapist and clinical psychology master's graduate, Olumide transitioned from finance management to become a team manager in university counselling services. His story demonstrates how to <strong>thoughtfully evaluate career decisions</strong> while building skills that create new opportunities.</p><p>In our conversation, Olumide shares his approach to career transitions, why he believes healthcare needs more <strong>self-aware professionals</strong>, and the therapeutic concept that's transformed how he approaches both client relationships and management decisions. Whether you're considering a move from clinical practice to management, exploring combined roles, or wondering how to leverage skills from other sectors, this episode offers practical insights from someone who's successfully navigated <strong>career evolution</strong> in healthcare.</p><p><strong>Questions We Explore</strong></p><ul><li>How do you know when you're frustrated with your healthcare role versus ready to leave?</li><li>What am I running towards in my healthcare career, not just what am I running from?</li><li>Healthcare career decisions aren't just stay or go - what's the full spectrum?</li><li>What are non-negotiables and how do they reduce career decision fatigue?</li><li>When patients aren't responding to treatment, is it really their fault?</li><li>How do you manage healthcare teams when staff want to leave anyway?</li><li>How do you transfer skills between sectors like finance and healthcare?</li><li>When facing career rejection, where should healthcare professionals focus energy?</li></ul><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p><strong>04:04</strong> The strategic transition from finance sector to therapeutic practice</p><p><strong>06:31</strong> Why working with acute mental health appeals despite the challenges</p><p><strong>09:02</strong> Relational therapy approaches that build meaningful therapeutic connections</p><p><strong>11:31</strong> Navigating career pathways in psychology, therapy, and specialisation decisions</p><p><strong>13:58</strong> Overcoming client disengagement with specific therapeutic strategies</p><p><strong>16:20</strong> Professional self-reflection as essential for healthcare career growth</p><p><strong>18:48</strong> Why emotional intelligence and self-awareness drive professional success</p><p><strong>21:11</strong> Reframing therapeutic responsibility and client engagement in treatment outcomes</p><p><strong>23:40</strong> Addressing therapeutic relationship breakdowns with practical tools</p><p><strong>25:53</strong> Olumide's transition from clinical practice to healthcare team leadership</p><p><strong>27:39</strong> Building effective multidisciplinary healthcare teams for better patient outcomes</p><p><strong>29:58</strong> Balancing clinical work with people management responsibilities</p><p><strong>33:35</strong> Identifying what energises you for sustainable healthcare career development</p><p><strong>39:57</strong> A practical framework for career decisions using non-negotiables and strategic planning</p><p><strong>About Olumide Ajulo</strong></p><p>Olumide Ajulo is a counselling psychologist and team manager at a UK university counselling service. After over a decade in finance management, he made the strategic transition to psychology, bringing valuable systems thinking and people management skills to therapeutic practice. He now combines direct client work with team leadership, supervision, and service development in a multidisciplinary mental health setting.</p><p><strong>Resources mentioned:</strong></p><li><ul><li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/129909.The_Boy_Who_Was_Raised_as_a_Dog" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">"The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog"</a> by Dr. Bruce Perry</li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://survivorswestyorkshire.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Survivors West Yorkshire</a></li></ul></li><p><strong>Connect with Olumide Ajulo</strong></p><ul><li><strong>LinkedIn </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/olumide-ajulo-msc-mbacp-accred-msfdbt-61a40895/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>HERE</strong></a></li></ul><p><strong>Career Cliniq Resources</strong></p><p><strong>Feeling that pull to explore what else might be possible?</strong> The <a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/streamahead-assessment" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">StreamAhead Assessment</a> helps you discover which work streams align with your interests right now. Sometimes clarity starts with simply knowing what's out there.</p><p><strong>Join the Conversation</strong></p><p><strong>Reflection:</strong> What recurring patterns in your current role might be pointing toward your next professional chapter?</p><p><strong>Connect:</strong> LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@Dr Ruth Vo, PhD</a> | Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@drruthvo</a> | <a href="https://careercliniq.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">careerecliniq.com</a></p><p><br /></p> no00:46:0918 From Finance to Therapy Leadership with Olumide Ajulofull    <![CDATA[From Physical Therapy to Quality Manager with Katie Blackburn]]>What happens when you love your clinical work but find yourself constantly thinking "there has to be a better way"? Katie Blackburn, a physical therapist specialising in spinal cord injury rehabilitation, never imagined she'd step away from direct patient care. Yet that's exactly what she did when she transitioned to quality managementā€”a career evolution she once swore she'd never make.

    Katie's story reveals the practical realities of healthcare career transition within complex medical systems. She talks candidly about feeling stuck with a caseload of just four patients when she yearned for broader impact, and the relentless pace that left little time for basic human needs. More importantly, she shares how she prepared for a completely different role whilst managing full-time clinical demands and motherhoodā€”including the emotional work of mourning the loss of her clinical identity.

    This conversation offers concrete strategies for health professionals considering similar transitions: how to find mentors outside formal structures, translate clinical experience into management language, and navigate the discomfort of not knowing exactly where your career is headed. If you've ever wondered whether there's more you could be doing beyond your current clinical role, Katie's journey provides both permission to explore and practical steps to take along the way.

    We Explore

    • How you can love what you're leaving and still need change
    • Type A personality challenges and strengths in healthcare career transitions
    • The crucial role of supportive managers and mentors in realising possibility
    • Practical strategies for preparing for opportunities
    • Mourning professional identity shifts and navigating imposter syndrome
    • Learning to embrace uncertainty as a pathway to career growth

    Timestamps

    01:50 Why Katie never imagined leaving clinical practice

    03:13 The frustration of impacting only four patients at a time

    06:17 The relentless pace of clinical practice and emotional toll

    09:51 How extra projects revealed a passion for systemic change

    13:00 The importance of supportive managers in career evolution

    16:49 Finding mentors outside formal structures

    21:51 Moving beyond structured clinical mentorship models

    25:39 The courage to ask for guidance and cold-email mentors

    28:11 Why the clinical "playbook" ends early in our careers

    31:49 Redefining career goals as exploration rather than promotion

    39:01 The Master Adaptive Learner framework and curiosity as a skill

    43:29 Practical steps to transition from clinical practice to quality management

    50:56 The harsh reality of juggling preparation with clinical demands

    56:18 Mourning the loss of clinical identity and ongoing imposter syndrome

    About Katie Blackburn

    Katie Blackburn is a quality manager and physical therapist with specialised expertise in spinal cord injury rehabilitation within inpatient settings. Her transition from full-time clinical practice to healthcare quality management provides a unique perspective on systemic change within healthcare facilities. Katie's background includes residency training and experience in mentoring programmes, giving her particular insight into structured and informal approaches to professional development for health professionals.

    Connect with Katie Blackburn on LinkedIn

    Career Cliniq Resources

    Ready to explore what else might be possible in your healthcare career? The StreamAhead Assessment helps you discover which work streams align with your interests and values right now. Sometimes clarity starts with simply knowing what's out there.

    Take the StreamAhead Assessment

    Join the Conversation

    What's holding you back from exploring career possibilities beyond your current clinical role? Share your thoughts and connect with fellow health professionals navigating similar journeys.

    Connect with Ruth:

    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/From-Physical-Therapy-to-Quality-Manager-with-Katie-Blackburn-e389fut8775e49e-7a31-4699-99df-100d26882debTue, 16 Sep 2025 04:07:09 GMT<p>What happens when you love your clinical work but find yourself constantly thinking "there has to be a better way"? Katie Blackburn, a physical therapist specialising in spinal cord injury rehabilitation, never imagined she'd step away from direct patient care. Yet that's exactly what she did when she transitioned to quality managementā€”a career evolution she once swore she'd never make.</p><p>Katie's story reveals the practical realities of healthcare career transition within complex medical systems. She talks candidly about feeling stuck with a caseload of just four patients when she yearned for broader impact, and the relentless pace that left little time for basic human needs. More importantly, she shares how she prepared for a completely different role whilst managing full-time clinical demands and motherhoodā€”including the emotional work of mourning the loss of her clinical identity.</p><p>This conversation offers concrete strategies for health professionals considering similar transitions: how to find mentors outside formal structures, translate clinical experience into management language, and navigate the discomfort of not knowing exactly where your career is headed. If you've ever wondered whether there's more you could be doing beyond your current clinical role, Katie's journey provides both permission to explore and practical steps to take along the way.</p><p><strong>We Explore</strong></p><ul><li>How you can love what you're leaving and still need change</li><li>Type A personality challenges and strengths in healthcare career transitions</li><li>The crucial role of supportive managers and mentors in realising possibility</li><li>Practical strategies for preparing for opportunities</li><li>Mourning professional identity shifts and navigating imposter syndrome</li><li>Learning to embrace uncertainty as a pathway to career growth</li></ul><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p>01:50 Why Katie never imagined leaving clinical practice</p><p>03:13 The frustration of impacting only four patients at a time</p><p>06:17 The relentless pace of clinical practice and emotional toll</p><p>09:51 How extra projects revealed a passion for systemic change</p><p>13:00 The importance of supportive managers in career evolution</p><p>16:49 Finding mentors outside formal structures</p><p>21:51 Moving beyond structured clinical mentorship models</p><p>25:39 The courage to ask for guidance and cold-email mentors</p><p>28:11 Why the clinical "playbook" ends early in our careers</p><p>31:49 Redefining career goals as exploration rather than promotion</p><p>39:01 The Master Adaptive Learner framework and curiosity as a skill</p><p>43:29 Practical steps to transition from clinical practice to quality management</p><p>50:56 The harsh reality of juggling preparation with clinical demands</p><p>56:18 Mourning the loss of clinical identity and ongoing imposter syndrome</p><p><strong>About Katie Blackburn</strong></p><p>Katie Blackburn is a quality manager and physical therapist with specialised expertise in spinal cord injury rehabilitation within inpatient settings. Her transition from full-time clinical practice to healthcare quality management provides a unique perspective on systemic change within healthcare facilities. Katie's background includes residency training and experience in mentoring programmes, giving her particular insight into structured and informal approaches to professional development for health professionals.</p><p>Connect with <strong>Katie Blackburn </strong>on<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-blackburn-pt-dpt-ncs-mshqs-567a8495/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>LinkedIn</strong></a></p><p><strong>Career Cliniq Resources</strong></p><p>Ready to explore what else might be possible in your healthcare career? The <strong>StreamAhead Assessment</strong> helps you discover which work streams align with your interests and values right now. Sometimes clarity starts with simply knowing what's out there.</p><p><a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/streamahead-assessment" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Take the StreamAhead Assessment</a></p><p><strong>Join the Conversation</strong></p><p><strong>What's holding you back from exploring career possibilities beyond your current clinical role?</strong> Share your thoughts and connect with fellow health professionals navigating similar journeys.</p><p><strong>Connect with Ruth:</strong></p><ul><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Dr Ruth Vo</a></li><li>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@drruthvo</a></li></ul><p></p> no01:02:4319From Physical Therapy to Quality Manager with Katie Blackburnfull    <![CDATA[Breaking Free from Hospital Hierarchy - How One Dietitian Built a Thriving Home Care Business with Lina Briek]]>Episode Summary

    How do you know when it's time to leave a career you've invested years building? In this episode, dietitian and entrepreneur Lina Briek shares her unexpected journey from missing out on multiple hospital promotions to building a thriving home tube feeding business during COVID. Lina reveals why her "American confidence" in Australian healthcare settings became her superpower, how a random intensive care project opened doors she never knew existed, and what it really takes to transition from employee security to entrepreneurial freedom. This conversation unpacks the hidden costs of staying comfortable, the surprising advantages of rural healthcare positions, and why sometimes the system's limitations become your biggest opportunity for impact.

