In this episode of the Healthcare Leadership Excellence Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Ann Hirsch, physician, coach, peer review chair, and a leader I’ve worked alongside in some high-stakes settings. With over three decades of clinical experience, Ann brings a powerful combination of bedside wisdom and real-world leadership insight.

We talk about what it means to lead under pressure—when the stakes are high and the tone in the room matters more than the title. Ann shares why “you’re never not a leader” in medicine, how clarity calms chaos, and what it looks like to model steadiness in the middle of crisis.

She doesn’t shy away from hard truths. We get into moral injury, peer review done poorly, the impact of anonymous complaints, and the disconnects between physicians and nurses that hurt care. She also speaks to the transition from friend to leader, from bedside to charge nurse, and how to do it without losing trust.

For leaders trying to keep the place afloat while the pressure builds, Ann offers practical ways to move forward, small changes that create real momentum. If you’re doing the work and carrying the weight, this conversation is for you.

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