In this month’s episode, I’m honored to welcome Dr. Katie Schneider, a hospitalist and the System Medical Director for Wellness at St. Luke’s Health System. Her team was recently recognized with the AMA’s Joy in Medicine Award, celebrating their commitment to creating healthier, more sustainable systems for physicians and APPs.
For more than a decade, Dr. Schneider has devoted her work to improving physician well-being, beginning with one-on-one coaching and ultimately shifting toward systems-level transformation. In our conversation, she shares how leadership is a daily choice, why curiosity is one of the most powerful tools a leader can cultivate, and how small moments of intentional communication can shape trust, culture, and connection.
Together, we explore themes of agency, vulnerability, and what it truly means to “get in the arena” as a leader in healthcare. Join us as Dr. Schneider gives us thoughtful insight into navigating burnout, supporting teams with compassion, and redefining leadership not as a title, but as a practice grounded in humanity.
This conversation is a powerful reminder that sustainable change in medicine is possible, when leaders are willing to choose courage, collaboration, and curiosity every single day.
Key Topics:
Why leadership is a choice, not a position
Moving from coaching to systems-level wellness work
Overcoming the “us vs. them” mindset in healthcare
Using communication, curiosity, and compassion as leadership tools
Lessons from St. Luke’s AMA Joy in Medicine recognition
Redefining success as a shared, collective experience