The Catalyst: Sparking Creative Transformation in Healthcare Dr. Lara Salyer

“Every practitioner needs to know what is the frame of their work-life masterpiece,” states Dr. Lara Salyer. “And by that, I mean knowing yourself from inside out,” she explains. In this episode, Dr. Salyer redefines work-life integration for healthcare professionals. As an osteopathic physician who has conquered burnout herself, Dr. Salyer offers insights and strategies to help medical practitioners craft a “work-life masterpiece” rather than chase the unattainable ideal of balance. She highlights the importance of self-awareness, knowing one’s optimal working conditions, and aligning one’s practice with personal values and creativity.
 
Dr. Salyer addresses the challenges healthcare professionals face in the current system, such as high administrative burdens and standardized practices that restrain individuality and creativity. She advocates for a personalized approach to medical practice, enabling healthcare providers to express their unique perspectives and incorporate their interests, like burnout prevention or specialized medical areas, into their practice to improve patient care and compliance.
 
Quotes
• “Balance doesn’t exist. You’re constantly in motion. You’re constantly painting this masterpiece. If done right, we can align so that our expressive self is visible in all elements of our work, bringing ourselves into this beautiful healing relationship with our patients.” (01:52 | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
• “I’m interested in burnout mitigation. I’m interested in the HPA axis system of stress. So I bring a lot of that along with creative flow, the neuroscience of creativity. I bring a lot of this into my exam room. And this is what patients really come alive with. They want to know their practitioner. That builds the trusted relationship. And believe it or not, that improves adherence. So we can design this from the inside out by helping you frame what is in your workplace masterpiece—that work-life masterpiece you are painting. How can we arrange things around you that bring out this inspirational magic waiting to come forth? The environment is important. (03:55 | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
• “When I work with practitioners and we talk about creating this personalized way of delivering their medical care, we start with values and quickly go into how to assess their personal needs, the user manual, how do they want to be approached? How do they want to be interrupted? Where do they want to receive their messages? All of this is really important in framing yourself, which is why it is in the very first module of my Catalyst roadmap called ‘Imagine.’” (12:21 | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
 
Links
Catalyst Micropractice Assessment: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/to/P56ItjWi
Catalyst Archetype Quiz: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/archetype
 
Connect with Lara: 
Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst
Instagram: @drlarasalyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“How do I let people know that creativity and community bring about a sense of joy that is actually a requirement and is really a life force that we all have access to?” Dr. Talissa Dorsaint, a clinical psychologist who integrates creative practices into therapy, poses this question as she discusses, alongside host Dr. Lara Salyer, the role of creativity in overcoming burnout.
 
Dr. Dorsaint explains how creativity and community were crucial in reclaiming her joy and well-being. She outlines her method of offering consultations, workshops, and events aimed at sparking creativity in both individuals and organizations, emphasizing the therapeutic benefits of creative activities and the importance of recognizing one’s intrinsic self-worth.
 
This episode covers the different types of rest needed for personal growth, the role of curiosity in continuous development, and how intrinsic values can maintain motivation and prevent burnout. Dr. Dorsaint and Dr. Salyer consider the potential for evolving medical and psychological training to include more creative practices that will enhance the well-being of future healthcare professionals.
 
Highlighting the role of intuition in patient care and personal health, both doctors advocate for a shift in healthcare training towards more creative and intuitive practices. 
 
Quotes
• “There was something about being creative and having time to do the things you wanted to do that no one could figure out the answer for. And once I finally had the time to say, ‘Okay, I’m not dedicating all of my energy to my clients,’ I said, ‘Well, what have you done for yourself lately? What would you want to do for yourself in the meantime?’” (06:58 | Dr. Talissa Dorsaint)
• “Maybe people need to know a little bit more about creativity. This is right under the same concept of mental health. It’s the same umbrella. So how do I let people know that creativity and community bring about a sense of joy that is actually a requirement and is really a life force that we all have access to?” (07:44 | Dr. Talissa Dorsaint)
• “Honestly, take the step to take care of yourself now. I think we get a number of alarms leading up to when burnout is truly present and you really can’t go back. And so if your body and brain are telling you ‘No more, I need to rest.’ You have to find a way to honor that.” (12:10 | Dr. Talissa Dorsaint) 
• “I was really intentional about how I rested and rest is more than just sleeping, napping, and self-care. Right. Spiritually, how am I taking care of myself? Creatively, how am I taking care of myself?” (15:01 | Dr. Talissa Dorsaint)
• “I encourage people to access their inner voice right before they access their inner critic because what that gives you is an indicator of what you value. It’s an aspect of your wants and your needs. And what we don’t spend a lot of time doing is accessing that part of ourselves because for whatever reason, we feel like we have to meet all these other responsibilities.” (18:39 | Dr. Talissa Dorsaint) 
 
Links
Connect with Dr. Talissa Dorsaint:
TikTok: @talideephd
Instagram: @talideephd
Website: https://beacons.ai/talideephd
 
Connect with Lara: 
Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst
Instagram: @drlarasalyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“If you start to think of freedom as a state of mind, it has a whole different meaning in your body,” says Dr. Lara Salyer as she explores redefining freedom within the medical profession. Recounting her journey from burnout to a revitalized career, Dr. Salyer shares how she reshaped her definition of freedom to extend far beyond financial wealth, emphasizing autonomy, creativity, and personal well-being.
 