    Questions We Explore

    • Are you dimming your natural enthusiasm because others tell you to "slow down"?
    • How do you channel high energy in environments that reward conformity?
    • Why are rural healthcare positions actually the golden tickets for career development?
    • How do secondments outside your specialty become the foundation for entrepreneurial thinking?
    • When does "job security" actually become a trap that prevents growth?
    • How do you price your worth when you've only been assigned value by awards and pay scales?
    • Why does personal branding matters if you ever want to do something other than see patients on a ward and advance your career?


    Timestamps

    01:40 - From Dentist's Daughter to Dietitian: The Unexpected Career Origin Story
    02:06 - Dad's Prediction: Why Nutrition Would Be "The Way of the Future"
    04:03 - The ICU Reality Check: When Families Care Most About Nutrition
    05:08 - New Graduate Struggle: Six Months Without a Job
    06:29 - Rural Hospital Goldmine: Why Grade One Positions Build Confidence Fast
    08:25 - Teaching People How to Treat You: The Parenteral Nutrition Team Strategy
    12:17 - "Your Confidence is Very American": Cultural Differences in Healthcare Hierarchy
    16:38 - The Business Learning Curve: From Squarespace to Systems
    20:20 - COVID Catalyst: When Healthcare Priorities Shifted Away from Nutrition
    22:55 - Never Saw Herself as a Business Owner: The Identity Shift
    25:19 - Money Mindset Struggles: Pricing Your Worth After Public Hospital Work
    28:31 - Legal Wake-Up Call: The $5,500 Investment That Protected Everything
    30:25 - The Secondment That Changed Everything: Mapping Patient Journeys
    34:34 - Career Obstacles: When "Coaching" Means "Suppress Your Energy"
    37:26 - Three Pieces of Wisdom: Structure, Personal Branding, and Boundaries
    41:28 - Why She Wouldn't Take the Straight Line Path
    44:27 - Success Redefined: Being Yourself at Work

    About Lina Briek

    Lina Briek is a dietitian, PhD researcher, and founder of Tube Dietitian, a Melbourne-based business providing specialised nutrition support for adults living with feeding tubes at home. With 14 years of hospital experience ranging from rural general practice to metropolitan ICU work, Lina bridges the critical gap between hospital discharge and long-term home care. Her research focuses on the state of home tube feeding in Australia, with particular emphasis on real food approaches. Lina's journey from missing hospital promotions to building a national telehealth service demonstrates how healthcare professionals can create meaningful impact outside traditional employment structures.

    Career Cliniq Resources

    Inspired by Lina's entrepreneurial journey but unsure about your own next steps? TheĀ StreamAhead AssessmentĀ helps health professionals discover which of eight healthcare workstreams align with your current interests and life circumstances. Whether you're considering a side business, career pivot, or exploring options, this personalised assessment provides clarity on possibilities you might not have considered. Ready to take action?Ā Find out more HERE.

    VisitĀ Career CliniqĀ for more career evolution insights.



    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/Breaking-Free-from-Hospital-Hierarchy---How-One-Dietitian-Built-a-Thriving-Home-Care-Business-with-Lina-Briek-e36bolvd2e3ae3a-c072-47c0-86b5-fdb22e33537fMon, 04 Aug 2025 20:01:00 GMT<p><strong>Episode Summary</strong></p><p>How do you know when it's time to leave a career you've invested years building? In this episode, dietitian and entrepreneur Lina Briek shares her unexpected journey from missing out on multiple hospital promotions to building a thriving home tube feeding business during COVID. Lina reveals why her "American confidence" in Australian healthcare settings became her superpower, how a random intensive care project opened doors she never knew existed, and what it really takes to transition from employee security to entrepreneurial freedom. This conversation unpacks the hidden costs of staying comfortable, the surprising advantages of rural healthcare positions, and why sometimes the system's limitations become your biggest opportunity for impact.</p><p><strong>Questions We Explore</strong></p><ul><li>Are you dimming your natural enthusiasm because others tell you to "slow down"?</li><li>How do you channel high energy in environments that reward conformity?</li></ul><ul><li>Why are rural healthcare positions actually the golden tickets for career development?</li><li>How do secondments outside your specialty become the foundation for entrepreneurial thinking?</li></ul><ul><li>When does "job security" actually become a trap that prevents growth?</li><li>How do you price your worth when you've only been assigned value by awards and pay scales?</li></ul><ul><li>Why does personal branding matters if you ever want to do something other than see patients on a ward and advance your career?</li><p><br /></p></ul><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p><strong>01:40</strong> - From Dentist's Daughter to Dietitian: The Unexpected Career Origin Story<br /><strong>02:06</strong> - Dad's Prediction: Why Nutrition Would Be "The Way of the Future"<br /><strong>04:03</strong> - The ICU Reality Check: When Families Care Most About Nutrition<br /><strong>05:08</strong> - New Graduate Struggle: Six Months Without a Job<br /><strong>06:29</strong> - Rural Hospital Goldmine: Why Grade One Positions Build Confidence Fast<br /><strong>08:25</strong> - Teaching People How to Treat You: The Parenteral Nutrition Team Strategy<br /><strong>12:17</strong> - "Your Confidence is Very American": Cultural Differences in Healthcare Hierarchy<br /><strong>16:38</strong> - The Business Learning Curve: From Squarespace to Systems<br /><strong>20:20</strong> - COVID Catalyst: When Healthcare Priorities Shifted Away from Nutrition<br /><strong>22:55</strong> - Never Saw Herself as a Business Owner: The Identity Shift<br /><strong>25:19</strong> - Money Mindset Struggles: Pricing Your Worth After Public Hospital Work<br /><strong>28:31</strong> - Legal Wake-Up Call: The $5,500 Investment That Protected Everything<br /><strong>30:25</strong> - The Secondment That Changed Everything: Mapping Patient Journeys<br /><strong>34:34</strong> - Career Obstacles: When "Coaching" Means "Suppress Your Energy"<br /><strong>37:26</strong> - Three Pieces of Wisdom: Structure, Personal Branding, and Boundaries<br /><strong>41:28</strong> - Why She Wouldn't Take the Straight Line Path<br /><strong>44:27</strong> - Success Redefined: Being Yourself at Work</p><p><strong>About Lina Briek</strong></p><p>Lina Briek is a dietitian, PhD researcher, and founder of Tube Dietitian, a Melbourne-based business providing specialised nutrition support for adults living with feeding tubes at home. With 14 years of hospital experience ranging from rural general practice to metropolitan ICU work, Lina bridges the critical gap between hospital discharge and long-term home care. Her research focuses on the state of home tube feeding in Australia, with particular emphasis on real food approaches. Lina's journey from missing hospital promotions to building a national telehealth service demonstrates how healthcare professionals can create meaningful impact outside traditional employment structures.</p><ul><li><strong>LinkedIn</strong>: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lina-briek/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Lina Briek's Profile</a></li><li><strong>Business Website</strong>: <a href="https://www.tubedietitian.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Tube Dietitian</a></li></ul><p><strong>Career Cliniq Resources</strong></p><p>Inspired by Lina's entrepreneurial journey but unsure about your own next steps? TheĀ <a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/streamahead-assessment" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>StreamAhead Assessment</strong></a>Ā helps health professionals discover which of eight healthcare workstreams align with your current interests and life circumstances. Whether you're considering a side business, career pivot, or exploring options, this personalised assessment provides clarity on possibilities you might not have considered. Ready to take action?Ā Find out more <a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/streamahead-assessment" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>HERE</strong>.</a></p><p><em>VisitĀ </em><a href="https://careercliniq.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Career Cliniq</strong></a><em>Ā for more career evolution insights.</em></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p> no00:49:22Breaking Free from Hospital Hierarchy - How One Dietitian Built a Thriving Home Care Business with Lina Briekfull    <![CDATA[From Hospital PT to Maternal Health Advocate with Dr. Katherine Sylvester]]>What does it take to look at a broken system and decide you're going to fix itā€”one patient, one program, one bold ask at a time?

    Dr. Katherine Sylvester is a physical therapist whose career has been shaped by a single question: what if we refused to accept that nothing more can be done? From watching her grandmother receive inadequate stroke care as a child, to building a minority mentorship program that's supported over 170 PT students, to founding Operation Mistā€”a maternal health monitoring program that puts data directly in women's handsā€”Kat's journey is about challenging the defaults that healthcare hands us.

    In this conversation, we explore how she transformed hospital neuro care by simply asking for what patients needed, how scar massage became a gateway to postpartum recovery, and why she walked away from a job she loved to build something that aligned with both her clinical values and her life as a mum. This isn't a story about work-life balance. It's about building a career that serves the change you want to see, even when that means doing things no one else is doing yet.

    If you've ever wondered what it looks like to turn professional frustration into meaningful change, this one's for you.

    We Explore

    • The courage to ask for what doesn't exist yet in your workplaceā€”and why that single act can reshape your entire career trajectory
    • Where do the resources and support for your next career move really come from?
    • When you notice the gap between what the system allows and what patients actually needā€”and what that tension means for your career path
    • Testing whether your idea has legs before you leave the security of your job
    • The moment when loving your role isn't enough to keep you there anymore
    • How one competition and $15,000 became permission to leap
    • Building a practice that puts your knowledge in clients' hands instead of keeping them dependent on you
    • The fear that thinking bigger means losing control of your life
    • When you realise you're no longer building a jobā€”you're building a movement

    About

    Dr. Katherine Sylvester is a physical therapist specialising in neurological rehabilitation and women's health. She founded Operation Mist, a maternal health monitoring program that uses wearable technology to catch postpartum complications before they become life-threatening. Kat also created a minority mentorship program that has supported over 170 physical therapy students through graduation, and teaches scar physiology and women's health to PT students and professionals across the United States. She maintains a private practice in Macon, Georgia, where she treats patients with neurological injuries and supports women through pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

    Connect with Dr. Kat

    Career Cliniq Resources

    Ready to explore what's possible beyond your current clinical role? The StreamAhead Assessment helps health professionals identify which career pathways align with their interests and expertise right now. Sometimes the first step toward change is simply understanding what options exist.

    Take the StreamAhead Assessment: https://careercliniq.com/streamahead

    Connect with Ruth:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/

    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/From-Hospital-PT-to-Maternal-Health-Advocate-with-Dr--Katherine-Sylvester-e3c4gul754560fa-fee9-4594-9b2d-ffe17d21e352Tue, 09 Dec 2025 23:09:53 GMT<p>What does it take to look at a broken system and decide you're going to fix itā€”one patient, one program, one bold ask at a time?</p><p>Dr. Katherine Sylvester is a physical therapist whose career has been shaped by a single question: what if we refused to accept that nothing more can be done? From watching her grandmother receive inadequate stroke care as a child, to building a minority mentorship program that's supported over 170 PT students, to founding Operation Mistā€”a maternal health monitoring program that puts data directly in women's handsā€”Kat's journey is about challenging the defaults that healthcare hands us.</p><p>In this conversation, we explore how she transformed hospital neuro care by simply asking for what patients needed, how scar massage became a gateway to postpartum recovery, and why she walked away from a job she loved to build something that aligned with both her clinical values and her life as a mum. This isn't a story about work-life balance. It's about building a career that serves the change you want to see, even when that means doing things no one else is doing yet.</p><p>If you've ever wondered what it looks like to turn professional frustration into meaningful change, this one's for you.</p><p><strong>We Explore</strong></p><ul><li>The courage to ask for what doesn't exist yet in your workplaceā€”and why that single act can reshape your entire career trajectory</li></ul><ul><li>Where do the resources and support for your next career move really come from?</li><li>When you notice the gap between what the system allows and what patients actually needā€”and what that tension means for your career path</li><li>Testing whether your idea has legs before you leave the security of your job</li><li>The moment when loving your role isn't enough to keep you there anymore</li><li>How one competition and $15,000 became permission to leap</li><li>Building a practice that puts your knowledge in clients' hands instead of keeping them dependent on you</li><li>The fear that thinking bigger means losing control of your life</li><li>When you realise you're no longer building a jobā€”you're building a movement</li></ul><p><strong>About </strong></p><p>Dr. Katherine Sylvester is a physical therapist specialising in neurological rehabilitation and women's health. She founded Operation Mist, a maternal health monitoring program that uses wearable technology to catch postpartum complications before they become life-threatening. Kat also created a minority mentorship program that has supported over 170 physical therapy students through graduation, and teaches scar physiology and women's health to PT students and professionals across the United States. She maintains a private practice in Macon, Georgia, where she treats patients with neurological injuries and supports women through pregnancy and postpartum recovery.</p><p><strong>Connect with Dr. Kat</strong></p><ul><li>Website - <a href="https://operationmist.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Operation M.I.S.T - Mommy Monitor</strong></a> </li><li>YouTube Video - <a href="youtube.com/watch?v=0qF9JD5dmV4&amp;feature=youtu.be" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">How Mommy Monitor Works</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-sylvester-pt-dpt-6a7b961b7/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>LinkedIn</strong> </a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/operationmist/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Instagram</strong></a></li></ul><p><strong>Career Cliniq Resources</strong></p><p>Ready to explore what's possible beyond your current clinical role? The StreamAhead Assessment helps health professionals identify which career pathways align with their interests and expertise right now. Sometimes the first step toward change is simply understanding what options exist.</p><p><strong>Take the StreamAhead Assessment</strong>: <a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/streamahead-assessment" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://careercliniq.com/streamahead</a></p><p><strong>Connect with Ruth:</strong><br />LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/</a><br />Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/</a></p><p></p> no01:17:01114From Hospital PT to Maternal Health Advocate with Dr. Katherine Sylvesterfull    <![CDATA[How a Four-Year-Old Changed My Career Forever - with Sophie Archibald]]>Content note: This episode includes brief discussion of childhood trauma in a therapeutic context. You can listen from time 13:45 to avoid this part.

