What does it mean to live a life in medicine aligned with your deepest calling? In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Randy Cook sits down with Dr. Rick Kellerman, a pillar of family medicine and Professor Emeritus from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita. Dr. Kellerman shares the inspiring story of his lifelong commitment to rural family medicine, tracing his path from being inspired by a small-town doctor as a child to leading one of the nation's top departments for training rural physicians.
We explore the pivotal moments that defined his career, including a humbling first anatomy exam, the sudden loss of his mentor that changed his trajectory, and his fulfilling six years in solo rural practice. Dr. Kellerman offers timeless wisdom on medical leadership, the seismic changes in family practice (especially the burden of documentation), and his three essential "Prescriptions for Success" that every physician and leader needs to hear.
Key Topics Discussed:
The powerful influence of small-town physician role models.
Overcoming the shock of academic competition in medical school.
The decision to follow a calling to rural family medicine.
The transition from rural practitioner to residency program director and department chair.
How the University of Kansas-Wichita became #1 in the U.S. for placing doctors in rural areas.
The greatest challenges facing family medicine today, including documentation burnout.
Dr. Kellerman's three essential leadership principles for a fulfilling career.
Guest Information:
Dr. Rick Kellerman, Professor Emeritus, Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita.
Contact: rkellerm@kumc.edu
Relevant Links:
MD Coaches: mymdcoaches.com
Sponsor: PracticeLink – practicelink.com
Sponsor: Navigate Student Loans – flipthescript.loan/md-coaches
Sponsor: Physician Outlook – physicianoutlook.com
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Music by Ryan Jones.
Find Ryan on Instagram at _ryjones_, Contact Ryan at ryjonesofficial@gmail.com
Production assistance by Clawson Solutions Group, find them on the web at csolgroup.com
