If you're a healthcare practice owner who made New Year's resolutions this January, only to watch them crumble by February, you're not alone—and more importantly, you're not failing. After nearly 16 years of coaching highly credentialed business owners, Tracy Cherpeski has seen the same pattern play out repeatedly: resolutions fail not because practice owners lack discipline, but because resolutions themselves are fundamentally flawed for creating sustainable change in demanding healthcare practices. 

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This episode offers a different approach to closing out 2025 and setting up 2026. Instead of bigger resolutions that fail by mid-February, we're exploring sustainable systems that actually work for busy practice owners. Tracy reflects on meaningful wins from 2025, addresses the reality of seasonal stress in healthcare practices, and shares why most January goals fail—along with practical frameworks for building practices that don't require constant heroic effort. 

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In this unscripted SNACK episode, Miranda Dorta sits down with Tracy to explore one of the most counterintuitive challenges in healthcare practice management: why growing your practice revenue doesn'tautomatically mean growing your profit or your freedom. Many independent practice owners find themselves busier than ever, but when they look at what they're actually taking home, the numbers tell a different story. 

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In this episode, Dr. Meg Bouvier shares the real story behind NIH's current budget and offers practical strategies for adapting grant applications in today's political climate. From reframing research language to understanding what really matters to funders, she provides a roadmap for researchers who want to continue their important work despite uncertainty. We also explore how she built a successful grant consulting business by assembling the right team—a lesson that applies whether you're running a research program or building a medical practice. 

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In this SNACK episode, Tracy and Miranda connect the dots between what's driving physicians out of employed settings and what that means for practice owners who are thinking about hiring, expanding, or bringing on partners. This conversation goes beyond basic recruitment strategies—it's about positioning your practice as an attractive alternative for talented physicians who are fed up with being commodified by large systems. 

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In this episode, we explore what it really means to build a brand that reflects who you are, not who you think you should be. Gina shares how her background in art and fashion influences her surgical approach, why listening to patients is her competitive advantage, and how she's structured her practice to stay lean and profitable without sacrificing quality of care. Whether you're considering practice ownership or looking to refine your current operations, Gina's insights on branding, patient expectations, and business delegation offer a refreshing perspective on building a profitable medical practice without burnout. 

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Burnout prevention advice rarely works for practice owners because it ignores the structural realities of running a healthcare business. Generic wellness tips like "set better boundaries" or "take more vacations" fall flat when you're responsible for payroll, team development, and practice sustainability. In this episode, Tracy breaks down why traditional burnout prevention fails and shares three strategic pillars that actually address the root causes of depletion for independent practice owners. 

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Practice ownership comes with a unique paradox: the autonomy you fought for also means carrying the full weight of clinical work, business management, and leadership. In this episode, Tracy breaks down the World Health Organization's three-phase burnout framework and reveals why nearly half of all physicians are experiencing burnout symptoms—and what makes practice owner burnout distinctly different and dangerous. 

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In this candid snack episode, Tracy sits in the interview seat as Miranda explores the practical reality of AI for private practices. Following Tracy's conversation with David Herman about AI in dental marketing, this episode addresses what practice owners are really asking about AI implementation, where these tools genuinely help, and the critical questions to ask before investing time and resources. Tracy shares insights from a recent burnout workshop with Silicon Valley physicians and offers a framework for thinking strategically about technology that supports—rather than replaces—human connection in healthcare. 

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Discover why waiting for legal emergencies costs more, how financial modeling removes fear from reimbursement cuts, and what time blocking can do for practice owners juggling patient care and business management. Sarah Covington brings healthcare law expertise and practical guidance for building thriving independent practices.

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Financial planning expert Anjali Jariwala joins Tracy to discuss the unique financial challenges physician practice owners face and why comprehensive planning requires both personal wealth management and business strategy. With her background in tax and financial planning plus personal ties to the physician community, Anjali offers insider perspective on navigating the complex transition from residency to high earnings, building sustainable businesses, and creating alignment between personal values and professional goals. 

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In this candid snack episode, Miranda interviews Tracy about the research behind their white paper, "Unlocking Potential: A Business Blueprint for Practice Owners." Tracy reveals a startling discovery: the largest burnout studies—including the AMA's 18,000-respondent survey—systematically exclude private practice owners, focusing exclusively on employed physicians in large systems. This two-year-old research remains urgently relevant as healthcare continues evolving post-COVID. Tracy shares surprising insights from provider interviews, explains why the distinction between working in versus on your practice matters, and offers realistic expectations for reclaiming your time through strategic business planning. 

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Independent healthcare practices are at a critical crossroads. Based on original research from Tracy Cherpeski International's white paper "Unlocking Potential: A Business Blueprint for Practice Owners," this episode reveals the time crisis threatening independent practice ownership—and the surprising wave of change on the horizon. Tracy shares data showing that practice owners spend up to 35% of their time on administrative tasks, while 80% dream of a future with more strategic freedom. But there's hope: with proven time leadership strategies, practice owners are reclaiming 5-10 hours weekly and building sustainable practices that support both exceptional patient care and quality of life. 

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In this raw and honest solo episode, Tracy Cherpeski shares what happened when the burnout prevention expert found herself sliding into Stage 4 burnout. During one of the busiest seasons of her career - launching Thriving Practice Community, facilitating a CME-accredited wellness retreat, and developing new programs - Tracy experienced firsthand the insidious nature of burnout she teaches others to prevent. But this isn't just a story about struggle. It's about what actually works: the difference between near-burnout and full burnout, why clarity is 50% of prevention, and why community isn't optional but essential infrastructure for sustainable practice. Through stories from a powerful San Jose gathering and TPC's inaugural Community of Practice session, Tracy reveals what healthcare leaders are truly hungry for and what most of us are trying to survive without. 

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In this episode, Tracy sits down with Debra Phairas, a physician practice management consultant with over 40 years of experience working with more than 2,300 medical practices. They discuss the often-overlooked topics of buy-ins, buyouts, and exit strategies for private practices. Debra shares hard-earned wisdom from four decades in the field, including real stories that illustrate why planning ahead isn't optional—it's essential. 

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In this powerful conclusion to our three-part time leadership series, Tracy tackles one of the most repeated—and least helpful—pieces of productivity advice: "work smarter, not harder." Through the compelling story of Dr. David, an ER physician turned regenerative medicine practice owner, you'll discover why this platitude fails and what to do instead. Tracy introduces a concrete methodology for strategic work allocation that helped Dr. David redirect 15 hours per week from low-value interruptions to high-value work that only he could perform. The result? Substantial revenue growth, improved patient flow, and a more confident, self-sufficient team—all while working the same number of hours. 

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In this episode of Thriving Practice, Tracy Cherpeski tackles one of the biggest challenges healthcare practice owners face: protecting strategic thinking time in an environment where everything feels urgent. Through the compelling story of Dr. David—an ER physician who opened a regenerative medicine practice—you'll discover why your blocked strategic planning time keeps getting hijacked, and learn the exact framework for distinguishing between genuine urgency and habitual urgency. This is part two of the time leadership series, and it's essential listening for any practice owner who's ever wondered why their "do not disturb" time never actually happens.

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In this candid snack episode, Miranda and Tracy explore the critical importance of building intentional professional community as a practice owner. Drawing from Tracy's recently updated blog post "Choosing Your Village" (originally written in 2011), they discuss why independent healthcare providers need more than clinical expertise—they need a village of people who understand the unique challenges of practice ownership. 

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