    Episode Summary

    What happens when a social work student breaks all the rules and trusts her instincts with a traumatised four-year-old? Dr Sophie Archibald's career-defining moment came not from textbooks, but from an imaginary crown and the courage to lean into the unknown.

    From getting rejected from grad school (twice) to juggling motherhood with a PhD, Sophie's journey from clinical social worker to mind-body medicine researcher challenges everything we're taught about professional boundaries. Her story reveals how our most authentic moments as practitioners often happen when we stop following protocols and start trusting what emerges naturally.

    This conversation is raw, real, and refreshingly honest about the messy realities of career evolution in healthcare - including why compartmentalisation is a myth and mac and cheese dinners are perfectly acceptable fuel for ambitious dreams.

    What we explore:

    • The pivotal early childhood classroom moment that changed everything
    • Why being rejected from grad school was actually a gift
    • Navigating motherhood while pursuing advanced degrees (spoiler: mac and cheese is perfectly fine)
    • The myth of compartmentalisation in healthcare and why we need to let ourselves be "moved and changed" by our patients
    • Finding the thread that connects all your work, regardless of role changes
    • Taking responsibility for what you want instead of just reacting to external pressures


    About Dr Sophie Archibald

    Dr Sophie Archibald is a licensed clinical social worker, mind-body medicine researcher, and academic who specialises in therapeutic relationships and clinical intuition. With a PhD in Mind-Body Medicine, she challenges traditional paradigms around professional boundaries and explores how healthcare providers can authentically integrate their humanity into practice.


    Guest Links:

    Career Cliniq Resources

    StreamAhead Assessment - Discover which healthcare workstreams align with your evolving interests. Perfect for social workers, mental health professionals, and clinicians exploring pathways to grow their career with or beyond practice.

    Visit: www.careercliniq.com

    Career Workstreams: Practice, Education, Research




    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/How-a-Four-Year-Old-Changed-My-Career-Forever---with-Sophie-Archibald-e3539itda11ee98-5f4d-4553-8d0d-4455344d52a5Fri, 04 Jul 2025 01:57:12 GMT<p><b>Content note:</b> This episode includes brief discussion of childhood trauma in a therapeutic context. You can listen from time 13:45 to avoid this part.</p><p></p><p><b>Episode Summary</b></p><p>What happens when a social work student breaks all the rules and trusts her instincts with a traumatised four-year-old? Dr Sophie Archibald's career-defining moment came not from textbooks, but from an imaginary crown and the courage to lean into the unknown.</p><p>From getting rejected from grad school (twice) to juggling motherhood with a PhD, Sophie's journey from clinical social worker to mind-body medicine researcher challenges everything we're taught about professional boundaries. Her story reveals how our most authentic moments as practitioners often happen when we stop following protocols and start trusting what emerges naturally.</p><p>This conversation is raw, real, and refreshingly honest about the messy realities of career evolution in healthcare - including why compartmentalisation is a myth and mac and cheese dinners are perfectly acceptable fuel for ambitious dreams.</p><p></p><p><b>What we explore:</b></p><ul><li>The pivotal early childhood classroom moment that changed everything</li><li>Why being rejected from grad school was actually a gift</li><li>Navigating motherhood while pursuing advanced degrees (spoiler: mac and cheese is perfectly fine)</li><li>The myth of compartmentalisation in healthcare and why we need to let ourselves be "moved and changed" by our patients</li><li>Finding the thread that connects all your work, regardless of role changes</li><li>Taking responsibility for what you want instead of just reacting to external pressures</li></ul><p><br /></p><p></p><p><b>About Dr Sophie Archibald</b></p><p>Dr Sophie Archibald is a licensed clinical social worker, mind-body medicine researcher, and academic who specialises in therapeutic relationships and clinical intuition. With a PhD in Mind-Body Medicine, she challenges traditional paradigms around professional boundaries and explores how healthcare providers can authentically integrate their humanity into practice.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Guest Links:</b></p><ul><li>Connect with Sophie on LinkedIn <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-archibald-phd-/" target="_blank">ā ā HEREā ā </a></li><li>Listen to Sophie's podcast 'Fully Human Pyschology' <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4e8QrHstNMtvCPcXbSPKkG?si=4108ed2e891d4a3f" target="_blank">ā ā HEREā </a></li></ul><p></p><p><b>Career Cliniq Resources</b></p><p><b>StreamAhead Assessment</b> - Discover which healthcare workstreams align with your evolving interests. Perfect for social workers, mental health professionals, and clinicians exploring pathways to grow their career with or beyond practice.</p><p>Visit: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://careercliniq.com/streamahead" target="_blank">www.careercliniq.com</a></p><p></p><p><b>Career Workstreams:</b> Practice, Education, Research</p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>no01:02:0811How a Four-Year-Old Changed My Career Forever - with Sophie Archibaldfull    <![CDATA[From UN Dreams to Paediatric Nutrition with Venus Kalami]]>Ever felt torn between staying loyal to communities that desperately need you and taking opportunities that serve your own growth? Venus Kalami, a board-certified paediatric dietitian, knows this struggle intimately.

    Venus shares her journey from community clinic work to academic medical centres, wrestling with the guilt of leaving under-resourced patients behind. She reveals what cultural humility actually looks like in practiceā€”challenging the "Mediterranean diet is best" narrative and preserving patients' food cultures rather than forcing them into nutrition boxes.

    Through honest reflection on the barriers limiting diversity in dietetics and the village of mentors who made her advanced education possible, Venus demonstrates how healthcare careers evolve through unexpected turns and the courage to ask for support.

    We Explore

    • Cultural humility in healthcare practice and challenging the "one right way" nutrition narrative
    • The guilt of leaving under-resourced communities for better-supported career opportunities
    • Systemic barriers to diversity in the dietetics profession and healthcare
    • The role of mentors and advocates in career evolution and the challenge of asking for help
    • How advanced study provides language for feelings and opens access to new professional networks
    • Questioning professional identity when considering industry roles after being "anti-industry"

    Timestamps

    • 00:00 - Unexpected career turns and pivotal moments that shaped Venus's journey
    • 04:07 - Finding paediatric nutrition as the perfect career fit
    • 06:49 - Cultural humility in practice: challenging the "one right way" nutrition narrative
    • 12:22 - Barriers to diversity in dietetics and systemic profession challenges
    • 19:47 - Strategic scholarship applications for advanced education funding
    • 25:00 - The village of mentors who made career growth possible
    • 38:48 - How education investment pays off beyond financial returns
    • 41:42 - Language as a tool for professional growth and network access
    • 48:53 - Navigating professional identity shifts and career evolution
    • 53:00 - Redefining success beyond traditional healthcare metrics

    About Venus KalamiVenus Kalami is a board-certified USA paediatric dietitian with expertise in digestive health, cultural humility, and nutrition communications. As a first-generation immigrant, she brings a unique perspective to healthcare that challenges traditional approaches and advocates for cultural inclusivity in nutrition care. Venus has experience in academic medical centres, community clinics, and nutrition consulting, with a master's degree in Nutrition Science and Policy from Tufts University.

    Connect with Venus Kalami

    Career Cliniq Resources

    Ready to explore what's next? Take the StreamAhead Assessment to discover whether you need to Optimise, Adapt, or Reinvent your healthcare career. Venus's story shows how career evolution requires both courage and clarityā€”get yours HERE

    Venus describes her career as dominoes falling into place. What unexpected turn opened doors you never imagined?

    Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn | Instagram @drruthvo


    Evolving in Healthcare is your space for honest conversations about the messy, beautiful reality of healthcare careers. Because your career should evolve with your life, not hold you back from it.

    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/From-UN-Dreams-to-Paediatric-Nutrition-with-Venus-Kalami-e379cv30452126b-2045-4bda-b75a-92ffa108bcbeMon, 25 Aug 2025 20:44:00 GMT<p>Ever felt torn between staying loyal to communities that desperately need you and taking opportunities that serve your own growth? Venus Kalami, a board-certified paediatric dietitian, knows this struggle intimately.</p><p>Venus shares her journey from community clinic work to academic medical centres, wrestling with the guilt of leaving under-resourced patients behind. She reveals what cultural humility actually looks like in practiceā€”challenging the "Mediterranean diet is best" narrative and preserving patients' food cultures rather than forcing them into nutrition boxes.</p><p>Through honest reflection on the barriers limiting diversity in dietetics and the village of mentors who made her advanced education possible, Venus demonstrates how healthcare careers evolve through unexpected turns and the courage to ask for support.</p><p><strong>We Explore</strong></p><ul><li>Cultural humility in healthcare practice and challenging the "one right way" nutrition narrative</li><li>The guilt of leaving under-resourced communities for better-supported career opportunities</li><li>Systemic barriers to diversity in the dietetics profession and healthcare</li><li>The role of mentors and advocates in career evolution and the challenge of asking for help</li><li>How advanced study provides language for feelings and opens access to new professional networks</li><li>Questioning professional identity when considering industry roles after being "anti-industry"</li></ul><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><ul><li><strong>00:00</strong> - Unexpected career turns and pivotal moments that shaped Venus's journey</li><li><strong>04:07</strong> - Finding paediatric nutrition as the perfect career fit</li><li><strong>06:49</strong> - Cultural humility in practice: challenging the "one right way" nutrition narrative</li><li><strong>12:22</strong> - Barriers to diversity in dietetics and systemic profession challenges</li><li><strong>19:47</strong> - Strategic scholarship applications for advanced education funding</li><li><strong>25:00</strong> - The village of mentors who made career growth possible</li><li><strong>38:48</strong> - How education investment pays off beyond financial returns</li><li><strong>41:42</strong> - Language as a tool for professional growth and network access</li><li><strong>48:53</strong> - Navigating professional identity shifts and career evolution</li><li><strong>53:00</strong> - Redefining success beyond traditional healthcare metrics</li></ul><p><strong>About Venus Kalami</strong>Venus Kalami is a board-certified USA paediatric dietitian with expertise in digestive health, cultural humility, and nutrition communications. As a first-generation immigrant, she brings a unique perspective to healthcare that challenges traditional approaches and advocates for cultural inclusivity in nutrition care. Venus has experience in academic medical centres, community clinics, and nutrition consulting, with a master's degree in Nutrition Science and Policy from Tufts University.</p><p><strong>Connect with Venus Kalami</strong></p><ul><li><strong>LinkedIn</strong>: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/venuskalami/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/venuskalami/</a></li><li><strong>Website</strong>: <a href="https://www.venuskalamird.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.venuskalamird.com/</a></li><li><strong>Resources Mentioned</strong>: <a href="https://www.diversifydietetics.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Diversify Dietetics organisation</a> </li></ul><p><strong>Career Cliniq Resources</strong></p><p><strong>Ready to explore what's next?</strong> Take the <strong>StreamAhead Assessment</strong> to discover whether you need to Optimise, Adapt, or Reinvent your healthcare career. Venus's story shows how career evolution requires both courage and clarityā€”get yours <a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/streamahead-assessment" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">HERE </a></p><p>Venus describes her career as dominoes falling into place. What unexpected turn opened doors you never imagined?</p><p>Connect with Ruth on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>LinkedIn</strong></a> | <strong>Instagram</strong> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@drruthvo</a></p><p><br /></p><p><em>Evolving in Healthcare is your space for honest conversations about the messy, beautiful reality of healthcare careers. Because your career should evolve with your life, not hold you back from it.</em></p><p></p> no01:03:0019From UN Dreams to Paediatric Nutrition with Venus Kalamifull    <![CDATA[How a Physical Therapist Built a Remote Academic Career While Raising 5 Kids - with Cody Thompson]]>Episode Summary

    What happens when a physical therapist tells their spouse, "I just have this itchā€”I need to share what I know with somebody else"? For Cody Thompson, that dining table moment sparked a 15-year journey from home health practice to remote PhD faculty.

