In this episode, family medicine physician and medical educator Justin Suba-Cohen shares how practical leadership can transform clinical insight into meaningful change. She explains why leadership is not defined by a title, but by putting patients first, listening with empathy, investing in people and creating the conditions for clinicians to develop solutions. Drawing on personal and professional experiences, Justine discusses the importance of preventive care, treating obesity as a chronic disease and preparing the next generation of physicians to deliver compassionate, value-based care. She also shares how mentorship, collaboration and professional development helped her turn frontline observations into initiatives that improved clinical workflows and patient access.
A nine-day ICU experience with her father shaped Justine’s commitment to primary care. Watching specialists address individual parts of his condition without a primary care physician who knew his full story reinforced her desire to become a grounding presence for patients, particularly during their most vulnerable moments.
After recognizing gaps in obesity medicine education, Justine and her colleagues pursued additional certification and developed a resident curriculum that approaches obesity as a chronic, multifactorial disease. The program incorporated dedicated visit templates, patient education, weight-management resources and connections to nutrition and insurance-supported programs.
She also describes how the Pathways program, mentorship and development opportunities through the Office of Provider Advancement helped her build relationships across the organization and translate clinical observations into actionable business proposals. These experiences gave her greater confidence to bring ideas forward and participate in decision-making.
One example involved piloting automated blood pressure machines. After the team examined the data and found the automated readings to be more accurate than the manual process, the machines were deployed across adult medicine clinics. The project demonstrated what clinicians can accomplish when they collaborate with operational and analytical partners beyond their immediate teams.
The conversation also highlights how integrated care teams can respond to urgent patient needs. Justine recounts mobilizing a case manager, transportation, medication reconciliation and skilled nursing placement for a patient who could no longer safely live alone.
She closes by encouraging clinicians to remain grounded in their purpose, seek meaningful connections and say yes to opportunities for growth. Her central message is that clinician influence begins with trust, curiosity and a willingness to use one’s talents in service of others.