Dr. Salyer recalls the traditional motivations that draw many into medicine—job security and financial stability—and challenges these conventional markers of success. She shares stories from fellow healthcare professionals who found greater freedom through unexpected avenues: one found joy and a renewed sense of self in dance classes; another realized that reducing their workload enhanced their personal freedom; and a third embraced the simple choice of selecting their breakfast as a symbol of autonomy.
 
By encouraging her listeners to discard limiting beliefs of what freedom must look like, Dr. Salyer promotes a reimagined approach to medical careers that prioritizes personal values and well-being alongside professional achievements. Her message is clear: reevaluating your concept of freedom can lead to more rewarding and sustainable careers in healthcare.
 
Quotes
• “Most of our conceptions around freedom, when you boil it down, it does pertain to financial wealth. And that's very narrow when you think about it.” (03:15 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
• “If we aren’t clear about what freedom means to us personally, we can run the risk of chasing after the wealthy dream of someone else. And that really isn't our unique definition of freedom.” (03:53 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
• “Freedom has a larger definition when you strip away just the end results of finances. If you start to think of freedom as a state of mind, it has a whole different meaning in your body.” (05:15 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
• “Freedom doesn’t just land on your lap, just like creativity doesn’t just land on your shoulder and inspire a book or a novel or an art project. You need to practice this muscle every day, the sixth vital sign of creativity. You need to look for opportunities to be playful and creative, just like you need to look for daily affirmations of freedom wherever it shows up in your life. You must initiate them. And the way I like to advise practitioners to look for ways of freedom is being mindful of how their body feels.” (06:18 | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
 
Links
Catalyst Archetype Quiz: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/archetype?typeform-source=mail.google.com
Episode 6: Quick Interactive Core Value Exercise to Unlock Lightning Fast Decision Making: https://drlarasalyer.com/2022/04/01/episode-6-quick-interactive-core-value-exercise-to-unlock-lightning-fast-decision-making/
 
Connect with Lara: 
Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst
Instagram: @drlarasalyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

What does “success” look like and who gets to decide? In this episode, Dr. Lara Salyer explores how customized success metrics can revolutionize the patient and physician’s work together.
 
Dr. Salyer recounts a mentoring session with a healthcare practitioner who is developing a program for patient education but feels it may not be comprehensive enough. This story highlights the practitioner’s hesitation, rooted in a fear of success and the responsibilities and criticisms that come with it. Dr. Salyer reintroduces the “WARM” method—Who, Aim low, Reason, and Messy—as a tool to combat self-sabotage and encourage taking action, even if it's not perfect.
 
This episode also addresses the challenge of measuring transformation in functional medicine, where data is not always the best indicator of success. Dr. Salyer advocates for self-measured metrics that capture the patient's emotional and holistic health changes. She outlines steps to create these metrics, including formulating questions, establishing a scoring system, and streamlining the process, recommending the use of a simple Google document to keep things straightforward and efficient.
 
Highlighting her CME course that adopts a similar approach to foster creativity and prevent burnout among healthcare professionals, Dr. Salyer encourages listeners to create their own metrics and to revise them as needed, based on patient feedback and changes in practice focus.
 
Quotes
• “The closer we get to success, we self-sabotage. It happens all the time. It still happens to me. Everybody does this. Success brings upon new responsibilities and almost a fear that we become aware of as we get closer to completing something. Once we check that box that it's completed, now we've left ourselves out in the open for criticism. And I think that really sits very difficult with a lot of us.” (03:32 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
• “We can measure all sorts of data in your body, but in my opinion, that is not a true measure of transformation. What I'm looking for is body transformation—emotional, mind and soul transformation. And we cannot know how a patient feels. Only a patient knows this. So these self-measured metrics are my favorite to use.” (09:00 | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
• “Make sure as you're designing your metric that you include questions that you will usually strategically teach on.” (16:22  | Dr. Lara Salyer)
• “When you start sensing that you're getting closer to success and you need just a few more things, ask yourself, 'Do I really?' 'Who's talking to me?' 'Who am I comparing myself to?' 'Do I have enough here to get going?' You probably do. And this is your pep talk to get going. Put it out there. The only way you can adjust is by putting it out there, even if it's imperfect. And then reiterating on that. That is the key. And then secondly, remember, use metrics. Create your own. And that can measure your own transformation in patients. Have fun with it.” (17:21  | Dr. Lara Salyer) 
 
Links
Catalyst Archetype Quiz: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/archetype
CME Course: https://rightbrainrescue.com/p/reclamation
 
Connect with Lara: 
Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst
Instagram: @drlarasalyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Finding your tribe and embracing change can enrich personal growth and lead to fulfilling life changes. In this “Friends & Family” series opener, Dr. Lara Salyer sits down with her longtime friend Jill Pyrz, mixing humor with raw truths as they look back on the moments that defined their friendship. They reflect on shared challenges in the healthcare industry and personal ventures that tested their resilience and determination.
 
