In this episode, I sat down with Ben, an orthopedic surgeon who is making a significant career change after 17 years. He's moving away from his clinical practice to a leadership role at Commons Clinic, a company focused on value-based care. In our conversation, we explored his motivations for this major pivot, the frustrations of the traditional healthcare system, and his vision for a future that seamlessly blends technology with human-centric care.

Ben opened up about the "death by a thousand cuts" that he believes leads to physician burnout, highlighting issues like the tedious nature of EMRs and the complexities of regulations. He explained how his personal journey into entrepreneurship gave him a renewed sense of purpose, shifting his focus from treating one patient at a time to impacting healthcare on a broader scale. Our discussion also delved into the roles of AI and robotics in orthopedics, the challenges of implementing value-based care without "cherry-picking" patients, and the critical importance of shared decision-making in the patient-physician relationship.

This episode is for anyone curious about the future of healthcare, the reality of physician burnout, and the exciting intersection of technology and medicine.

Timestamps
00:07:48 - Ben's personal journey from being a surgeon to a leader in healthcare innovation.

00:11:27 - Ben shares what he'll miss most about being a surgeon and what he's happy to leave behind.

00:13:53 - We discuss if the entrepreneurial spirit is something you're born with or if it can be learned.

00:15:41 - Ben's thoughts on the future of arthritis treatments, beyond what's currently available.

00:18:50 - We talk about why so many doctors are burning out and how Ben managed to avoid it.

00:27:50 - The growing disconnect between doctors on the front lines and hospital administration.

00:30:00 - Ben reveals a major belief he's changed his mind on over the last few years.

00:41:18 - We explore the role of robotics and AI in the field of orthopedic surgery.

00:46:35 - Ben gives his take on a hot topic: Will AI replace doctors?

00:58:02 - We get into the complicated issue of patient liability in a "consumerized" healthcare system.