    Cody's evolution challenges every assumption about linear healthcare careers. From driving two hours each way to teach as a lab assistant, to strategically leveraging market needs for program director roles, his story reveals how curiosity and opportunity can reshape your entire trajectory. This conversation explores practical realities of transitioning into healthcare education, financial calculations most clinicians get wrong, and why we're missing countless career branches by staying in our comfortable scope of practice lanes.

    We Explore

    • How do you recognise when professional restlessness points toward something new?
    • What does it mean to trade unmotivated patients for hungry students?
    • When is uncertainty worth sacrificing familiar comfort?
    • How can you leverage organisational needs with existing skills?
    • What financial calculations do healthcare professionals get wrong about education roles?
    • How do you maintain professional identity while expanding into unexpected territories?

    About Cody Thompson

    Cody Thompson is a physical therapist and Associate Professor with over 20 years of experience who transitioned into healthcare education. He currently runs a health science PhD program at a university in Alabama and helps healthcare professionals navigate career transitions into academic roles. Cody is also a father of five and advocates for building career flexibility that aligns with personal values and life circumstances.

    Guest Links

    Career Cliniq Resources

    Inspired by Cody's journey? TheĀ ā StreamAhead Assessmentā Ā helps health professionals discover which of eight healthcare workstreams align with your current interests and life circumstances. Ā Find out more ā HERE.

    Join the Conversation

    LinkedIn: @DrRuthVo @CareerCliniq | Instagram: @drruthvo

    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/How-a-Physical-Therapist-Built-a-Remote-Academic-Career-While-Raising-5-Kids---with-Cody-Thompson-e34ofke757a498e-a4c0-4a1c-b221-eb0b06296c96Thu, 26 Jun 2025 07:19:49 GMT<p><b>Episode Summary</b></p><p>What happens when a physical therapist tells their spouse, "I just have this itchā€”I need to share what I know with somebody else"? For Cody Thompson, that dining table moment sparked a 15-year journey from home health practice to remote PhD faculty.</p><p>Cody's evolution challenges every assumption about linear healthcare careers. From driving two hours each way to teach as a lab assistant, to strategically leveraging market needs for program director roles, his story reveals how curiosity and opportunity can reshape your entire trajectory. This conversation explores practical realities of transitioning into healthcare education, financial calculations most clinicians get wrong, and why we're missing countless career branches by staying in our comfortable scope of practice lanes.</p><p></p><p><b>We Explore</b></p><ul><li>How do you recognise when professional restlessness points toward something new?</li><li>What does it mean to trade unmotivated patients for hungry students?</li><li>When is uncertainty worth sacrificing familiar comfort?</li></ul><ul><li>How can you leverage organisational needs with existing skills?</li></ul><ul><li>What financial calculations do healthcare professionals get wrong about education roles?</li><li>How do you maintain professional identity while expanding into unexpected territories?</li></ul><p></p><p><b>About Cody Thompson</b></p><p>Cody Thompson is a physical therapist and Associate Professor with over 20 years of experience who transitioned into healthcare education. He currently runs a health science PhD program at a university in Alabama and helps healthcare professionals navigate career transitions into academic roles. Cody is also a father of five and advocates for building career flexibility that aligns with personal values and life circumstances.</p><p></p><p><b>Guest Links</b></p><ul><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-thompson-b253a9250/" target="_blank">Connect with Cody on LinkedIn</a></li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nonclinicalgig.com/?ref=support77" target="_blank">Non-Clinical Gig Job Board</a> (US-based)<br /></li></ul><p><b>Career Cliniq Resources</b></p><p>Inspired by Cody's journey? TheĀ ā <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://careercliniq.com/streamahead" target="_blank"><b>StreamAhead Assessment</b>ā </a>Ā helps health professionals discover which of eight healthcare workstreams align with your current interests and life circumstances. Ā Find out more ā <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://careercliniq.com/streamahead" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>.</p><p></p><p><b>Join the Conversation</b></p><p><b>LinkedIn:</b> @DrRuthVo @CareerCliniq | <b>Instagram:</b> @drruthvo</p><p></p>no00:57:4911How a Physical Therapist Built a Remote Academic Career While Raising 5 Kids - with Cody Thompsonfull    <![CDATA[How a Physical Therapist Broke into Product Management - with Raji Reddy]]>What You'll Learn From This Episode


    Professional Identity & Purpose

    • "Am I still a PT if I'm not practicing clinically?" - How Raji separates credentials from identity
    • Redefining what impact looks like beyond direct patient care
    • Why your clinical background is actually your competitive advantage in health tech


    The Real Work of Career Transition

    • Why your clinical resume won't work for non-clinical roles (and what to do instead)
    • The exact LinkedIn strategies that opened doors for Raji
    • How to handle rejection, pay cuts, and the humbling reality of starting over
    • The networking approach that gets results without seeming desperate


    Turning Challenges Into Fuel

    • How Raji transformed workplace discrimination into career clarity
    • Managing visa restrictions while building a new professional path
    • Why COVID-19 became the catalyst she needed to make her move

    Chapters

    00:43 Raji Introduction01:34 Starting out & Transitioning into Product Management03:09 Journey from Clinical to Non-Clinical Roles05:49 Navigating Challenges in Healthcare08:43 The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare11:14 Building Leadership Skills in Outpatient Care14:11 Work-Life Balance and Career Growth16:34 The Importance of Networking and Mentorship19:10 Overcoming Rejection and Learning from Mistakes21:46 Defining Success Beyond Clinical Roles24:33 The Role of Curiosity in Professional Growth27:16 Finding Belonging in a New Professional Identity29:43 Embracing Change and New Opportunities32:14 The Future of Healthcare and Product ManagementKeywords

    Product management, healthcare career transition, digital health, clinical leadership, strategic networking, health tech, work-life balance, professional growth, career evolution, physical therapy

    Find Raji on LinkedIn:

    Ready to Navigate Your Own Career Evolution?

    If this conversation sparked something for you, you're not alone. Many healthcare professionals feel stuck or wonder what else might be possible beyond their current role.


    Get Started with Career Cliniq:


    Found value in this episode? The best way to support the show is to share it with a colleague who might need to hear Raji's story. Thank you for listening to Evolving in Healthcare.

    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/How-a-Physical-Therapist-Broke-into-Product-Management---with-Raji-Reddy-e35llqidc9bb584-a2c7-4ca6-8bc0-8e8fd01588d0Thu, 17 Jul 2025 05:54:27 GMT<p><u><strong>What You'll Learn From This Episode</strong></u></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Professional Identity &amp; Purpose</strong></p><ul><li>"Am I still a PT if I'm not practicing clinically?" - How Raji separates credentials from identity</li><li>Redefining what impact looks like beyond direct patient care</li><li>Why your clinical background is actually your competitive advantage in health tech</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>The Real Work of Career Transition</strong></p><ul><li>Why your clinical resume won't work for non-clinical roles (and what to do instead)</li><li>The exact LinkedIn strategies that opened doors for Raji</li><li>How to handle rejection, pay cuts, and the humbling reality of starting over</li><li>The networking approach that gets results without seeming desperate</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>Turning Challenges Into Fuel</strong></p><ul><li>How Raji transformed workplace discrimination into career clarity</li><li>Managing visa restrictions while building a new professional path</li><li>Why COVID-19 became the catalyst she needed to make her move</li></ul><p><u><strong>Chapters</strong></u></p><p>00:43 Raji Introduction01:34 Starting out &amp; Transitioning into Product Management03:09 Journey from Clinical to Non-Clinical Roles05:49 Navigating Challenges in Healthcare08:43 The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare11:14 Building Leadership Skills in Outpatient Care14:11 Work-Life Balance and Career Growth16:34 The Importance of Networking and Mentorship19:10 Overcoming Rejection and Learning from Mistakes21:46 Defining Success Beyond Clinical Roles24:33 The Role of Curiosity in Professional Growth27:16 Finding Belonging in a New Professional Identity29:43 Embracing Change and New Opportunities32:14 The Future of Healthcare and Product Management<u><strong>Keywords</strong></u></p><p>Product management, healthcare career transition, digital health, clinical leadership, strategic networking, health tech, work-life balance, professional growth, career evolution, physical therapy</p><p><strong>Find </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajeshwari-raji-reddy-a6718839/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Raji on LinkedIn</strong></a><strong>:</strong> </p><p><strong>Ready to Navigate Your Own Career Evolution?</strong></p><p>If this conversation sparked something for you, you're not alone. Many healthcare professionals feel stuck or wonder what else might be possible beyond their current role.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Get Started with Career Cliniq:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Visit </strong><a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Career Cliniq</strong></a></li><li><strong>Connect with Ruth on </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>LinkedIn</strong></a><strong> or </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Instagram</strong></a></li></ul><p><br /></p><p><em>Found value in this episode? The best way to support the show is to share it with a colleague who might need to hear Raji's story. Thank you for listening to Evolving in Healthcare.</em></p><p></p> no00:53:49How a Physical Therapist Broke into Product Management - with Raji Reddyfull    <![CDATA[Building a Healthcare Career That Fits Your Brain with Dr. Anum Ali]]>What becomes possible when you stop waiting to feel "ready enough"?

    Dr. Anum Ali's undergraduate transcript didn't predict where she'd end up. After six years as a crisis counsellor, she wasn't sure graduate schools would take a chance on her. Then a mentor said five words that changed everything: "Your GPA doesn't tell your whole story."

    An adult ADHD diagnosis during her master's in clinical mental health counselling reframed years of academic struggleā€”not as failure, but as her brain working differently. Today, she's built a career that actually leverages how she thinks: VP of Clinical at a health tech startup, university professor, clinical supervisor, private practice therapist, and founder of DigiWell Foundation focused on youth mental health and digital wellness.

    Her PhD research on South Asian parents and digital wellness? It grew directly from her childhood experiences with online bullying. The painful parts of her story became the foundation for work that protects the next generation.

    Anum's advice: "I think it started out with me saying yes to opportunities and going into the rooms where I wasn't sure if I even belonged."

    This conversation is about building careers that work with you instead of against you, reaching out before imposter syndrome says you're qualified, and discovering that your different path might be exactly what positions you to make real impact.

