“How do I let people know that creativity and community bring about a sense of joy that is actually a requirement and is really a life force that we all have access to?” Dr. Talissa Dorsaint, a clinical psychologist who integrates creative practices into therapy, poses this question as she discusses, alongside host Dr. Lara Salyer, the role of creativity in overcoming burnout.   Dr. Dorsaint explains how creativity and community were crucial in reclaiming her joy and well-being. She outlines...

“If you start to think of freedom as a state of mind, it has a whole different meaning in your body,” says Dr. Lara Salyer as she explores redefining freedom within the medical profession. Recounting her journey from burnout to a revitalized career, Dr. Salyer shares how she reshaped her definition of freedom to extend far beyond financial wealth, emphasizing autonomy, creativity, and personal well-being.   Dr. Salyer recalls the traditional motivations that draw many into medicine—job...

What does “success” look like and who gets to decide? In this episode, Dr. Lara Salyer explores how customized success metrics can revolutionize the patient and physician’s work together.   Dr. Salyer recounts a mentoring session with a healthcare practitioner who is developing a program for patient education but feels it may not be comprehensive enough. This story highlights the practitioner’s hesitation, rooted in a fear of success and the responsibilities and criticisms that come with it....

Finding your tribe and embracing change can enrich personal growth and lead to fulfilling life changes. In this “Friends & Family” series opener, Dr. Lara Salyer sits down with her longtime friend Jill Pyrz, mixing humor with raw truths as they look back on the moments that defined their friendship. They reflect on shared challenges in the healthcare industry and personal ventures that tested their resilience and determination.   Jill's career, spanning diverse roles from the office of a...

How does one unlock a focused and stress-free mind? Dr. Lara Salyer sits down with Dr. Romie Mushtaq, a neurologist turned wellness pioneer, who brings a wealth of experience from her journey through medicine, corporate wellness, and mindfulness practice. As the author of “The Busy Brain Cure” and a recognized leader in the field of integrative medicine, Dr. Mushtaq sheds light on the epidemic of "busy brain syndrome"—a cluster of symptoms including difficulty focusing, anxiety, and insomnia,...

Pediatrics is evolving and Dr. Ellie MacGregor is at the forefront of this change, integrating functional medicine and holistic wellness practices into child care. Alongside host Dr. Lara Salyer, they explore the critical role of the vagal nerve in children's health, discussing its impact on conditions such as anxiety, depression, and ADD.    After recognizing the limitations of conventional methods in addressing the root causes of health issues, Dr. Ellie transitioned from traditional...

Feeling stuck is a condition often rooted in fear, “inertia,” and a lack of support. Host Dr. Lara Salyer explores the concept of inertia, its complexities, and how it can hinder progress in various aspects of life, especially in healthcare. Drawing from personal experiences, Dr. Lara will guide you on how to overcome inertia using a method she calls “W.A.R.M.”   The W.A.R.M. method—”Who Dis,” “Aim Low,” “Reason Why,” and “Messy Moves the Needle”—offers a new perspective on overcoming the...

Technology is empowering healthcare providers to do two crucial tasks at one time - document clinical conversations in an accurate and structured way and simultaneously provide attentive patient interactions. CEO Erez Druk and Dr. Gabi Meckler, a husband and wife duo, discuss how they have developed an innovative solution to one of healthcare's most demanding tasks: charting.   It began with Erez, a software engineer, asking Gabi, a family medicine resident overwhelmed with paperwork, a...

Here's a secret that could save you hours, energy, and money: In this episode of The Catalyst, Dr. Lara Salyer shares a valuable insight on personal investment—a practical solution for managing your workload more efficiently.    Inspired by a transformative story from her Catalyst Studio mentorship, she highlights how a mentee changed the way she handled her business tasks by adopting a system that suited her needs. This change led to the development of clear, actionable steps, demonstrating...

Healthcare practices are ready for innovative solutions with modern technology paving the way forward. Host Dr. Lara Salyer delves into how holistic practices can benefit from smarter, technology-driven solutions with Kristen Ford, CEO and co-founder of Holistic Office. Kristen, with her solid background in finance, accounting, and operations, brings critical insights to the table for any independent medical practice looking to evolve.   Their conversation centers around  “My Holistic...

"What's your experience with gratitude? Do you write thank you letters? Do you know this emotion?" These probing questions from Dr. Michelle Flowers, a board-certified psychiatrist and guest on The Catalyst Podcast, open a fascinating dialogue on the transformative role of gratitude in healthcare. Host Dr. Lara Salyer sets the stage for a deep dive into how this profound emotion can spark innovation and foster positive change within the healthcare landscape.   Dr. Flowers, an advocate for the...

"How can healthcare professionals turn portal messaging from a source of burnout into a tool for efficient communication?" In this compelling episode of "The Catalyst" podcast, Dr. Lara Salyer addresses the double-edged sword of portal messaging within the healthcare system. She delves into the impact of this digital communication tool, initially designed to streamline interactions but now a significant contributor to practitioner burnout.   Dr. Salyer shares actionable advice for both...

