I know that you will enjoy this conversation with Dr. David Weill who recently penned his memoir, Exhale: Hope, Healing, and a Life in Transplant, about his experiences as a transplant doctor. This one was extra special for me since I know Dr. Weill as a former neighbor, as someone who entertained me for hours while cycling on Saturday mornings and as my go-to trusted medical advisor when family health issues arose (and an NGPF Board member too). I found this conversation and his memoir to be such a revelation of the high stress environment he thrived in for decades until he didn't. His journey to hope and healing can serve as a roadmap for all those who, while loving the work they do, struggle to manage that delicate work-life balance part. Enjoy!

Details:

• 0:00~6:49 Current Events with MissBeHelpful: Entrepreneurs & Executives
• 6:49~7:18 A word from NGPF
• 7:18~10:09 Introducing this Week’s Guest: Dr. David Weill, former Director of the Center for Advanced Lung Disease and Lung and Heart-Lung Transplant Program at Stanford University Medical Center
• 10:09~10:49 Working as a transplant consultant
• 10:49~12:30 Key ingredients for a high performing team
• 12:30~13:53 Motivation to write Exhale
• 13:53~16:02 Career path to becoming a transplant doctor
• 16:02~19:46 How the transplant waiting list works
• 19:46~21:04 Complexity of lung transplant operations
• 21:04~21:46 Aftercare for patients
• 21:46~25:00 Lack of metrics to evaluate transplant program quality
• 25:00~29:43 Dealing with the high level of stress
• 29:43~35:13 A passage from the book
• 35:13~40:11 On letting go of control 
• 40:11~43:00 Lessons learned from the patient experience 
• 43:00~44:56 The strength of bonds formed with patients
• 44:56~46:53 Tips for folks struggling with work-life balance 
• 46:53~48:14 Conclusion

 Resources:

• FinCap Friday: Entrepreneurs & Executives
• Exhale: Hope, Healing, and a Life in Transplant

Quote:

• “I think the mistake I made during my last period at Stanford that I would caution listeners against is isolation… I would tend to come home and stick my nose in a book or turn on a sports game and isolate myself because I didn’t have anything more to give. I think what one should do in the situation is the exact opposite: connect more deeply with the people around them.”

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SPECIAL OFFER:

Educators with NGPF Accounts: you are eligible to receive a free copy of Dr. Weill's book: Exhale: Hope, Healing, and a Life in Transplant. With 100 available you will want to complete this Google Form today. Books will be shipped in mid-June. 

About the Authors

Ren Makino

Ren started interning at NGPF in 2014, and worked part-time through high school and college. With his knowledge growing alongside NGPF, he joined the team to work full-time after graduating from college in 2020. He is also the producer of the NGPF podcast. During his free time, he likes to try out coffees from different roasters across the world.

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.