    We explore:

    • Navigating healthcare as an immigrant and first-generation student
    • Confronting mental health stigma in South Asian communities and becoming a voice for change
    • What happens when a mentor sees beyond your transcript
    • The isolation of feeling differentā€”culturally, academically, and professionally
    • Getting an adult ADHD diagnosis and rebuilding your career narrative
    • Leaving secure crisis centre work to explore what else is possible
    • Saying yes to opportunities and walking into rooms where you're not sure you belong
    • Turning painful experiences of bullying and cultural disconnection into meaningful research
    • Why empathy is a skill you build over time, not just a personality trait
    • Protecting compassion when burnout threatens to erode it

    About Dr. Anum Ali, PhD

    Dr. Anum Ali is a licensed professional counsellor and clinical mental health researcher working across multiple healthcare sectors. As VP of Clinical at a digital wellness startup, she builds AI-powered parental guidance tools. She teaches master's-level counselling students, provides clinical supervision at a non-profit, maintains a private practice specialising in culturally responsive therapy for South Asian communities, and founded DigiWell Foundationā€”a Texas non-profit focused on youth mental health and digital wellbeing. Her PhD research examined how South Asian parents navigate adolescent social media use and mental health stigma. She's the first woman from her village in Pakistan to earn a PhD.

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alianumtx/
    DigiWell Foundation: https://www.digiwellfoundation.org/
    TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfsNvFt--iI

    Career Cliniq Resources

    Ready to explore what else might be possible? The StreamAhead Assessment helps healthcare professionals discover which work streams align with how you actually work best.

    šŸ‘‰ Take the StreamAhead Assessment

    What room are you not walking into because you're waiting to feel like you belong there?

    Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn or Instagram to continue the conversation.

    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/Building-a-Healthcare-Career-That-Fits-Your-Brain-with-Dr--Anum-Ali-e3cdkcmbd436482-bbea-4e68-b4e7-a345cec5ac5aTue, 16 Dec 2025 02:08:00 GMT<p>What becomes possible when you stop waiting to feel "ready enough"?</p><p>Dr. Anum Ali's undergraduate transcript didn't predict where she'd end up. After six years as a crisis counsellor, she wasn't sure graduate schools would take a chance on her. Then a mentor said five words that changed everything: "Your GPA doesn't tell your whole story."</p><p>An adult ADHD diagnosis during her master's in clinical mental health counselling reframed years of academic struggleā€”not as failure, but as her brain working differently. Today, she's built a career that actually leverages how she thinks: VP of Clinical at a health tech startup, university professor, clinical supervisor, private practice therapist, and founder of DigiWell Foundation focused on youth mental health and digital wellness.</p><p>Her PhD research on South Asian parents and digital wellness? It grew directly from her childhood experiences with online bullying. The painful parts of her story became the foundation for work that protects the next generation.</p><p><strong>Anum's advice: "I think it started out with me saying yes to opportunities and going into the rooms where I wasn't sure if I even belonged."</strong></p><p>This conversation is about building careers that work with you instead of against you, reaching out before imposter syndrome says you're qualified, and discovering that your different path might be exactly what positions you to make real impact. </p><p><strong>We explore:</strong></p><ul><li>Navigating healthcare as an immigrant and first-generation student</li></ul><ul><li>Confronting mental health stigma in South Asian communities and becoming a voice for change</li><li>What happens when a mentor sees beyond your transcript</li><li>The isolation of feeling differentā€”culturally, academically, and professionally</li><li>Getting an adult ADHD diagnosis and rebuilding your career narrative</li><li>Leaving secure crisis centre work to explore what else is possible</li><li>Saying yes to opportunities and walking into rooms where you're not sure you belong</li><li>Turning painful experiences of bullying and cultural disconnection into meaningful research</li><li>Why empathy is a skill you build over time, not just a personality trait</li><li>Protecting compassion when burnout threatens to erode it</li></ul><p><strong>About Dr. Anum Ali, PhD</strong></p><p>Dr. Anum Ali is a licensed professional counsellor and clinical mental health researcher working across multiple healthcare sectors. As VP of Clinical at a digital wellness startup, she builds AI-powered parental guidance tools. She teaches master's-level counselling students, provides clinical supervision at a non-profit, maintains a private practice specialising in culturally responsive therapy for South Asian communities, and founded DigiWell Foundationā€”a Texas non-profit focused on youth mental health and digital wellbeing. Her PhD research examined how South Asian parents navigate adolescent social media use and mental health stigma. She's the first woman from her village in Pakistan to earn a PhD.</p><p><strong>LinkedIn:</strong> https://www.linkedin.com/in/alianumtx/<br /><strong>DigiWell Foundation:</strong> https://www.digiwellfoundation.org/<br /><strong>TEDx Talk:</strong> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfsNvFt--iI</p><p><strong>Career Cliniq Resources</strong></p><p><strong>Ready to explore what else might be possible?</strong> The StreamAhead Assessment helps healthcare professionals discover which work streams align with how you actually work best.</p><p>šŸ‘‰ <a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/streamahead-assessment" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Take the StreamAhead Assessment</a></p><p><strong>What room are you not walking into because you're waiting to feel like you belong there?</strong></p><p>Connect with Ruth on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">LinkedIn</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Instagram</a> to continue the conversation.</p><p></p> no01:01:09115Building a Healthcare Career That Fits Your Brain with Dr. Anum Alifull    <![CDATA[Breaking Into Healthcare Policy with Dana Strauss]]>How does a physical therapist end up shaping Medicare policy for a Fortune 6 company?

    Dana Strauss will tell youā€”it wasn't planned. She stumbled into it by following what made sense and solving problems that frustrated her.

    Today, Dana works in a role typically reserved for lawyers and public policy experts, influencing value-based care and Medicare strategy for one of the largest healthcare organizations in America. But her journey there was anything but linear.

    Starting in acute care physiotherapy, Dana quickly realised she had a pattern: she'd get bored once she mastered something, and she couldn't ignore things that didn't make sense. Total joint patients in expensive acute rehab when they could go home. Discharge processes serving the system instead of patients.

    Instead of accepting it, she started solving itā€”teaching herself what she needed to know, pitching ideas to leadership, and connecting with people who could help. Each conversation and each problem solved opened unexpected doors.

    In this episode, Dana shares her story with remarkable honesty. The serendipitous LinkedIn messages. The mentors who took a chance on her. The startup that nearly broke her. The moment she realised policy work was what she'd been doing on the side of her desk for years.

    Dana's journey reveals what becomes possible when you trust yourself enough to follow what genuinely engages you, even without traditional credentials or a prescriptive plan.

    We Explore

    • How noticing what doesn't make sense became Dana's career compass
    • Why she pitched herself into roles that didn't existā€”and how she made the business case
    • The power of cross-functional committees for meeting people who might vouch for you
    • LinkedIn messages that felt scary but changed everything
    • Working with the reality that you get bored easily and need intellectual stimulation
    • What it's actually like to land in policy work without traditional qualifications

    About Dana Strauss

    Dana is a senior policy expert at a Fortune 6 company, leading value-based care and Medicare policy strategy for their healthcare delivery division. Starting as an acute care physical therapist, she built her career by solving problems others accepted as unchangeable. Dana specialises in alternative payment models, skilled nursing facility management, and population healthā€”bringing a clinician's perspective to the policy work that shapes how healthcare is delivered across America.


    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danastraussdpt/
    Newsletter: https://www.timelessautonomy.com/subscribe

    Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@FutureProofPT

    Career Cliniq Resources

    Wondering how your clinical expertise could translate into different roles? The StreamAhead Assessment helps health professionals identify their unique value and explore what might make sense for their next move.

    Take the StreamAhead Assessment

    What's something in your workplace that just doesn't make sense to you?

    Join the Conversation

    Share your thoughts with Ruth on LinkedIn or Instagram

    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/Breaking-Into-Healthcare-Policy-with-Dana-Strauss-e39cfp22e53db1b-3eaf-4af9-9787-25b8ded94ba8Sat, 11 Oct 2025 01:32:33 GMT<p><strong>How does a physical therapist end up shaping Medicare policy for a Fortune 6 company?</strong></p><p>Dana Strauss will tell youā€”it wasn't planned. She stumbled into it by following what made sense and solving problems that frustrated her.</p><p>Today, Dana works in a role typically reserved for lawyers and public policy experts, influencing value-based care and Medicare strategy for one of the largest healthcare organizations in America. But her journey there was anything but linear.</p><p>Starting in acute care physiotherapy, Dana quickly realised she had a pattern: she'd get bored once she mastered something, and she couldn't ignore things that didn't make sense. Total joint patients in expensive acute rehab when they could go home. Discharge processes serving the system instead of patients.</p><p>Instead of accepting it, she started solving itā€”teaching herself what she needed to know, pitching ideas to leadership, and connecting with people who could help. Each conversation and each problem solved opened unexpected doors.</p><p>In this episode, Dana shares her story with remarkable honesty. The serendipitous LinkedIn messages. The mentors who took a chance on her. The startup that nearly broke her. The moment she realised policy work was what she'd been doing on the side of her desk for years.</p><p>Dana's journey reveals what becomes possible when you trust yourself enough to follow what genuinely engages you, even without traditional credentials or a prescriptive plan.</p><p><strong>We Explore</strong></p><ul><li>How noticing what doesn't make sense became Dana's career compass</li><li>Why she pitched herself into roles that didn't existā€”and how she made the business case</li><li>The power of cross-functional committees for meeting people who might vouch for you</li><li>LinkedIn messages that felt scary but changed everything</li><li>Working with the reality that you get bored easily and need intellectual stimulation</li><li>What it's actually like to land in policy work without traditional qualifications</li></ul><p><strong>About Dana Strauss</strong></p><p>Dana is a senior policy expert at a Fortune 6 company, leading value-based care and Medicare policy strategy for their healthcare delivery division. Starting as an acute care physical therapist, she built her career by solving problems others accepted as unchangeable. Dana specialises in alternative payment models, skilled nursing facility management, and population healthā€”bringing a clinician's perspective to the policy work that shapes how healthcare is delivered across America.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>LinkedIn:</strong> https://www.linkedin.com/in/danastraussdpt/<br /><strong>Newsletter:</strong> https://www.timelessautonomy.com/subscribe</p><p><strong>Podcast: </strong>https://www.youtube.com/@FutureProofPT</p><p><strong>Career Cliniq Resources</strong></p><p>Wondering how your clinical expertise could translate into different roles? The <strong>StreamAhead Assessment</strong> helps health professionals identify their unique value and explore what might make sense for their next move.</p><p><a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/streamahead-assessment" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Take the StreamAhead Assessment</a></p><p>What's something in your workplace that just doesn't make sense to you?</p><p><strong>Join the Conversation</strong></p><p>Share your thoughts with Ruth on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">LinkedIn</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Instagram</a></p><p></p> no01:14:29112Breaking Into Healthcare Policy with Dana Straussfull    <![CDATA[Specialty Switching Success - ICU to Women's Health with Nikki Campbell]]>Episode Summary

    What happens when you follow evolving interests rather than the expected career ladder? Nikki Campbell's journey from ICU nursing to palliative care to endometriosis coordination challenges everything we think about "proper" career progression.

    Starting in ICU with traditional trajectory plans, Nikki questioned pediatric treatment-at-all-costs approaches, leading her to palliative care. Her own endometriosis experience sparked another pivot - moving states to become an endometriosis nurse coordinator, now pursuing nurse practitioner studies.

    Her story reveals how transferable skills matter more than linear progression. Building new models from scratch - "building the plane while flying it" - offers insights for professionals wondering if it's safe to follow evolving interests. Discover why asking better questions matters more than knowing answers, how personal experiences can guide career decisions, and why the "right" path might not exist yet.

    Questions We Explore

    When Healthcare Values and Practice Collide

    • What do you do when you excel at something that no longer aligns with your values?
    • How do you navigate the guilt of leaving a "good" healthcare career for something uncertain?
    • Can personal health experiences legitimately guide professional decisions?

    Breaking Healthcare's Linear Career Myth

    • Why do we assume nursing specialties can't translate across completely different areas?
    • What happens when your CV doesn't fit the expected healthcare career template?
    • How do you prove transferable skills matter more than specialty experience?

    Speaking Truth to Healthcare Hierarchy

    • What's the cost of asking "why do we do it this way?" as a junior health professional?
    • How do you challenge unsafe practices without being labelled a troublemaker?
    • Why does healthcare resist change even when everyone knows it's needed?

    Timestamps

    • 00:41 The unexpected turn from ICU to palliative care
    • 06:06 Why Nikki left school at 16 and returned to nursing later
    • 10:55 Recognising the pressure of linear career pathways
    • 16:30 How transferable skills enabled specialty changes
    • 23:37 Building new processes while delivering care
    • 29:14 Challenging workplace practices: "Why does it have to be like that?"
    • 34:38 Being told "you're not allowed to have an opinion"
    • 39:34 The personal factors behind moving states and changing specialties
    • 41:33 How motherhood changed her perspective on work
    • 45:26 The vision for nurse practitioner practice in endometriosis care
    • 49:33 Reaching patients through innovative telehealth delivery
    • 57:20 Rapid fire questions and career insights

    About Nikki Campbell

    Nikki Campbell is an Australian endometriosis nurse coordinator who navigated from ICU nursing to palliative care to women's health. Currently pursuing nurse practitioner studies while working in telehealth delivery, she specialises in supporting endometriosis patients navigate healthcare systems. Her experience includes building new care models, quality improvement initiatives, and advocating for neurodivergent-friendly practices.

    Connect with Nikki Campbell

    Career Cliniq Resources

    Discover which healthcare work streams align with your current interests - and what transferable skills you want to invest in developing to grow your career with the StreamAhead Assessment.Join the Conversation

    What's one question you wish you'd asked earlier in your healthcare career?

    Share on LinkedIn @DrRuthVo or Instagram @drruthvo.

    Workstreams: Practice, Research, Quality and Safety

    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/Specialty-Switching-Success---ICU-to-Womens-Health-with-Nikki-Campbell-e36lmn039ecc981-1e2b-4a52-9739-1c04ebea83e0Mon, 11 Aug 2025 20:01:00 GMT<p><u><strong>Episode Summary</strong></u></p><p>What happens when you follow evolving interests rather than the expected career ladder? Nikki Campbell's journey from ICU nursing to palliative care to endometriosis coordination challenges everything we think about "proper" career progression.</p><p>Starting in ICU with traditional trajectory plans, Nikki questioned pediatric treatment-at-all-costs approaches, leading her to palliative care. Her own endometriosis experience sparked another pivot - moving states to become an endometriosis nurse coordinator, now pursuing nurse practitioner studies.</p><p>Her story reveals how transferable skills matter more than linear progression. Building new models from scratch - "building the plane while flying it" - offers insights for professionals wondering if it's safe to follow evolving interests. Discover why asking better questions matters more than knowing answers, how personal experiences can guide career decisions, and why the "right" path might not exist yet.</p><p><u><strong>Questions We Explore</strong></u></p><p><strong>When Healthcare Values and Practice Collide</strong></p><ul><li>What do you do when you excel at something that no longer aligns with your values?</li><li>How do you navigate the guilt of leaving a "good" healthcare career for something uncertain?</li><li>Can personal health experiences legitimately guide professional decisions?</li></ul><p><strong>Breaking Healthcare's Linear Career Myth</strong></p><ul><li>Why do we assume nursing specialties can't translate across completely different areas?</li></ul><ul><li>What happens when your CV doesn't fit the expected healthcare career template?</li><li>How do you prove transferable skills matter more than specialty experience?</li></ul><p><strong>Speaking Truth to Healthcare Hierarchy</strong></p><ul><li>What's the cost of asking "why do we do it this way?" as a junior health professional?</li><li>How do you challenge unsafe practices without being labelled a troublemaker?</li><li>Why does healthcare resist change even when everyone knows it's needed?</li></ul><p><u><strong>Timestamps</strong></u></p><ul><li>00:41 The unexpected turn from ICU to palliative care</li><li>06:06 Why Nikki left school at 16 and returned to nursing later</li><li>10:55 Recognising the pressure of linear career pathways</li><li>16:30 How transferable skills enabled specialty changes</li><li>23:37 Building new processes while delivering care</li><li>29:14 Challenging workplace practices: "Why does it have to be like that?"</li><li>34:38 Being told "you're not allowed to have an opinion"</li><li>39:34 The personal factors behind moving states and changing specialties</li><li>41:33 How motherhood changed her perspective on work</li><li>45:26 The vision for nurse practitioner practice in endometriosis care</li><li>49:33 Reaching patients through innovative telehealth delivery</li><li>57:20 Rapid fire questions and career insights</li></ul><p><strong>About Nikki Campbell</strong></p><p>Nikki Campbell is an Australian endometriosis nurse coordinator who navigated from ICU nursing to palliative care to women's health. Currently pursuing nurse practitioner studies while working in telehealth delivery, she specialises in supporting endometriosis patients navigate healthcare systems. Her experience includes building new care models, quality improvement initiatives, and advocating for neurodivergent-friendly practices.</p><p><strong>Connect with Nikki Campbell</strong></p><ul><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-campbell-3b3440172/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn</a></li><li>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/endo.nurse/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Connect with Nikki on Instagram</a></li><li><a href="https://www.epworth.org.au/our-services/endometriosis-centre" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Julia Argyrou Endometriosis Centre</a></li></ul><p><u><strong>Career Cliniq Resources</strong></u></p><p>Discover which healthcare work streams align with your current interests - and what transferable skills you want to invest in developing to grow your career with the <a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/streamahead-assessment" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">StreamAhead Assessment</a>.<u><strong>Join the Conversation</strong></u></p><p><strong>What's one question you wish you'd asked earlier in your healthcare career?</strong></p><p>Share on LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@DrRuthVo</a> or Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@drruthvo</a>.</p><p><strong>Workstreams:</strong> Practice, Research, Quality and Safety</p><p></p> no01:18:3717Specialty Switching Success - ICU to Women's Health with Nikki Campbellfull    <![CDATA[The Academic Path Unfiltered - with Caroline Mills]]>Feeling stuck in clinical practice but not sure if academia is for you? Think you missed your chance because you didn't do honours? Caroline Mills shows why your clinical frustrations might actually be pointing you toward your next career evolution.


    Dr Caroline Mills is a senior lecturer in occupational therapy at Western Sydney University, Australia whose research is dedicated to improving the lives of autistic people and those who support them. After 11 years as an OT - including time as a school-based therapist working with autistic children across Australia, the UK, and China - burning questions about sensory interventions led her back to university for a PhD in this often controversial research area.Now, 20 years into her health career, current research spans supporting sensory processing in autistic children, aging autistic adults, technology applications for people with disabilities, and dementia interventions, always with a focus on applied research that makes real-world difference.

    In this episode, Caroline answers:

    • What does a typical academic week actually look like?
    • What's the best and hardest thing about being in academia right now?
    • How do you handle constant rejection and failure in research?
    • How do you measure the real impact of your work when metrics don't tell the story?
    • When do you say yes vs no to opportunities (and why you need a mission)?
    • How do you find your identity when transitioning from clinician to academic?
    • Should you go straight from graduation to academia or get practice experience first?
    • What external constraints impact career development in research?
    • How do you balance academic demands with having young children?


    Caroline's honest insights cover:

    • Why clinical experience was essential before her research career
    • The toxic work culture in academia and how to navigate it
    • Finding your research "people" across different departments
    • Managing the slow pace of research
    • Building resilience for the rejection-heavy academic world


    Perfect for: Clinicians considering research, health professionals curious about academia, or anyone wondering about the reality behind university life.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Academia and Current Role

    09:04 Challenges and Rewards in Academia

    15:52 The Journey into Research and PhD

    20:35 Research Focus and Controversies

    27:46 Navigating Opportunities and Saying No

    36:19 The Slow Pace of Research

    41:26 Career Path and Identity in Academia

    47:32 External Influences and Support Systems


    Show Links:

    Ready to explore if research or education could be your next evolution? Take the StreamAhead Assessment to discover which career pathway truly aligns with your strengths and interests. Learn more HERE.

    Explore more of what Career Cliniq has to offer to support you in navigating your career in healthcare HERE.


    Keywords

    academia, occupational therapy, research, teaching, career development, challenges, impact, community, mentorship, health sciences, healthcare



    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/The-Academic-Path-Unfiltered---with-Caroline-Mills-e35c39q02d15769-71a8-47a2-b543-6f63072f176dThu, 10 Jul 2025 21:03:20 GMT<p>Feeling stuck in clinical practice but not sure if academia is for you? Think you missed your chance because you didn't do honours? Caroline Mills shows why your clinical frustrations might actually be pointing you toward your next career evolution.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Dr Caroline Mills</strong> is a senior lecturer in occupational therapy at Western Sydney University, Australia whose research is dedicated to improving the lives of autistic people and those who support them. After 11 years as an OT - including time as a school-based therapist working with autistic children across Australia, the UK, and China - burning questions about sensory interventions led her back to university for a PhD in this often controversial research area.Now, 20 years into her health career, current research spans supporting sensory processing in autistic children, aging autistic adults, technology applications for people with disabilities, and dementia interventions, always with a focus on applied research that makes real-world difference. </p><p><strong>In this episode, Caroline answers:</strong></p><ul><li>What does a typical academic week actually look like?</li><li>What's the best and hardest thing about being in academia right now?</li><li>How do you handle constant rejection and failure in research?</li><li>How do you measure the real impact of your work when metrics don't tell the story?</li><li>When do you say yes vs no to opportunities (and why you need a mission)?</li><li>How do you find your identity when transitioning from clinician to academic?</li><li>Should you go straight from graduation to academia or get practice experience first?</li><li>What external constraints impact career development in research?</li><li>How do you balance academic demands with having young children?</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>Caroline's honest insights cover:</strong></p><ul><li>Why clinical experience was essential before her research career</li><li>The toxic work culture in academia and how to navigate it</li><li>Finding your research "people" across different departments</li><li>Managing the slow pace of research </li><li>Building resilience for the rejection-heavy academic world</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>Perfect for:</strong> Clinicians considering research, health professionals curious about academia, or anyone wondering about the reality behind university life.</p><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p>00:00 Introduction to Academia and Current Role</p><p>09:04 Challenges and Rewards in Academia</p><p>15:52 The Journey into Research and PhD</p><p>20:35 Research Focus and Controversies</p><p>27:46 Navigating Opportunities and Saying No</p><p>36:19 The Slow Pace of Research</p><p>41:26 Career Path and Identity in Academia</p><p>47:32 External Influences and Support Systems</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Show Links:</strong> </p><ul><li><a href="https://theconversation.com/global" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">The Conversation</a></li><li>Connect with Caroline Mills on LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinemillsot/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a></li><p><br /></p></ul><p>Ready to explore if research or education could be your next evolution? Take the <strong>StreamAhead Assessment</strong> to discover which career pathway truly aligns with your strengths and interests. Learn more <a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/streamahead-assessment" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p><p>Explore more of what Career Cliniq has to offer to support you in navigating your career in healthcare <a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">HERE.</a></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Keywords</strong></p><p>academia, occupational therapy, research, teaching, career development, challenges, impact, community, mentorship, health sciences, healthcare</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p> no00:57:42The Academic Path Unfiltered - with Caroline Millsfull    <![CDATA[From Dietitian to PA and Building Skills That Matter with Colleen Sloan]]>Picture this: you're 20, in your junior year studying nutrition, and life throws you a massive curveball. Most people might put their career dreams on hold.

    Not today's guest.

    She finished her degree while pumping breast milk in campus chemistry bathrooms, became a successful dietitian, then watched medical colleagues unknowingly plant seeds of shame in seven-year-olds during routine appointments.

    It's an honour to welcome Colleen Sloan to Evolving in Healthcare.

    Colleen is both a registered dietitian and physician assistant who's spent a decade in paediatric practice. From single motherhood through PA school to building a podcast that's changing how clinicians talk about nutrition, she's never taken the conventional path.

    What I find most compelling about Colleen is how she consistently identifies problems that harm patients, then builds the skills to address them. Sometimes the most important career moves come disguised as problems you simply can't ignore.

    If you're a healthcare professional feeling stuck in roles that no longer fit, considering additional training, or wondering how to transition from employee to entrepreneur while maintaining clinical practice, this conversation offers a framework for making strategic rather than reactive career decisions.

    We Explore:

    • How life's biggest curveballs can actually clarify your professional direction
    • Why the strategic decision to retrain as a single mum paid off in unexpected ways
    • What's fundamentally wrong with how we talk to kids about their bodies in healthcare settings
    • How to find mentors who accelerate rather than just advise your career development
    • Why authenticity matters more than fitting professional stereotypes
    • How to build and test expertise-based businesses while maintaining full-time clinical practice

    About Colleen Sloan

    Colleen Sloan is both a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and certified physician assistant (PA-C) specialising in general outpatient paediatrics. With nearly nine years in clinical practice, she's uniquely positioned to understand the intersection of nutrition and primary care. Colleen hosts the Exam Room Nutrition Podcast and has recently launched a comprehensive obesity medicine course for healthcare professionals, focusing on both clinical knowledge and compassionate communication strategies.

    Connect with Colleen Sloan

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/examroomnutrition/

    Exam Room Nutrition Podcast: https://www.examroomnutritionpodcast.com/

    Obesity Medicine Nutrition Course: https://www.examroomnutrition.com/course

    Career Cliniq Resources

    Ready to explore what else might be possible in your healthcare career? The StreamAhead Assessment helps you discover which work streams align with your interests and values right now. Sometimes clarity starts with understanding what's actually out there.

    Take the StreamAhead Assessment

    Connect with Ruth:

    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/From-Dietitian-to-PA-and-Building-Skills-That-Matter-with-Colleen-Sloan-e38maclb43c69d3-d5f8-4a36-aa8b-44a6b584d796Thu, 25 Sep 2025 03:30:36 GMT<p>Picture this: you're 20, in your junior year studying nutrition, and life throws you a massive curveball. Most people might put their career dreams on hold.</p><p>Not today's guest.</p><p>She finished her degree while pumping breast milk in campus chemistry bathrooms, became a successful dietitian, then watched medical colleagues unknowingly plant seeds of shame in seven-year-olds during routine appointments.</p><p>It's an honour to welcome Colleen Sloan to Evolving in Healthcare.</p><p>Colleen is both a registered dietitian and physician assistant who's spent a decade in paediatric practice. From single motherhood through PA school to building a podcast that's changing how clinicians talk about nutrition, she's never taken the conventional path.</p><p>What I find most compelling about Colleen is how she consistently identifies problems that harm patients, then builds the skills to address them. Sometimes the most important career moves come disguised as problems you simply can't ignore.</p><p>If you're a healthcare professional feeling stuck in roles that no longer fit, considering additional training, or wondering how to transition from employee to entrepreneur while maintaining clinical practice, this conversation offers a framework for making strategic rather than reactive career decisions.</p><p><strong>We Explore:</strong></p><ul><li>How life's biggest curveballs can actually clarify your professional direction</li><li>Why the strategic decision to retrain as a single mum paid off in unexpected ways</li></ul><ul><li>What's fundamentally wrong with how we talk to kids about their bodies in healthcare settings</li><li>How to find mentors who accelerate rather than just advise your career development</li><li>Why authenticity matters more than fitting professional stereotypes</li><li>How to build and test expertise-based businesses while maintaining full-time clinical practice</li></ul><p><strong>About Colleen Sloan</strong></p><p>Colleen Sloan is both a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and certified physician assistant (PA-C) specialising in general outpatient paediatrics. With nearly nine years in clinical practice, she's uniquely positioned to understand the intersection of nutrition and primary care. Colleen hosts the Exam Room Nutrition Podcast and has recently launched a comprehensive obesity medicine course for healthcare professionals, focusing on both clinical knowledge and compassionate communication strategies.</p><p><strong>Connect with Colleen Sloan</strong></p><p><strong>LinkedIn</strong>: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/examroomnutrition/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/examroomnutrition/</a></p><p><strong>Exam Room Nutrition Podcast</strong>: <a href="https://www.examroomnutritionpodcast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.examroomnutritionpodcast.com/</a></p><p><strong>Obesity Medicine Nutrition Course</strong>: <a href="https://www.examroomnutrition.com/course" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.examroomnutrition.com/course</a></p><p><strong>Career Cliniq Resources</strong></p><p>Ready to explore what else might be possible in your healthcare career? The StreamAhead Assessment helps you discover which work streams align with your interests and values right now. Sometimes clarity starts with understanding what's actually out there.</p><p><a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/streamahead-assessment" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Take the StreamAhead Assessment</a></p><p><strong>Connect with Ruth:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>LinkedIn</strong>: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/</a></li><li><strong>Instagram</strong>: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/</a></li></ul><p></p> no01:12:34112From Dietitian to PA and Building Skills That Matter with Colleen Sloanfull    <![CDATA[Authentic Career Networking in Healthcare with Kaylee Johnson]]>When someone says "you need to network," what's your gut reaction? If it's dread mixed with a side of ick, Kaylee Johnson gets it. She's an occupational therapist who's worked across clinical care, health tech, and leadership roles in the US, and we sat down to unpack what networking actually looks like when you're an introvert who'd rather do anything else. We also had some fun comparing Australian and US takes on networking.

    This conversation cuts through the schmoozing stereotype to explore networking as something more human: leading with curiosity, asking questions because you genuinely want to know, and figuring out how you can help someone solve a problem. Kaylee shares how she flopped hard in early attempts but eventually landed roles through authentic connections and why LinkedIn doesn't have to feel like performing.

    If you've been avoiding networking because it feels transactional, or you're job hunting but worried about word getting back to your current workplace, this episode offers practical reframes and the courage you'll need to step outside your healthcare bubble.

    We Explore

    • Why networking conversations feel transactional and how to reframe them
    • The courage required to network outside your professional comfort zone
    • Cultural differences in networking expectations between Australia and the US
    • Strategic use of LinkedIn without the performance anxiety
    • How to de-risk job search networking when you're worried about your current employer finding out
    • How networking plays a role in preventing career and performance stagnation

    About Kaylee Johnson

    Kaylee Johnson is an Occupational Therapist with 15 years of experience across clinical practice, health tech, and leadership roles in the northeast United States. As a self-described introvert, Kaylee has navigated multiple career transitions and now brings insights about authentic networking, cross-functional collaboration, and career evolution for healthcare professionals who want to explore beyond traditional clinical pathways.

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylee-m-johnson/

    Career Cliniq Resources

    If this conversation has you thinking about what else might be possible in your healthcare career, the StreamAhead Assessment can help you identify which work streams align with your current interests and strengths. Sometimes clarity starts with simply knowing what's out there.

    Access the StreamAhead Assessment: https://careercliniq.com/streamahead

    What's your biggest networking challenge right now? Drop me a message and let me know.

    Connect with me:



    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/Authentic-Career-Networking-in-Healthcare-with-Kaylee-Johnson-e3ellb777c7712e-b0e0-4415-a163-b1597fa5aabfThu, 05 Feb 2026 05:21:20 GMT<p>When someone says "you need to network," what's your gut reaction? If it's dread mixed with a side of ick, Kaylee Johnson gets it. She's an occupational therapist who's worked across clinical care, health tech, and leadership roles in the US, and we sat down to unpack what networking actually looks like when you're an introvert who'd rather do anything else. We also had some fun comparing Australian and US takes on networking.</p><p>This conversation cuts through the schmoozing stereotype to explore networking as something more human: leading with curiosity, asking questions because you genuinely want to know, and figuring out how you can help someone solve a problem. Kaylee shares how she flopped hard in early attempts but eventually landed roles through authentic connections and why LinkedIn doesn't have to feel like performing.</p><p>If you've been avoiding networking because it feels transactional, or you're job hunting but worried about word getting back to your current workplace, this episode offers practical reframes and the courage you'll need to step outside your healthcare bubble.</p><p><strong>We Explore</strong></p><ul><li>Why networking conversations feel transactional and how to reframe them</li><li>The courage required to network outside your professional comfort zone</li><li>Cultural differences in networking expectations between Australia and the US</li><li>Strategic use of LinkedIn without the performance anxiety</li><li>How to de-risk job search networking when you're worried about your current employer finding out</li><li>How networking plays a role in preventing career and performance stagnation</li></ul><p><strong>About Kaylee Johnson</strong></p><p>Kaylee Johnson is an Occupational Therapist with 15 years of experience across clinical practice, health tech, and leadership roles in the northeast United States. As a self-described introvert, Kaylee has navigated multiple career transitions and now brings insights about authentic networking, cross-functional collaboration, and career evolution for healthcare professionals who want to explore beyond traditional clinical pathways.</p><p><strong>LinkedIn:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylee-m-johnson/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylee-m-johnson/</a></p><p><strong>Career Cliniq Resources</strong></p><p>If this conversation has you thinking about what else might be possible in your healthcare career, the <strong>StreamAhead Assessment</strong> can help you identify which work streams align with your current interests and strengths. Sometimes clarity starts with simply knowing what's out there.</p><p><strong>Access the StreamAhead Assessment:</strong> <a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/streamahead-assessment" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://careercliniq.com/streamahead</a></p><p><strong>What's your biggest networking challenge right now?</strong> Drop me a message and let me know.</p><p><strong>Connect with me:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>LinkedIn:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/</a></li></ul><ul><li><strong>Instagram:</strong> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/</a></li></ul><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p> no01:14:11Authentic Career Networking in Healthcare with Kaylee Johnsonfull    <![CDATA[When Healthcare Breaks You Then Builds You with Tesiah Coleman]]>How do you keep fighting for health justice when the system keeps breaking you down? Tesiah Coleman's journey from "psychologist version of Oprah" dreams to Women's Health Nurse Practitioner reveals the harsh realities behind healthcare's noble calling.

    An unexpected pregnancy during undergrad thrust Tesiah into the healthcare world as a patient, sparking her nursing path. But the radical, change-making vision she'd been drawn to clashed dramatically with reality - from racist comments during clinical rotations to managing 25 triple-booked patients in under-resourced community health. When her young son was diagnosed with cancer, impossible choices between career calling and family needs led her from community health into health tech, where her problem-solving nature was finally welcomed.

    Now as CEO and founder of Togather, she's building the community platform for health justice advocates that she desperately needed throughout her journey. Listen as Tesiah shares how finding community became her survival strategy and why the "why" behind your work can remain constant even when the "how" transforms completely.

    We Explore

    • The jarring disconnect between nursing's radical roots and traditional education approaches
    • Navigating racist treatment during clinical training while maintaining professional goals
    • The impossible mathematics of community healthcare: too many patients, too little time
    • Making career-altering decisions when your child faces a life-threatening diagnosis
    • Finding environments where being a "fixer" becomes an asset rather than a liability
    • Building businesses while travelling the world during your child's recovery
    • The sustained doubt and uncertainty that comes with entrepreneurship in healthcare


    Timestamps


    03:33 Creating Togather: Building a Community for Health Justice
    06:39 Navigating the Challenges of Healthcare Leadership
    09:04 The Impact of Systemic Issues on Healthcare Providers
    10:54 The Importance of Collaborative Care Models
    13:00 Consulting in Health Tech: Bridging Gaps in Care
    16:09 The Path to Nursing: A Personal Journey
    18:58 Experiences in Nursing School: Challenges and Triumphs
    21:51 The Reality of Community Health Work
    25:03 The Intersection of Personal and Professional Life
    27:46 Finding Community in Adversity
    30:56 The Transition to Health Tech: A New Perspective
    33:55 Building Togather: The Vision for a Health Justice Community
    36:44 Navigating the Uncertainties of Entrepreneurship
    39:34 Lessons Learned: Wisdom for Healthcare Professionals

    About Tesiah Coleman

    Tesiah Coleman is a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner and founder of Togather ā€“ a community platform for healthcare professionals working toward health equity. At Kyndred, she serves as Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer, where she apply the Togather ALIā„¢ framework to design race-concordant, digital-first care built for Black women, by Black women. For this work, Tesiah was named a 2025 Ebony Changemaker in The Power of She issue. Her career spans community healthcare, health tech leadership, and maternal health advocacy.