Jill's career, spanning diverse roles from the office of a university president to various entrepreneurial endeavors, highlights her passion for people’s stories. Whether involved in a state production called “That's What She Said” or penning stories as a newspaper journalist for the News-Gazette, Jill's experiences prove the importance of community and authentic connection at every phase of life.
 
This episode touches on the challenges and rewards of starting new projects and businesses, with Jill offering advice on recognizing one's limitations and the crucial role of a supportive team to complement one's strengths. A humorous anecdote from a night out dancing, where Jill questions Dr. Salyer's choice of Dansko shoes, reminds us of the importance of having people in our lives who will tell us the hard truths.
 
Dr. Salyer and Jill explore themes of personal growth, the enduring bond of friendship, and the courage to pursue one's passions. They encourage listeners to find their tribe, ask for honest feedback, and be willing to take risks in pursuit of a fulfilling and creative life. 
 
Quotes
• “I get really passionate about things, and when I learn about something, I go deep. I read every book I can possibly read, and I try to live my life to whatever I'm learning.” (07:58 | Jill Pyrz)
• “For me to do my best work, I have to feel passionate about it.” (15:49 | Jill Pyrz)
• “Now that I yearn for deeper relationships and deeper conversations, it makes it a lot easier to interview someone and get to know them. It provides a structure to the relationship that I'm much more comfortable with. Writing, for me, is actually the same job as being the production person for 'That's What She Said,' because you're just getting to know people. Instead of providing a stage for their story, I'm just writing it on paper. So it's the same exact thing. And what it really comes down to is that I'm really fascinated and just in love with people's stories.” (18:57 | Jill Pyrz) 
• “It's not just finding a match in terms of having a good business partner, because you don't necessarily have to have a partner, but you have to have a team of people and you have to be able to ask for help and not be afraid to show that you have no idea what you're doing in a way.” (23:51 | Jill Pyrz)
• “Have people in your life that will tell you things that are hard to hear.” (27:10 | Jill Pyrz) 
 
Links
Archetype Quiz: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/archetype
News Gazette: https://www.news-gazette.com/
 
Connect with Lara: 
Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst
Instagram: @drlarasalyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

How does one unlock a focused and stress-free mind? Dr. Lara Salyer sits down with Dr. Romie Mushtaq, a neurologist turned wellness pioneer, who brings a wealth of experience from her journey through medicine, corporate wellness, and mindfulness practice. As the author of “The Busy Brain Cure” and a recognized leader in the field of integrative medicine, Dr. Mushtaq sheds light on the epidemic of "busy brain syndrome"—a cluster of symptoms including difficulty focusing, anxiety, and insomnia, which she attributes to chronic stress and neuroinflammation.
 
Dr. Mushtaq introduces her “brain shift protocol,” an eight-week program aimed at breaking the stimulant-sedative cycle trapping many adults in reliance on caffeine, alcohol, or prescription medications for energy and stress management. The protocol provides practical strategies to help individuals regain control of their mental well-being without depending on substances or undergoing major lifestyle changes.
 
The episode also tackles broader systemic issues contributing to physician burnout, such as the burdens of electronic health records and the relentless pressure to meet productivity targets. Dr. Salyer and Dr. Mushtaq highlight the importance of leadership that prioritizes compassion, mindfulness, and effective communication as tools for creating a more sustainable and joyful practice environment.
 
Quotes
• "We doctors have added to the complex mental health problems. We all know about the opioid crisis. But there's another one that we've been ignoring. And I call that the stimulant sedative cycle. It's that in the West, in order to show up as a professional, whether you're a doctor or the high performing leaders I work with for a living, or just a human, it's like in order to have energy all day, I need to be caffeinated. And in order to forget work, or take the edge off, I need alcohol or some other sedative at night. And when that fails, what do doctors do? We have an ADHD crisis in adults today." (25:54 | Dr. Mushtaq) 
• "There's a pattern of neuroinflammation that isn't discussed in the mindfulness, emotional resilience literature where you learn about the limbic system. It's the chronic neuroinflammation that is happening in the hypothalamus that's disrupting the circadian rhythm and causing a downstream effect in the brain, mental health, and body. And this is what I call the busy brain." (28:37 | Dr. Mushtaq) 
• "We came up with the eight-week brain shift protocol to help people find focus, tame anxiety, and sleep again, essentially to heal the burnout and restore their circadian rhythm." (29:45 | Dr. Mushtaq) 
• "Do not feel hopeless that you can't change the system. You could save one colleague's life by just saying, "Hey, Lara, it's me, Romy. Are you okay? I want you to know I'm here without judgment and you're not alone." Just to say I am here and you're not alone is making an impact in the medical system." (34:46 | Dr. Mushtaq)
 
Links
Connect with Dr. Romie Mushtaq:
Website: https://drromie.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drromie/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrRomie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrRomie
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drromie/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC05grQ3WOYK_BX7hxTIvt7w
 
Connect with Lara: 
Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst
Instagram: @drlarasalyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm