Doctors Making A Difference

Doctors Making A Difference


What Matters Most: The One Word That Helped Dr. Scott Abramson Stay in Medicine

July 24, 2025

Doctors Making a Difference with Dr. Peter Crane How do you stay in medicine for over 40 years without burning out? For Dr. Scott Abramson, the answer wasn’t in a protocol or productivity hack—it was in one simple word: the. In this deeply moving episode, Dr. Abramson shares wisdom from his decades as a neurologist at Kaiser Permanente, where he championed physician wellness and communication. From carrying a bedside notebook to asking patients “What are you most afraid of?”, his stories are a masterclass in finding meaning again—and again. Scroll for timestamps, links, and key takeaways! Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Why Dr. Abramson’s story matters 01:00 – Meet Scott: Six decades in medicine and still smiling 02:30 – What kept him working until 72—and what finally made him stop 04:10 – Physician wellness as a mission, not a mandate 05:25 – The bedside notebook that changed everything 06:45 – From verbal storytelling to published author: Bedside Manners 08:20 – Why he never planned to be a doctor—and what changed his mind 10:00 – Neurology, human connection, and the magic of the physical exam 12:20 – How burnout really happens: when values and actions don’t align 15:10 – The communication trick that saved time and deepened care 17:45 – “How is this affecting your life?”: the power of one question 20:30 – A difficult patient, a back pain story, and a catch with his son 24:00 – Trust, listening, and the healing power of being seen 26:15 – What AI will never replace: presence and touch 28:40 – Why burnout isn't about the EMR—it’s about moral injury 30:30 – The myth of perfection and why doctors feel like they’re failing 33:00 – “He gave me my life back”—the blister, the misdiagnosis, and the gratitude we forget 35:45 – How we miss our own impact as healers 37:30 – “You’re not my 7:30—you're the one giving me my life back” 39:30 – Finding joy in the ordinary: the real medicine 41:00 – Final reflections: You get to live this life Links & Resources Bedside Manners: For Physicians and Everyone Else – https://www.amazon.com/Bedside-Manners-Physicians-everybody-else/dp/1685263798 More episodes: https://doctorsmakingadifference.com/podcasts/ Want to be a guest? admin@doctorsmakingadifference.com Read the full blog recap: https://doctorsmakingadifference.com Key Themes – Physician burnout vs. moral injury – Mindfulness and self-gratitude in medicine – How storytelling can save your soul – Communication tools that actually save time – The art of staying present in a rushed system Like, subscribe & share if this conversation hit home. Comment below: What’s one patient encounter that reminded you why you became a doctor? #DoctorsMakingADifference #PhysicianWellness #BedsideManners #DrScottAbramson #Neurology #DoctorBurnout #MedicalStorytelling #StayingInMedicine #PatientCare #DoctorPodcast