“Space is power,” says Sharon Woodworth, sector leader at National Healthcare Practice at Harley Ellis Devereaux, who joins The Catalyst to discuss the changing face of healthcare architectural design. With so many industries using technology to create automated experiences for patients, the healthcare industry is wise to follow suit. Sharon explains why she would like outpatient care to more resemble the Apple Genius Bar, and hospitals to have a layout like the Getty Museum in Los...

In a special 100th episode of The Catalyst Podcast, Dr. Lara Salyer tackles the pervasive issue of burnout within the healthcare system, intertwining celebration with a deep dive into systemic reform and personal resilience. This milestone episode is not just a moment of reflection but a call to action, offering a blend of systemic solutions and individual strategies to combat the growing epidemic of burnout among healthcare professionals.   Dr. Salyer addresses the root causes of burnout...

How can bringing patients together transform their healthcare experience? In this episode of The Catalyst podcast, Dr. Lara Salyer delves into this question with Dr. Jeff Geller, a family physician and innovator in integrative medicine. Dr. Geller shares his impactful journey working with underserved communities and his dedicated efforts to alleviate loneliness and enhance healthcare outcomes through the concept of group medical visits.   Dr. Geller's approach, rooted in his research on...

In a world where wealth is often measured in material terms, Dr. Lara Salyer invites us to consider a deeper, more personal definition in this episode of The Catalyst Podcast. Sparked by a TikTok video that reminisces about childhood indicators of wealth, Dr. Salyer urges us to reflect on perceptions that may have shaped our understanding of wealth. She suggests that just as we periodically reassess our health, our ingrained beliefs about money and success might also require a fresh...

Who’s driving the roadmap of change in a patient’s sequencing of healthcare and what is the right order? Dr. Lara Salyer tackles this question, focusing on what she sees as the crucial need to align healthcare strategies with each patient's unique readiness for change, instinctive understanding of their health priorities, and personal energy and motivations. She emphasizes that a plan that considers these factors  is magic - evidenced by treatment effectiveness and overall patient progress...

How can manifestation shape your dream healthcare career? Dr. Salyer shares insights from her own career transformation, from experiencing burnout in family practice to finding joy in functional medicine. She highlights the role of visualization in this process, demonstrating how imagining an ideal work environment full of creativity and color led her to create the environment she now enjoys.   In explaining manifestation, Dr. Salyer underscores its effectiveness in visualizing and...

Are you seeking a way to reduce burnout and bring more creativity into your medical practice? This episode of The Catalyst Podcast with Dr. Lara Salyer, we learn about Freed.ai, which she calls “a game-changing app for doctors”. It’s an innovative peripheral listening system designed to revolutionize patient-doctor interactions and it’s a tool that listeners may want to consider testing in their practices.   Dr. Salyer discusses the often-overlooked contributor to healthcare burnout: the...

Advice from Dr. Lara? Avoid overwhelm by starting simple and where you are. Join us in this episode for a behind-the-scenes look at a mini mentoring session Dr. Lara Salyer conducted with an aspiring functional medicine doctor. She’s full of dreams for her future practice, but finds herself tangled in the complexities of starting up.   Working closely with this doctor, Dr. Salyer helps bring her vision closer to reality. She advises starting with what's available, emphasizing the significance...

Have you ever wondered what 'coloring outside the lines' really means in day-to-day life? Dr. Lara Salyer walks us through a day in her life, revealing how she optimizes flow and sparks innovation in healthcare. From her intentional morning rituals to strategic time management, Dr. Salyer shares her personal systems for success!   There are four stages of the flow cycle: struggle, release, flow, and recovery. Dr. Lara highlights the necessity of balancing skills with challenges to effectively...

Discovery calls are a vital tool for making your practice stronger. In this episode Dr. Lara Salyer explores the power of discovery calls in healthcare, and shares how they can be a tool for connecting with potential patients, especially for a provider in a community where functional medicine is yet to gain ground.   Dr. Salyer explains how aligning discovery calls with core values like education, transparency, autonomy, and efficiency can transform patient engagement. She uses her website as...

Did you know your walk could be the key to better spinal health? Join Dr. Lara Salyer and Dr. Michelle Veneziano, a renowned osteopathic physician and cranial osteopathy expert, as they unravel the concepts of flow and energy in healing. Dr. Michelle brings a unique perspective on self-care, emphasizing the vital role of aligning with nature's rhythms. Throughout the episode, Dr. Michelle delves into how something as simple as the way we walk can significantly influence our spinal health,...

Ever wondered what happens when cybersecurity meets functional medicine? In this engaging episode of The Catalyst podcast, host Dr. Lara Salyer welcomes Josh Zappacosta, founder of Function 365, an innovative electronic medical record (EMR) system tailored for functional and integrative medicine practices. Josh's journey is a captivating one, beginning in cybersecurity and leading to the co-founding of both a functional medicine practice and Function 365. His story is a perfect blend of...