From Pediatrician to Entrepreneur: Dr. Zhen Chan on Blending Clinical Practice with Innovation -Episode 153

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Zhen Chan shares his unique journey from growing up in Miami, Florida to becoming a pediatrician in Washington, DC, and ultimately venturing into the entrepreneurial side of healthcare.

Dr. Chan discusses his educational background, including an MD-MBA dual degree, and how it shaped his interests in blending artistic and scientific aspects within the medical field. He delves into his clinical practice in the 'fast track' side of an emergency room and his desire to improve healthcare systems.

Dr. Chan also talks about his entrepreneurial endeavors, like founding Grapevine, a community focused on healthcare workforce optimization and reducing burnout among medical professionals.

Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the importance of networking and staying updated with technological advancements to better serve patients and the healthcare community. Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. The Power of Networking in Healthcare: Dr. Chan emphasizes that building professional relationships and communities—like her Grapevine initiative—is crucial for career growth, combating burnout, and reducing social isolation among healthcare professionals. Networking is not just for business leaders; it’s essential for clinicians at all stages.

2. Innovation and Entrepreneurship are Vital for Modern Physicians: Dr. Chan’s journey shows that blending clinical practice with entrepreneurial thinking and process improvement (such as Six Sigma and MBA training) can help address systemic issues in healthcare. Physicians can—and should—embrace innovation to improve patient care and the healthcare system.

3. Technology and AI Can Reduce Administrative Burden: The discussion highlights how AI-powered tools (like scribing and coding assistants) are transforming healthcare by reducing administrative workload, allowing doctors to focus more on patient care. Accurate documentation and embracing new technologies are key to improving efficiency and outcomes.

Meet Dr. Zhen Chan:

Dr. Zhen Chan is a practicing pediatrician at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC and Founder/CEO of Grapevyne, a community dedicated to empowering physician autonomy and wellbeing through better networking and understanding about healthcare beyond medicine. He graduated from the University of Miami with his BS in Neuroscience and Criminology, MD, and MBA in Health Management & Policy. After completing his education, he went on to complete his pediatrics residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medicine, where his work in quality improvement and advocacy projects revealed a career path to impact healthcare at scale beyond the exam room. In addition to his clinical practice and his own community, he advises other healthcare startups as well focused on improving healthcare access.

Connect with Dr. Zhen Chan:
🌐 Website: https://grapevyne.health

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zhenmd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zhen_md/

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