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tesiahcoleman/

    Togather Platform: https://www.togathernow.com/

    Kyndred: https://www.withkyndred.com/

    Career Cliniq Resources

    Ready to explore what else might be possible in your healthcare career? The StreamAhead Assessment can help you discover which career paths align with your interests right now.

    Take the StreamAhead Assessment

    Join the Conversation

    What resonated most with you about Tesiah's journey from community health burnout to health tech leadership?

    Connect with Dr Ruth Vo:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/


    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/When-Healthcare-Breaks-You-Then-Builds-You-with-Tesiah-Coleman-e37kkcs0ce1ddda-ccc5-48ed-beee-075edd68861cTue, 02 Sep 2025 04:20:45 GMT<p>How do you keep fighting for health justice when the system keeps breaking you down? Tesiah Coleman's journey from "psychologist version of Oprah" dreams to Women's Health Nurse Practitioner reveals the harsh realities behind healthcare's noble calling.</p><p>An unexpected pregnancy during undergrad thrust Tesiah into the healthcare world as a patient, sparking her nursing path. But the radical, change-making vision she'd been drawn to clashed dramatically with reality - from racist comments during clinical rotations to managing 25 triple-booked patients in under-resourced community health. When her young son was diagnosed with cancer, impossible choices between career calling and family needs led her from community health into health tech, where her problem-solving nature was finally welcomed.</p><p>Now as CEO and founder of T<em>o</em>gather, she's building the community platform for health justice advocates that she desperately needed throughout her journey. Listen as Tesiah shares how finding community became her survival strategy and why the "why" behind your work can remain constant even when the "how" transforms completely.</p><p><strong>We Explore</strong></p><ul><li>The jarring disconnect between nursing's radical roots and traditional education approaches</li><li>Navigating racist treatment during clinical training while maintaining professional goals</li><li>The impossible mathematics of community healthcare: too many patients, too little time</li><li>Making career-altering decisions when your child faces a life-threatening diagnosis</li><li>Finding environments where being a "fixer" becomes an asset rather than a liability</li><li>Building businesses while travelling the world during your child's recovery</li><li>The sustained doubt and uncertainty that comes with entrepreneurship in healthcare</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p><br /><strong>03:33</strong> Creating T<em>o</em>gather: Building a Community for Health Justice<br /><strong>06:39</strong> Navigating the Challenges of Healthcare Leadership<br /><strong>09:04</strong> The Impact of Systemic Issues on Healthcare Providers<br /><strong>10:54</strong> The Importance of Collaborative Care Models<br /><strong>13:00</strong> Consulting in Health Tech: Bridging Gaps in Care<br /><strong>16:09</strong> The Path to Nursing: A Personal Journey<br /><strong>18:58</strong> Experiences in Nursing School: Challenges and Triumphs<br /><strong>21:51</strong> The Reality of Community Health Work<br /><strong>25:03</strong> The Intersection of Personal and Professional Life<br /><strong>27:46</strong> Finding Community in Adversity<br /><strong>30:56</strong> The Transition to Health Tech: A New Perspective<br /><strong>33:55</strong> Building T<em>o</em>gather: The Vision for a Health Justice Community<br /><strong>36:44</strong> Navigating the Uncertainties of Entrepreneurship<br /><strong>39:34</strong> Lessons Learned: Wisdom for Healthcare Professionals</p><p><strong>About Tesiah Coleman</strong></p><p>Tesiah Coleman is a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner and founder of T<em>o</em>gather ā€“ a community platform for healthcare professionals working toward health equity. At Kyndred, she serves as Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer, where she apply the Togather ALIā„¢ framework to design race-concordant, digital-first care built for Black women, by Black women. For this work, Tesiah was named a 2025 Ebony Changemaker in The Power of She issue. Her career spans community healthcare, health tech leadership, and maternal health advocacy.</p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tesiahcoleman/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tesiahcoleman/</a></p><p>T<em>o</em>gather Platform: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tesiahcoleman/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.togathernow.com/</a></p><p>Kyndred: <a href="https://www.withkyndred.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.withkyndred.com/</a></p><p><strong>Career Cliniq Resources</strong></p><p>Ready to explore what else might be possible in your healthcare career? The <strong>StreamAhead Assessment</strong> can help you discover which career paths align with your interests right now.</p><p><a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/streamahead-assessment" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Take the StreamAhead Assessment</a></p><p><strong>Join the Conversation</strong></p><p>What resonated most with you about Tesiah's journey from community health burnout to health tech leadership?</p><p>Connect with Dr Ruth Vo:<br /><strong>LinkedIn:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/</a><br /><strong>Instagram:</strong> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/</a></p><p><br /></p> no01:03:22110When Healthcare Breaks You Then Builds You with Tesiah Colemanfull    <![CDATA[The Myth of Difficult Clients - with Chris Bradshaw]]>Episode Summary

    What if the clients everyone warns you about turn out to be the most transformative? In this episode, psychotherapist Chris Bradshaw with a PhD in Clinical Psychology shares his unexpected journey from aspiring civil rights attorney to discovering profound truths about helping people. Chris reveals why "difficult" populations aren't actually difficult, how we as practitioners often get in our own way, and what it really takes to create sustainable practice without burning out.

    Questions We Explore

    When the pressure to have answers gets in the way

    • Are you so focused on having the right solution that you're missing what's actually happening with your client?
    • How do you sit with not knowing while still being helpful?
    • What happens when you and your client disagree about what the real problem is?


    The myth of "difficult" people

    • What if the clients everyone warns you about aren't actually the problem?
    • Are we making excuses for why certain populations are "hard to work with" instead of examining our own approach?
    • How do clients actually help us become better practitioners?


    What presence actually looks like (and why we avoid it)

    • Why does being truly present feel so uncomfortable for helpers?
    • How do you balance being supportive with being challenging?
    • What's the difference between being present to your own agenda versus being present to your client's experience?


    Building sustainable practice without burning out

    • How do qualifications open doors to different parts of the system - but also trap you in others?
    • When does saying yes to growth opportunities actually harm your practice?
    • How do you translate big professional goals into daily schedule reality?

    Timestamps

    01:06 Unexpected Pathway into Counselling

    03:10 Finding Meaning in Counselling

    08:22 Challenging Assumptions in Therapy

    14:41 The Journey to Certification

    19:57 Research and Therapeutic Presence

    24:56 Navigating Therapeutic Presence

    27:19 The Role of Presence in Healthcare

    29:12 Balancing Client Needs and Professional Expertise

    32:04 Burnout in Healthcare Professionals

    35:39 Strategies for Preventing Burnout

    40:23 Setting Goals and Managing Time

    48:19 Future Directions in Therapy Practice

    About Chris Bradshaw

    Chris Bradshaw is a psychotherapist with a PhD in clinical psychology who specialises in depth-oriented therapy and somatic approaches. His research focuses on therapeutic presence and the client experience of attunement. Chris has worked across diverse settings from addiction treatment to private practice, consistently discovering that the populations others label as "difficult" are often the most ready for meaningful change.


    Connect with Chris:LinkedIn Profile - HERE

    Chris' Podcasts - HERE

    Career Cliniq Resources

    Struggling to work out your long term goals and whether they should involve continuing with client facing work or not? Check out the Your Next Step Mini-Course which walks you through my 5-Step Aligning Purpose framework or explore getting some 1:1 support and get clear now with The Clarity Compass.

    Visit Career Cliniq for more tools and insights on navigating your health career evolution.

    Join the Conversation

    What resonated most with you from Chris's journey? Share your thoughts and tag us - I'd love to hear how these insights apply to your own healthcare career. Follow this podcast, LinkedIn or Instagram


    ]]>    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ruth-vo/episodes/The-Myth-of-Difficult-Clients---with-Chris-Bradshaw-e35uvef8b581603-033d-448b-b5e7-37591c0386a2Thu, 24 Jul 2025 08:11:26 GMT<p><strong>Episode Summary</strong></p><p>What if the clients everyone warns you about turn out to be the most transformative? In this episode, psychotherapist Chris Bradshaw with a PhD in Clinical Psychology shares his unexpected journey from aspiring civil rights attorney to discovering profound truths about helping people. Chris reveals why "difficult" populations aren't actually difficult, how we as practitioners often get in our own way, and what it really takes to create sustainable practice without burning out.</p><p><strong>Questions We Explore</strong></p><p><strong>When the pressure to have answers gets in the way</strong></p><ul><li>Are you so focused on having the right solution that you're missing what's actually happening with your client?</li><li>How do you sit with not knowing while still being helpful?</li><li>What happens when you and your client disagree about what the real problem is?</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>The myth of "difficult" people</strong></p><ul><li>What if the clients everyone warns you about aren't actually the problem?</li><li>Are we making excuses for why certain populations are "hard to work with" instead of examining our own approach?</li><li>How do clients actually help us become better practitioners?</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>What presence actually looks like (and why we avoid it)</strong></p><ul><li>Why does being truly present feel so uncomfortable for helpers?</li><li>How do you balance being supportive with being challenging?</li><li>What's the difference between being present to your own agenda versus being present to your client's experience?</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>Building sustainable practice without burning out</strong></p><ul><li>How do qualifications open doors to different parts of the system - but also trap you in others?</li><li>When does saying yes to growth opportunities actually harm your practice?</li><li>How do you translate big professional goals into daily schedule reality?</li></ul><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p>01:06 Unexpected Pathway into Counselling</p><p>03:10 Finding Meaning in Counselling</p><p>08:22 Challenging Assumptions in Therapy</p><p>14:41 The Journey to Certification</p><p>19:57 Research and Therapeutic Presence</p><p>24:56 Navigating Therapeutic Presence</p><p>27:19 The Role of Presence in Healthcare</p><p>29:12 Balancing Client Needs and Professional Expertise</p><p>32:04 Burnout in Healthcare Professionals</p><p>35:39 Strategies for Preventing Burnout</p><p>40:23 Setting Goals and Managing Time</p><p>48:19 Future Directions in Therapy Practice</p><p><strong>About Chris Bradshaw</strong></p><p>Chris Bradshaw is a psychotherapist with a PhD in clinical psychology who specialises in depth-oriented therapy and somatic approaches. His research focuses on therapeutic presence and the client experience of attunement. Chris has worked across diverse settings from addiction treatment to private practice, consistently discovering that the populations others label as "difficult" are often the most ready for meaningful change.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Connect with Chris:</strong>LinkedIn Profile - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-bradshaw-phd-lpc-71494a62/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a></p><p>Chris' Podcasts - <a href="https://www.fullyhumanpsychology.com/podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a></p><p><strong>Career Cliniq Resources</strong></p><p>Struggling to work out your long term goals and whether they should involve continuing with client facing work or not? Check out the <a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/your-next-step-minicourse" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Your Next Step Mini-Course</a> which walks you through my 5-Step Aligning Purpose framework or explore getting some 1:1 support and get clear now with <a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq/p/the-clarity-compass-3vsr6h17" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">The Clarity Compass.</a> </p><p><em>Visit </em><a href="https://stan.store/careercliniq" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>Career Cliniq</em></a><em> for more tools and insights on navigating your health career evolution.</em></p><p><strong>Join the Conversation</strong></p><p>What resonated most with you from Chris's journey? Share your thoughts and tag us - I'd love to hear how these insights apply to your own healthcare career. Follow this podcast, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drruthvo/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p> no00:55:57The Myth of Difficult Clients - with Chris Bradshawfull