The Fire Chief
The Fire Chief
Podcast Description
The Fire Chief podcast, hosted by Dr. Lee Scheinbart, brings you frontline, candid conversations about what its like to be a Chief Medical Officer at a time when the health care is on fire. And getting hotter all the time. Being a CMO is no small task and it takes intentional preparation, although some of it feels like a trial by fire. Becoming a CMO is like a career in firefighting. You start by going to firefighter school and you train and drill until you are ready to fight a fire. You put on the uniform day in and day out doing your job, maybe even becoming a squad leader or captain one day. And then, perhaps, you become a Fire Chief, or in this case, the Chief Medical Officer. This podcast is dedicated to the CMO.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast centers around themes of leadership in healthcare, focusing on topics such as mentorship, crisis management, the importance of resilience, and navigating healthcare finance, with episodes like 'It Takes Courage' discussing leadership challenges and 'Deal With The Gray' analyzing decision-making complexities.

Leadership, Strategy, and Career Development for Chief Medical Officers and Physician Executives
The Fire Chief is the podcast for Chief Medical Officers and physician executives navigating leadership in today’s complex healthcare environment. Hosted by an authentic physician executive and leader, each episode delivers practical insights on strategy, governance, physician engagement, organizational performance, and career development—through real conversations with experienced leaders and experts.
If you’re building influence, leading clinical teams, shaping organizational decisions, or preparing for your next executive role, this show is your frontline briefing.
In this engaging episode, host Lee Scheinbart interviews Dr. Michael Suk, orthopedic surgeon, physician executive, attorney, and co-founder of MDEnvoy, a physician representation company built around a provocative idea: physicians, much like professional athletes, should not have to navigate their careers alone.
Lee and Michael explore the concept of career stewardship and why physician representation should extend far beyond negotiating a contract. Their conversation examines coaching, leadership development, financial guidance, intellectual property, career transitions, and the value of having an advocate who can help physicians ask difficult questions on their behalf. They also explore why health systems and CMOs should view physician representation as a potential partner rather than an adversary—and how greater transparency and career support may strengthen retention, engagement, and professional fulfillment. Finally, Michael turns the agent model toward aspiring CMOs themselves, challenging physician leaders to recognize their own value and seek representation as they move into the C-suite.

Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.