Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini- Episode 93
Difficult Conversations is back with one of its most personal, emotional episodes yet. Dr. Anthony Orsini and Liz Poret-Christ return to talk with guest Dr. Stephanie Tan, a physician and clinical trial specialist whose career has spanned surgery, dermatology, pharma, academia, and regulation across Asia and Australia. Stephanie shares how her own health redirected her from surgery into research, giving her a rare 360-degree view of medicine and clinical trials. That perspective and her personal journey ultimately led her to co-found AbbeMed, a doctor-led concierge service that helps patients and families cut through red tape and connect with the right specialists, clinical trials, and cutting-edge therapies around the world.
The heart of the episode is Stephanie’s deeply moving story as both doctor and mother. She recounts the long, frustrating process of noticing her young daughter’s developmental delays, fighting through months-long waitlists, and finally receiving an ultra-rare genetic diagnosis, only to be met with silence from the pediatric neurologist who didn’t know what to say. Dr. Orsini and Liz unpack what compassionate communication could have looked like in that moment and why “I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out together” can be so powerful. From there, they explore how AbbeMed aims to be that “friend in the business” for families facing complex or rare conditions, and Dr. Tan offers advice to new doctors: stay curious, think beyond rigid training, be honest when you don’t know, and always validate your patients’ emotions. She closes with a message of hope for patients and caregivers: Keep an open mind, don’t give up, if there’s a will, there’s a way, and services like AbbeMed exist to walk that path with you acting like you have a friend in the business. Download this episode now to hear more!
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Hosts:
Liz Poret-Christ
Dr. Anthony Orsini
Guest:
Dr. Stephanie Tan
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